Subject: BioPort urges civilian anthrax program, Company study recommends new vaccination
Date: Friday, October 18, 2002 10:59 AM


Published 10/18/2002
BioPort urges civilian anthrax program
Company study recommends new vaccinations
By Katherine Hutt
Scott
State Journal correspondent

BioPort Corp., the only licensed manufacturer of an anthrax vaccine, 
released a study Thursday recommending stepped-up production to immunize 
people and to create a backup supply.


Greg DeRuiter/Lansing State Journal
Vaccine lab: Nancy Gold works recently at BioPort Corp. in Lansing. A report 
commissioned and paid for by the firm urges the government to expand anthrax 
vaccinations to include civilians.

The Lansing company commissioned and paid for the $55,000 report, written by 
a panel of six bioterrorism experts paid by BioPort. It says the United 
States could experience other occurrences such as the mailing of deadly 
anthrax-laced letters a year ago. The report calls for the federal 
government to immediately immunize civilians at greatest risk of exposure.

Iraq, Iran, Libya and North Korea have weaponized anthrax or are working to 
obtain access to it, BioPort President Robert Kramer Sr. said.

"The nation still lacks an articulated preparedness plan for protecting 
civilians," Kramer said.

His company's report came after the federal government awarded $22.5 million 
on Oct. 2 to two other biotechnology companies to begin testing an 
experimental vaccine. The new vaccine, developed by federal scientists, is 
designed to cut in half the six shots given to each person immunized.

In another development, Defense Department contractor DynPort Vaccine Co. of 
Frederick, Md., announced Tuesday that within a few weeks it would begin 
human testing of an anthrax vaccine that it hopes will prove safer than the 
current vaccine.

BioPort is working separately on a second-generation vaccine. The current 
one requires six shots over 18 months plus an annual booster and causes 
certain side effects. Last spring, a scientific advisory panel recommended 
development of a vaccine that would require fewer injections and cause fewer 
side effects.

Thursday's report also calls for increasing production of the current 
vaccine by expanding BioPort, creating a second facility or contracting with 
another vaccine maker.

The government plans to immunize several hundred lab workers who handle 
anthrax and is creating a stockpile of vaccine, Health and Human Services 
Department spokesman Bill Pierce said.

In addition, the Defense Department has a plan to vaccinate selected troops, 
Pierce said.

He said HHS officials have not seen the report commissioned by BioPort.

"We appreciate the input of the only manufacturer of the anthrax vaccine, 
regardless of their self-interest in the subject," Pierce said. "But we have 
a preparedness plan for a host of threats, including the use of anthrax as a 
bioterror weapon."