Miles Jamison
Battelle, a global research and development company, and subcontractor CMC Pharmaceuticals have been awarded a 6.5-year, $53 million contract by the Department of Defense to develop a nerve agent countermeasure.
The deal aims to ensure that U.S. military personnel have a stronger chance of surviving and recovering from nerve agent exposure, Battelle said Monday.
Under the contract, Battelle and CMC will work together to develop the Reactivating Nerve Agent Treatment System. The RNATS is a reactivator in a vial designed to combat the effects of nerve agents and similar chemical weapons.
CMC will handle laboratory development, Good Manufacturing Practice testing regulations and Contract Manufacturing Organization oversight.
Drew Cawthon, business line director of life sciences research at Battelle, highlighted the significance of the program, saying, “Battelle has a long history of working with the DOD on protecting military troops from chemical threats.”
Mike Radomsky, president of CMC Pharmaceuticals, added, “Our expertise and vast breadth of knowledge in drug product development and manufacturing is a crucial component of this important program.”
