Hemispherx Biopharma has entered into a clinical trial, sales, marketing, distribution and supply agreement with Scientific Products Pharmaceutical (SCIEN) located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The contract covers Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain, expanding Hemispherx’s early access programs (EAP) globally.

The agreement also calls for SCIEN to purchase certain quantities of Hemispherx’s clinical grade interferon alfa-n3 for investigative use in individuals who are exposed to and show early onset symptoms of the coronavirus that causes MERS. MERS was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, and can cause severe acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath as well as death.

“We are grateful to be able to undertake this important project with Saudi Arabia’s premiere pharma company,” said Tom Equels, chief executive officer, Hemispherx Biopharma. “This is the natural next step to our successful orphan drug designation in the EU regarding Alferon as a therapy for MERS, a deadly virus, for which there is no currently approved therapy.”