CUBRC, Inc. and Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals have been awarded a contract for the advanced development of an antibiotic (TP-434) that could potentially treat illnesses caused by biological threats such as anthrax, plague, bacterial pneumonia and certain life-threatening bacterial infections associated with prolonged hospitalization.
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will support and manage the contract, which is worth $11.4 million in year one. The contract can be extended to a total of five years, worth $67.2 million in the end.
TP-434 currently being developed by Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals is a tetracycline class of antibiotic, which treats intra-abdominal infections. Early indications lead to the possibility that TP-434 could be effective against many antibiotic resistant bacteria. The contract will support testing of TP-434 in clinical and animal studies and in improving drug manufacturing. The development of both oral and intravenous formulations of TP-434 is supported.
TP-434 is the fourth to be funded under the Broad Spectrum Antimicrobials Program led by BARDA. Recognizing the critical linkage to national bioterrorist preparedness, the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006 specifically identifies BARDA’s role in the development of broad spectrum antimicrobials.
BARDA is seeking additional proposals for broad-spectrum antimicrobials that could potentially treat or prevent illness due to biological threat agents. Proposals are accepted through the Broad Agency Announcement BARDA-CBRN-BAA-11-100-SOL-00009 available here.
