ANNAPOLIS, Md., July 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PharmAthene, Inc. a biodefense company specializing in the development and commercialization of medical countermeasures against chemical and biological threats, announced today that it has submitted a response to a Request for Proposals for an Anthrax Recombinant Protective Antigen (rPA) Vaccine for the Strategic National Stockpile (Solicitation Number: RFP BARDA 08-15) for SparVax(TM), the Company's novel rPA anthrax vaccine.
On February 28, 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued a formal solicitation, referred to as a Request for Proposals, for an Anthrax Recombinant Protective Antigen Vaccine for the Strategic National Stockpile. The solicitation outlined a requirement to procure 25 million doses of an anthrax rPA vaccine.
About SparVax(TM)
SparVax(TM) is a novel second generation recombinant protective (rPA) anthrax vaccine consisting of rPA adsorbed onto Alhydrogel and packaged as a liquid filled syringe for intramuscular injection. Preclinical studies suggest that two or three doses of SparVax(TM), administered several weeks apart, should be sufficient to induce protective immunity followed by an annual booster shot. Phase I and Phase II clinical trials involving more than 700 healthy human subjects have been completed and showed that SparVax(TM) appears to be safe and well tolerated and induces an immune response in humans. In preclinical studies SparVax(TM) has also demonstrated the capability to protect non-human primates against a lethal aerosol challenge of the anthrax Ames strain.
About PharmAthene, Inc.
PharmAthene was formed to meet the critical needs of the United States and its allies by developing and commercializing medical countermeasures against biological and chemical weapons. PharmAthene's lead product development programs include (1) SparVax(TM) -- a second generation recombinant protective antigen (rPA) anthrax vaccine, (2) Valortim(TM) -- a fully human monoclonal antibody for the prevention and treatment of anthrax infection, (3) Protexia(R) -- a novel bioscavenger for the prevention and treatment of morbidity and mortality associated with exposure to chemical nerve agents, (4) RypVax(TM) -- a recombinant dual antigen vaccine for plague, and (5) a third generation rPA anthrax vaccine. For more information about PharmAthene, please visit www.PharmAthene.com.
Statement on Cautionary Factors
Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words "potential"; "believe"; "anticipate"; "intend"; "plan"; "expect"; "estimate"; "could"; "may"; "should"; or similar statements are forward-looking statements. PharmAthene disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include risk associated with the reliability of the results of the studies relating to human safety and possible adverse effects resulting from the administration of the Company's product candidates, unexpected funding delays and/or reductions or elimination of U.S. government funding for one or more of the Company's development programs, unforeseen safety issues, unexpected determinations that these product candidates prove not to be effective and/or capable of being marketed as products, as well as risks detailed from time to time in PharmAthene's public disclosure filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Simply because we have made a submission in response to RFP BARDA 08-15, there can be no assurance that we will be awarded a contract for the advanced development and procurement of SparVax(TM). There can be no assurance that such development efforts will succeed or that other developed products will receive required regulatory clearance, or that, even if such regulatory clearance were received, such products would ultimately achieve commercial success. Copies of PharmAthene's public disclosure filings are available from its investor relations department.
CONTACT: Stacey Jurchison of PharmAthene, Inc., +1-410-269-2610, Cell:
+1-410-474-8200, JurchisonS@PharmAthene.com
Web site: http://www.pharmathene.com//
