Battelle awarded DOD contract to develop an improved nerve agent countermeasure

Battelle and subcontractor CMC Pharmaceuticals announced their selection by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to develop an improved nerve agent countermeasure to enhance the current standard of care for the warfighter and increase survivability. The contract, awarded through the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense’s (JPEO-CBRND) Joint Project Manager for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Medical (JPM CBRN Medical), funds the development of the medical countermeasure through FDA approval and is valued at over $53 million over 6.5 years.

“Battelle has a long history of working with the DOD on protecting military troops from chemical threats,” says Drew Cawthon (Business Line Director). “We’re proud to continue this important work and to develop next-generation solutions with a strong partner like CMC Pharmaceuticals.”

Teaming with Battelle as a subcontractor on the program is CMC Pharmaceuticals, an Ohio-based company that will provide the laboratory development, current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) testing, and Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) oversight required for all product development activities through U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

“Our expertise and vast breadth of knowledge in drug product development and manufacturing is a crucial component of this important program,” says Mike Radomsky, President of CMC Pharmaceuticals. “We’re excited to begin work with Battelle and the DOD on this program and are honored that our team will help deliver an improved therapeutic to our troops against the threat of nerve agents.”

The program aims to develop the Reactivating Nerve Agent Treatment System (RNATS), an improved reactivator in a vial, intended for use by the U.S. military and allies to counteract chemical threats, specifically nerve agents. Reactivator compounds counteract the effects of nerve agents by ‘reactivating’ the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme.