HHS announces purchase of anthrax antitoxin to enhance national biomedical preparedness

In an effort to bolster national biomedical preparedness efforts, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness Response (ASPR) announced Monday the purchase of the anthrax treatment Anthim for $25.2 million.

Developed through a public-private partnership between Elusys Therapeutics and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the antibody-based therapeutic Anthim can compliment anthrax antibiotics by neutralizing toxins produced by bacteria that causes anthrax disease.

“Protecting the American people from 21st-century threats, such as anthrax, remains a high priority for the department,” Robert Kadlec, the assistant secretary for preparedness and response at HHS, said. “This procurement under Project BioShield ensures we continue to have treatment options for people exposed to anthrax and increases the number of courses available in an emergency.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Anthim, also called obiltoxaximab, for the treatment of inhalational anthrax in March 2016. BARDA used Project BioShield funds to first delivered Anthim to the strategic national stockpile that same year.

“HHS’ comprehensive approach to meet immediate public health needs in an anthrax attack includes the acquisition of vaccines, antibiotics and therapeutics,” an ASPR release stated. “While antibiotics can be effective in treating bacteria like anthrax, antibody-based therapeutics treat the toxins released by the anthrax bacteria that lead to illness and death.”