U.S. Government to Stockpile Smallpox Antivirals

(MoneyWatch)  This press release at MSNBC discusses the intent of SIGA Technologies to respond to a recent U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) RFP for treatment courses for people infected with smallpox. This is the latest in a series of contracts related to preparations for outbreaks of diseases either due to biological attack or pandemics. In January the U.S. government teamed with Novartis to begin construction of a factory to produce flu vaccines in vast quantities. For almost twenty years the U.S. military has been buying and issuing anthrax vaccines and Emergent Biosolutions is one company that produces that for them and other government agencies. SIGA states that the RFP calls for HHS to buy 1.7 million courses of antivirals with the possibility of up to 12 million being procured. Proposals are due by the end of April.