Research progress in antidotes of nerve agents in the USA

Nerve agent not only inhibit acetylcholinesterase( AChE) at an early stage,but also induce prolonged and progressive neuroinflammation and delayed neurodegeneration. Recently,the US National Institute of Health( NIH) has sponsored some major programs of toxic mechanisms and treatment of nerve agents,which aims at the development of quick and effective treatment to acute intoxication and delayed effect. The experimentally effective new antidotes mainly include AChE-targeting drugs,broad-spectrum reactivators and scavengers,antiinflamatory and nerve protection drugs.