Summary
April 2025 – The Department of Defense (DoD) is reaching out to innovators in biotechnology and life sciences through a newly released Request for Information (RFI), aiming to advance the next generation of medical countermeasures. The call, issued by the Joint Project Manager for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Medical (JPM CBRN Medical) under the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND), seeks to identify mature, host-directed therapeutics capable of protecting warfighters against diverse viral and toxin threats.
A New Direction: Host-Directed, Not Pathogen-Specific
Unlike traditional antivirals or antibiotics, host-directed therapeutics (HDTs) focus on modulating the patient’s immune response rather than targeting a specific pathogen. This “threat-agnostic” approach is especially promising in an era marked by evolving biological agents and unpredictable infectious threats.
The DoD is particularly interested in repurposed FDA-approved therapeutics or late-stage small molecule candidates that:
- Act across multiple viral or toxin families,
- Have demonstrated immune-modulating effects,
- Are stable and easy to administer (oral, inhaled, or IM),
- Are not vaccines or reliant on specific pathogen targets.
What the Government Wants to Know
This RFI is for planning purposes only, not a solicitation—but it signals strong future interest in accelerating acquisition pathways. Respondents are asked to submit:
- A 1-page capability description detailing mechanism of action, formulation, regulatory maturity, and relevant development experience.
- A 1-page quad chart, outlining objectives, timeline, estimated costs, and IP/patent status.
Responses are due by May 30, 2025, at 4:00 PM ET. Submissions should be emailed to [email protected], with subject lines referencing the responding organization and “Host-Directed Therapeutics RFI.”
Opportunity for Dual-Use Innovators
This is an excellent opportunity for companies working in oncology, immunology, and rare disease therapies to explore federal pathways for dual-use application. The ideal submission will highlight:
- Mechanistic novelty tied to immune regulation,
- Advanced development and manufacturing capacity,
- Cross-cutting use cases in civilian and defense health.
If successful, this effort may transition into a formal Request for Prototype Proposal (RPP) under the Medical CBRN Defense Consortium (MCDC) and be funded through an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA)—a flexible contracting vehicle designed to streamline innovation partnerships.
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