Benzinga | Sep 1, 2021 09:03AM EDT

US Government Exercises Option To Buy Additional Doses Of BioCryst's Flu Med

* The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has exercised its option to purchase an additional 10,000 doses of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc's (NASDAQ:BCRX) Rapivab (peramivir injection)

* The govt will pay approximately $7 million for the Antiviral influenza therapy. The Rapivab purchase will supply the Strategic National Stockpile.

* The order is part of a $34.7 million contract the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded in 2018 to procure up to 50,000 doses of Rapivab over five years for the SNS.

* With the fulfillment of this new order, BioCryst will have delivered 40,000 doses under the contract.

* Rapivab is approved in the U.S. for acute uncomplicated influenza in patients six months and older who have been symptomatic for no more than two days.

* Price Action: BCRX shares are up 1.57% at $16.17 during the premarket session on the last check Wednesday.