North Carolina CRO Rho has signed up to help the U.S. government's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) design and conduct clinical trials for treatments that protect against bioterrorism and other public health emergencies, getting in line for as much as $100 million over 5 years.
Under the deal, Rho joins four other CROs in BARDA's Medical Countermeasures Clinical Studies Network, agreeing to facilitate Phase I through IV development of therapeutics and diagnostics that could combat biological threats and pandemics. The agreement will last at least two years and pay out a minimum of $400,000, the company said. Rho joins PPD, ClinicalRM, Emmes and Technical Resources International in the group of contract researchers.
The effort is part of a sweeping Department of Health and Human Services program designed to improve government response to public health disasters, and members are expected to help launch studies on short notice in response to emergencies, according to BARDA.
"We are honored to have Rho's Federal Systems Division selected by HHS to be a part of this clinical studies network," CEO Russ Helms said in a statement. "This appointment reflects our team's expertise and leadership in this field of research."
- read the announcement