Halifax drug discovery company Appili Therapeutics has inked a US$10 million (C$12.67 million) deal with the United States Department of Defence to test a vaccine against tularemia — a highly contagious infection that can be deadly when introduced into the lungs and is well-suited to use as a bioweapon.
The vaccine technology grew out of research and development work by the National Research Council Canada before being licensed by Appili. Now, Appili will continue an R&D regime that was previously helmed by one of its testing partners.
The $13 million will go towards “nonclinical,”