The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) recently updated a broad agency announcement to solicit new medical products capable of diagnosing, preventing, or treating coronavirus infections, with an eye on COVID-19.
BARDA, as part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), made the move this week to help contain the virus’s spread into the country. Advanced development and licensure is being sought for respiratory devices and ventilators, diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics, medications for regulating the immune system, or preventing infections for COVID-19. Currently, no approved treatments for the virus that has caused the epidemic exist, though the Food and Drug Administration has issued emergency use authorization for diagnostic tests from approved sources.
“Amid the expanding global outbreak of COVID-19, Americans need diagnostics, vaccines, and medicines to mitigate the potential impact of this virus,” BARDA Director Rick Bright said. “To accelerate the availability of these lifesaving tools, BARDA took an important step today to request proposals for development of COVID-19 diagnostics, vaccines, or therapeutics, many of which will be developed using existing platform technologies to permit rapid development.”
Funding and support services will be provided to selected projects.