The National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded contracts worth $56.1 million to four companies for advanced development of anthrax antitoxins, as well as therapeutics and antibiotics for use against plague and tularemia.
The largest award, $20.7 million, went to Nanotherapeutics, Inc., to advance the development of a new approach to formulate an existing antibiotic called Gentamicin so that it can be inhaled for outpatient use. Gentamicin currently can only be administered intravenously in a hospital. The drug is for the treatment of aerosoluble plague and tularemia. Pharmathene [PIP] and Elusys Therapeutics received awards valued at $13.9 million and $12 million respectively for advanced development of monoclonal antibodies that can be prepared in a lab and then easily produced. The antibodies would be used as anti-toxins against anthrax. Finally Emergent BioSolutions [EBS] received $9.5 million for the advanced development of a human-derived polyclonal anthrax immune globulin for intravenous administration against anthrax toxins. Some of the funding for the contracts also came from the Biological Advanced Research and Development Agency, part of the Department of Health and Human Services. “Advanced development of countermeasures is a key aspect of BARDA’s mission, says Craig Vanderwagen, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at HHS. “This multi-agency cooperation is a milestone achievement that demonstrates to the biotech industry our department’s commitment to developing medical countermeasures to enhance the nation’s public health preparedness in the years to come.”