Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) applauded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) announcement of a $354 million, four-year contract with Phlow Corp., located in Richmond, Virginia, that would create the nation’s first strategic stockpile of key ingredients needed to make medicines. To prevent domestic shortages of critical medications, the Medicines for All Institute, based in the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) College of Engineering, has joined forces with Phlow Corp. to bring manufacturing of vulnerable pharmaceuticals and their ingredients back to the United States.

“I am thrilled that HHS has chosen to support Virginia Commonwealth University and Phlow to provide U.S.-based manufacturing capabilities of essential generic medicines, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and chemical precursor materials,” Wittman said. “As a former public health official and co-chair of the Congressional Public Health Caucus, I know the importance of strong leadership on projects that will do the most good for our nation and our Commonwealth. The production of these are vital to our response during the COVID-19 pandemic and our robust reliance on foreign sources of essential generic medicine ingredients is something we must address.” 

In March, Congressman Wittman made a personal call to Vice President Pence and his team to advocate for this project with VCU and Phlow Corp and is thrilled that the contract has been signed. 

The project will use federal funds from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority under the Department of Health and Human Services. This investment helps achieve two national priorities: to enable the U.S. to manufacture essential drugs at risk of shortage and to create a reserve of active pharmaceutical ingredients to reduce the dependence on foreign suppliers. Phlow will be manufacturing the drugs in partnership with the nonprofit pharmaceutical company Civica Rx, Virginia Commonwealth University and AMPAC Fine Chemicals, a manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients.