Emergent BioSolutions Secures $30 Million Contract for CYFENDUS Anthrax Vaccine

Emergent BioSolutions has received a $30 million contract modification from BARDA for its CYFENDUS anthrax vaccine. Deliveries are expected to begin this year and are scheduled to be completed by March 2026. The contract modification is part of the company's ongoing engagement with the US government to provide medical countermeasures against the anthrax threat. CYFENDUS is a two-dose anthrax vaccine approved for post-exposure prophylaxis use in individuals 18-65 years old.

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Sept. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) has received a $30 million contract modification from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to supply CYFENDUS® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed, Adjuvanted). Deliveries are expected to begin this calendar year and are scheduled to be completed by March 2026. This contract modification is part of the company's ongoing engagement with the U.S. government to provide medical countermeasures against the anthrax threat.

CYFENDUS® is a two-dose anthrax vaccine approved for post-exposure prophylaxis use in individuals aged 18-65 years old when administered with recommended antibacterial drugs. The vaccine addresses anthrax, which is classified as a Tier 1 biological threat due to its potential use in bioterrorism.

"This new contract modification is the next step in our ongoing engagement with the U.S. government, with the shared goal to help ensure medical countermeasures, like CYFENDUS® vaccine, are readily available to safeguard civilian populations against the potential threat of anthrax,” said Paul Williams, senior vice president, head of products business, global government & public affairs at Emergent. “We're proud to leverage a U.S.-based supply chain for our anthrax vaccines, as we believe this is critical to Emergent’s leadership and continued support of the U.S. government’s national security priorities.”

The $30 million contract modification follows a previous $50 million contract modification announced in December 2024. The sequential procurement demonstrates sustained government confidence in Emergent's CYFENDUS® vaccine following its FDA approval in July 2023. The timing of deliveries is particularly favorable for near-term financials, providing Emergent with a predictable revenue stream over the next several quarters.

Strategically, this contract reinforces Emergent's position in the medical countermeasures market, specifically for protection against anthrax. The U.S.-based supply chain highlighted in the release carries dual significance: it aligns with national security priorities regarding domestic production capabilities for critical medical countermeasures and shields the company from international supply chain disruptions.

This contract also suggests the government's commitment to maintaining readiness against non-pandemic biological threats, even as much public attention has shifted elsewhere. The continued investment in anthrax countermeasures indicates BARDA is maintaining a diversified approach to biodefense preparedness, which benefits specialized suppliers like Emergent.

For investors, this procurement represents not just immediate revenue but validation of Emergent's continued relevance in the biodefense sector, where government relationships and contracting track record are crucial competitive advantages that create barriers to entry for potential competitors.

References:
[1] https://www.streetinsider.com/Globe+Newswire/Emergent+BioSolutions+Awarded+%2430+Million+Contract+Modification+for+CYFENDUS%C2%AE+%28Anthrax+Vaccine+Adsorbed%2C+Adjuvanted%29%2C+a+Two-Dose+Anthrax+Vaccine+for+Post-Exposure+Prophylaxis+Use/25281235.html
[2] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/EBS/emergent-bio-solutions-awarded-30-million-contract-modification-for-wroub30jyzj7.html