Archive for the ‘US Food and Drug Administration’ Category.

Emergent BioSolutions Hosts Biopreparedness Roundtable for NATO Parliamentarians

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jul 12, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) –

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) is hosting “Bioterrorism Prevention, Preparedness and Response,” a forum organized for members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Parliamentary Assembly (PA) to raise global awareness of the importance of biopreparedness. The visiting delegation is composed of parliamentarians from Canada, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, Sweden, Slovenia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

“Emergent commends NATO parliamentarians for advancing the international dialogue on biopreparedness,” said Allen Shofe, senior vice president public affairs, Emergent BioSolutions. “We are pleased to share our knowledge based on Emergent’s extensive experience in the development, manufacture, and delivery of medical countermeasures that are critical to the U.S. government’s biodefense infrastructure.”

The forum features biodefense expert Dr. Robert Kadlec, Director of PRTM Biodefense and Public Health Practice, who will discuss the United States’ approach to bioterrorism prevention, including best practices and strategies such as funding, development, and manufacture of biodefense medical countermeasures, creation of strategic stockpiles, and cooperation within the international community.

Emergent BioSolutions’ senior management team, headed by Daniel J. Abdun-Nabi, President and Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Tevi Troy, Senior Visiting Fellow at the Hudson Institute and former Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Barry Kellman, President of the International Security and Biopolicy Institute (ISBI) are among the attendees. The forum is taking place in Washington, D.C.

About Emergent BioSolutions Inc.

Emergent BioSolutions Inc., led by Chairman and CEO Fuad El-Hibri, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacture and commercialization of vaccines and antibody therapies that assist the body’s immune system to prevent or treat disease. Emergent’s marketed product, BioThrax(R) (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed), is the only vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of anthrax infection. Emergent’s product pipeline targets infectious diseases and includes programs focused on anthrax, tuberculosis, typhoid, flu and chlamydia. Additional information may be found at www.emergentbiosolutions.com.

About the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is the inter-parliamentary organization of legislators from the member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance as well as 14 associate members. The Assembly provides a critical forum for international parliamentary dialogue on an array of security, political and economic matters. For more information, visit www.nato-pa.int.

Enhanced by Zemanta

500 Most Influential Muslims: Science and Technology

The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talaal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre published its first edition in what promises to be an annual series of insight into the movers and shakers of the Muslim world. Entitled The 500 Most Influential Muslims 2009, the book categorizes Muslims’ influential capacities into 15 categories: scholarly , political, administrative, lineage, preachers, women, youth, philanthropy, development, science and technology, arts and culture, Qu’ran reciters, media, radicals, international Islamic networks and issues of the day. As part of an ongoing series each week those receiving mention in North America will be highlighted. This week those who seem to have influence in Science and Technology will be highlighted. In this category, there are four people honored living in the United States.

Mohamad Chakaki is a founding member of Green Muslims, a Washington, D.C. group that seeks to relate sustainable environmental policy to faith. He works on projects in the US and the Middle East.

Fuad El Hibri is the CEO of Emergent BioSolutions, Inc. BioSolutions is a multinational bio-pharmaceutical company that is the sole-holder of the FDA-approved anthrax vaccine. He is also Chairman of the East West Resources Corporation and Chairman and Treasurer of the El Hibri Charitable Foundation.

Dr. Mehmet Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon recently named one of the sexiest men alive for 2009. A frequent visitor of the Oprah Winfrey show and now host of his own show, he is a professor at Columbia University and leads numerous charities and organizations. He has authored several books on personal health.

Ahmed Zewail is the recipient of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on femotochemistry. He is the Linus Pauling Professor at the California Institute for Technology and was recently asked to serve at President Obama’s invitation as an adviser to the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

For more info: IBSN: 2009-9-4078

Source :
http://www.examiner.com/x-26018-SE-Michigan-Islamic-Examiner~y2009m12d27-500-Most-Influential-Muslims-Science-and-Technology?cid=edition-rss-Detroit


Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Fuad el-Hibri, king of anthrax, wins an award from Ernst & Young

Marie-José Daoud

Awarded the Ernst and Young prize for Entrepreneur of the year 2009 in the Technology category for the Greater Washington region last June, Fuad El-Hibri is the CEO of Emergent Biosolutions, an American company that supplies the anthrax vaccine to the American government. He is in line for the national E&Y 2009 prize, which will be awarded on November 14 in California
He is a tall, imposing and smiling man. He has the assurance of those who are proud of their career and the modesty of those who attribute their success to the staff around them. He has just won the Ernst and Young prize for Entrepreneur of the year 2009 in the Technology category for the Greater Washington region. This prize rewards over 15 years in the biopharmaceutical industry, ten of which have been dedicated to Emergent Biosolutions, the company that supplies the only anthrax vaccine approved by the American government’s powerful Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Fuad El-Hibri landed in biopharmaceuticals somewhat by chance and somewhat by interest. He defines himself as “an entrepreneur in spirit” and, before dedicating himself to biopharmaceuticals, he had already created and sold various telecommunications companies in Russia, Venezuela and El Salvador. In the early 90s, this German native, born to a Lebanese father and a German mother, and who had spent time in the banking industry (Citibank) and consultant (BoozAllen & Hamilton), joins Porton Product, a biotechnology company located in the United Kingdom. There he plays a predominant role in marketing and sales of biodefense vaccines to foreign governments. Hibri is, in particular, a key man behind the purchase by Saudi Arabia of anthrax vaccines during the first Gulf war. This is where he maintains he gained his insight into the magnitude of the need for medical solutions to combat bioterrorism. In 1994, he organized the buy-back of Porton Products by its managers, before reselling his shares in 1996 (the price is not known).

In 1998, an opportunity opened up for him to buy BioThrax in competitive bidding, the only anti-anthrax vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration, until then owned by the State of Michigan. So he creates BioPort, obtains American nationality . in 1999, wins the bidding (approximately 24 million dollars) and finds himself at the head of a company with 170 employees, and develops a product: BioThrax.

Hibri has in fact the advantage of a monopoly situation since he is the only supplier of the American government who buys millions of doses of BioThrax per year from him to vaccinate its servicemen and to maintain a stock in case of bioterrorist attack. A situation which fuels all the controversies, as proved by the frenzied comments posted on the Internet.

Once BioPort is consolidated, and to diversify his portfolio, Hibri buys several biotechnology companies. In 2003, BioPort buys Antex, an American company working on the development of a vaccine against chlamydia. In 2005, the company, which in the meantime has become Emergent Biosolutions, acquired Microscience, an English company which had invested in research on hepatitis B and typhoid. In 2006, it purchased VIVACS, a German company specialized in research on the influenza vaccine. In 2008, it does a joint venture with Oxford University (among others) to develop a vaccine against tuberculosis.

Today, Emergent is at the head of a developing portfolio of vaccines and treatments against seven diseases which could bring in “hundreds of millions of dollars per year” when the products are on the market, according to Hibri. Four of these should be on the market within four to seven years. Most of these products have the specific feature of only requiring two technologies that the company has: a technology for vaccines given orally and another for vaccines administered by injection. “Which leads to major synergies enabling substantial cost savings to be made,” explains Hibri. But Emergent is in direct competition with large pharmaceutical laboratories such as Sanofi, Novartis and Roche on the development of these treatments and vaccines, of more commercial use than BioThrax. Furthermore, even with anthrax, Emergent will probably have to face competition from other biotechnology laboratories, like PharmAthene and Cangene, who are currently in the development phase of vaccines and treatment against the bacterium. In the meantime, to meet increasing demand from the American government, and that of other foreign governments who fill out its client portfolio, Emergent has recently invested in its BioThrax production capacity: it has gone from a capacity of three million doses per year to eight million and is currently validating a new factory in Michigan which can produce up to 40 million doses per year.

Today, eleven years after acquiring BioThrax, the latter, still provides the bulk of the company’s turnover (178.6 million dollars in 2008), the other part coming from development contracts with the government and revenue granted by public or private funds.

Anthrax

Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis.

Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic animals but it can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or tissue from infected animals.

The disease is transmitted by spores, or contaminated hide, but not from human to human. Cultivation of the bacterium and spores are relatively easy in a laboratory, which makes it an ideal biological weapon.

The company has 600 employees and has been quoted on the New York stock exchange since 2006, with a capitalization of 500 million dollars. Hibri, his family and his management staff keep control of the company with over half of the capital. Emergent has a presence in the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, China and Germany. And for seven years, between 2000 and 2007, it has experienced uninterrupted growth.

This is partially why the E&Y prize was awarded to Hibri. Other criteria were also taken into account: his ability to inspire his staff, who, he himself acknowledges are “dedicated and motivated”; and his philanthropic involvement in numerous charity organizations, among which the El-Hibri Charitable Foundation, created by his father, that among other things finances the Dar Al-Aytam orphanage in Lebanon.

www.emergentbiosolutions.com

Bad News Clouds Two Bio Defense Stocks

Written by Staff and Wire Reports
Tuesday, 08 December 2009 01:28

Key news developments will affect shares of these two companies who help meet the critical needs of the United States and its allies by developing and commercializing medical countermeasures against biological and chemical weapons.

The two companies which waited until late after hours on Monday to announce that the Biomedical Research and Development Authority had informed them of some negative news.

After hours on Monday, PharmAthene, Inc. (NYSE Amex: PIP) a biodefense company specializing in the development and commercialization of medical countermeasures against chemical and biological threats, announced that the Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has canceled its request for proposal (RFP) for Recombinant Protective Antigen Anthrax Vaccine for the Strategic National Stockpile (RFP BARDA 08-15).

PharmAthene was informed of BARDA’s decision during a meeting late Monday afternoon with BARDA representatives.  BARDA issued a press release after the close of the securities markets announcing that it will cancel RFP BARDA 08-15 because it did not believe vaccine developers submitting proposals in response to the request for proposal (RFP) could have product ready for FDA licensure within 8 years.

In similar news

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) announced today that it has been advised by the Office of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) that the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement of rPA vaccines has been cancelled in favor of a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for rPA vaccine development. According to BARDA officials, BARDA took this action after a technical evaluation panel determined that none of the vaccine developers submitting proposals could meet the Project BioShield statutory requirement of having a product ready for licensure within 8 years.

Simultaneously, BARDA issued an amendment to BAA 09-34 to enable companies to submit proposals to obtain development funding for rPA vaccine candidates. The due date for all proposals is February 1, 2010. During a meeting with company officials today, BARDA strongly encouraged Emergent to submit a proposal to this BAA. Emergent intends to submit its proposal by the end of this year.

While the decision by BARDA has no impact on the company’s $400 million procurement contract with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the manufacture and delivery of 14.5 million doses of BioThrax® into the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). Investors are still likely to react negatively to the news.

After selling dies down, there may be a bounce trade opportunity for EBS followers since the company feels that “BioThrax remains a critical and long-term countermeasure for the US government,” said Fuad El-Hibri, chairman and chief executive officer of Emergent BioSolutions. “In addition, based upon encouragement by the USG, we believe our rPA vaccine is well-positioned to obtain a development contract under this BAA. Our anthrax franchise solidifies Emergent as a leader in the development and supply of anthrax medical countermeasures.”

Source :: http://biomedreports.com/articles/most-popular/20870-bad-news-clouds-move-in-on-these-stocks.html

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Emergent BioSolutions Buys Rival Vaccine for $2 Million

Lansing-based Emergent BioSolutions picked up its U.S. rival’s anthrax vaccination technology for $2 million, strengthening the company’s ability to make a second anthrax vaccination.

According to excerpts from the article:

In Lansing, the acquisition of VaxGen Inc.’s vaccine could add a second product line at a new plant.

Based in Rockville, Md., Emergent currently makes the BioThrax vaccine in Lansing.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is expected to seek 25 million doses of such a vaccine later this year, Emergent said.

“We felt this was the right opportunity for our company at the right time,” Emergent Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Fuad El-Hibri said in the company’s announcement.

Emergent BioSolutions Celebrates Initial Public Offering; CEO To Ring Opening Bell on the NYSE

21 November, 2006 GAITHERSBURG, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 21, 2006–Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS), a biopharmaceutical company that develops vaccines and therapeutics for biodefense and commercial applications and manufactures the only anthrax vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), today announced it will be celebrating the Company’s recently completed initial public offering with the ringing of the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange by Fuad El-Hibri, chairman and chief executive officer, on Wednesday November 22, 2006. “Throughout the Company’s history, our people, science and technology have contributed significantly to safeguarding millions of military personnel and the general population through the delivery of a safe and effective countermeasure against the threat of anthrax infection,” said Mr. El-Hibri.

“Tomorrow’s ringing of the opening bell is an opportunity to celebrate our Company and our achievements thus far, while acknowledging the commitment and support of our employees, customers and, now, investors who continue to drive our success.” Emergent BioSolutions’ common stock began trading on November 15, 2006 under the symbol EBS. Emergent is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacture and commercialization of immunobiotics, such as vaccines and immune globulins, that induce or assist the body’s immune system to prevent or treat disease. The Company operates in two business segments: biodefense and commercial. In its biodefense business, the Company develops and commercializes immunobiotics for use against biological agents that are potential weapons of bioterrorism.

In its commercial business, the Company develops immunobiotics for use against infectious diseases with significant unmet or underserved medical needs. The Company’s marketed product, BioThrax(R) (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed), is the only vaccine approved by the FDA for the prevention of anthrax infection. For more information about BioThrax, please review the package insert located on the Company’s website www.emergentbiosolutions.com. In addition to BioThrax(R), the Company’s biodefense product portfolio includes three biodefense product candidates in preclinical development and a next generation anthrax vaccine program with product candidates in preclinical and Phase I clinical development. The Company’s commercial product portfolio includes a typhoid vaccine candidate and a hepatitis B therapeutic vaccine candidate, both of which are in Phase II clinical development, one vaccine candidate in Phase I clinical development and two vaccine candidates in preclinical development.

Safe Harbor Statement This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management and any other statements containing the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “estimates” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause Emergent’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including our plans for future sales of BioThrax; our plans to pursue label expansions and improvements for BioThrax; our plans to expand our manufacturing facilities and capabilities; the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of our products; our ongoing and planned development programs; preclinical studies and clinical trials; our ability to identify and acquire or in license products and product candidates that satisfy our selection criteria; the potential benefits of our existing collaboration agreements and our ability to enter into selective additional collaboration arrangements; the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our product candidates; our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; our intellectual property portfolio; and our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; and other factors identified in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release. www.emergentbiosolutions.com

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

EMERGENT BIOSOLUTIONS RECEIVES DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT FROM NIAID/BARDA TO FUND CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF ANTHRAX THERAPEUTIC

$9.5 million development contract to fund non-clinical and clinical studies of anthrax immune globulin (AIG) over next 24 months

ROCKVILLE, MD., September 27, 2007—Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) announced today that it has received a development contract, valued at up to $9.5 million, in support of non-clinical and clinical studies of the company’s anthrax therapeutic, or AIG, product candidate.  This product candidate is an immune globulin being developed as an intravenous therapeutic for treatment of patients who present with symptoms of anthrax disease following exposure to anthrax.

This development contract has been funded in whole or in part from Federal funds from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under Contract No. HHSN272200700034C.

Fuad El-Hibri, chairman and chief executive officer of Emergent BioSolutions, stated, “We are very pleased to have continuing support for AIG from NIAID and BARDA and commend the leadership throughout HHS for their commitment to funding the development of effective medical countermeasures against this deadly biological agent.  With the continued development funding of our AIG candidate, in conjunction with the $448 million contract with HHS announced yesterday regarding procurement of 18.75 million doses of our BioThrax anthrax vaccine for the strategic national stockpile, we are very encouraged by the government’s support of our anthrax franchise.  We look forward to continuing to be a leading participant in the U.S. government’s effort to build a robust domestic biodefense industry.”

Under terms of the development award, the funds will be used to conduct various studies on AIG, including (i) non-clinical studies in support of efficacy; and (ii) a Phase I/II clinical study to evaluate pharmacokinetics and safety.  Previously, in August 2006 the company received $3.9 million from NIAID in support of the company’s AIG program.  When combined with the $9.5 million under this new development award, the total amount of government funding for AIG to date is over $13 million.

About Anthrax Immune Globulin (AIG)

Emergent BioSolutions’ anthrax immune globulin (AIG) is being developed as an intravenous therapeutic for treatment of patients who present with symptoms of anthrax disease resulting from the release of anthrax toxins into the body and for whom the use of the vaccine is no longer an effective option.  If successfully developed, AIG could be prescribed for administration in these circumstances either as a monotherapy or in conjunction with an antibiotic.

AIG is being developed using plasma collected from healthy donors who have been vaccinated with BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed), Emergent BioSolutions’ anthrax vaccine, which is the only vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of anthrax infection.

The company has collected a sufficient amount of plasma to initiate manufacturing of AIG under cGMP using a validated and approved process.  This manufacturing process entails fractionating the plasma and purifying the immune globulin.  The company has signed an exclusive license with Talecris Biotherapeutics, Inc., a North Carolina-based biopharmaceutical company and leading fractionation provider, to fractionate, purify and fill AIG at Talecris’ FDA-approved facilities.  To date, the first full-scale lot of AIG has been manufactured under cGMP requirements at Talecris.  The company has scheduled plans to complete a second full-scale lot of AIG.

About Emergent BioSolutions Inc.

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to one simple mission—to protect life.  We develop, manufacture and commercialize immunobiotics, consisting of vaccines and therapeutics that assist the body’s immune system to prevent or treat disease.  Our biodefense business focuses on immunobiotics for use against biological agents that are potential weapons of bioterrorism and biowarfare.  Our marketed product, BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed), is the only vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of anthrax infection.  Our commercial business focuses on immunobiotics for use against infectious diseases and other medical conditions that have resulted in significant unmet or underserved public health needs.  More information on the company is available at www.emergentbiosolutions.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, including our performance under our contract with HHS and future payments from HHS to us under the contract, and any other statements containing the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “estimates” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including our plans to expand our manufacturing facilities and capabilities; the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of our products; our ongoing and planned development programs, preclinical studies and clinical trials; our ability to identify and acquire or in license products and product candidates that satisfy our selection criteria; the potential benefits of our existing collaboration agreements and our ability to enter into selective additional collaboration arrangements; the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our product candidates; our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; our intellectual property portfolio; our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; and other factors identified in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

EMERGENT BIOSOLUTIONS SIGNS $448 MILLION THREE YEAR CONTRACT WITH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

ROCKVILLE, MD, September 26, 2007—Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS), announced today that it has signed a three year contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with a total value of up to $448 million.  Components of the contract include:

(i)           $400 million firm fixed-price for delivery of 18.75 million doses of BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed) for inclusion in the strategic national stockpile (SNS);

(ii)          $34 million for receipt of regulatory approval of 4-year expiry dating for BioThrax payable through a combination of a lump-sum payment reflecting a price per dose increase for certain doses delivered prior to approval and an increase in the per dose price to be paid for doses delivered following approval;

(iii)         up to $11.5 million in milestone payments in connection with advancement towards a post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) indication for BioThrax; and,

(iv)         $2.2 million for logistics services and other related support.

The Company anticipates making deliveries for approximately 6 million doses under this contract by year-end 2007.  As a result, the company reaffirms its expectation for full year total revenue growth of 10 to 15 percent, with a bias toward the upper end of the range, and full year positive net earnings.

Fuad El-Hibri, chairman and chief executive officer of Emergent BioSolutions, stated, “We are honored to continue our longstanding relationship with HHS to provide BioThrax as a critical component of our nation’s biodefense stockpile.  I applaud the dedication and professionalism of the senior leadership within HHS and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in completing this important step towards enhancing our domestic biodefense infrastructure.  Emergent BioSolutions remains dedicated to working with various government agencies in their commitment to procure medical countermeasures as a primary element of establishing the highest possible levels of biopreparedness.”

Under terms of the contract, HHS will purchase from the company an aggregate of 18.75 million doses of BioThrax through September 2010, for a firm, fixed-price of $400 million.  In the event the company receives U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the company’s pending supplement to its biologics license application (BLA) to extend the shelf life of BioThrax from three years to four years, the company will receive a lump sum payment reflecting a price per dose increase for certain doses delivered prior to approval and an increase in the price per dose to be paid for doses delivered following the date of approval, with a total value of approximately $34 million.  If FDA approval of 4-year expiry dating is not received during the term of the contract, the company will not be entitled to receive any of the $34 million.  The company submitted its supplement for 4-year expiry dating to the FDA in December 2006 and has been providing additional information to the agency in support of its application.

Under the contract, HHS will also provide up to $11.5 million in connection with advancing the company’s program to obtain a PEP indication for BioThrax.  The PEP indication, which would expand the use of BioThrax beyond the current pre-exposure prophylaxis indication, is designed to permit the administration of BioThrax in combination with antibiotics following exposure to anthrax.  These funds are payable upon the company’s achievement of specific program milestones.  The company anticipates that it will receive $8.8 million of this amount in the fourth quarter of 2007.

In addition, under the contract the company has agreed to provide all shipping services related to delivery of doses into the SNS over the contract term, and will receive payment of an additional $2.2 million.

The contract has been funded with Federal funding through the Project BioShield Special Reserve Fund, which was created by an act of Congress in May 2004.

Previously, Emergent BioSolutions has provided 10 million doses of BioThrax to HHS for inclusion in the SNS under a May 2005 supply agreement for 5 million doses valued at $123 million and a May 2006 contract modification for an additional 5 million doses valued at $120 million.

Conference Call & Webcast

Company management will host a conference call at 9:00 am Eastern today, September 26, 2007 to discuss this announcement.  Interested parties may participate in the live teleconference by dialing 866/383-8008 or 617/597-5341 or via a webcast accessible at www.emergentbiosolutions.com, under “Investors”.  A replay of the teleconference will be available on the company website or by dialing 888/286-8010 or 617/801-6888 and using the passcode 61817264, approximately one hour after the teleconference concludes.  The replay will be available through October 10, 2007.

About BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed)

BioThrax is the only FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of anthrax infection.  It is approved by the FDA as a pre-exposure prophylaxis for use in adults who are at high risk of exposure to anthrax spores.  BioThrax is manufactured from a culture filtrate, made from a non-virulent strain of Baccillus anthracis and contains no dead or live bacteria.  BioThrax is administered by subcutaneous injection in three initial doses followed by three additional doses, with an annual booster dose recommended thereafter.  Since 1998, approximately 20 million doses of BioThrax have been procured by the U.S. government.  During that time period, over 6.5 million doses have been administered to over 1.6 million military personnel.  BioThrax cannot cause anthrax infection.

About Emergent BioSolutions Inc.

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to one simple mission—to protect life.  We develop, manufacture and commercialize immunobiotics, consisting of vaccines and therapeutics that assist the body’s immune system to prevent or treat disease.  Our biodefense business focuses on immunobiotics for use against biological agents that are potential weapons of bioterrorism and biowarfare.  Our marketed product, BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed), is the only vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of anthrax infection.  Our commercial business focuses on immunobiotics for use against infectious diseases and other medical conditions that have resulted in significant unmet or underserved public health needs.  More information on the company is available at www.emergentbiosolutions.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, including our performance under our contract with HHS and future payments from HHS to us under the contract, and any other statements containing the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “estimates” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including our plans to expand our manufacturing facilities and capabilities; the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of our products; our ongoing and planned development programs, preclinical studies and clinical trials; our ability to identify and acquire or in license products and product candidates that satisfy our selection criteria; the potential benefits of our existing collaboration agreements and our ability to enter into selective additional collaboration arrangements; the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our product candidates; our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; our intellectual property portfolio; our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; and other factors identified in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

HHS Requires Bidders in Competitive Range for Recombinant Anthrax Vaccine (rPA) Contract to Submit Development Plan to FDA for Review

ROCKVILLE, Md.-(Business Wire)-April 16, 2009 – Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) announced today that late on April 15th, HHS requested that each bidder in the competitive range for the rPA contract submit its product development plans to FDA for review in advance of an award. Emergent had already requested and is presently scheduling a meeting with the FDA as part of its pre-award activity. The Company intends to incorporate any FDA comments into its rPA development plan. Emergent will continue to move its rPA program forward to position the company to execute on the anticipated contract, once awarded.

“We strongly support this step by HHS, which potentially reduces development risk for our rPA vaccine candidate. We remain confident that we are well-positioned and competitive to receive any award granted by HHS for the development and procurement of the rPA vaccine. We look forward to continuing our long-standing relationship with the US Government as the proven and preeminent supplier of medical countermeasures to protect our nation,” said Fuad El-Hibri, chairman and chief executive officer of Emergent BioSolutions.

As with any government solicitation of this size and scope, there are no assurances that HHS will not impose additional requirements, which may further extend contract negotiations.

This action has no impact on the company’s existing contracts with HHS to supply BioThrax®, the only FDA licensed anthrax vaccine, for the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). This year Emergent is completing the delivery of 18.75 million doses of BioThrax for inclusion in the SNS. Also this year, following the completion of that delivery, Emergent will begin to supply HHS with an additional 14.5 million doses of BioThrax under a follow-on contract. The total value of these two procurement contracts with HHS for BioThrax exceeds $800 million.

About Emergent BioSolutions Inc.

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacture and commercialization of vaccines and therapeutics that assist the body’s immune system to prevent or treat disease. Emergent’s marketed product, BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed), is the only vaccine licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of anthrax. Emergent’s development pipeline includes programs focused on anthrax, botulism, tuberculosis, typhoid, hepatitis B and chlamydia. Additional information may be found at www.emergentbiosolutions.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, including any potential future securities offering, and any other statements containing the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including the success of our clinical programs; our plans to expand our manufacturing facilities and capabilities; the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of our products; the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our other product candidates; our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; and other factors identified in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

EMERGENT BIOSOLUTIONS ANNOUNCES DR. STEPHEN LOCKHART JOINS COMPANY TO LEAD COMMERCIAL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SUBSIDIARY

Dr. Lockhart Brings Top-Tier Pharma Leadership to Development of Company’s Commercial Product Portfolio

ROCKVILLE, MD, October 18, 2007—Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) announced today that Dr. Stephen Lockhart has been appointed President, Emergent Product Development UK.  Dr. Lockhart will be based at the company’s office located in Wokingham, England, and his responsibilities will include providing oversight, leadership, direction and execution of development programs in both the United Kingdom and Germany.  These programs include, among others, the following product candidates: a single-dose oral typhoid vaccine that recently completed a Phase II clinical trial; a drinkable Hepatitis B therapeutic vaccine in a Phase II clinical trial; and a group B streptococcal vaccine candidate that completed a Phase I clinical study and for which further clinical studies are being planned in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Dr. Lockhart to the company,” said Fuad El-Hibri, chairman and chief executive officer of Emergent BioSolutions.  “We are very fortunate to have someone at the helm of our commercial product development efforts with such broad and varied expertise in vaccinology, as well as an intimate understanding of the critical elements involved in the biopharmaceutical industry.  His experience in bringing vaccines through clinical development and regulatory approval makes him ideally suited to lead our commercial product development programs.”

Dr. Lockhart has over fifteen years of experience in vaccine development and most recently was Assistant Vice President and Global Head of Bacterial Vaccine Clinical R&D at Wyeth.  Prior to joining Wyeth in 1990, Dr. Lockhart served as a Medical Adviser with Janssen Pharmaceutical from 1986-1989.

“I am pleased to be joining Emergent BioSolutions and am particularly excited about leading product development for such a diverse portfolio,” said Dr. Lockhart.  “The success of our efforts will potentially help millions of people and I am eager to apply my years of experience towards this exciting portfolio and the mission of the company,” he continued.

Dr. Lockhart is an internationally recognized leader in vaccine-related product development and has been the recipient of multiple awards.  He accepted the Prix Galien, a renowned award given for excellence in pharmaceutical innovation, on behalf of Wyeth in both 2000 and 2005 and received the Wyeth Research President’s Award in 2000 for leading the development of Meningitec, a meningitis C vaccine.

Dr. Lockhart has an MA from Cambridge University and received his advanced medical and research degrees from Oxford University.  In 1983 he became a Member of the Royal College of Physicians and in 1988 received his Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine.  After becoming a Member for the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine in 1991, Dr. Lockhart was inducted as a Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine in 2003.

About Emergent BioSolutions Inc.

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to one simple mission—to protect life.  We develop, manufacture and commercialize immunobiotics, consisting of vaccines and therapeutics that assist the body’s immune system to prevent or treat disease.  Our biodefense business focuses on immunobiotics for use against biological agents that are potential weapons of bioterrorism and biowarfare.  Our marketed product, BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed), is the only vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of anthrax infection.  Our commercial business focuses on immunobiotics for use against infectious diseases and other medical conditions that have resulted in significant unmet or underserved public health needs.  More information on the company is available at www.emergentbiosolutions.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, including any statements containing the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “estimates” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including the execution of our strategy by our executive team; our plans to expand our manufacturing facilities and capabilities; the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of our products; our ongoing and planned development programs, preclinical studies and clinical trials; our ability to identify and acquire or in license products and product candidates that satisfy our selection criteria; the potential benefits of our existing collaboration agreements and our ability to enter into selective additional collaboration arrangements; the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our product candidates; our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; our intellectual property portfolio; and other factors identified in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]