Thursday, October 9, 2008 - 10:06 AM EDT
Baltimore Business Journal - by Tucker Echols Contributor
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. has been shielded from lawsuits related to its profitable anthrax treatments.
The Rockville-based biotech said Thursday its anthrax treatments, the vaccine Biothrax and its Anthrax Immune Globulin, have been designated as covered countermeasures to a public health emergency under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act. The act provides liability protection to manufacturers to encourage them to seek defenses for severe health risks like anthrax.
Emergent said the Secretary of Health and Human Services has declared that anthrax and the resulting disease constitutes a public health emergency. The declaration, and by extension the liability protection, will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2015.
BioThrax is the only vaccine licensed by the Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of anthrax infection. Last week, Emergent won a second order from HHS of 14.5 million doses of Biothrax worth as much as $404 million. The government’s first order of 19.75 million doses of Biothrax is currently being filled and should earn Emergent $448 million.
Hmmm... billions of dollars at stake. . .
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