U.S. Seeks 80 Million Doses of Smallpox Vaccine

The United States is taking bids for a contract to produce up to 80 million doses of the modified virus Ankara smallpox vaccine, Reuters reported today (see GSN, July 25).

The vaccine contract could be worth more than $1 billion, according to Reuters.

“The U.S. government plans to procure a stockpile of MVA as part of its defense against the threat of smallpox virus being used as a bioterrorist weapon,” British drug maker Acambis said. 

The modified virus Ankara vaccine would be used for people who could suffer reactions to the existing vaccine.  That includes patients with suppressed immune systems or those with the skin condition eczema

Acambis said the United States has asked for 20 million doses of the vaccine in the first two years of the contract. An additional 60 million doses could be requested after their delivery, according to Reuters.

Analysts expect the order to be split between Acambis and Dutch drug maker Bavarian Nordic. The contract is expected to be awarded in February 2006 (Pete Harrison, Reuters, Aug. 16).

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