The FDA has approved Cyanokit, which contains the drug hydroxocobalamin, intravenous tubing, and a sterile spike for reconstituting the drug product with saline, to treat known or suspected cyanide poisoning. The December 2006 approval improves the nation's ability to respond to emergencies, including a potential attack by terrorists.
Cyanokit received a priority review and was approved under the Animal Efficacy Rule, which allows the use of animal data for evidence of a drug's effectiveness for certain conditions when the drug cannot be ethically or feasibly tested in humans.
The drug was shown to significantly improve the survival of cyanide-poisoned animals in ...