News
ArtemiFlow USA Partners with Manus to Boost Domestic Production of Critical Medicines
Manus will partner with ArtemiFlow USA, which specializes in the use of continuous flow chemistry for the production of pharmaceuticals.
November 26, 2024
ArtemiFlow USA is excited to announce a significant partnership with Manus, the world's leading bioalternatives scale-up platform, to enhance the domestic production of essential medicines. This collaboration comes on the heels of Manus receiving a $32.4 million award from the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Program.
The substantial funding will enable the establishment of key infrastructure aimed at producing natural product drugs on a population scale, with a particular focus on critical anti-malaria therapies. By combining Manus’ expertise in biomanufacturing with ArtemiFlow USA’s proprietary continuous flow chemistry technology, the partnership is set to create a scalable and economical pathway for manufacturing essential medicines within the United States.
"Our collaboration with Manus represents a pivotal step toward securing a reliable and sustainable domestic supply of critical medications," said Adam Maust, Chief Executive Officer of ArtemiFlow USA. "By leveraging our advanced flow chemistry processes, we can efficiently convert dihydroartemisinic acid (DHAA) produced by Manus into artemisinin, thereby stabilizing the supply chain for this vital anti-malaria drug."
“We are thrilled to leverage our versatile, modular flow technology to convert Manus’ dihydroartemisinic acid bioalternative into artemisinin. Through this partnership, we are creating a scalable and economical alternative manufacturing route to traditional agricultural extraction, helping to stabilize the supply and expand the availability of this critical medicine.”
The first target of this initiative is the production of artemisinin, a key precursor for artesunate, which is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a frontline treatment for malaria. Manus has developed a fermentation-based approach to produce DHAA, supported by funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. ArtemiFlow USA will apply its cutting-edge flow chemistry technology to convert DHAA into artemisinin and its derivatives at scale.
Co-located with Manus’ large-scale BioFacility in Augusta, Georgia, the expanded infrastructure will include unique cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) capabilities for producing pharmaceutical key starting materials (KSMs) and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). This strategic move not only enhances the nation's capacity to produce essential medicines but also contributes to advancing the U.S. bioeconomy and creating bioeconomy jobs in rural America.
"This partnership is a significant stride toward reducing U.S. reliance on foreign sources for critical medicines," added Ajikumar 'Aji' Parayil, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Manus. "By uniting our biomanufacturing platform with ArtemiFlow's flow chemistry expertise, we are confident in our ability to produce essential drugs efficiently and sustainably."
The collaboration aligns with ArtemiFlow USA's mission to revolutionize the production of artemisinin-based drugs through innovative technologies and sustainable practices. It also underscores our commitment to enhancing global health by making life-saving treatments more accessible and affordable.
This project is funded in part by federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR); Office of Industrial Base Management and Supply Chain (IBMSC); Defense Production Act Title III Program (DPA Title III), under agreement number #75A50123D00003.