Biota receives US$231 million BARDA contract to advance laninamivir development

Biota Holdings Limited (ASX:BTA) advises that the Office of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded up to an estimated US$231 million contract to its wholly owned subsidiary, Biota Scientific Management Pty Ltd, for the advanced development of laninamivir. The contract is fully funded over an estimated five (5) year period and is contingent upon the delivery of key milestones throughout the period.

The contract is designed to provide US based manufacturing and clinical data to support a New Drug Application for laninamivir, to the US Food and Drug Administration.

Biota CEO, Peter Cook, commented, "The award provides visible recognition of the potential medical value of laninamivir to the world's major market. The BARDA contract will be a major contributor to a timely introduction of the product and will create the opportunity to significantly develop Biota's business in the USA."