Ricin ‘antidote’ to be produced. BBC News, November 11, 2009. An anti-toxin that protects against ricin poisoning is to move into production for the first time.It is the result of eight years of work by researchers at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory based at Porton Down in Wiltshire.The antidote can protect against death up to 24 hours after exposure, according to Dr Jane Holley from DSTL.Security experts say ricin – roughly 1,000 times more toxic than cyanide – could be used in a bio-terror attack. [ See ]