The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) plans to demonstrate an automated, point-of-care, sterile saline manufacturing system that may help prevent or mitigate intravenous (IV) fluid shortages in the United States.
The system, Caspian, will be demonstrated at two locations. It includes integrated quality controls.
“Despite being one of the most commonly used supportive care solutions in patient care, IV fluids have been in shortage since 2018,” John Knox, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response principal deputy assistant secretary, said. “Under President (Donald) Trump’s leadership, we are helping to ensure that patients don’t have their medical care delayed or cancelled due to shortages of IV fluids by manufacturing them here at home through Caspian.”
New Hampshire-based DEKA Research and Development Corp. developed Caspian with ASPR’s support. The agency is working with DEKA to complete the final steps necessary to produce up to 500 bags of IV fluid each day.
Testing will happen in the fall. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration will review one unit. The other unit will be delivered to Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. The hospital will demonstrate how the system can help meet patients’ needs in medical facilities.