BARDA calls for proposals to develop new late-stage antibiotics capable of negating antibiotic resistance

In support of the federal Project BioShield incentivization effort, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) recently launched a Request for Proposals for late-stage development, approval, and procurement of an antibiotic capable of overcoming resistance.

Antibiotic-resistant pathogens and their potential to transfer resistance genes to even greater biothreats are considered among the highest modern health threats. Therefore, BARDA’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Medical Countermeasures Division wants to help small business sources pursue new antibiotics for marketing and use against infections from one or more of the following pathogens: Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, and Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Funding for applications will be pulled from the Project BioShield Act of 2004, which formed BioShield to incentivize private industry through research and development of critically needed medical countermeasures, manufacturing, and procurement. Preference will be given to products that expand existing U.S. preparedness. However, all applicants must have received marketing authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration within the last decade or have reached Phase 3 clinical development for a commercial or biothreat indication.

Proposals are due on April 6, 2022.