Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (Hansard, 2 May 1996)

§ Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

576W

Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. David Clark, dated 2 May 1996: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking about research at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down since 1990 into the cocktail of anti-nerve agents given to British Gulf War soldiers. The Chemical & Biological Sector at Porton Down is now part of the Protection and Life Sciences Division of Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) of which I am the Chief Executive. The only anti-nerve agent drug given to British service personnel during the Gulf conflict was the nerve agent pre-treatment set (NAPS) containing pyridostigmine. This was administered as a pre-treatment to minimise the impact of exposure to nerve agents. In addition to the pre-treatment the post-poisoning therapy contained in self injector devices (Combopers) was issued to service personnel but was not administered. This therapy contains the drugs atropine, pralidoxime mesylate and Avizafone. The auto-injector is designed to be administered by the soldier himself or a comrade in the event that the individual shows the signs and symptoms of nerve agent poisoning. Since 1990 the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector at Porton Down has carried out research involving the use of in-service medical countermeasures for nerve agent poisoning in two main areas. A study has been conducted in human volunteers to investigate single fibre electro myography (SFEMG) during and following the administration of pyridostigmine for a period of eight weeks. The individuals involved took NAPS tablets as directed at 8 hourly intervals for 8 weeks. These studies showed a very small change in the SFEMG during the administration which had no clinical significance. The SFEMG returned to the values determined prior to taking the NAPS tablets within seven days of termination of the administration of NAPS. In the second type of study CBD Sector has placed extra mural research contracts with the Universities of Aston and Birmingham. The work has involved fundamental studies on antichloline sterases and included an examination of the effects of pyridostigmine. The work was conducted using rodent models and all the results will be reported in the open literature. In addition to these two areas of work the in-service medical countermeasures have been used in animal studies as a positive control in the research being carried out to develop improved medical countermeasures against nerve agent poisoning. I hope this information is helpful.