Kindeva’s global health security division has been awarded a contract worth up to $226 million to supply nerve agent antidote autoinjectors to the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).

The contract covers Antidote Treatment Nerve Agent Autoinjectors (ATNAA), with the potential for Kindeva to deliver more than three million units to support US military personnel and other government customers facing potential chemical threats.

The autoinjectors will be manufactured at Kindeva’s St Louis, Missouri, campus, which includes fill-finish operations.

Manufacturing capacity for emergency medical countermeasures

ATNAA delivers atropine and pralidoxime chloride, medicines used to treat poisoning caused by organophosphorus nerve agents and insecticides.

The DLA procures and distributes supplies for the US armed forces and other federal agencies. The agreement places Kindeva’s manufacturing operations within the supply chain for medical countermeasures intended to support preparedness for chemical threats.

David Stevens, CEO of Kindeva, said: “We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with the DLA as Kindeva continues to support the U.S. government in addressing evolving global security threats,”

He added: “Following the recent visit from the DLA to our St. Louis facility, we were proud to showcase our proven expertise in fill finish and highlight how our team is delivering critical medical countermeasures (MCM).”

The contract follows more than a year of collaboration between the company and the DLA, according to Kindeva.

Tara Butler, director of government contracts in Kindeva’s global health security division, said: “Successful execution of this contract is the result of over a year’s worth of close collaboration and honest communication with the DLA Team. Kindeva is excited to continue supporting the warfighter as the sole-source of this essential MCM,”

Supply of nerve agent antidotes

Kindeva also manufactures DuoDote, a civilian version of the antidote autoinjector supplied to US government agencies, first responders and international customers.

The company says ATNAA and DuoDote are the only FDA-approved dual-chamber autoinjectors of their kind designed to administer atropine and pralidoxime chloride for poisoning caused by organophosphorus nerve agents and insecticides.

The contract adds to Kindeva’s work supplying medical products for emergency preparedness. However, the announcement does not specify the contract’s duration, delivery schedule or the proportion of the potential $226 million value that is guaranteed.

These details will determine the scale and timing of the manufacturing demand placed on the company’s St Louis operations.