Emergent wins $404M anthrax vax contract

Emergent BioSolutions' monopoly on approved anthrax vaccines was worth a new federal contract worth up to $404 million for a fresh stockpile. Emergent will supply 14.5 million doses of its vaccine for $364 million with a potential to earn an extra $40 million if it can extend the vaccines shelf life from three years to four.

Emergent is wrapping up a $448 million contract for 18.5 million doses of BioThrax, which was licensed 38 years ago. And it will continue to be a sole supplier through 2011. By 2012 the feds are hoping that an improved anthrax vaccine will be available for purchase. Developers are working on recombinant vaccines that would require fewer doses and trigger fewer side effects. Emergent and PharmAthene are cited as two top contenders.

- here's Emergent's release
- read the article from the Washington Post

ALSO: Both PharmAthene and Emergent recently won federal support for their research into a new anthrax vaccine. Report

PLUS: India's Panacea Biotec has invested $13.1 million in PharmAthene. Release

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