The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that its Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has issued a $10.49 million task order to the Centers for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing (CIADM) at Texas A&M University for development and manufacturing of the NasoShield single dose intranasal anthrax vaccine over an 18-month period.
Maryland-based Altimmune, which has been developing NanoShield, will transfer materials and its manufacturing process to the the CIADM, which will manufacture clinical trials materials and scale up the process. Altimmune, previously known as Vaxin, is also developing an intranasal vaccine for influenza.
According to HHS, “The CIADMs were established in the wake of the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic and are a core component of BARDA’s National Medical Countermeasures Response Infrastructure. This infrastructure provides core services for private partners to speed development, manufacturing and availability of drugs, vaccines and medical devices including diagnostic tests. Other core services provided through the response infrastructure include a nonclinical studies network, a clinical studies network, and a fill-finish manufacturing network that fills and finishes vials of drugs or vaccines.”
Acting BARDA Director Richard Hatchett commented, “Anthrax remains a material threat to our national health security. To help combat the health impacts of an anthrax attack, BARDA partnered with several biotechnology firms in accelerating development of promising next-generation treatments against anthrax infection. Engaging one of our Centers for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing represents a unique approach to this development.”
Read the HHS press release.
