Emergent BioSolutions receives DoD funding for auto-injector

The Department of Defense’s Medical CBRN Defense Consortium (MCDC) awarded $20 million to Emergent BioSolutions Inc. for the development of an auto-injector to treat nerve agent-induced seizures.

The device, which will contain diazepam (5 mg/mL), is being designed for intramuscular buddy-administration for use in military environments and civilian emergencies.

“Emergent is pleased with this follow-on contract, which expands our opportunities to serve the needs of the Department of Defense (DoD) for modern and reliable auto-injectors to protect our military personnel against nerve agents. We are committed to meeting our customers’ high expectations and leverage our more than 20-year history of successfully partnering with governments in addressing public health threats,” Doug White, senior vice president and devices business unit head at Emergent BioSolutions, said.

Through the multi-year agreement, Emergent will develop a device, conduct studies to demonstrate consistent manufacturing, functionality, and usability of the final device, and complete regulatory activities required to obtain approval of the product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The MCDC is a Department of Defense initiative within the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense that provides U.S. military forces with medical solutions to counter chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.