ABL advancing HIV vaccine as part of 7 year, $318m contract

18-Jul-2017 - Last updated on 19-Jul-2017 at 20:35 GMT

ABL provides contract manufacturing and laboratory research services. (Image: iStock/Aunt_Spray)

ABL, Inc. has been awarded a preclinical development support contract to help advance an HIV vaccine and other biologics candidates.

According to the global contract research and manufacturing service provider, the goal of the contract is to accelerate promising HIV prophylactic modalities into the clinic.

The Division of AIDS (DAIDS) within the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded the contract, which spans seven years with a maximum funding level of $318m.

Per the contract, ABL will provide various services including product development planning, process and bioanalytical assay development, cGMP manufacturing, product safety and release testing, as well as immunogenicity testing, and regulatory support.

Rebecca K. Harston, Ph.D., associate director of marketing at ABL told us the company has been building capacity steadily since moving into its purpose-built facility in 2011.

The contract in question is an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract, so the number and complexity of task orders or projects are unknown at this time. However, Harston said, "ABL has several of these contracts and is adept in adjusting resources (equipment, facility, personnel) as required to answer customer requirements."

Most work will be performed in ABL’s manufacturing and laboratory space at its Rockville, MD headquarters.

Government contracts

Earlier this year ABL was also awarded an ID/IQ contract by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

As part of the contract – work up to $50m over five years – the company is providing fill/finish services for live virus-based medical countermeasures (MCM).

The work is being carried out at ABL’s GMP facilities in Rockville, MD and Strasbourg, France.