DHHS sponsors Siga Technologies effort to create intravenous version of smallpox drug

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is sponsoring Siga Technologies on its development of an intravenous formulation of TPOXX — a smallpox antiviral medication of which DHHS is currently purchasing additional doses.

“We want to save as many lives as possible after a bioterrorism incident involving smallpox, and an IV treatment is essential given that smallpox can damage the throat, making it difficult or impossible to swallow pills,” Rick Bright, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Director, said. “This latest agreement with Siga represents an important step in improving our nation’s health security.”

Under the arrangement reached in this public-private partnership, Siga will conduct the late-stage development and manufacturing work meant to prepare this drug for its IV version. The contract can be extended for up to 10 years, however, and a total of $629 million, if that is what is needed to see it done. Siga will also manufacture and deliver 23,000 additional doses of TPOXX’s normal pill form to BARDA.

TPOXX is the first approved drug treatment for smallpox in the world. It is being purchased through funding from the Project BioShield Special Reserve Fund.