Elusys Therapeutics Commends U.S. Congress for Introduction of H.R. 2707, Bolstering Anthrax Preparedness

Urges Swift Passage of H.R. 2707, the First Standalone Anthrax Preparedness Legislation in Over a Decade

Parsippany, NJ, Boca Raton, FL and Research Triangle Park, NC – – Elusys Therapeutics, a leading pharmaceutical company focused on developing and marketing medical countermeasures for biodefense and public health indications, commended select Members of the United States Congress today upon the introduction of H.R. 2707, the Protecting American Families and Servicemembers from Anthrax Act, and urged swift passage of this lifesaving legislation.

The legislation requires the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services to modernize their strategy for ensuring the defense of the United States from the Anthrax threat. If passed, this legislation would ensure the continued defense of the warfighter and civilians through sustained stockpiling of FDA-approved medical countermeasures by the Strategic National Stockpile and by the Department of Defense for those on military installations.

The threat of Anthrax, a Category A agent which also holds a Material Threat Determination, is of grave concern given its potential for weaponization by America’s adversaries. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence in their 2025 Annual Threat Assessment recently elevated the threat risk for biological and chemical weapons (CBRN) to the United States. Despite this escalated risk, there continues to be concerns around preparedness for the Anthrax threat.

“We greatly appreciate the efforts Representatives Don Davis and Jen Kiggans, for introducing this bipartisan, life-saving legislation that serves to protect our country, families, and servicemembers from one of the world’s deadliest threats. Rep. Davis and Rep. Kiggans are leading by example to ensure a robust defense against this national security threat, and we urge their Congressional colleagues to join in supporting this critical legislation,” stated Matthew Seavey, Ph.D., Vice President of Medical Countermeasures at Elusys Therapeutics.

“Anthrax poses a deadly threat to the warfighter – it is imperative for American national security and military readiness to ensure preparedness for this biological threat. We continue to have grave concerns around our adversaries’ work on Anthrax. Recent national intelligence and treaty compliance estimates acknowledge the man made biological threat concerns posed by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. This legislation provides a key step to ensuring preparedness for the threat of Anthrax,” remarked David Lasseter, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction in the first Trump Administration.

“H.R. 2707 is a tremendous step forward to ensuring that the Strategic National Stockpile is prepared for the threat of Anthrax. The Stockpile has been chronically challenged with severe, long term funding shortfalls and under-resourcing. This has created a preparedness concern across the spectrum of biological and chemical threats, including Anthrax. Congress should immediately pass H.R. 2707, and then move to strengthen the stockpile through reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) as well as increase appropriations to match the stockpile’s growing deficit,” remarked Greg Burel, recently retired director of the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile.

“Anthrax remains a deadly domestic material threat, and defending against this and other CBRN threats must be a top priority of the Strategic National Stockpile as Congress has repeatedly indicated,” commented Bryan Shuy, former Chief of Staff to the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response in the first Trump Administration. 

Elusys Therapeutics is focused on the development of therapeutics for the treatment of infectious disease. ANTHIM®(obiltoxaximab), the company’s monoclonal antibody (mAb) anthrax antitoxin, received market clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2016. In July 2020, Health Canada approved ANTHIM’s Extraordinary Use New Drug Submission for the treatment of inhalation anthrax. For more information, please visit www.elusys.com.

About Elusys Therapeutics, Inc.

Elusys Therapeutics is focused on the development of therapeutics for the treatment of infectious disease. ANTHIM®(obiltoxaximab), the company’s monoclonal antibody (mAb) anthrax antitoxin, received market clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2016. In July 2020, Health Canada approved ANTHIM’s Extraordinary Use New Drug Submission for the treatment of inhalation anthrax. For more information, please visit www.elusys.com.