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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.   On the Web     www.bioport.com.

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."