http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=123527 One product USAMRIID helped to develop is in Phase 1 clinical trials: TKM-Ebola, an Ebola antiviral drug from a company called Tekmira. Tekmira conducted studies on the drug in 2010 to 2013 with USAMRIID, and the DoD Joint Project Manager Transformational Medical Technologies Office, now called Medical Countermeasures Systems, contributed to funding.
In 2010, Tekmira signed a $140 million contract with DoD to advance an RNA-interference, or RNAi, drug designed to eliminate the production of disease-causing proteins. The drug uses Tekmira’s lipid nanoparticle, or LPN, technology to deliver the Ebola drug to tissues in the body. In 2013, the collaboration expanded to include advances in LNP formulation technology, and in March, the FDA granted Tekmira a fast-track designation to develop the TKM-Ebola antiviral.
“Tekmira is one therapeutic [for which] the product supply is the primary missing factor, and there are some questions about human safety as well,” Warren said. “But we have been working with Tekmira for many years and have already demonstrated the product’s efficacy.”