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Government obtains new anthrax vaccine

Infection Control Monitor, November 12, 2004

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded a contract for $877.5 million to VaxGen, Inc., to manufacture and deliver 75 million doses of a new anthrax vaccine. The full supply of the vaccine will be added to the Strategic National Stockpile and would be used to protect the public against a terrorist attack in which anthrax spores were released.

VaxGen, based in Brisbane, CA, will produce the new anthrax vaccine using purified recombinant protective antigen (rPA), a protein that elicits antibodies that neutralize anthrax toxins, thus providing protective immunity. Evidence from laboratory and animal research has shown that the rPA vaccine is effective in providing protection against aerosol exposure to deadly anthrax spores.  In addition, clinical testing has shown the rPA vaccine to be safe in humans.

Researchers are evaluating the vaccine as a three-dose vaccination series. Based on 75 million doses, this regimen would provide sufficient anthrax vaccine to protect 25 million people. The contract awarded today requires VaxGen to obtain U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for using the new vaccine in both pre- and post-anthrax exposure settings.

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