Civica Rx, the drug company startup founded by members of health systems and foundations to produce lower-cost generics, has teamed up with the U.S. government to aid in the COVID-19 response. The company will produce “essential generic medicines and their ingredients as a U.S. location with a priority on the COVID-19 response.
Expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing is part of this reponse. HHS has been working with private industry players to create stockpiles of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and essential generic sterile injectable medications needed in public health emergencies.
Civica Rx will manufacture finished dosage forms of essentials medications in vials and syringes through its existing network of manufacturing partners. Civica Rx has already partnered with several companies worldwide to produce and ship essential medications that have been in short supply within health systems as of late. Some of these partnerships include: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Exela Pharma Sciences, Hikma Pharma, Vizient and more.
The partnership with the U.S. government is being led by Phlow Corporation, a pharma manufacturing company based in Richmond, Virginia, that was awarded a $354 million to manufacture essential medicines facing shortages. Phlow produces essential medicines from beginning to end, including APIs, raw ingredients and finished dosages.
"This partnership fits well with Civica's mission to make essential generic medications accessible and affordable," Martin VanTrieste, president and CEO of Civica Rx, said in a statement. "We thank Phlow, VCU and AMPAC for their collaboration and commitment to serving patients, and we thank the federal government for partnering with us to bring urgently needed advanced manufacturing capabilities for the production of essential generic drugs to the United States."
Civica Rx has already provided 1.6 million doses of medicines, including broad spectrum antibiotics, pain management medications, neuromuscular blocking agents and other medications to treat co-morbidities, for the national stockpile for the COVID-19 response through partnership with Phlow. Civica Rx will build its own drug manufacturing facility at the same site as Phlow’s other partners for end-to-end manufacturing.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."