Media release 8 April 2002
Experimental Antidote For 1080 Successfully Trialed
There is an antidote for 1080, developed by scientists at HortResearch from trials first started in conjunction with
Landcare Research in 1998. The antidotes have so far been tested on chickens, rats, rabbits and sheep and dramatically
mitigate the effects of the toxin on these animals. The antidotes, however, are not yet commercially available.
Two different antidote formulations tested on rats, chickens and sheep as far back as 1998 significantly reduced
fatalities of these animals from 1080 poisoning. Three days after the poison and an antidote were administered the
survival rates of between 75 and 100 percent were observed, depending on species.
The work done addresses the complex sequence of increasingly detrimental effects that follow 1080 poisoning. These
effects contribute to cell death in the brain and systemic organs. A key factor in the success of the antidote was
designing a composition that could move quickly from the circulatory system across the blood brain barrier and into the
central nervous system.
The results to date suggest that a solution for accidental poisoning of dogs and even humans may not be far away, as
both species show similar responses to rats to the effects of 1080. The work already done represents the first step in
developing a general animal antidote, which will be of considerable interest to dog owners.
The contribution of individual compounds in the mix making up the antidote is not clear yet. Scientist, Dr Christian
Cook said, “It is conceivable that one of these compounds could be responsible for the antidote without the need for
other compounds. A more economical antidote may well result from further studies on the individual compounds.”
A summary of research to date can be found in a paper in the journal Biomarkers, 2001, vol 6, no 1, entitled
“Development of antidotes for sodium monofluoroacetate (1080)”.
Ends