Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority- BARDA

BARDA’s Flexible and Strategic Therapeutics (FASTx) program aims to develop and improve therapeutic platforms that can be adapted rapidly against new and emerging health security threats. Through the FASTx program, we’re working with Amplitude Therapeutics, , Red Queen Therapeutics, RenBio, and Tiba Biotech to accelerate the development of early-stage antiviral platforms and bolster preparedness for potential viral outbreaks.

These efforts, funded under the EZ-BAA, will assess multiple platform capabilities that could be applied to a range of priority health security threats. Read more about our program collaborators at the link in stories, or at: https://www.medicalcountermeasures.gov/newsroom/2024/fastx/

We support development of innovative , including vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics, to bolster for potential pandemic influenza outbreaks. Having these countermeasures on hand, and the capability to rapidly manufacture them if needed, will help mitigate future influenza pandemics and improves seasonal influenza vaccine production as well.

This flu season, say and learn more about this year’s seasonal at the link in our stories.

We are leveraging Project BioShield funds to procure additional doses of TEMBEXA (brincidofovir) from . TEMBEXA is an FDA-approved oral (tablets and suspension) small molecule antiviral for the treatment of smallpox disease caused by variola virus in adults and children, including neonates.

Naturally occurring smallpox is believed to have been eradicated worldwide by 1980, although samples of variola virus are kept at the highest biosafety and biosecurity levels for research purposes. The risk for an intentional or accidental release of variola virus is believed to be low, but the effects of such an incident could be devastating. These potential consequences make planning for a smallpox emergency critical. Having medical countermeasures, such as Tembexa, on hand ensures preparedness for these situations and helps protect Americans. Learn more at the link in our stories or at: https://www.medicalcountermeasures.gov/newsroom/2024/tembexa

Through our FASTx (Flexible and Strategic Therapeutics) program, we’re partnering with 4J Therapeutics Inc, GigaGen (a company), and ModeX Therapeutics to develop therapeutic platforms that can be rapidly adapted against new and emerging health security threats.

FASTx aims to advance the utility and effectiveness of antiviral therapeutic platforms through improved delivery, efficacy, formulation, manufacturability, safety, and stability. The funding will support these three partners through proof-of-concept studies for investigational candidates that could treat viral infections and toxin exposure. Read more at the link in stories, or at: https://medicalcountermeasures.gov/newsroom/2024/4j-therapeutics/

BARDA is partnering with to accelerate the development of an at-home testing platform for influenza and COVID-19. This diagnostic platform is designed to detect and distinguish between Influenza A, Influenza B, and SARS-CoV-2 from nasal swabs. The system has a reusable hub, provides users with results in 30 minutes, and transmits results to health care providers or pharmacies to enable rapid treatment decisions. At-home testing technologies can help empower consumers with actionable health information and improve equitable testing access. Read more at the link in stories, or at: https://www.medicalcountermeasures.gov/newsroom/2024/revvity/

We are partnering with HOPO Therapeutics to advance development of HOPO-101, an oral decorporation agent intended to treat internal contamination from radionuclides (radioactive forms of elements) and toxic heavy metals. Learn more at the link in our story or at: https://ow.ly/I9qE50TSuKJ

We’re partnering with Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine to develop organ tissue equivalent technology to study the physical and genomic biomarkers resulting from exposure to sulfur mustard, a harmful chemical. Accurately modeling human responses to chemical exposure using human organ chips can be a key step to developing improved medical countermeasures to prepare for potential chemical attacks.

Learn more about this award and other opportunities at the link in our story or at: https://ow.ly/WxEV50TNTqO

We’re supporting development of tranexamic acid (TXA) in intramuscular (IM) form from MACH32 to potentially treat uncontrolled hemorrhage under our RePAIR program.️ During a mass casualty incident people will have traumatic injuries, including internal bleeding. TXA prevents blood clots from being broken down, which slows the bleeding until the patient can be fully treated.

If successful, TXA could be integrated into routine emergency care for traumatic injuries, allowing EMS and to be more familiar with the product. End-user familiarity helps ensure patients can be treated quicker and more effectively.

Learn more at the link in our story or at: https://ow.ly/PP6p50TK09q

We’re partnering with to develop an economic and budget impact model for stakeholders to assess how medical countermeasures provide value in the delivery of burn care. The model will provide end-users, patients, and insurance companies with information on how innovative treatments and technologies across the burn care continuum are used, and the budgetary impact of those products. Through this effort, BARDA aims to demonstrate the products’ value proposition as well as facilitate the integration of critical medical countermeasures into routine burn care and emergency care in mass casualty incidents.

This project will enhance the long-term sustainability of BARDA’s investments and bolster national preparedness for radiological and nuclear incidents. Learn more at the link in our stories or at: https://ow.ly/lC5750TRyFg

BARDA partners with Grifols Therapeutics to repurpose Ocular Surface Immunoglobin (OSIG) eye-drops as a medical countermeasure (MCM) against sulfur mustard.

After a release of sulfur mustard into the air, people can be exposed through skin contact, eye contact, or breathing in sulfur mustard. Skin exposure to sulfur mustard may produce second- and third-degree burns, skin scarring, pigment changes, and skin cancer. Eye exposure may result in temporary or permanent eye injury or chronic eye infections. Repurposing OSIG as an MCM against mustard gas keratopathy has the potential to improve the quality of life after chemical exposure by preventing the loss of eyesight. Read more at the link in stories.