Civica Rx is a nonprofit generic drug company founded in 2018 by leading U.S. health systems and philanthropies[1] for the purpose of preventing and mitigating drug shortages in the United States, and the price hikes that can accompany them.[2]
 | |
| Industry | Generic drug development |
|---|---|
| Founded | September 6, 2018 |
| Headquarters | Lehi, Utah |
Key people | Ned McCoy (President and CEO) |
| Website | www |
Civica's mission is to make quality generic medicines accessible and affordable to everyone. Civica's business model is based on the Healthcare Utility concept.[3]
Hospital pharmacists and physicians help prioritize what medications Civica provides. Member hospitals sign long-term purchase and supply contracts with Civica, adding stability to the market and helping to stabilize the market. Civica targets 6 months of extra inventory, enabling it to buffer any supply shortage in the market. While serving 55 health systems and 1,500 hospitals (or 1/3 of all licensed U.S. hospital beds), Civica also supplies the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Defense, and “340B” hospitals caring for vulnerable patients in some of the country’s most underserved areas.
As of April 2024, Civica has provided nearly 175 million vials or syringes of essential medicines, enough to treat over 75 million patients across the U.S.
Civica is growing U.S. generic drug manufacturing capabilities with a new 140,000 square-foot sterile injectable manufacturing facility in Petersburg, Virginia, representing a $124.5 million investment.[4] The plant has the capacity to produce 90 million vials and 50 million pre-filled syringes of essential medications per year and includes a high-speed filling line for additional pre-filled insulin pen capacity.
The first shipment of Civica private-label medication was vancomycin, delivered to Riverton Hospital, a part of Civica founder health system Intermountain Healthcare, in October 2019.[5] During the pandemic, 11 of Civica's 80+ medications were used to help COVID-19 patients, including neuromuscular blocking agents, sedation agents and pain management medications for patients on ventilators.[6]
Partnerships and deals edit
In 2020, Civica and 18 Blue Cross Blue Shield plans announced an initiative to lower the cost of certain high-priced generic drugs for consumers at the pharmacy counter. The entity named CivicaScript builds on the mission of Civica to reach consumers directly with quality outpatient generic medicines that are affordable and available. CivicaScript's first product, abiraterone acetate 250 mg, is used to treat prostrate cancer. CivicaScript's price for the medication is approximately $3,000 per month less than the average cost for someone with Medicare Part D.
In January 2021, Civica Rx announced its plans to build an essential medicines manufacturing facility in Virginia, part of a partnership with Virginia-based Phlow Corp to produce sterile injectable medications used in hospitals for COVID-19 patient care, emergency room and intensive-care unit treatments, surgeries, and to treat other serious conditions.[4] Civica is a key collaborator in the U.S. government-funded partnership with Phlow Corp, Medicines for All Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University and AMPAC Fine Chemicals.
In March 2023, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced a $50M 10-year deal with Civica to provide affordable insulin (vials and pre-filled pen cartridges) to residents, part of the state's broader CalRx initiative to offer prescription drugs at low cost for all Californians.[7][8][9]
References edit
- ^ Johnson, Carolyn (6 September 2018). "Hospitals are fed up with drug companies, so they're starting their own". The Washington Post.
- ^ Kodjak, Alison (6 September 2018). "Hospitals Prepare To Launch Their Own Drug Company To Fight High Prices And Shortages". NPR. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- ^ Dredge, Carter; Scholtes Stefan (2021). "The Health Care Utility Model: A Novel Approach to Doing Business". NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery.
- ^ a b "Governor Northam Announces Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Civica Inc. to Create 186 New Jobs in City of Petersburg". Commonwealth of Virginia. January 21, 2021.
- ^ Liss, Samantha (October 2, 2019). "After fanfare, Civica Rx delivers its 1st drugs". Biopharma Drive.
- ^ Wilkerson, John (May 6, 2020). "Hospitals Created Their Own Drug Maker Just In Time For Pandemic" (PDF). Inside Health Policy.
- ^ "California enters a contract to make its own affordable insulin". LAist - NPR News for Southern California - 89.3 FM. 2023-03-19. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ Lloyd, Jonathan (March 18, 2023). "Gov. Newsom Announces Plan for California to Make Its Own Lower Cost Insulin". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ "GOVERNOR NEWSOM ANNOUNCES $30 INSULIN THROUGH CALRX". California Governor. 2023-03-19. Retrieved 2023-03-20.