Acambis Submits Proposal to Make Smallpox Vaccine
Global Security Newswire
The U.S. government has received a plan from British drug maker Acambis for production of a weakened smallpox vaccine, AFX News reported today (see GSN, Aug. 16).
The Health and Human Services Department in August began taking bids for the vaccine, which would be produced for the U.S. national stockpile. Acambis, which is developing the vaccine with Baxter Healthcare, is competing with Bavarian Nordic for the $1.9 billion contract, according to AFX.
The U.S. government said the contract would likely be awarded in February. The weaker vaccine, known as MVA3000, is being developed for people who cannot take the full-strength shot due to suppressed immune systems or skin diseases such as eczema.
The vaccine must be clinically tested up to and including licensure for the treatment, which has not yet received regulatory approval. The United States has an option to purchase another 60 million doses of the vaccine (AFX News/Forbes.com, Oct. 4).
The U.S. government has received a plan from British drug maker Acambis for production of a weakened smallpox vaccine, AFX News reported today (see GSN, Aug. 16).
The Health and Human Services Department in August began taking bids for the vaccine, which would be produced for the U.S. national stockpile. Acambis, which is developing the vaccine with Baxter Healthcare, is competing with Bavarian Nordic for the $1.9 billion contract, according to AFX.
The U.S. government said the contract would likely be awarded in February. The weaker vaccine, known as MVA3000, is being developed for people who cannot take the full-strength shot due to suppressed immune systems or skin diseases such as eczema.
The vaccine must be clinically tested up to and including licensure for the treatment, which has not yet received regulatory approval. The United States has an option to purchase another 60 million doses of the vaccine (AFX News/Forbes.com, Oct. 4).
