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Emergent BioSolutions reacts to BARDA’s Request for Proposal cancellation

Friday, December 11th, 2009

by Nick Rees on December 8, 2009

El-hibri_fuad

The Office of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority has advised Emergent BioSolutions that while BARDA’s Request for Proposal has been canceled, Emergent is encouraged to submit a proposal for the office’s Broad Agency Announcement.

BARDA canceled the RFP for the procurement for rPA vaccines after a technical evaluation panel determined that no proposals submitted by vaccine developers could meet the ProjectBioShield statutory requirement of having the product ready for licensure within eight years.

An amendment issued by BARDA to BAA 09-34 at the same time, however, enable companies to submit proposals to obtain development funding for rPA vaccine candidates, which Emergent has been strongly encouraged to do by BARDA.

Emergent plans to submit its proposal to the BAA by the end of this year, in front of the due date of February 1, 2010 for the proposals.

This announcement also does not impact Emergent’s $400 million procurement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to manufacture and deliver 14.5 million doses of BioThrax for the Strategic National Stockpile.

“With this action, BioThrax remains a critical and long-term countermeasure for the US government,” Fuad El-Hibri, chairman and chief executive officer of Emergent BioSolutions, said. “In addition, based upon encouragement by the USG, we believe our rPA vaccine is well-positioned to obtain a development contract under this BAA.  Our anthrax franchise solidifies Emergent as a leader in the development and supply of anthrax medical countermeasures.”

BioThrax is currently being delivered under this contract with an expected completion of deliveries by September 2011. BioThrax is the only FDA licensed vaccine for the prevention of anthrax diseases.

“We believe that BioThrax will remain a premier product based on its recent enhancements, such as four-year dating, a reduced vaccination schedule and intramuscular route of administration, together with the potential for a further reduction in the vaccination schedule to a 3-dose primary series with a 3-year boost,” Daniel J.Abdun-Nabi, president and chief operating officer of Emergent BioSolutions, said. “BioThrax continues to be the product of choice for the USG and other customers seeking to address the anthrax threat.”

BARDA and Emergent are also in separate talks for a contract that would see BARDAA fund scale-up and related activities to obtain FDA licensure for large-scale production of BioThrax at Emergent’s new 50,000-square-foot Lansing, Mich., manufacturing facility.

“I am proud that Lansing remains home to America’s first line of defense against what experts say is the single biggest bioterror threat, anthrax,” U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, MI-08, said. “The good news about the cancellation of this particular proposal is HHS recommitted itself to the Lansing-made anthrax vaccine and has opened a new proposal for a next-generation anthrax vaccine for which Emergent has indicated it will compete.

“Rest assured, I will continue working to strengthen our nation’s existing bioterror preparedness measures and protect national security jobs in Lansing.”

Emergent BioSolutions Celebrates Initial Public Offering; CEO To Ring Opening Bell on the NYSE

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

21 November, 2006 GAITHERSBURG, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 21, 2006–Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS), a biopharmaceutical company that develops vaccines and therapeutics for biodefense and commercial applications and manufactures the only anthrax vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), today announced it will be celebrating the Company’s recently completed initial public offering with the ringing of the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange by Fuad El-Hibri, chairman and chief executive officer, on Wednesday November 22, 2006. “Throughout the Company’s history, our people, science and technology have contributed significantly to safeguarding millions of military personnel and the general population through the delivery of a safe and effective countermeasure against the threat of anthrax infection,” said Mr. El-Hibri. “Tomorrow’s ringing of the opening bell is an opportunity to celebrate our Company and our achievements thus far, while acknowledging the commitment and support of our employees, customers and, now, investors who continue to drive our success.” Emergent BioSolutions’ common stock began trading on November 15, 2006 under the symbol EBS. Emergent is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacture and commercialization of immunobiotics, such as vaccines and immune globulins, that induce or assist the body’s immune system to prevent or treat disease. The Company operates in two business segments: biodefense and commercial. In its biodefense business, the Company develops and commercializes immunobiotics for use against biological agents that are potential weapons of bioterrorism. In its commercial business, the Company develops immunobiotics for use against infectious diseases with significant unmet or underserved medical needs. The Company’s marketed product, BioThrax(R) (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed), is the only vaccine approved by the FDA for the prevention of anthrax infection. For more information about BioThrax, please review the package insert located on the Company’s website www.emergentbiosolutions.com. In addition to BioThrax(R), the Company’s biodefense product portfolio includes three biodefense product candidates in preclinical development and a next generation anthrax vaccine program with product candidates in preclinical and Phase I clinical development. The Company’s commercial product portfolio includes a typhoid vaccine candidate and a hepatitis B therapeutic vaccine candidate, both of which are in Phase II clinical development, one vaccine candidate in Phase I clinical development and two vaccine candidates in preclinical development. Safe Harbor Statement This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management and any other statements containing the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “estimates” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause Emergent’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including our plans for future sales of BioThrax; our plans to pursue label expansions and improvements for BioThrax; our plans to expand our manufacturing facilities and capabilities; the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of our products; our ongoing and planned development programs; preclinical studies and clinical trials; our ability to identify and acquire or in license products and product candidates that satisfy our selection criteria; the potential benefits of our existing collaboration agreements and our ability to enter into selective additional collaboration arrangements; the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our product candidates; our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; our intellectual property portfolio; and our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; and other factors identified in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.www.emergentbiosolutions.com

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