Startup Awarded $354M Federal <br />Contract to Make COVID-19 Drugs in US On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human <br />Services (HHS) announced it had signed a four-year, <br />$354 million contract with Phlow Corporation. The company, based in Richmond, Virginia, will produce <br />drug ingredients to make "critical medicines to help <br />alleviate or prevent drug shortages" amid COVID-19. Facilities across the U.S. are expected <br />to manufacture the drug ingredients. According to HHS <br />Secretary Alex Azar, this is a "significant step to rebuild our <br />domestic ability to protect ourselves from health <br />threats by utilizing American-made ingredients <br />and creating new American jobs in the process." HHS Secretary <br />Alex Azar HHS Secretary <br />Alex Azar According to HHS, the contract can <br />be extended for up to a total of <br />$812 million over 10 years. The contract comes after President Trump <br />announced a new partnership to develop <br />a COVID-19 vaccine last week.
