$51 million federal grant awarded to ARMI project

Funds will boost portable generic drug manufacturing project

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is awarding a five-year, $51 million grant to the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute in Manchester to help it develop its Priority Medicines on Demand project.

The project seeks to develop a portable technology that would chemically engineer and produce medications and vaccines to expand access to critical medical care in places where drugs are logistically and financially difficult to deliver. Among those that could benefit are natural disaster areas, locations abroad where service members are deployed and rural areas with limited pharmacy access.

“This is a tremendously exciting project that holds great promise for both the delivery of life-saving medicine and the region’s continued growth as a hub for scientific research and development,” said U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, who applauded the award along with the other three members of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation. “This investment will provide good-paying jobs in Manchester, further strengthen the economy, and help attract and retain the next generation of innovators. There is so much need in the area of medication delivery and affordability – I’m very proud that New Hampshire is part of the solution.”

Also praising the award was U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-NH, who said that the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute, or ARMI, “is helping push the bounds of scientific discovery and improving public health, and I can’t wait to see what comes out of this latest project.”

Hassan added that the development of such portable technology could be used to address such public health emergencies as the current coronavirus pandemic. It was a sentiment echoed by U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, 2nd District. “It is more clear than ever that investing in biotechnology innovation is critical to the future of health care and building a strong response against health security threats,” said Kuster. “This project will help bring groundbreaking biotechnology off the sidelines and into medical facilities, create jobs and boost New Hampshire’s economy.”

U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-1st District, pointed out that the award means Manchester – where ARMI is based – is “continuing to be recognized as a hub of innovation,” adding that, “by developing the technology to produce medications that would otherwise be inaccessible or not financially feasible, we will be saving lives, improving quality of life, and creating the good, high-paying jobs that will grow our state’s economy.”