Emergent BioSolutions Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review Emergent’s supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) seeking approval of the manufacture of BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed) in Building 55, the company’s large-scale manufacturing facility. FDA has set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of August 15, 2016.
“Emergent’s large-scale manufacturing facility, intended to increase the manufacturing capacity for BioThrax to an estimated 20 to 25 million doses annually, is a response to the U.S. government’s desire to stockpile 75 million doses of a licensed anthrax vaccine,” said Adam Havey, executive vice president and president, biodefense division at Emergent BioSolutions. “We look forward to our continued collaboration with the U.S. government to help in its commitment to protect the nation against public health threats such as anthrax.”
The sBLA, submitted on April 15, 2016, is supported by data that demonstrate that BioThrax manufactured at large scale in Building 55 is comparable to BioThrax manufactured in the currently-licensed facility. BioThrax, the only FDA-licensed anthrax vaccine, is indicated for both pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis of anthrax disease.
This program is fully funded at $104 million under contract number HHSO100201000034C by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
