In an effort to counter potential medical shortages, the United States federal government has awarded $354 million to the Phlow Corporation, with an eye on advanced manufacturing of essential medicines.
In all, that contract could stretch up to $812 million, thanks to a four-year base award of $354 million and an additional $458 million on the line as a potential long-term sustainability option. Funds were all pulled from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
“BARDA has long focused on expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure in the United States, not only to develop and produce vaccines, but also for essential medicines, and their key ingredients used to make these drugs,” BARDA Acting Director Gary Disbrow said. “Collaborating with Phlow and its partners is an important step in expanding our manufacturing of strategic APIs and critical medicines at-risk of shortage.”
With funds in hand, Phlow immediately delivered to the Strategic National Stockpile more than 1.6 million doses of five essential generic medicines currently being used to help mitigate the effects of COVID-19. These include medicines used to sedate patients on ventilator support, medicines for pain management, and certain antibiotics. Going forward, Phlow will also help build up the Strategic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Reserve, a first-time U.S. attempt at a long-term, national stockpile of key ingredients used to manufacture essential medicines on U.S. soil.
“In the midst of this pandemic, America needs a reliable source of high quality, domestically manufactured, affordable pharmaceuticals and their key ingredients,” Dr. Eric Edwards, co-founder, president and CEO of Phlow, said. “This advanced manufacturing capability will significantly fortify our nation’s pharmaceutical supply chain for critical medicines, including many required to treat patients hospitalized with COVID-19.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought greater scrutiny to the U.S. medical supply chain, much of which depends on overseas manufacturing. That fact has caused great strains as the country, and the world, scrambled to react to the crisis.
Together with strategic partners Civica Rx, Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medicines for All Institute, and AMPAC Fine Chemicals, Phlow will continue manufacturing chemical precursor ingredients, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and finished dosage forms for various medicines.