United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2007-10-23 monographic deposited born digital 20 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-208T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-208T P0b002ee18039036f f:d08208t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-05-04 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-208T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-208T GAO-08-208T Accountability Anthrax Biotechnology Emergency preparedness Medical research Pharmaceutical industry Procurement Procurement planning Product evaluation Risk assessment Strategic national stockpile Testimony A77534 The anthrax attacks in September and October 2001 highlighted the need to develop medical countermeasures. The Project BioShield Act of 2004 authorized the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to procure countermeasures for a Strategic National Stockpile. However, in December 2006, HHS terminated the contract for a recombinant protective antigen (rPA) anthrax vaccine because VaxGen failed to meet a critical contractual milestone. Also, supplies of the licensed BioThrax anthrax vaccine already in the stockpile will start expiring in 2008. GAO was asked to testify on its report on Project BioShield, which is being released today. This testimony summarizes (1) factors contributing to the failure of the rPA vaccine contract and (2) issues associated with using the BioThrax in the stockpile. GAO interviewed agency and industry officials, reviewed documents, and consulted with biodefense experts. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-208T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-208T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-208T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-208T.pdf GAO-08-208T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-208T Testimony GAO-08-208T; Project Bioshield: Actions Needed to Avoid Repeating Past Mistakes; Accountability Anthrax Biotechnology Emergency preparedness Medical research Pharmaceutical industry Procurement Procurement planning Product evaluation Risk assessment Strategic national stockpile Public Law 108-276