Hawaii Biotech Inc. has won a federal contract worth up to $38.5 million for the development of an anti-toxin drug for anthrax in humans.

The contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases — part of the National Institutes of Health — can be renewed for five years and for up to $38.5 million to fund pre-clinical work and human testing of a small molecule drug to treat people exposed to anthrax. Research will continue at the company’s Honolulu facilities and with sub-contractors across the country.

“We are committed to continuing our development of anti-terrorism drugs that will protect servicemen and women, as well as all U.S. residents,” said Elliot Parks, Hawaii Biotech’s chief executive officer, in a news release.

Hawaii Biotech, founded in 1982, develops vaccines for infectious diseases and anti-toxin drugs for biological threats. The company, based at Dole Cannery, completed the first-in-human clinical studies with both West Nile virus and dengue vaccines and developed vaccine candidates for West Nile virus, tick-borne flavivirus, malaria, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and Ebola. It is also researching small molecule anti-toxin drugs for anthrax and botulism.