The Richmond area is planning a significant pharmaceutical manufacturing initiative, the Alliance for Building Better Medicine, aimed at locally producing drugs, replenishing the nation’s stockpile of essential medicines, and making them more affordable. Key stakeholders in this initiative include Virginia Commonwealth University, the cities of Richmond and Petersburg, and pharmaceutical manufacturers Civica, Phlow, and AMPAC Fine Chemicals. The initiative has received $53 million from the federal government’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge, alongside $14 million in local donations and $45 million from the state. The funds will be used to construct labs in Richmond and Chesterfield County and manufacturing facilities in Petersburg. Not only does this initiative promise to create jobs in the region, but it also aims to boost national security by reducing dependency on foreign drug manufacturers.
Introduction
From Richmond Times-Dispatch By
Richmond Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Initiative
Frank Gupton, left, CEO of the Medicines for All Institute, and Eric Edwards, second left, co-founder & CEO of Phlow Corp., give a tour to, from third left, Makola Abdullah, VSU president, Mark Warner, US Senator, Michael Rao, VCU president, and others at Biotech Center, Virginia Bio+Tech Research Park in Richmond, Va., on Tuesday, October 4, 2022. The tour was the part of celebration for the nearly $53 million in federal funding for the Richmond-Petersburg region’s Alliance for Building Better Medicine.
Daniel Sangjib Min/TIMES-DISPATC
Key Players and Funding
The Richmond area is planning a major pharmaceutical manufacturing initiative to build drugs here, restore the nation’s stockpile of essential medicines and to make them more affordably.
The sprawling enterprise has major players, including Virginia Commonwealth University, the cities of Richmond and Petersburg and drug manufacturers Civica, Phlow and AMPAC Fine Chemicals.
Now it has a new pivotal piece: the money.
Alliance for Building Better Medicine
The initiative, named the Alliance for Building Better Medicine, has received $53 million from the federal government’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge. Those funds come in addition to $14 million in local donations and $45 million from the state.
The money will help build labs in downtown Richmond and Chesterfield County and manufacturing facilities in Petersburg. Not only will the alliance bring jobs to the area, it will boost national security, said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who came to Richmond on Tuesday to celebrate the budding development.
Impact and Future Plans
Only about 25% of drugs used in the United States are made in the U.S. Large percentages of drugs Americans use are manufactured in China and India, which Americans depend on. During the pandemic, India halted exports of an ingredient in Tylenol.
“We’ve got to reform that process,” Warner said.
It all started when Dr. Frank Gupton, VCU’s CEO of Medicines For All, and entrepreneur Eric Edwards wanted to make medicines for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria cheaper.
Gupton and Edwards started Phlow, which won a $354 million federal contract in May 2020 to build a national reserve of medicines and to make ingredients used to treat COVID-19. Then Medicines for All pivoted to COVID and found a way to rebuild Merck’s COVID-19 therapy and reduce the price from $2,000 a kilogram to $200.
Question & Answer
What is the Richmond Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Initiative?
The Richmond Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Initiative is a significant initiative aimed at locally producing drugs, replenishing the nation’s stockpile of essential medicines, and making them more affordable.
Who are the key stakeholders in the Richmond Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Initiative?
The key stakeholders in this initiative include Virginia Commonwealth University, the cities of Richmond and Petersburg, and pharmaceutical manufacturers Civica, Phlow, and AMPAC Fine Chemicals.
How much funding has the Alliance for Building Better Medicine received?
The Alliance for Building Better Medicine has received $53 million from the federal government’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge, alongside $14 million in local donations and $45 million from the state.
What is the purpose of the Alliance for Building Better Medicine?
The purpose of the Alliance for Building Better Medicine is to create jobs in the region, boost national security by reducing dependency on foreign drug manufacturers, and make essential medicines more affordable.
