HHS Contracts with BioCryst to Develop New Ebola Drug
- By BSTQ Staff
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) has awarded approximately $12 million to BioCryst Pharmaceuticals for the advanced development of a promising experimental drug for Ebola, including preparing for large-scale manufacturing of the drug and conducting related studies. BioCryst’s drug, BCX4430, is a small molecule that prevents the Ebola virus from reproducing in the body. In non-human primate studies, the drug was effective against Ebola virus and Marburg virus, indicating that it may be useful as a broad spectrum antiviral drug.
With product development funding from the National Institutes of Health, BioCryst currently is conducting Phase I safety studies of BCX4430 in healthy volunteers. If these studies show the drug is safe, it could become one of the possible treatments tested for efficacy in clinical studies. While the studies are underway, the ASPR’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will support the company’s ongoing efforts to improve manufacturing processes and scale up production in facilities in the United States. This work will help to increase product yield, reduce process steps and increase the scalability of manufacturing so that thousands of doses can be made with consistent product quality. BCX4430 is the first small molecule drug to treat Ebola that BARDA has supported. If it proves to be safe and efficacious, BARDA could consider purchasing it under Project BioShield for the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile.
