Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is a Washington, D.C.-based government organization that facilitates the process of developing drugs and vaccines for serious health concerns, such as Ebola and COVID-19, by investing money in companies that are already doing the research. It also invests in therapies, non-pharmaceutical countermeasure, and diagnostic tools that may aid in public health emergencies. BARDA supports the development of countermeasures forchemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear(CBRN) threats such as anthrax, botulism, smallpox, nerve agents, radiation as well as pandemic influenza and emerging infectious diseases.

BARDA was formed with the stated intention of protecting the United States of America from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats as well as pandemic influenza and emerging infectious diseases. The organization aids other entities which are developing products and/or medicines to combat the aforementioned issues via an advanced development pipeline. It states that it seeks to make public-private partnerships. Aid from BARDA comes in the form of funding, technical assistance (such as clinical research organization networking), and fill-finishing networking.

BARDA was established in 2006, as part of a response to the need for medical countermeasures like vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics to protect US citizens from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats. The need was highlighted after the 9/11 attacks on Americans and the subsequent 2001 anthrax attacks through the mail. The BioShield Act of 2004 aimed to augment market incentives for companies pursuing the development of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats, and the Pandemic All Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006 (PAHPA) established BARDA under the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. BARDA was established to focus on development and procurement of medical countermeasures for CBRN threats, pandemic influenza, and emerging infectious diseases. BARDA received funding at $415 million annually from 2014-2018 by the PAHPA of 2013. The funding was used to mobilize pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to pursue development of countermeasures to CBRN threats.

Countermeasures to the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus supported by BARDA include diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics, ventilators, respiratory protective devices and advanced manufacturing technologies. BARDA's portfolio of partners in COVID-19 countermeasures is available at the Medical Countermeasures.gov.