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USA Orders $26 Million More Monkeypox Treatments

August 9, 2022 • 7:50 am CDT
by Pete Linforth
(Precision Vaccinations News)

New York City-based SIGA Technologies, Inc. today announced the exercise of procurement options under its contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the delivery of intravenous (IV) formulation of TPOXX® treatment courses valued at approximately $26 million.

TPOXX, also known as tecovirimat and ST-246®, is a U.S. FDA-approved antiviral drug for treating human diseases caused by the variola virus, such as smallpox and monkeypox.

Product deliveries of IV TPOXX in connection with these contract options are targeted for 2023.

IV TPOXX is an essential option for people with Dysphagia, who cannot swallow, which impacts millions of children and adults.

These contract option exercises represent the first procurement option exercises for IV TPOXX under the 75A50118C00019 (19C) contract.

“These option exercises for the procurement of IV formulation of TPOXX as well as the funding of a post-marketing field study for IV TPOXX highlight the growing importance of a broad-based response to the substantial risks posed by the orthopox family of viruses, including smallpox and monkeypox,” said Phil Gomez, CEO of SIGA, in a press statement issued on August 9, 2022.

The procurement options, which were exercised by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the office of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response at the U.S. HHS, include the manufacture of bulk drug substance and the use of such substance to manufacture and deliver final drug product of IV TPOXX. 

As of August 1, 2022, the U.S. CDC posted information updating the TPOXX ordering process.

The CDC and FDA have made it easier for healthcare providers to provide TPOXX to patients infected with monkeypox under the expanded access investigational new drug process.

However, the FDA confirmed on July 29, 2022, that there is currently no human data demonstrating the efficacy of TPOXX for the treatment of monkeypox or the safety and pharmacokinetic profile.

Additional monkeypox treatment options are reviewed on PrecisionVaccinations.com/Treatments.

Note: This SIGA press release was manually curated for mobile readers.

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