The awards were approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in conjunction with the Department of Heath and Human Services (DHHS), under the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Program.
According to Hemispherx Biopharma, the amounts granted for these two projects were for the maximum per-project amount set by the IRS based on the limited amount of funds allocated for the program.
The Hemispherx Alferon program grant application was based on the potential to show Alferon N Injection, an FDA-approved treatment for refractory HPV, and Alferon LDO (low dose oral), an experimental formulation, to be an efficacious and inexpensive preventative or treatment for seasonal and pandemic flu.
However, the company’s Ampligen grant application was based on the continuing development of Ampligen (an experimental therapeutic with broad spectrum antiviral properties) in clinical programs in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, (CFS) and as an adjuvant for seasonal / pandemic influenza vaccines and cancer immunotherapy.