INDUSTRY

SIGA Technologies announced today that it has entered into a $3.2 million, one year contract with the United States Army Medical Research and Material Command (USAMRMC). The agreement, for the rapid identification and treatment of anti-viral diseases, is funded through the United States Air Force (USAF). SIGA’s efforts will aid the USAF Special Operations Command in its use of computational biology to design and develop specific countermeasures against the biological threat agents Smallpox and Adenovirus. Smallpox is a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Category A biothreat agent, and Adenovirus is a cause of significant respiratory infectious disease, both of which may impair the combat readiness of USAF Personnel. SIGA’s computational approach to the development of countermeasures is designed to interface with USAF programs for the identification of potential agents of bioterrorism, and will provide a key building block in the foundation of a rapid response capability to biological threat agents. War-fighters and special operations forces, in particular, may be called upon to operate in environments containing known or unknown pathogens. Until these pathogens can be accurately identified and neutralized, our war fighters, Special Operations Forces and our nation remain vulnerable to the release of both natural and engineered viral pathogens. “I am very excited about our relations with the USAF and SIGA’s ability to participate in an effort which, I believe, is of crucial importance to our nation,” said SIGA’s CEO, Dr. Bernard L. Kasten. “I see a clear opportunity to continue working with the USAF in the future and to further advance SIGA’s antiviral counter measure programs.” “We welcome the opportunity to work with our USAF colleagues to develop this important biological defense capability”, said Dr. Dennis E. Hruby, Chief Scientific Officer of SIGA.