Emisphere Technologies Inc has signed a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), the U.S. Department of Defense's lead laboratory for medical aspects of biological warfare defense. USAMRIID will evaluate the use of Emisphere's eligen technology to create oral vaccines against anthrax using a new recombinant protein antigen.

Under the CRADA agreement, Emisphere will provide the USAMRIID's Fort Detrick site in Frederick, Maryland with oral formulations containing Emisphere delivery agents and the recombinant Anthrax antigen. USAMRIID will conduct all in vivo experiments. The formulations will use Emisphere's eligen technology, a broad-based oral drug delivery technology platform that enables the transport of the therapeutic molecules across biological membranes, including the gastrointestinal tract, without altering their chemical form or biological integrity. USAMRIID has agreed to grant Emisphere an exclusive license to each U.S. patent application or issued patent as a result of the work performed under the CRADA. Should an oral Anthrax vaccine ultimately be developed, Emisphere would be eligible to receive royalties under a license agreement with the ultimate vaccine developer.

Vivien Wong, Emisphere's Senior Director, Proof-of-Concept Studies, stated, "The initiation of oral vaccine proof-of-concept studies to defend Americans against the risk of Anthrax is a valuable addition to our proof-of-concept portfolio. For Emisphere, it broadens the application of our eligen technology to a new and important area of vaccines and infectious diseases. Furthermore, it allows us to exercise a global responsibility in the protection against bioterrorism agents. An oral dosage form will permit wider distribution and greater compliance of this important vaccine. We are pleased to be making a contribution to this program for the United States with the Medical Research Institute of the U.S. Army."