VaxGen Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the commercial development and manufacture of products for the prevention and treatment of human infectious disease. Spun-out of Genentech in 1995, the Company utilizes recombinant technology to clone and express complex proteins, including those made through bacterial and mammalian-cell fermentation. It is focused on developing and commercializing vaccine candidates to address bioterrorism threats, including anthrax and smallpox. VaxGen is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a modern, recombinant anthrax vaccine, known as rPA102. In October 2003, it was awarded a contract from the NIH to advance the vaccine candidate into Phase II clinical trials, conduct animal efficacy studies and manufacture a three-million-dose stockpile of rPA102. VaxGen are involved in the development, manufacture and commercialization of biologic products for the prevention and treatment of human infectious diseases. Their product focusses on developing vaccines for bioterrorism threats.