Ophidian Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Madison, Wis., has received a$500,000 Phase II small business innovation research (SBIR)grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to continuedevelopment of antitoxins against lethal food toxins includingbotulilinum, which causes botulism.

The private company also received a $50,000 Phase I SBIRgrant from the National Institutes of Health to develop anantidote for Africanized "killer" bee stings.

The company's "anti-venom" technology was initiallydeveloped to produce an improved snakebite antidote withincreased potency and fewer side effects.

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