Continuity Pharma scores $1.5 million development grant

The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) has selected Indiana-based Continuity Pharma, a Purdue University-affiliated company, to receive a $1.5 million grant to develop continuous manufacturing technology.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created supply chain gaps in critical drug products, especially those needed for the most critical patients in intensive care units across the country.

DARPA established a competitive review process to award grant funding to companies presenting advanced manufacturing technologies. Grant specifics include development funding over the next 24 months, with additional funding for commercialization in the subsequent 12 months.

Continuity Pharma’s mission is to apply new continuous manufacturing capabilities to reshore generic drug products to the U.S., with specific focus on drugs in short supply. The company is working with Purdue Research Foundation to secure additional lab space in Purdue Research Park, West Lafayette, IN.

DARPA, located is Arlington, VA, has approximately 210 government employees, including some 100 program managers, in six technical offices. With a fiscal year 2020 budget of $3.45 billion, the agency oversees roughly 250 research and development programs through a series of contracts, grants and other agreements.