Challenges and advances in the development of antidotes against A-series nerve agents.

Abstract

A novel series of toxic nerve agents called Novichok agents (A-agents and their binary form) was developed in the Soviet Union during the 70s-90s under the FOLIANT program. These agents, including A-230, A-232, and A-234, are structurally distinct from earlier G- and V-series agents and pose significant challenges due to their high environmental persistence, poor aqueous degradation, and rapid irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Current medical countermeasures, such as atropine and oxime reactivators, show limited efficacy against A-agents, particularly due to the low reactivity of A-agent-AChE conjugates. Surrogate-based studies have provided partial insights into the reactivation and decontamination strategies, but they do not fully replicate the behavior of actual A-agents. Developing efficient reactivators against A-agents appears challenging. Emerging skin decontamination strategies, including Reactive Skin Decontamination Lotion and metal-organic framework catalysts, show some success. In this context, enzymatic biocatalysts such as engineered variants of paraoxonase (PON1) and phosphotriesterase (PTE) are valuable antidotes, although their catalytic efficiencies against A-agents remain suboptimal. The development of broad-spectrum bioscavengers with prolonged circulatory half-life, like butyrylcholinesterase, or other recombinant enzyme candidates, enhanced through fusion protein engineering and mutagenesis, represents a promising avenue. However, significant knowledge gaps persist due to limited availability and high-risk handling of these agents. Advancing countermeasures requires continued integration of computational modeling, biochemical engineering, and surrogate validation strategies to overcome these biochemical and therapeutic challenges.