The company will supply 10 grams of ABthrax for testing, and the government will have the option to purchase up to 100,000 doses for the national stockpile.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will conduct comparative tests, and those results -- along with Human Genome Sciences' own preclinical and clinical study results -- will aid the government in determining whether to purchase additional product for the national stockpile.

Medical Countermeasures

"We hope that our country never faces the need to use this product, but would be grateful for the opportunity to make ABthrax available for the treatment of our citizens and first responders in case the need should ever arise," said Human Genome Sciences CEO H. Thomas Watkins.

The contract requires Human Genome Sciences to supply the government with 10 grams of ABthrax (raxibacumab) within two months. Human Genome Sciences also will provide support necessary to aid DHHS in conducting its independent testing. Human Genome Sciences is entitled to receive approximately $1.8 million for the first phase of the contract.

The second phase of the contract would be awarded under the Project BioShield Act of 2004, which is designed to accelerate the development, purchase and availability of medical countermeasures for the Strategic National Stockpile.

Bioterrorist Attack

"We are ready to supply the initial quantity of material," said Human Genome Sciences executive vice president James H. Davis.

"We are hopeful that the government can quickly complete the testing phase, so that we can supply ABthrax to the national stockpile for use in the event of a bioterrorist attack," he added.