Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Exercises Option With Pfenex Inc. to Extend Contract for the Development of a Recombinant Protective Antigen (rPA) Based Anthrax Vaccine

SAN DIEGO, May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pfenex Inc. today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), has exercised its option associated with the existing Pfenex contractual relationship begun in July, 2010. This extends the contract supporting the development of a robust Pfnex Expression Technology based production strain and process for the production of bulk recombinant protective antigen (rPA) from anthrax. Pursuant to the contract, Pfenex will continue to develop an rPA-based anthrax vaccine from rPA produced in Pseudomonas fluorescens. During the contract's base period, Pfenex demonstrated that a strongly immunogenic, stable and protective form of rPA could be expressed and recovered from the highly efficient fermentation of a strain of P. fluorescens engineered to produce rPA.

"We are pleased with the results and progress provided by Pfenex's recombinant platform technology to the production of a next generation anthrax vaccine," stated Bertrand C. Liang, Chief Executive Officer. "The exercise of this option by BARDA enables Pfenex and BARDA to continue our successful partnership sharing a common objective to develop an anthrax vaccine with a process capable of achieving the goals of the Strategic National Stockpile for the U.S. Government, including production, shelf life, and administration improvements."

About Pfenex Inc.

Pfenex Inc. is a protein production company leveraging the unique and powerful Pfenex Expression Technology platform based on the microorganism, Pseudomonas fluorescens, for the production of research proteins, reagent proteins, biosimilars and innovator biopharmaceuticals. For more information please visit www.pfenex.com

SOURCE Pfenex Inc.

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