On Oct. 8, 2020, SIGA Technologies announced that the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has issued an advanced contract award notice (ACAN), indicating that the PHAC intends to purchase up to 33,300 courses of oral TPOXX^® (tecovirimat) within five years as specified in the ACAN, with 3,700 courses to be delivered by March 31, 2021; a cumulative total of 18,500 courses to be delivered by March 31, 2023; and an additional 14,800 courses to be delivered after March 31, 2023, subject to option exercise.

The ACAN is required to remain open for at least 15 days, during which time a potential alternative supplier may submit a competing Statement of Capabilities. This ACAN follows, but is separate and incremental to, the issuance in April, 2020 of a contract by the Canadian Department of National Defence (CDND) for the delivery of up to 15,325 courses of oral TPOXX.

The value of courses to be sold to Canada will be disclosed upon any final award by the Canadian government. In any contract issued by Canada, Meridian Medical Technologies (“Meridian”, a Pfizer Company) will be the counterparty to the contract and SIGA will be responsible for the manufacture and delivery of product.

SIGA was also previously awarded separate funding by the Canadian authorities to support submission of an application for marketing authorization of oral TPOXX to Health Canada, which is targeted to be submitted by the end of 2020. SIGA anticipates approval in 2021.

In May 2019, SIGA entered into an international promotion agreement with Meridian. Under the agreement, Meridian will promote the sale of oral TPOXX for the treatment of smallpox in all international markets, except the United States. SIGA will continue to own all rights to the product and its related intellectual property.