SiO2 Materials Science, a U.S. advanced materials science corporation, has announced a $64 million agreement with the federal government.

The agreement with the Department of Defense's Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND) in partnership with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, supports additional infrastructure of the company's patented, primary packaging containment system platform for storing novel biological vaccines and therapeutics including coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

SiO2's patented materials science is a combination of a plastic container with a microscopic, undetectable to the naked eye, pure glass coating for biological drugs and vaccines.

According to Lawrence Ganti, president of SiO2, "We have been collaborating with the US Government to scale our domestic infrastructure in support of the current pandemic. This additional funding supports further expansion of our infrastructure including a facility to house our advanced fully-automated production lines and a temperature-controlled warehouse for raw materials and finished product inventory."

About SiO2’s Patented Materials Science Platform

Essential characteristics of SiO2's patented materials science platform include providing drug and vaccines containment systems which enhanced thermal stability and integrity, chemical stability, a gas barrier, mechanical durability, and no breakage.

With a thermal stability range of -196?C to 121?C and with a seal integrity down to -80?C, the SiO2 vials, syringes, cartridges and blood collection tubes provide the ideal primary container system for therapies and blood samples in any storage conditions.

Chemical stability allows the product to be safe and suitable for a wide range of drug characterizations including pH ranges from 3-14; there is no risk of delamination and no metal ions as observed with glass vials.

With a gas barrier, SiO2 vials have gas permeation properties like glass and therefore provide the shelf life required and stability required by many therapies. SiO2 vials also can withstand 1,500 pounds of direct force which potentially saves millions of dollars from breaking on filling lines and minimizes loss in the supply chain, and the vials are shatterproof, making them safe for use by healthcare staff and patients.

SiO2's containers are precision molded with up to 15 times more dimensional consistency than glass, enabling error-free operation with autoinjectors and other drug delivery devices.

SiO2's patented materials science was developed in Auburn, Alabama, over 10 years with the assistance of experts from four major U.S. research institutions, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Chicago, MIT, and Harvard, and included the participation of Dr. Glenn Fredrickson, one of the most prominent material scientists in the United States.

"The SiO2 vials solve significant challenges in the commercialization of vaccines and biological drugs, which presently cannot be solved by glass or plastic vials," Fredrickson said. "Bringing this advanced coating to market will enable pharmaceutical manufacturers to safely and more rapidly deploy their critical products."

Bobby Abrams, chief executive officer of SiO2, added, "The pandemic presents an enormous challenge for all people. We are extremely grateful to continue our collaboration with the US Government agencies and are honored to be a key player in bringing back advanced manufacturing to the United States."