BARDA awards up to $355.1M for countermeasures

HHS's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) awarded biodefense contracts worth up to $355.1 million to four companies, including $194 million to increase the national stockpile of leukocyte growth factors for treatment of acute radiation syndrome (ARS). From Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN), BARDA will purchase $157.5 million of neutropenia drug Neupogen filgrastim, a recombinant methionyl human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). BARDA awarded Sanofi (Euronext:SAN; NYSE:SNY) a $36.5 million contract to acquire acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) drug Leukine sargramostim, and to support its development to treat ARS. Leukine is a yeast-derived granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). HHS said there are no FDA-approved drugs to treat ARS but that the agency could grant emergency use authorization after a radiological or nuclear attack. Amgen was up $0.34 to $113.19 on Friday.

BARDA also awarded Arteriocyte Inc. (Cleveland, Ohio) a contract worth up to $101.1 million to develop its Magellan Bio-Bandage to treat thermal burn injury. Arteriocyte will receive $11.8 million for an initial two-year period and up to $89.3 million if BARDA exercises options for three additional years. The Bio-Bandage is a dressing containing platelet-rich plasma manufactured with Magellan Autologous Platelet Separator technology. It is marketed for use in surgical healing. Arteriocyte said options under the contract include funding for manufacturing process development and inventory scale-up. ...