U.S. government exercises option for more doses of Emergent BioSolutions’ AV7909 anthrax vaccine
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) exercised its first $261 million contract option with Emergent BioSolutions Inc. to procure its next-generation anthrax vaccine known as AV7909 for delivery into the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) over 12 months, the company... Read More »
Coast Guard to conduct active shooter drill
As a means of simulating a full-scale response to a large-scale attack, the Coast Guard and local officials slated an active shooter drill at the Port of New Orleans Cruise Terminal on Wednesday. The effort will involve coordination between the U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation,... Read More »
GAO issues nuclear security program recommendations
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) five recommendations as a means of addressing nuclear security program concerns. The IAEA executes its nuclear security program under its Division of Nuclear Security through four subprograms,... Read More »
Raytheon, DARPA conclude design review of hypersonic Tactical Boost Glide system
A new weapon has moved closer to readiness, following completion of a successful baseline design review by defense contractor Raytheon Company and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The Tactical Boost Glide system, as it is known, is a boost glide weapon -- meaning it uses a... Read More »
Sens. Van Hollen, Rubio urge measures to protect U.S. elections from foreign interference
U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) are encouraging the leadership of the Senate and House Armed Services Committee to include the DETER Act in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report. The Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing... Read More »
Sens. Markey, Lee seek report on biometric identification technology
Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Mike Lee (R-UT) recently called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide Congress with the status of an overdue biometric identification technology report. Under the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2018, DHS was required to... Read More »
Lawmakers urge investment for Valley Fever drug, vaccine development
Legislators have requested Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) include Valley Fever in the Tropical Disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV) Program. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) spearheaded a recent effort to forward correspondence to HHS Secretary Alex Azar... Read More »
DARPA contracts Battelle for development of quick WMD-exposure test
Global research and development company Battelle officially signed onto the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA’s) Epigenetic Characterization and Observation (ECHO) program this week, to develop a quick and mobile means of identifying those touched by weapons of mass destruction... Read More »
Reps. McCaul, Engel introduce bill to support Global Fund to fight AIDs and other diseases
Legislation to provide financial support to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last week. The Global Fund was established in 2002 to raise money to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Contributions by the United States... Read More »
SIGA awarded contract from U.S. Department of Defense to expand use of smallpox drug
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded SIGA Technologies a contract valued at up to $19.5 million, with an initial award of $12.4 million, to advance work that could provide a label expansion for TPOXX, a drug used to treat smallpox. This multi-year contract, which was announced this... Read More »
U.S. government clears commercial medical product for use on mustard gas injuries
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently cleared the first use of a commercially available product to manage blister injuries caused by sulfur mustard, otherwise known as mustard gas. Silverlon, a silver-plated nylon dressing, is used widely to aid in the management of acute skin wounds... Read More »
CEPI partners with Valneva to develop Chikungunya vaccine
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is partnering with biotech company Valneva to fund the development of a single-dose vaccine for the disease Chikungunya. Chikungunya is spread by the bites of infected female Aedes mosquitoes. It causes fever, severe joint pain, muscle... Read More »
Consortium awarded contract to train first responders
University of Maryland’s National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) recently was awarded a contract to train fire intelligence officers and senior leaders within the National Capital Region. The training will be through the Department of Homeland... Read More »
GAO offers cybersecurity suggestions for federal agencies
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a series of recommendations to federal agencies as a means of assisting with methods of addressing accompanying challenges. The GAO outlined 57 recommendations to the 23 agencies and one to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in... Read More »