$5.25M for Anti-Flu Inhaler Packages

Zanamivir/ Relenza GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Philadelphia, PA received a maximum $5.25 million firm fixed price requirements contract for Zanamivir inhalation (Relenza) packages for the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. There were 2 proposals solicited and 2 responded. Date of performance completion is March 31, 2007. The contract was issued by the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA (SP0200-06-D-0001). Zanamivir/ Relenza is a powder that is inhaled twice a day for five days from a breath-activated plastic device called a Diskhaler for treatment of influenza. The FDA says that to reduce the risk of getting influenza, Relenza is inhaled once daily for 10 to 28 days as prescribed by a healthcare provider. Relenza is not recommended for people with underlying respiratory disease such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Though it was introduced before Tamiflu, it has reportedly been all-but-abandoned in the market and is the subject of a $320 million lawsuit by its creator, Biota, against GlaxosmithKline. It’s possible that the US federal government’s soon-to-be-released avian flu epidemic response plan (see also pandemicflu.gov) could give the drug new life in the government market. Or, it could just provide more lawsuit fodder.