BARDA Gets SIGA Smallpox Antiviral Drug, Protest Withdrawn

(USA.gov)

SIGA Technologies Inc. in New York says the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will acquire 1.7 million courses of SIGA’s smallpox antiviral drug ST-246. SIGA competitor Chimerix Inc. of Durham, North Carolina dropped its protest of Barda’s sole-source contract award in May to SIGA.

The 1.7 million courses of ST-246 represents a sharp reduction in the scope of the award and defers most of the total acquisition smallpox drugs to a later competition. The original award in May included an option to SIGA for 12 million more courses of the drug. Moving the acquisition of 12 million courses to later, and opening the procurement to competition, enabled Chimerix to drop its protest.

ST-246 is an oral therapeutic designed to work against pox viruses isolated from mammals, including smallpox, which is considered a formidable bioterrorism threat. The drug works by blocking the ability of the virus to spread to other cells, preventing the virus from causing the disease.

BARDA is responsible for the development and purchase of vaccines, drugs, therapies, and diagnostics for public health emergencies. The agency manages Project BioShield, which includes the procurement and development of medical countermeasures for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents, as well as development and procurement of medical countermeasures for pandemic influenza and other emerging infectious diseases that fall outside Project BioShield.

Read more: BARDA Awards Contract for Smallpox Antiviral Drug

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