BioWorld International Correspondent

ZICHRON YA'AKOV, Israel - Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. is now the first commercial entity in Israel to be awarded a U.S. National Institutes of Health R01 research grant.

The Tel Hashomer-based Israeli biotechnology company was awarded a two-year award of more than $3 million to develop an anti-bioterror injection intended to be used on healthy people surviving a first attack and as a prophylactic against the smallpox virus.

Orgad Laub, Omrix head of business development and research and development, told BioWorld International: "The grant was awarded to address the possible use of smallpox in bioterrorism and deals with the majority of younger people who have never been vaccinated, as well as a large number of people who might be excluded, for various reasons, from any future vaccination program."

Laub explained that the company is seeking to develop and commercialize a HighTiter VIG (vaccinia immunoglobulin) by first identifying people with high concentration of vaccinia antibodies, representing about 10 percent of vaccinated donors.

The Bethesda, Md.-based NIH grant also is the first application processed by FreeMind Business Promotion Consulting Ltd. in Jerusalem, through an effort in Israel to get foreign funding for Israeli companies suffering during the economic and political recession.

Eyal Schmidt, FreeMind's CEO, told BioWorld International, "The R01 is the most prestigious NIH grant because of the high competition and high funding. The award is a first for commercial research in Israel, and also the first of about 10 applications that we have submitted, so we are very encouraged by our new efforts."