Lobbying Helped Kill Anthrax Vaccine

Lobbying by the maker of the existing U.S. anthrax vaccine helped kill development of a new treatment by a competitor, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday (see GSN, Oct. 24).

The federal government in 2004 issued an $877.5 million contract to California-based VaxGen for production of 75 million doses of a new anthrax vaccine.  It was intended to require no more than half the injections of the existing treatment, become effective within one month, and cause fewer side effects while offering a longer shelf life than its predecessor.

Emergent BioSolutions of Maryland produces the current anthrax treatment and reaps much of its revenue from the vaccine, the Times reported.

The company used 50 lobbyists to spread the message that its product was the only sure way to ensure the safety of U.S. citizens from an anthrax attack.  Emergent and friendly lawmakers mocked VaxGen and targeted officials who backed the new treatment.  This led lawmakers and administration officials to question the California company’s credibility.

VaxGen found itself isolated when it needed additional time to address a scientific problem, with even former backers providing little support.  It faced heightened testing requirements and ultimately saw the contract canceled at the end of 2006.  The company subsequently laid off 90 percent of its employees and is expected to merge with another biotechnology firm.

One federal scientist said the administration rejected her requests to provide VaxGen with advance funding that would have enabled it to deal with its vaccine troubles.

In the meantime, the federal government has provided Emergent with $642 million for production of its vaccine and is prepared to provide additional funding.

“National security took a back seat to politics and the power of lawyers and lobbyists,” said vaccinologist Philip Russell, a former top biodefense official in the Bush administration.

VaxGen could have dealt with problems in developing the vaccine, he said:  “It was a solvable problem.

Health and Human Services Department spokesman Bill Hall said VaxGen lost the contract due to “poor performance.”  An Emergent spokeswoman said the lobbying produced an appropriate result.

“Had we just thrown up our hands, what position would be in now?” said Kimberly Root.  “Where would the government be?  There wouldn’t be, potentially, a vaccine in the stockpile” (David Willman, Los Angeles Times I, Dec. 2).

A new anthrax vaccine could come from the British firm Avecia Biologics, the Times reported.  The government has provided roughly $75 million in grants to the company, which has conducted animal and human testing and intends to seek a contract to place its product in the U.S. stockpile. 

Emergent continues to press use of its vaccine.  The company hopes to prove through research trials that the treatment could become effective in a six-month period rather than over 18 months.  It also wants to see whether side effects could be reduced through a different administration of the treatment.

Relying on one producer is not the best strategy, argued federal health official and biological weapons expert Gerald Parker.  “We need to not put all of our eggs in one basket,” he said.  “We don’t want to be dependent upon one technology, one manufacturer, for this threat” (David Willman, Los Angeles Times II, Dec. 2).

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