Pfenex Gets $19M for Anthrax Vaccine

Bruce V. Bigelow8/3/10

The federal Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has awarded funding that could be worth as much as $18.8 million to San Diego-based Pfenex to help develop an anthrax vaccine. The authority was established within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to manage the procurement and development of advanced medical countermeasures for biological, chemical, and other pervasive deadly agents. Pfenex, a 2009 spinout from Dow Chemical, uses a fluorescing bacteria in conjunction with advanced biotechnology tools to produce a variety of specialized protein-based drugs, vaccines, and other products.

Bruce V. Bigelow is the editor of Xconomy San Diego. You can e-mail him at bbigelow@xconomy.com or call (619) 669-8788