Alliance for Building Better Medicine—a growing coalition of multi-jurisdictional public and private sector stakeholders in the Richmond-Petersburg region—today honored the 4th National Essential Medicine Shortage Awareness Day (NEMSAD), a national observance day occurring each year on September 8, by reaffirming the alliance’s commitment to creating a reliable supply of safe, high-quality, and affordable medicines for all.
“When Americans go to a hospital, visit a doctor, or need an ambulance, they expect the drugs they need will be on the shelf—whether to treat minimal healthcare needs or more urgent, life-threatening conditions. But in reality, some of the most critical medicines we rely on are delayed or unavailable due to a poorly designed global supply chain that has resulted in shortages of our nation’s most essential medicines,” explains the organizers of National Essential Medicine Shortage Awareness Day.
As a U.S.-based cluster of advanced pharmaceutical manufacturers and researchers in the Richmond-Petersburg region, the Alliance for Building Better Medicine is working locally to fix the broken and disconnected supply chain for the most vital medicines that has put the health of communities across the U.S. at risk. The new and transformative era of health and wellness that the Alliance is creating is powered by an advanced manufacturing ecosystem in the Richmond-Petersburg region to produce the world’s most important medicines. The Alliance seeks to build resilient and healthy communities, enhance U.S. global competitiveness while remaining compassionate, embrace equitable economic growth, and create well-paying jobs in the area. The purpose of the Alliance to fix the broken supply of essential medicines aligns with National Essential Medicine Shortage Awareness Day, which is designed to acknowledge a problem that many Americans will face at some point in their lives and to work together toward a life-saving solution.
“We have an unwavering commitment at Phlow to treat every day as if it’s National Essential Medicine Shortage Awareness Day because the health and security of our nation depend on it,” said Eric Edwards, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and Co-Founder of Phlow, a founding member of the Alliance for Building Better Medicine. “We recognize this national observance day as a call to action for all Americans to lock arms and rebuild a resilient domestic supply chain capable of manufacturing our country’s most essential, life-changing medicines.”
As part of Phlow’s steadfast mission to help end shortages in the U.S., Phlow recently joined a select group of purpose-driven businesses by becoming the first pharmaceutical manufacturer based in America to earn B Corporation™ (B Corp™) certification. This new certification emphasizes Phlow’s commitment to improving access to and availability of domestically produced, high-quality pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) through advanced and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. Phlow also recently announced that it has shipped one million vials of essential medications to children’s hospitals across the country that are part of the Children’s Hospital Coalition, aiming to ensure a reliable and affordable supply of high-quality essential medicines and help prevent pediatric drug shortages. The Children’s Hospital Coalition brings together some of the top children’s hospitals across the nation, collaborating with Phlow to provide certainty in availability, quality, access, and affordability for critical medicines.
Phlow is one of a growing number of examples within the membership base of the Alliance for Building Better Medicine, all of which are recognizing the 4th National Essential Medicine Shortage Awareness Day by not only reaffirming their own missions but also encouraging other leaders in life sciences, industry experts, government leaders, and American citizens to help bring an end to essential medicine shortages.
Other examples within the Alliance include Civica Rx, a nonprofit generic drug company founded in 2018 by a coalition of leading U.S. health systems and philanthropic organizations. Its primary mission is to prevent and mitigate drug shortages in the United States while ensuring affordable access to essential medications. Civica Rx, which recently built new facilities in Petersburg, focuses on producing quality generic drugs, particularly in the hospital setting, where chronic shortages have often occurred. The company operates under a unique business model that emphasizes long-term contracts with member hospitals, helping stabilize the market for generic drugs and ensuring their availability when needed. Civica Rx has already provided millions of doses to hospitals across the U.S., catering to various healthcare providers, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and other critical care facilities.
The Medicines for All Institute (M4ALL), based at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), is another member of the Alliance for Building Better Medicine that is working to provide a solution to the challenges amplified by National Essential Medicine Shortage Awareness Day. Medicines for All was established to end shortages and enhance global access to essential medications through innovative and cost-effective drug manufacturing processes. Founded in 2017 with significant funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the institute focuses on reducing production costs and improving the availability of vital medicines for diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. M4ALL employs advanced manufacturing techniques to streamline drug synthesis, which cuts costs and minimizes waste and environmental impact. The institute aims to ensure that lifesaving medications are accessible and affordable for everyone, regardless of geographical location. Additionally, it has been pivotal in responding to urgent health crises, such as developing low-cost manufacturing methods for COVID-19 treatments. Under the leadership of Dr. B. Frank Gupton, M4ALL collaborates with various global health partners and manufacturers, demonstrating a commitment to practical research that can be rapidly implemented in the market. The institute’s work signifies a transformative shift in pharmaceutical manufacturing, aiming to meet pressing healthcare needs while promoting equitable access to essential medicines.
To learn more, visit www.stoptheshortages.com for helpful resources designed to amplify National Essential Medicine Shortage Awareness Day. For more about the Alliance for Building Better Medicine, visit www.buildingbettermedicines.com.