BARDA awards contract to BioFactura for smallpox treatment

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) awarded a $67 million contract to BioFactura for the advanced development of its Smallpox Biodefense Therapeutic to treat smallpox.

While smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980, the threat of bioterrorism remains. To fill the need for additional treatment options, BioFactura is advancing the development of its monoclonal antibody-based Smallpox Biodefense Therapeutic. It brings a different mechanism of action to the current stockpile to guard against potential host resistance.

“This advanced research and development contract award marks the culmination of decades of discovery and development work performed by our team, our partners at the National Institutes of Health and our principal government collaborator Dr. Jay Hooper at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. We look forward to working with BARDA in this new chapter of product development as we bring an important defense to our citizens,” Darryl Sampey, president and CEO of BioFactura, said

This project is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and BARDA.

“This government contract for the development of a novel smallpox therapeutic countermeasure is the result of years of cutting edge biotechnology research, the perseverance of forward-thinking scientific entrepreneurs, the risk appetite of loyal investors, and the dedication of the Department of HHS/BARDA to maintain the safety and security of the United States population,” Jeffrey Hausfeld, chief medical officer and chairman at BioFactura, said. “It is truly an evolving American success story and one which as a physician and Chairman of the Board of BioFactura, I am proud to be a part of.”