Washington (CNN) - A series of e-mail exchanges between officials at the Department of Health and Human Services shows growing alarm at the amount of projected profit from a government contract for a drug company whose controlling shareholder is a longtime Democratic Party activist.

Ronald Perelman is controlling shareholder of Siga Technologies, and a long-time Democratic Party activist and fund-raiser. He's also a large contributor to Republicans, but has been a particular friend of the Obama White House.