PharmAthene, SIGA Technologies to merge

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., June 9 - PharmAthene, Inc. and SIGA Technologies, Inc. have signed a definitive merger agreement. The combined company will operate under the PharmAthene name and will develop a portfolio of procurement-stage biodefense products targeting anthrax, smallpox and chemical nerve agents, as well as therapeutic and prophylactic drug candidates targeting Category A biowarfare agents and emerging infectious diseases.

"A strategic merger with SIGA significantly advances our strategy of building a leading biodefense company with a comprehensive portfolio of medical countermeasures to meet the urgent needs of our nation and allies," Pharmathene president and chief executive officer David P. Wright said in a news release.

Following the merger, the company's biodefense portfolio will include ST-246, a small molecule orally active antiviral therapeutic for the treatment of smallpox and other orthopox virus infections; Valortim, a fully human monoclonal antibody being co-developed with Medarex for the prevention and treatment of anthrax infection; and Protexia, a novel bioscavenger to prevent and treat organophosphate nerve agent poisoning.

PharmAthene is a privately held biotechnology company based in Annapolis, Md.

SIGA Technologies, based in New York, develops products for the prevention and treatment of serious infectious diseases.

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