Biota awarded $231 million BARDA funding for development of new influenza antiviral

A contract, worth $231 million over five years, has been awarded to Australian company Biota Holdings (ASX: BTA) to develop a long-acting single-dose antiviral drug for use in the USA, by the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Shares in the Melbourne-based drug development company soared 38% to close at A$1.425 on the news last Friday.

The drug, CS-8958, is currently marketed in Japan by Daiichi Sankyo under the name Inavir (laninamivir octanoate), and is in the same class as the currently approved influenza antiviral drugs Tamiflu (oseltamivir, from Roche) and Relenza (zanamivir, from GlaxoSmithKline and licensed from Biota). CS-8958 requires only a single dose for full treatment, as compared to the five days of twice daily dosing required for Tamiflu and Relenza. CS-8958 may also be effective against influenza viruses known to be resistant to Tamiflu.

“This award represents another critical step forward in ensuring that safe and effective antiviral drugs are available for the treatment of influenza,” said BARDA Director Robin Robinson, adding: “The ability to treat influenza by delivering a single dose of medicine would provide real advantages to doctors and patients during an emergency and would be an important addition to our pandemic influenza arsenal.”