PharmAthene, the Annapolis biodefense company, announced Tuesday that its federal contract has been expanded to provide $78.4 million in additional funding. The company, which develops medical countermeasures against chemical and biological threats, is working on an anthrax vaccine to be stockpiled by the U.S. government. This is a second-generation vaccine that's less expensive and faster-acting than the current vaccine in the stockpile, said spokeswoman Stacey Jurchison. PharmAthene's original contract from 2003 was worth $118 million. This extension will run through the end of 2012. In anticipation of the contract extension, PharmAthene hired about 10 employees in the past six months, Jurchison said.

- Eileen Ambrose