Siga infectious news

Siga announced that HHS's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will conduct a survey to determine if there is sufficient capacity among qualified small businesses to supply smallpox antiviral. The U.S. Small Business Administration ruled this month that Siga was not a small business and therefore would not be eligible for an HHS small business contract for a smallpox antiviral that would have been worth up to $2.8 billion. Siga's antiviral, ST-246, is in Phase II testing. Siga believes BARDA's survey will determine that the acquisition of a smallpox antiviral "should not proceed as a small business set-aside." Siga plans to appeal the SBA ruling (see BioCentury, Nov. 15). ...