CSC picks up Porton's share of biopharm company

Computer Sciences Corp. acquired Porton International Inc.'s interest in biopharmaceutical company DynPort Vaccine Company LLC, for an undisclosed sum, the company said today.

Previously a join venture of CSC and biotechnology company Porton International, DVC of Frederick, Md., is part of CSC's enforcement, security and intelligence organization which CSC created two years ago to support programs that enhance U.S. security. DVC specializes in developing biodefense biological products and has been the prime systems contractor for the Defense Department's Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program since 1997.

Products in development at DVC include vaccines for botulism neurotoxin, tularemia, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, anthrax and plague. The company is also developing vaccinia immune globulin, a therapeutic blood product that will treat the complications of the smallpox vaccine.

CSC is a systems integrator headquartered in El Segundo, Calif. It is No. 3 on Washington Technology's 2004 Top 100 list of federal contractors, ranked according to their prime IT contracting revenue. The company employs approximately 90,000 workers and had revenue of $14.8 billion for the fiscal year ended April 2.