COMPANY DELIVERS 1 MILLION DOSES OF ANTHRAX VACCINE TO HHS

Emergent BioSolutions announced it has delivered nearly 1 million doses of BioThrax, the only FDA-approved anthrax vaccine, to HHS for placement into the U.S. strategic national stockpile. The doses were provided to HHS ahead of schedule under a modified contract that required the company to deliver 5 million doses before May 31. Since May 2005 the company has supplied 10 million doses of BioThrax (anthrax vaccine adsorbed) to HHS.

"Having fully satisfied our existing contractual obligations to HHS, we are now prepared to assist the agency in fulfilling its previously announced requirement for 75 million doses of anthrax vaccine," Fuad El-Hibri, chairman and CEO of Emergent BioSolutions, said.

The company also announced that the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has cancelled its solicitation for bids that it sought under a request for proposals for a third-generation anthrax vaccine.

"Emergent BioSolutions remains committed to developing biodefense countermeasures, including anthrax vaccines and immune globulins," El-Hibri said. "This cancellation from NIAID does not diminish that commitment."