Many pharmaceuticals used in the U.S. depend on ingredients sourced from overseas, which can create challenges during supply chain disruptions or shortages, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. These disruptions can affect millions of Americans and pose risks to national security. In response, the White House issued an Executive Order in 2022 to strengthen U.S. biomanufacturing. Enhancing domestic biomanufacturing can offer greater control over pharmaceutical production, bolster the economy, and support the development of greener manufacturing methods.

Recently, Capra Biosciences received a $7.5 million, two-year project agreement through the BioMaP-Consortium. This funding will enable Capra to showcase its ability to rapidly scale up and produce biologically derived small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Known for its use of biofilm-forming microbes and proprietary bioreactors to convert low-cost feedstocks into various chemicals, including its first commercial product, retinol, Capra will apply this technology to manufacture three selected APIs in partnership with the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Elizabeth Onderko, Capra’s co-founder and CEO, emphasized the potential of biomanufacturing to produce chemicals more sustainably and efficiently. “This project is a significant opportunity to address shortages of pharmaceutical ingredients and improve manufacturing accessibility in the U.S.,” she said.

The project aims to validate Capra’s technology’s flexibility and scalability by producing the APIs using its bioreactor platform. Capra has collaborated with Next Rung Technology and other partners to integrate AI modeling and design tools, allowing for rapid design, evaluation, and scaling of the APIs before full production.

By leveraging Capra's modular bioreactors and advanced models, the team will produce the target APIs at a pilot scale. The adaptability of biomanufacturing enables the same equipment to be used for various pharmaceutical ingredients or other products efficiently and cost-effectively. Successful implementation of this project will provide a model for scaling pharmaceutical ingredients and other products using Capra's modular platform and locally sourced materials.

The project is supported by federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Office of Industrial Base Manufacturing and Supply Chain (IBMSC)

 

Source: globenewswire.com

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