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HHS Buys Additional Anthrax Therapeutic for the SNS

By Michael Mair, July 28, 2006

On July 28, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it had awarded a $143,833,719 contract to Cangene Corporation (Cangene) for the purchase of 10,000 therapeutic courses of Anthrax Immune Globulin (AIG) for the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).[1] According to Cangene, AIG is an “investigational antibody derived from donors immunized with the Anthrax vaccine” that is being developed to be used to treat inhalation anthrax.[2]

On July 28, Cangene announced that deliveries of AIG to the SNS under the contract “will commence in the later part of 2007 and will be completed by the end of 2009."[3] Payment is contingent on delivery of AIG to the SNS and on Cangene receiving authorization for marketing of AIG in the United States from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.[1,3]

This acquisition follows the June 2006 purchase of 20,000 treatment courses of ABthrax^TM, a monoclonal antibody being developed by Human Genome Sciences to treat anthrax.[4]

References

1. HHS to acquire Anthrax Immune Globulin for stockpile. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  July 28, 2006. Available at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20060728.html. Accessed July 28, 2006.
2. Anthrax Immune Globulin. Cangene Corporation. Available at http://www.cangene.com/products-hyperimmunes.htm#Anthrax. Accessed July 28, 2006.
3. U.S. government agrees to purchase U.S.$143 million of anti-anthrax drug from Cangene. Cangene Corporation. July 28, 2006. Available at http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi?rkey=1407282031&view=6128-0&Start=0. Accessed July 28, 2006.
4. HHS to acquire new anthrax therapeutic treatment for stockpile. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. June 20, 2006. Available at  http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20060620.html. Accessed July 28, 2006.