RedHill Biopharma Ltd. together with its partner Apogee Biotechnology Corporation, announced that opaganib has been selected by the U.S. government's Chemical Medical Countermeasures (Chem MCM) Program and Chemical Countermeasures Research Program (CCRP) for evaluation as a potential medical countermeasure (MCM) against inhalation Sulfur Mustard exposure. The overall evaluation will also include assessment of opaganib's efficacy against sub-chronic fibrosis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) resulting from Sulfur mustard exposure. The Chem MCM Program is administered by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a component of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the CCRP is managed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the HHS National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Sulfur Mustard is a powerful alkylating chemical warfare agent. Exposure to Sulfur Mustard causes extensive skin blistering and severe injury to the eyes, lungs, and multiple organs, causing potentially fatal damage. Primarily affecting the lungs, Sulfur Mustard poisoning can result in symptoms such as acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, bronchiolitis obliterans, fibrosis, and subsequent associated infections.