DoD paying Biomérieux subsidiary $3.1M to boost COVID-19 test production

The U.S. government announced that it signed a $3.1 million agreement with Biomérieux subsidiary BioFire to expand production of its COVID-19 test.

Government funding came from the U.S. Defense Dept. (DoD), in coordination with the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to a news release.

BioFire’s COVID-19 test received FDA emergency use authorization (EUA) in March. The $3.1 million investment from the government will allow the company to increase its manufacturing capacity by expanding its facility in Salt Lake City with two new production lines.

The company is set to triple its manufacturing capacity for tests, beginning in September 2020. Those tests are compatible for use with BioFire’s FilmArray instruments that are, according to a news release, fielded across the DoD and Department of State.