We recently wrote a “frank” Ask EpicentRx post that may have raised a few eyebrows. 🤨 In it, we answered the question, “how are hot dogs made?” 🌭 Perish (relish?) the thought, but some frankfurter fans may conclude that what we wrote is the absolute “wurst.”
We follow that post with this one on how nibrozetone (RRx-001) is made, which similarly raises the curtain and perhaps a few eyebrows too.
No way to sugarcoat it, nibrozetone (RRx-001) is extremely explosive. The manuscript entitled Explosive Hazards Identified during the Manufacture and Transportation of 1-Bromoacetyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine (RRx-001) from the journal, Organic Process Research & Development (OPR&D), details just how explosive.
On par with dynamite, in fact. Maybe more so even. We hope to never find out.
All of which makes perfect sense since nibrozetone (RRx-001) derives from trinitroazetidine (TNAZ), a component of rocket fuel and a potential replacement for dynamite.
Not to bore any non-chemists with the details but one method of synthesis involves the reaction of 1-tert-butyl-3,3-dinitroazetidine (DNAZ) with bromoacetyl bromide and boron trifluoride etherate, from which DNAZ (DNAZ HBr) is produced. DNAZ HBr is but one of several hazardous chemical intermediates with the potential to go KABOOM! from shock or friction or other stimuli. The risk to life and limb should one or more of them accidentally detonate requires the exercise of extreme caution and custom-built facilities located deep underground that are complete with robotic manipulator arms.
The takeaway from this post is, handle the manufacture of nibrozetone (RRx-001) with extreme care and don’t try this at home! Or at work! Even if you’re a professional.
Seriously, it’s dangerous!
One of our founders used to refer to EpicentRx as the “exploding tumor company”.
Too right.
That said, the final nibrozetone (RRx-001) drug product that patients receive in authorized EpicentRx clinical trials is not explosive and nor does it not make urine or any other bodily secretions flammable.
We mention that last part because of a clinical trial patient that called his oncologist’s answering service several times while on a weekend camping trip to ask whether it was safe for him to pee on the campfire after having received nibrozetone (RRx-001). 🏕️🔥
Another patient wanted to know if proximity to microwave ovens could cause him to explode.
LOL.
We don’t mean to laugh.
These are perfectly legitimate questions considering where nibrozetone (RRx-001) comes from but, fortunately, since the final drug product is non-explosive, it is not necessary for clinical trial patients to steer clear of microwaves or to alert Smokey the Bear, shown below, the next time they go on a camping trip.
