On Tuesday, the Virginia Commonwealth University College of Engineering announced its strategy to turn Central Virginia into an advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing, research and development hub.
The strategic plan aims to foster business and job growth in the Richmond-Petersburg area while also expanding access to medicines. The creation of the plan was funded by a $100,000 planning grant from the state’s GO Virginia economic development initiative and a $100,000 matching grant from university, regional companies and economic development organizations. More than 50 individuals from dozens of organizations across the region participated in the yearlong strategic planning process. The recommendations were presented to GO Virginia’s regional council on March 31.
In May 2020, Richmond-based Phlow Corp. was awarded a $354 million, four-year federal contract from the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to produce the essential medications using advanced manufacturing processes from the Medicines for All Institute based at VCU’s College of Engineering. The effort is an attempt to secure the U.S. drug supply chain through the manufacturing, supplying and stockpiling of active pharmaceutical ingredients for essential medicines.
