FDA Approves Cangene Corporation's Treatment for Botulism
Cangene developed BAT as part of a $427 million contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Under the terms of the contract signed in 2006 between Cangene and BARDA, Cangene will deliver 200,000 doses of BAT to the US Strategic National Stockpile, which was established to provide medicines to the American public in the event of a public health emergency. Cangene began supplying doses of BAT to BARDA under this contract in 2007, and will deliver the remaining doses contracted by 2018. With BAT's licensure by the FDA, the Company will receive a holdback payment from BARDA under the contract of approximately $18.5 million and remaining product deliveries will be paid at full contract price.
John A. Sedor, President and CEO of Cangene, said: "The licensure of BAT is a significant milestone for Cangene as well as the US Government as we work together to ensure preparedness against the threat of botulism. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and BARDA have been excellent development partners, and we are very proud to have received FDA approval for this important countermeasure to naturally occurring botulism and a significant potential bioterrorism threat. We look forward to delivering the remaining BAT doses to BARDA over the coming years and to continuing our successful relationship."
About Botulism Antitoxin (Equine), Heptavalent (A, B, C, D, E, F, G)
Botulism Antitoxin (Equine), Heptavalent (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) is a product that is a purified mixture of polyclonal equine immune globulins (antibodies) with specificity for seven neurotoxin serotypes that can cause botulism. Botulinum toxin is a nerve toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum that causes a serious paralytic illness known as botulism. Naturally occurring cases are mainly seen in infants or in adults who have consumed improperly processed foods or have been colonized through exposure to the bacteria. Due to the extreme potency and potential lethality of Botulinum toxin, it has been identified in the U.S. as one of the highest priority bioterrorism threats. Cangene's BAT has been administered to treat over 200 cases of naturally-occurring, non-infant botulism in the United States since 2009 through the Centre for Disease Control expanded access program.
About Cangene Corporation
Cangene Corporation (CNJ.TO), headquartered in Winnipeg , Canada , is one of the nation's oldest and largest biopharmaceutical companies. It is focused on the development and commercialization of specialty therapeutics. Cangene's products are sold worldwide and include products that have been accepted into the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile. Cangene has offices in three locations across North America . It operates manufacturing facilities in Winnipeg , Manitoba and Baltimore , Maryland (through its wholly owned subsidiary, Cangene bioPharma, Inc.) where it produces its own products and undertakes contract manufacturing for a number of customers. Cangene also operates a plasma-collection facility in Winnipeg , Manitoba under the name Cangene Plasma Resources. Its U.S. sales and marketing office is located in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania. For more information about Cangene, visit the Company's website at www.cangene.com.
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SOURCE: Cangene Corporation
Contact:
Investor Relations Contact
Jeff Lamothe
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: (204) 275-4267
Email: ir@cangene.com