3 states awarded federal biodefense contracts

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- The Texas A&M University system has been awarded one of three national biodefense contracts to help the country quickly develop vaccines in the event of a pandemic and strategies for responding to bioterrorism.

The contract was announced Monday by System Chancellor John Sharp and federal health officials.

Texas A&M's five-year contract is worth $176 million and can be renewed for up to 25 years. The school will partner with GlaxoSmithKline and Kalon Biotherapeutics

A second center, led by Emergent Manufacturing Operations Baltimore LLC, will be based in Maryland and partner with Michigan State University, Kettering University in Michigan and the University of Maryland-Baltimore.

The third center will be based in North Carolina, and will be led by Novartis, and will work with North Carolina State University and Duke University.