Conference 7.286::space

21.0. "Electrophoresis Drug Spoiled" by CASTOR::RABAHY () Mon Nov 05 1984 12:40

Date: 03 Nov 84  2234 PST
From: Ross Finlayson <[email protected]>
Subject: Electrophoresis product spoiled
To:   [email protected]

a255  1739  02 Nov 84
AM-Space Hormone,0378
Space Drug Contaminated, Possibly Destroyed
By HARRY F. ROSENTHAL
Associated Press Writer
    WASHINGTON (AP) - A drug created in space by America's first
industry-sponsored astronaut two months ago has been contaminated and
possibly destroyed, the McDonnell Douglas Corp. said Friday.
    The firm, which hopes some day to market the mystery drug to treat a
disease affecting millions of people, did not have an explanation for
the contamination but said it will use ''different procedures for
sterilization of the equipment before flight.''
    The drug, a hormone, was manufactured aboard the space shuttle
Discovery on a flight in late August and September by Charles D.
Walker, chief test engineer for a McDonnell Douglas project on making
drugs in space. He used a process called electrophoresis which
separates and purifies the hormone from cell culture fluids.
    The contamination is so bad that the material returned from space is
unsuitable for testing in laboratory animals.
    ''McDonnell Douglas scientists are studying methods of separating
the contaminants from the hormone,'' the firm said.
    A source in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said
it appeared ''a microbe contaminated the material'' after the shuttle
landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
    The aerospace firm paid NASA $80,000 for his astronaut training.
    Walker's assays during the flight confirmed that the hormone was
present and being collected, said McDonnell Douglas spokeswoman Susan
Flowers in St. Louis.
    ''However, no hormone activity was detected when the material was
returned to St. Louis'' after the shuttle landed in California, a
McDonnell Douglas statement said. ''It is presumed that the
contamination is either masking the presence of or has destroyed the
hormone.''
    The firm said it will ask NASA soon to allow Walker and the
equipment to fly on one additional shuttle mission to recoup from the
loss of the material. Walker already is scheduled to fly again in
March to gather more of the drug.
    Even though its effort failed, the firm said it was pleased with the
performance of Walker, who had to make in-flight repairs to the
equipment.
    ''We are instituting different procedures for sterilization of the
equipment before flight and lower operating temperatures are under
study,'' said James P. Rose, director of the project. ''Problems of
this sort are not unusual for developmental flights.''

AP-NY-11-02-84 2034EST
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