Congressman wants probe of VaxGen contract

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) said he has asked for a congressional investigation of HHS's handling of Project BioShield. In particular, Rogers wants the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to investigate an $877.5 million contract that was awarded to VaxGen (VXGN) for "a huge amount of vaccine that the company isn't yet able to produce," according to Silvia Warner, a spokesperson for Rogers. Warner said Rogers has been asking HHS about the contract for about a year, and an FDA warning letter to VXGN that was recently made public was "the last straw."

The agency's letter, dated March 24, said VXGN has made false or misleading statements about its vaccine, including making comparisons with a vaccine from BioPort. BioPort's Lansing, Mich., headquarters are located within Rogers' district. ...