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news.Emergent BioSolutions has completed the acquisition of all assets and rights related to a recombinant protective antigen anthrax vaccine product candidate and related technology from VaxGen.
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Recent improvements to the recombinant protective antigen (rPA) vaccine, specifically related to stability, suggests that it is well positioned to be a leading candidate for an award under a request for proposal (RFP) recently issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The vaccine candidate has completed one Phase II clinical study. This RFP is designed to meet the government’s stated goal to procure 25 million doses of an rPA anthrax vaccine for the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). HHS has indicated that any awards under this RFP are scheduled to be granted in late 2008.
The acquisition of this rPA vaccine candidate, and the pending RFP, have no effect on Emergent’s $448 million contract with HHS for the delivery of 18.75 million doses of BioThrax (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed), the only FDA approved vaccine for the prevention of anthrax disease, into the SNS. Emergent continues to manufacture and deliver doses of BioThrax in accordance with this multi-year agreement.
The company intends to manufacture this new rPA anthrax vaccine, as well as BioThrax, in its recently constructed, large-scale manufacturing facility at its Lansing campus. The acquisition of the rPA vaccine candidate further solidifies Emergent’s franchise of anthrax countermeasures.