The US Defense Threat Reduction Agency has awarded Armis Biopharma a $20.3-million contract to develop a chemical warfare agent decontamination solution for battlefield wounds.
Under the agreement, the company will provide its Veriox DECON proprietary formula to support soldiers wounded by or exposed to chemicals.
The “Beyond a Bandage” acts as an antimicrobial and anti-toxin against drug-resistant pathogens, biological warfare agents, and the opioid fentanyl.
The compound is expected to provide care to severely injured personnel and save lives once fielded.
“Joint Force members injured by or contaminated with chemical/biological warfare agents (CBWs) should be treated as soon as possible after exposure, preferably within 2 minutes, for the most effective decontamination,” the Defense Threat Reduction Agency explained following a Veriox research study in August.
“This timeframe also refers to decon solutions using reactive chemistry to allow for neutralization.”
“Quick application of Veriox DECON solution created by Armis Biopharma may provide a difference between survival and death, defeating the deadly consequences of CBWs.”
Armis Biopharma’s Veriox DECON
Before the program, two studies by the US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense validated the Veriox technology’s efficacy in mitigating the physical damage of chemical warfare agents.
Armis also received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop Veriox for fire responder utility in mass-casualty decontamination.
“We are excited for the opportunity to bring a new technology to decontaminate chemical warfare agents for application in both civilian and military markets,” Armis Biopharma CEO and Chairman Ted Ziemann stated.
“Our unique proprietary solution, Veriox DECON, offers several advantages… for both individual application and for mass casualty settings because it can be rapidly dispensed with standard liquid dispensing systems that will allow first responders to quickly decontaminate multiple individuals.”
“Veriox DECON is also environmentally safe in that it breaks down rapidly into harmless products and demonstrates a better safety profile than competitive products.”
