HHS Modifies Contract With DVC and Baxter

Computer Sciences Corp.’s DynPort Vaccine Co. (DVC) and Baxter have received a $201.2 million contract modification from the HHS for the development of Baxter’s cell-cultured seasonal and pandemic influenza candidate vaccines.

The contract funds development of the seasonal influenza vaccine through FDA licensure and the pandemic vaccine candidate through Phase II adult trials and pediatric Phase I trials.

DVC is providing overall management of the trials, and Baxter is developing and manufacturing the candidate vaccines.

DVC and Baxter vaccinated the first volunteers Nov. 26 of a Phase III trial in healthy adults using the seasonal vaccine candidate and plan to enroll patients in a Phase I clinical trial for a pandemic influenza clade 2 strain vaccine candidate in 2008, Computer Sciences said.