~ Realization and innovative solutions, partnerships, among factors that set the stage for the Petersburg, Va. ‘Advanced Pharma’ cluster ~
Over the past two years, the pandemic has shown us how some of the drug supply in the United States is heavily dependent on foreign manufacturing. Elso DiFranco, Executive Director & General Manager of AMPAC Fine Chemicals’ facility in Petersburg, Virginia, agrees — he notes that it was the unique collaborations which followed that was developmental in driving Petersburg’s “Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing” cluster.
VGR Tours AFC’s Recently Expanded Campus
“In order to ensure an uninterrupted supply of pharmaceutical materials, these types of collaborations are crucial — that’s the first part of the equation — the second part is then to have it all made in the U.S. again, to ensure the quality of these medicines. Then, we can ensure distribution and the formulation, so this collaboration of key industry players is very unique in that it takes into account the production and the formulation which allows it to all be finished right in this area and then, the availability will be there,” DiFranco says.
“It was a natural progression … Virginia’s Gateway Region really offered a ‘ready solution,’ if you will,” DiFranco explained.
With the pandemic brewing and the supply chain interrupted, the realization of the nation’s dependence on foreign manufacturing prompted solutions.
“All three came together and it was a natural fit. Everybody was in the area, there was a well-established facility, and all were located in close proximity to Washington, D.C.,” he said
AFC had a facility located here — and they are a well-known industry leader in the U.S. There was also expertise in the local area, such as Dr. Frank Gupton, who had worked at this facility in the past and was now in a unique position at the VCU College of Engineering’s Medicines for All Institute, where he is leading a research group geared towards the continuous processing side of the equation instead of traditional medicinal chemistry.
Then, there was Dr. Gupton’s collaboration with Eric Edwards, CEO & Co-Founder of Phlow Corp.
“All three came together and it was a natural fit. Everybody was in the area, there was a well-established facility, and all were located in close proximity to Washington, D.C.,” he said.
About VGR’s Advanced Pharma Campaign:
Virginia’s Gateway Region is well on its way to becoming a transformational Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing cluster. Living in a post-COVID-19 world has shown the importance of drugs being made here in the U.S. has never been more relevant. Thanks to a unique public–private partnership between industry, academia and government, advanced manufacturing of essential pharmaceutical ingredients in the region will help ensure reliable access to affordable and quality medicines that will benefit for years to come. To learn more, visit VGR’s campaign landing page, at: https://www.gatewayregion.com/Rx/
About AFC:
AMPAC Fine Chemicals — an SK pharmteco company — is a U.S.-based, custom manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients, known as APIs, and registered intermediates. AFC solves problems through technology and innovation to reliably deliver quality products that save and improve lives.
About Elso DiFranco:
Mr. DiFranco has a PhD in Chemistry and over 25 years of experience in the pharma industry. He is an Executive Director and General Manager at AMPAC Fine Chemicals Virginia, with responsibility for operations at the site.
This concludes Part Two of a four-part story about AMPAC Fine Chemicals and the role the company has in the Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Cluster currently being developed in the City of Petersburg, Va. Stay tuned for Part Three of this VGR Blog series, coming soon on GatewayRegion.com.
VGR — Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
This concludes “Part Two” of Chapter three #VGRPharma’s blog series regarding four-part story about AMPAC Fine Chemicals and the role the company has in the Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Cluster currently being developed in the City of Petersburg, Va. Stay tuned for Part Three of this VGR Blog series, coming soon on the: VGR Blog.