Decades-old drug technology finally nears its big breakthrough

Tel Aviv

DRUGMAKERS are breathing new life into old drugs - with hydrogen.

Substituting a heavier form of the gaseous element in drugs can slow their breakdown by the body, leaving them in the bloodstream longer. This means that a patient can take them less frequently - and that, in theory, might reduce the severity of side effects.

While the technology has been around for 40 years, it has taken that long to understand it well enough to bring such a treatment before the US Food…