BioPort contracted for 5 million more anthrax vaccine doses

Back in March, we wrote about VaxGen's apparent troubles developing a new anthrax vaccine and noted the continued availability of an older anthrax vaccine produced by BioPort. Over the weekend, news that HHS has contracted with BioPort to produce 5 million more doses of vaccine, having recently completed a previous 5 million dose order for the government. The $120 million contract comes from Project BioShield. This AP story has details and a follow-up on VaxGen's problems:

"The contract would run through September 2007 and delivery of the doses would begin almost immediately, said BioPort spokeswoman Kim Brennen Root.

Brisbane, Calif.-based VaxGen Inc. received the first contract worth $877.5 million to develop the company's experimental anthrax vaccine, but delivery has been delayed.

Lance Ignon, VaxGen's vice president corporate affairs, said the company expects it could begin delivery 'at the end of this year if all goes well with our development program and if HHS is willing to accept vaccines based on the data that's currently called for in the contract.'

VaxGen was warned in a March 24 letter from the Food and Drug Administration about sales material handed out at a government biodefense research meeting that contained 'false and misleading statements' about the experimental vaccine and how it compared to one produced by BioPort."