Presence of UK Physicians in London Bomb Plot May Mean a Bioweapon is Next, According to PharmAthene CEO, David Wright
ANNAPOLIS, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The attempted bomb attacks this week in London allegedly by five doctors foreshadows a more dangerous world, according to David Wright, CEO of PharmAthene, a leading biodefense company that develops and commercializes biomedical products to counter chemical and biological weapons.
“The presence of so many physicians is very disquieting,” said Wright. “Given their training in life sciences, it’s not a stretch of the imagination to believe that they may soon graduate from vehicle bombs to bioweapons.”
Five of the eight suspects arrested by British authorities are doctors or training to become doctors, according to news articles. One suspect, Bilal Abudulla, earned a medical degree in Baghdad and then moved to Britain where he worked as a doctor at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Another suspect, Mohammed Asha, earned a medical degree in Jordan. He relocated to Britain, where he was training to be a neurosurgeon. A third doctor appears to have been from Bangalore, India.
“Doctors have access not only to the technology and training to build bioweapons,” said Wright, “but access to laboratory facilities and the equipment to build them.”
Al Qaeda has recruited scientists to construct chemical and biological weapons, including an anthrax weapon. Abdur Rauf, a Pakistani with an advanced degree in microbiology, reportedly was a member of a prestigious scientific organization. He traveled throughout Europe to obtain anthrax spores and equipment for a laboratory in Kandahar to weaponize the spores. The plot was foiled by authorities.
“Anthrax represents the most serious biowarfare risk we face today,” said Wright. “The anthrax attacks on the various media outlets and U.S. Senate in 2001, which killed five people and injured 17 others, demonstrate how real the treat is.”
PharmAthene, headquartered in Annapolis, was established in 2001. The company’s main biomedical products are: 1) Protexia ©, the first drug developed to protect against chemical weapons; and 2) Valortim ©, a human antibody to prevent and treat infection caused by inhalation anthrax.
David Wright has extensive experience in the biotechnology industry. He previously was President and CEO of GenVec Inc., President and Chief Business Officer of Guilford Pharmaceuticals, and Executive Vice President of MedImmune, Inc.
Original article posted here.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment