Androstenediol (androst-5-ene-3beta,17beta-diol or 5-AED) potential use as a radiation countermeasure was studied by Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals under the tradename Neumune for the treatment of acute radiation syndrome.The clinical trials on rhesus monkeys were successful. According to the Hollis-Eden report, only 12.5% of the 40 Neumune-treated animals died versus 32.5% in the placebo group.Hollis-Eden had applied for a contract from the US Government under the BioShield Request for Proposals (RFP) for radiation countermeasures. After being encouraged for 2.5 years that Neumune was in the competitive range, on March 9, 2007, the RFP was canceled by HHS. According to HHS, "the product was no longer in the competitive range". No further explanation was given. As a result, Hollis-Eden has now withdrawn from the radiation countermeasure field.
