Israel Taps SIGA Technologies' ST-246 to Combat Smallpox in Simulated Bioterror Attack

NEW YORK - SIGA Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:SIGA), a company specializing in the development of pharmaceutical agents to fight biowarfare pathogens, announced that it was contacted to arrange an emergency mock acquisition of its lead drug candidate and smallpox antiviral, ST-246 (Tecovirimat), by leading Israeli government health and defense officials. The mock acquisition was part of a simulated bioterror-related smallpox outbreak.

Dubbed Orange Flame 4, the simulation was the largest biodefense drill in Israeli history, and it capped a four-day conference recognized by the World Health Organization and co-sponsored the Home Front Command of the Israeli Defense Forces.

“While no drug was actually delivered in this exercise, Israeli authorities told us they had arranged for immediate transportation of as many courses as we could provide, fully understanding that our drug candidate is under advanced development with BARDA and not registered with FDA,” said Eric A. Rose, MD, SIGA’s Chief Executive Officer.

Dr. Rose was among the hundreds of experts from over 70 countries that observed the two-day exercise that took place in and around Tel Aviv, Israel.

As part of the scenario, two European nationals, who were supposedly infected with smallpox, posed as tourists and “exposed” the public at a number of high-traffic locations, including a hotel and sports stadium. The simulation involved more than 20,000 smallpox-exposed individuals who required immediate isolation and treatment, as well as initiation of a nationwide vaccination campaign.

“Israel is committed to, and an internationally recognized thought leader in, safety and preparedness. This exercise was an excellent opportunity to observe a full simulation of a biological attack. It highlighted that a bioterror attack is a highly plausible scenario, which poses a significant threat to all civilized society. Observers of this exercise understood that the two critical elements in minimizing the after-effects of a bioterror attack are efficient planning and safe and effective medical countermeasures,” concluded Dr. Rose.

ST-246 has been used in three compassionate use cases in the United States and will be undergoing final safety and toxicity trials as part of the U.S. regulatory approval process. The company also has bid for a contract under an outstanding request for proposal by BARDA to supply the Strategic National Stockpile with a smallpox antiviral.

(Source:Defpro.com, January 21, 2010)

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