U.S. Bioscience Inc. has filed a new drug application with the Foodand Drug Administration for its Ethyol amifostine, achemotherapeutic protector, the company announced onTuesday.

Ethyol is an injectable agent that has been shown to protectnormal tissues from the toxic effects of chemotherapy andradiation therapy, according to U.S. Bioscience. "The criticalattribute of Ethyol is its selective uptake into normal tissues,but relatively low uptake into cancerous tissue," according tothe company.

Potential sales of Ethyol for use in chemotherapy are $150million to $200 million per year, according to a report byMerrill Lynch analyst Richard Veitor. He estimates annualsales of Ethyol as a radiation protector at $200 million to$250 million.

U.S. Bioscience plans to file a second NDA in about a year forthe radiation protector indication.

Stock of the West Conshohocken, Pa., company (AMEX:UBS)closed at $38.38, down 13 cents.

-- Steve Usdin BioWorld Washington Bureau

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