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SIGA Technologies, Inc. today reported financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023.
"In 2023, SIGA had approximately $131 million in product revenues and approximately $84 million of pre-tax operating income," stated Diem Nguyen, Chief Executive Officer, in a press release on March 12, 2024.
"These financial results represent a significant increase over the 2022 financial results; product revenues increased 51% over the corresponding 2022 amount."
In 2023, SIGA had product sales of approximately $98 million in the fourth quarter of oral TPOXX® (tecovirimat, ST-246®), a novel small-molecule drug, to the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile ("SNS"); approximately $11 million of product sales of oral TPOXX to the U.S. Department of Defense, of which roughly $6 million was recognized in the fourth quarter; and approximately $21 million of international sales, of which approximately $12 million was recognized in the fourth quarter.
In the first two months of 2024, the Company delivered an additional approximately $15 million of oral TPOXX to the SNS, substantially completing the oral TPOXX order received in July 2023.
It also delivered an additional approximately $7 million of oral TPOXX to European countries and Canada.
Highlighting the continuing diversification of the Company's revenue base, the Company has received procurement orders for oral TPOXX from over 25 countries over the past two years.
As an example of the diversification trend, in October 2023, the Company reported the creation by the European Commission's DG HERA (Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority) of a joint procurement framework contract under which participating countries from the European Union and the European Free Trade Association can efficiently order oral TPOXX.
Under this mechanism, 13 countries ordered $18 million of oral TPOXX in the fourth quarter, and revenues were recorded for deliveries on substantially all of these orders in the fourth quarter or the first two months of 2024.
On March 12, 2024, SIGA's Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $0.60 per share, an increase of $0.15 per share from last year's special cash dividend.
In 2023, the Company paid a special cash dividend of $0.45 per share and repurchased approximately 1.7 million shares of its common stock.
The first human case of Mpox was identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1970. The World Health Organization Mpox External Situation Report #31 confirmed on December 22, 2023, that it has received mpox case reports from 115 affected countries since May 2022.
IN 2024, mpox outbreaks have been confirmed in various countries, including the United States and the DRC.
The U.S. CDC issued a Level 2 travel advisory health advisory in February 2024, alerting international travelers regarding mpox outbreaks in African countries.
Over the past year, various countries have been listed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding measles outbreaks.
As of March 12, 2024, the CDC ranked the following countries:
Kazakhstan - 21,740
Azerbaijan - 13,720
Yemen - 13,676
India - 13,220
Iraq - 11,595
And on March 13, 2024, the CDC reissued a Level 1 Travel Health Advisory that identified 46 countries reporting measles cases.
The CDC confirmed that measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, with various vaccines offered at clinics and community pharmacies in the U.S.
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently reported that 900 shelter residents have been successfully vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
As of March 11, 2024, these newly vaccinated shelter residents are required to stay at the shelter for 21 days until their immunity from the vaccination reaches full effectiveness.
Chicago intends to continue transferring immune residents and those who need to quarantine in designated hotel spaces in the city.
As of March 13, 2024, reports indicate ten people in Chicago have been diagnosed with measles.
Over 45 measles cases in seventeen jurisdictions have been reported nationwide in 2024.
CDPH is treating this response as a citywide measles outbreak and is calling on all eligible unvaccinated residents to get vaccinated now. MMR vaccines are available at most doctor’s offices and community pharmacies in Chicago.
As long as measles circulates in Chicago, we will continue to proactively protect as many people as possible from this highly infectious disease,” said CDPH Commissioner Olusimbo ‘Simbo’ Ige, MD, MPH, in a press release.
Immunization records recorded in the Illinois immunization registry can be accessed using the Illinois Department of Public Health Vax Verify digital portal.
Merck today announced plans to initiate clinical development of a new investigational multi-valent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine designed to provide broader protection against multiple HPV types.
Separately, the company also plans to conduct clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single-dose regimen of GARDASIL®9 compared to the approved three-dose regimen.
“Evidence continues to emerge showing the importance of GARDASIL and GARDASIL 9 to public health,” said Dr. Eliav Barr, senior vice president, head of global clinical development, and chief medical officer, Merck Research Laboratories, in a press release on March 13, 2024.
“These significant investments build upon our leadership and, importantly, provide the opportunity to further impact the global burden of certain HPV-related cancers and diseases.”
Merck announced in February 2024 that GARDASIL/GARDASIL 9 vaccine sales reached about $8.9 Billion;
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends vaccinating against HPV to prevent infections and associated cancers.
As of March 2024, the WHO has listed six licensed HPV vaccines protect males and females against cancers caused by HPV. These bivalent, quadrivalent, and nonavalent HPV vaccines are available in 140 countries.
Furthermore, the WHO and the United Kingdom have endorsed the single-dose regimen.
During March 2024, many college students will enjoy the warm and friendly South Florida beaches.
However, various diseases also impact those Florida communities.
For week #10, Florida Health's Mosquito-Borne Disease Surveillance reported new dengue and malaria cases.
In 2024, 59 travel-associated dengue cases were reported, mainly by visitors from Cuba.
And four cases of locally acquired dengue have been reported from two counties this year. In 2023, positive samples from 186 humans were reported from five counties.
Also, in 2024, twelve cases of malaria have been reported in individuals with a travel history to a malaria-endemic area, such as Africa.
In 2023, seven locally acquired malaria cases were reported in the Sarasota area.
On the bright side, the agency also communicated that the recent measles outbreak in Broward County has been contained.
No additional measles cases have occurred at Manatee Bay Elementary since Friday, February 16, 2024; thus, the 21-day infection period has ended.
However, due to the contagiousness of measles and the rate of international travel, there is a possibility for more sporadic cases throughout Florida and the United States.
"It's important that public health leaders consider all available data and make decisions that promote health while respecting the rights of individuals," said Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo in a press release on March 8, 2024.
The State Surgeon General communicated that unprotected people should speak with their healthcare provider about receiving approved vaccines.
As of March 12, 2024, the state of Florida, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Canada, and the United Kingdom have not issued any vaccination requirements for visitors to Florida.
An observational, cross-sectional cohort study was published on March 5, 2024, investigating the source of an ongoing mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The study also evaluated how the mpox virus (MPXV) clade I spread in the city of Kamituga. This non-peer-reviewed study included data from 2022 to January 2024.
These researchers reported a staggering 21,630 suspected MPXV cases and 1,003 deaths. Around 85% of the deaths recorded during this period were children under 15 years of age.
This MPXV clade I outbreak marks an important change as transmission routes now appear to be expanding to include heterosexual activity, wrote these researchers.
The DRC reported the first mpox MPXV clade I cases in humans in 1970.
"The mpox situation in the DRC is deeply alarming, and the lack of tests for both mpox and HIV means it's unclear just how bad the mpox situation is and what the underlying comorbidities are," said Dr. Ayoade Alakija, who is Chair of the Board at FIND, in a press release on March 12, 2024.
The May 2022 MPVX clade II global outbreak caused global concern, primarily among men. The outbreak caused 93,497 cases in 118 locations.
As of March 5, 2024, there have been 32,063 confirmed mpox cases and 58 deaths in the U.S.
Throughout the clade II outbreak, the JYNNEOS® ((MVA-BN®, IMVAMUNE®) vaccine has been deployed in most impacted countries.
On December 7, 2023, the U.S. CDC published a Health Alert Network Health Advisory stating that JYNNEOS is expected to have similar vaccine effectiveness (VE) against MPXV clade I, as seen with clade II.
The CDC's vaccine committee reported in October 2023 that JYNNEOS's VE against mpox clade II ranges from 36%–75% for 1-dose vaccination and 66%–89% for 2-dose vaccination.
The European CDC reported in December 2023 that real-world JYNNEOS VE data is lacking.
Dengue virus is a severe ongoing concern for many areas of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
If you plan to visit any high-risk areas during Spring Break 2024, don't let dengue fever ruin your trip.
The high-risk destination list includes Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico (Cancun), Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Turks and Caicos Islands.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on February 28, 2024, travelers should protect themselves by taking precautions against mosquito bites. Take the necessary measures to safeguard yourself and enjoy a worry-free trip.
However, be aware the disease can take up to two weeks to develop, and the illness generally lasts less than a week.
Additionally, the CDC says don't disrupt your vacation with this vaccine-preventable illness.
As of March 12, 2024, various government agencies have approved dengue vaccines, and several vaccine candidates are conducting late-stage studies.
In the U.S., Dengvaxia® is approved by the U.S. FDA. On June 30, 2023, the FDA issued a Supplemental Approval letter.
Other countries offer QDENGA®, a WHO-recommended dengue vaccine.
