Pine Brook Co. Gets $68M to Test Anthrax Med

Elusys Therapeutics Inc. of Pine Brook has been awarded a contract from the federal government worth up to $68.9 million over five years to further develop a new type of anthrax antitoxin, according to a news release from the company, which is located on Riverside Drive in the township.

Under the contract, Elusys will conduct studies to evaluate its medication, Anthim, when administered before and after exposure to anthrax.

The contract was awarded by a federal agency that supports the development of products to address public health threats, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.

"The new anthrax antitoxin medication could be administered by conventional injection, making the medication much easier and faster to administer than current anthrax antitoxins, which must be administered intravenously," a government news release said. "This would greatly facilitate antitoxin administration in an emergency."

This funding is in addition to a separate contract, totaling up to $143 million over five years, previously awarded to Elusys for development of Anthim for treatment of symptomatic patients.

BARDA previously funded the development and acquisition of two other anthrax antitoxin drugs that reside in the Strategic National Stockpile for use in an emergency.