Emergent BioSolutions signed a 2-year, $100 million contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to supply its BioThrax® (anthrax vaccine adsorbed) vaccine for the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile.

The BARDA contract is separate from Emergent’s $911 million, 29.4 million dose follow-on contract for BioThrax with the CDC, which the firm announced in December. At the time Emergent also reported that BARDA had given notice of intent to procure another $100 million worth of BioThrax over 2 years. BioThrax pricing for the BARDA and CDC follow-on contracts will be equivalent.

Emergent says its September 2016 contract with BARDA for its next-generation anthrax vaccine  NuThrax™ (anthrax vaccine adsorbed with CPG7909 adjuvant) has also been changed so that it will now deliver three million, instead of two million, doses of NuThrax during the base period. The dose price for initial deliveries will be reduced, and the purchase price for doses procured during the option period will also be reduced by $100 million. The firm says the price drop will reduce the value of the contract from $1.6 billion to $1.5 billion.

“Emergent is pleased to support BARDA in its efforts to enhance the nation’s preparedness against the threat of anthrax,” said Adam Havey, evp and president, biodefense division at Emergent BioSolutions. “Emergent is committed to developing and manufacturing preparedness solutions that address our customers’ needs to protect against a broad spectrum of public health threats.”

In February, Emergent reported receiving a task order from BARDA, worth up to $30.5 million, to develop monoclonal antibody therapeutics against viral hemorrhagic fever.
 

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