"We are moving as quickly as possible to develop new vaccines to ensure that our nation is protected against an array of potential bioterror agents," Secretary Thompson said. "These new contracts are the next steps in our plans to build a robust stockpile of critical medical countermeasures and supplies, so we are even more prepared to respond to a biological attack or outbreak."
These awards respond to a key objective of the NIAID biodefense research agenda, which emphasizes the development of new and improved medical products against "Category A" agents -- those considered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to pose the greatest threat to national security.
The smallpox awards continue advanced development work that began in February 2003 on two modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccine candidates. These contracts will support larger scale manufacturing of the vaccines as well as further safety and effectiveness studies in animals and humans. The tularemia and plague awards will fund early-stage product development of the respective vaccines, which will include dosage formulation, pilot batch production and initial clinical assessment. All four contracts are for purchases of vaccine lots intended for research use. Any future purchases of additional vaccines for stockpiling in the event of an emergency will depend on the results of the research currently underway.
"In a short period of time, we have greatly expanded our partnerships with industry to spur the development of vaccines against the most deadly agents of bioterrorism," said Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of NIAID. "These important new contracts reflect our commitment to develop medical tools to protect citizens against pathogens that could be deliberately introduced into society."
NIAID awarded two contracts totaling up to $177 million for advanced development of MVA vaccines against smallpox. The three-year contracts were awarded to Bavarian Nordic A/S of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Acambis, Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., and Cambridge, England. MVA is a highly weakened form of the vaccinia virus that cannot replicate in human cells.