Local firm lands $4.8 million federal contract

ALACHUA – A biopharmaceutical company in Alachua has received a government contract for $4.8 million to develop an oral drug treating radiation contamination.

Nanotherapeutics, a graduate of UF’s Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator in Alachua, will modify the chemical diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA) to be taken orally.

DTPA is a chelating agent, which works by binding and holding on to radioactive materials or poisons that get into the body.  Once bound to the radioactive material or poison, the DTPA then passes from the body in the urine.

Currently the drug is administered intravenously or by nebulizer, but the government is eager to find a way to administer it orally so they can distribute it to many people, said Patti Breedlove, Associate Director of the UF incubator.

The multi-million dollar contract was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). The development is to occur over an 18-month period but can be extended for a total of up to five years and up to $31.l million

BARDA is reportedly working in several areas to combat potential bio-terrorism. Large projects funded by BARDA are broken down into phases.  If it is determined that development in the initial phase is satisfactory, the project may be extended with awards for ensuing phases.

Nanotherapeutics started operations at the UF incubator in 2000, and graduated in 2007 and now has its own facility at Progress Corporate Park in Alachua.