Bioterrorism products see sales boom after attacks

Tetracore LLC a month ago was just one of hundreds of small, local bio-technology companies pitching their products to customers reluctant to spend money during an economic downturn. This week the company is sold out of its product and executives are debating whether to double or even triple output. Tetracore makes an Anthrax "BIO-THREAT ALERT".  In the words of Chief Executive Officer Bill Nelson, its a product "akin to a home pregnancy test but instead of finding out whether or not you are pregnant, you find out you have Anthrax." The threat of bioterrorism is proving profitable for several local companies with potential blockbuster products like vaccines, drugs, and diagnostic tools. The Anthrax scare began several weeks ago when a South Florida tabloid journalist contracted and then died from the disease.  Several news organizations and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, South Dakota Democrat, have since received envelops containing Anthrax. The child of four former U.S. Navy scientists, Tetracore was born in Gaithersburg in 1998 out of thoughts of retirement and $100,000 pooled from savings.  The company operated out of a Montgomery County Incubator.  Then a year ago, soon after its BTA hit the market, Tetracore moved out on its own.  Management says the company became profitable two years ago, but developing the BTA cost a pretty penny.  Now the company is thrilled to see BTA reach its current demand. "It's getting wild," Mr. Nelson said.  "Our distributor is sold out and we're rushing to get things up." Clients are mostly fire and police departments, state and local authorities and federal contractors.  But now even corporate America is linking up.