US Army Expands Agreement With BioVeris

BioVeris Corporation have announced that the Department of Defense (DOD) has exercised its option to extend its agreement to purchase products for the detection of specific biological agents based on BioVeris™ technology for a second year.

The contract with the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense - Chemical Biological Medical Systems Critical Reagent Program provides for product sales by the Company to the U.S. Army of up to $7 million over the next twelve months. The products will be used by various laboratories and field sites of the DOD, as well as other U.S. Government agencies, for the detection of agents or toxins in environmental samples.

During the first year of this contract, the Company shipped approximately $4.4 million of product. U.S. Army scientists at Fort Detrick and the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) have developed biological assays designed to measure specific agents and toxins based on the Company's patented electrochemiluminescence technology. In 2003, the Company received a contract with the DOD for the production of these tests. That contract provided for product sales at the election of the government of up to a total of $23 million over four years, and the DOD at its option but with no obligation, was able to elect to purchase additional products.

The Company has been working with numerous departments within the DOD and other U.S. Government agencies using electrochemiluminescence-based products for the detection of Category A and Category B biological agents, including agents such as anthrax, staphylococcus enterotoxin B, and botulinum toxin, among others.