On Jan. 15, 2021, the Department of Defense (DoD), in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), awarded a $69.3 million contract to CONTINUUS Pharmaceuticals Inc. to develop a domestic production capability for critical active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and final dosage form medicines using their proprietary integrated continuous manufacturing (ICM) technology. ICM enables rapid, on-demand production of medicines from API to final dosage form without interruption in a fully-automated, small-footprint facility.
This investment will enable CONTINUUS to commercialize its small-footprint, end-to-end pharmaceutical manufacturing technology. Critical APIs and their starting materials have long been sourced from overseas and this collaboration will onshore the production of three critical APIs and their final dosage forms. These medicines are currently used to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients. CONTINUUS’ proprietary technology will also enable the establishment of a new manufacturing logistics capability, allowing more efficient delivery of medical countermeasures in future healthcare crises.
The DoD’s Defense Assisted Acquisition (DA2) Cell led this effort in coordination with HHS. This effort was funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities (CARES) Act, to support critical technology development.