[FPSPACE] Russian TV: "Russian scientist said to produce anti-radiation vaccine"

[Jim Oberg]

Any chance this is legit -- and what's behind the reference to 'NASA doctors'
visiting the institute to compare their own anti-radiation drugs?

Russian scientist said to produce anti-radiation vaccine 

NTV, Moscow, in Russian 0600 gmt 11 Apr 06 

    [Presenter] A Russian scientist says he has developed a new medicine against irradiation. The vaccine has already been tested on animals and compared to similar American medicine. The results have far exceeded expectations. Our correspondent Maksim Berezin went to the private laboratory in Vladikavkaz, already visited by NASA experts. 

    [Correspondent] Doctor of Biological Sciences Vyacheslav Maliyev does not refer to his invention as a revolutionary one. However, when information about his invention was published, Russian and foreign scientists did not believe it at first, and then started speaking about a breakthrough in science. 

    Maliyev succeeded in developing a vaccine against irradiation in his private laboratory. The Americans from NASA immediately showed an interest in the work of the North Ossetian scientist. They themselves have failed to create an effective anti-radiation serum. The Americans suggested that a scientific duel be carried out between them and Maliyev. Scientists from NASA arrived with their own vaccine to see whose medicine produces better results. Irradiated animals were brought to the laboratory. American vaccine was injected into one lot of animals and the rest of the animals received the vaccine developed by Maliyev. Besides traditional white rats, bigger animals were also used in the experiment. The film shot by the scientists themselves shows how it was done. By joint efforts a bull was attached to a test stand and injected with a radiation sickness antidote. American scientists were surprised by the results of the experiment. 

    [Maliyev, captioned as head of biotechnology department at Vladikavkaz research centre of Russian Academy of Sciences] Our vaccine has produced a more evident radioprotective effect. The animals who received our vaccine survived despite an extreme degree of radiation sickness, whereas the animals used by the NASA research group died on the third or fourth day. 

    [Correspondent] In the near future Maliyev intends to find out what effect the anti-radiation vaccine produces on people. The scientist has many ambitious plans. He says that his invention can be used in space. 

    [Maliyev] We think that this invention is of human value. The vaccine can be used during long space flights to minimize radiation impact on cosmonauts. It can also be used by [ordinary] pilots because during flights they are exposed to much more radiation than on the ground. 

    [Correspondent] Maliyev says that theoretically the vaccine may help to treat cancer. He specified that the medicine must be produced and used under full state control. Maliyev intends to finish laboratory tests and receive a certificate for the anti-radiation vaccine in the next two years.