Trump administration gave a $812 million drug-making contract worth up to to a small Virginia firm

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The Trump administration handed a contract worth up to $812 million to a small Virginia firm to boost the US's production of coronavirus drugs and reduce reliance on foreign pharmaceutical supply chains.

The firm, Phlow, was founded in January and describes itself as a "public benefit pharmaceutical manufacturing company." The contract is a huge sum for such a new firm.

The Department of Health and Human Services said on Tuesday that its Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which directs federal money to companies countering public-health threats, was giving the contract to Phlow.

The company aims to manufacture raw ingredients in the US for drugs needed to treat COVID-19 patients, CBS News reported.

https://news.yahoo.com/trump-administration-gave-drug-making-112329707.html

Which Trump donor runs the company?

[underpants]

1. Re-inventing the wheel. Some background here

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213456892


It was unclear why the administration decided to award such a large contract to a new company when an entire industry exists — known as contract manufacturing — that makes drugs for other companies. However, manufacturers that operate in the United States generally make finished products using raw ingredients imported from elsewhere. They do not make the raw ingredients.

There’s background on the DU link. This is part of the VCU BioTech thing. They have no experience though and making anything here is always more expensive sorry but it is.

[Botany]

2. "The firm, Phlow, was founded in January ... "

So Trump and company knew the pandemic was coming and targeted certain
people or companies for some "sugar."


And how big a kick back has Jared harvested from Phlow?

And how many drugs to treat C-19 has the company made?

********

According to The New York Times, US companies already produce the same drugs, but they rely on foreign raw ingredients that Phlow aims to source from within the US.

snip

According to the health-news website STAT News, Edwards has come under scrutiny for his previous ventures.

An earlier company he founded, Kaleo, was the focus of a 2018 Senate investigation after it abruptly increased the price of an opioid-overdose treatment by more than 600%. Kaleo was also criticized by Sen. Chuck Grassley in 2017 for selling an EpiPen rival product for $4,500.

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. "...abruptly increased the price of an opioid-overdose treatment by more than 600%."

I remember when that went down. Decent people were universally outraged. That same asshole is now behind this?!? The Republican Party has devolved into nothing more than a money laundering racket.

[mr_lebowski]

3. How the hell do they get to just throw around almost $1B like this?

This is freaking ridiculous.

Where's the competitive bidding? I can't believe the more major, established corporations (not that I'm on their side mind you) would be throwing a fit over crap like this.

With lawsuits and the like.

WTH is going on with this shit?

[malaise]

4. Get thee to the greatest page

Expose these fucking thieves!

[jimfields33]

5. Congress had to ok this

A bill of some kind had to have passed. Only congress can authorize money given out. Sure it could have been small print I suppose.

[OnDoutside]

6. It's like that two bit midwest company getting a massive contract to re-power Puerto Rico.