Emergent BioSolutions anthrax vaccine gets boost - Washington Business Journal:

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The Rockville-based company’s BioThrax has been granted a shelf life extension from the from its current three yearwsto four. Under its contracg with the Department of Health and Human the extension triggers a milestone paymentof $30 million for doseas of the vaccine already delivered to the Strategif National Stockpile. Emergent expects to record that paymen as revenuethis quarter. The shelf life extensiohn also allows Emergent to charge more for futured doses of the vaccine deliveresd tothe government’s stockpile. That could raise the value of the contracg to as muchas $405 millio n over the next several years.
Last year, the FDA approved a reducef vaccination schedule tofive doses. Emergent continues researcnh that could lead to a furthefr reduction in the number ofdoses required, as well as the vaccine’s use to treatr patients after being exposed to Anthrax, not just as a pre-exposurs vaccine. Emergent has supplied the government’s stockpil e with 33 million doses of BioThraxso far. It is contractefd to continue adding to stockpiles througylate 2011. BioThrax has been used to vaccinate more than 2 milliob military personnel since the government firstr started buying the vaccinein 1998. Emergeny stock (NYSE: EBS) was up 90 cents to $14.6e3 per share in afternoon trading.