Bolstering what could become the first antibiotic developed and acquired by Project BioShield to treat drug-resistant bioterrorism agents, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) intends to supply up to $169 million to Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. over the next five years.
The funding will be put toward the advanced development of an existing antibiotic — NUZYRA — to help it treat exposure to inhalational anthrax. Efforts would expand the drug’s use in a way that would allow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to consider emergency use authorization for NUZYRA on those exposed to the deadly infection. Currently, NUZYRA is approved for use in intravenous and oral tablet forms for use on bacterial pneumonia and acute skin infections.
“BARDA is committed to ensuring that Americans have access to effective antibiotics in the event of an emergency involving anthrax and during other public health emergencies in which drug-resistant bacterial infections complicate doctors’ ability to treat patients,” Dr. Rick Bright, director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and DHHS deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response, said. “Saving lives after an anthrax attack on our nation means not only having FDA-approved antibiotics readily available to treat anthrax infections but also having products available to combat drug-resistant infections.”
Under the contract, BARDA would supply the funds and technical expertise to Paratek as part of the DHHS. Funds would be used for a variety of studies and manufacturing activities. If the FDA were to authorize NUZYRA for emergency use, BARDA would then move to purchase an initial supply of the drug from Paratek.