Industry News

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded a $35 million contract in June of 2009 to Protein Sciences Corporation of Meriden, Conn., to pursue advanced development of recombinant influenza vaccine. The technology involves injecting flu virus genes into an insect virus (baculovirus) where it multiplies quickly in the insect cells, which are purified to become a part of a human vaccine.

President Barack Obama allocated $1.825 billion for H1N1 preparedness in July of 2009. Supporting vaccine development, testing, and planning, the funding comes from $7.65 in funding previously awarded to the Department of Health and Human Services by Congress for H1N1 pandemic response. H1N1 vaccine manufacturers for the United States include Novartis, Sanofi Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline, Baxter, and AstraZeneca.

The University of Wyoming broke ground in June of 2009 on a $24.9 million BSL-3 laboratory in Laramie. Located at the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, the facility will support infectious disease research and testing. The laboratory will enable rapid diagnosis of disease agents affecting wildlife, herd animals, and humans. Completion is expected in 2011.

Building Protection Systems, Inc., (BPSI) of San Francisco has unveiled Building Sentry One, a real-time toxin-detection identification system designed to protect buildings and people inside of them from accidental or deliberate airborne chemical or radiological releases. Upon detection of a biohazard, the system automatically shuts down a building's air and ventilation system. The SAFETY ACT designation is one of less than forty given to new technologies in 2008. Former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Head Tom Ridge is acting as a senior advisor to the firm.

Construction of the 41,000-square-foot New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory at Tufts University is now complete.