MedPharm, a contract developer for topical pharmaceutical products, has assembled resources in both the US and UK to produce and donate hand sanitizer to help fight the Covid-19 outbreak.
 
The speed of the Covid-19 pandemic has put enormous pressure on traditional supply channels leaving many institutions which are supporting the critical needs of vulnerable people and patients without any hand sanitizer. MedPharm has had requests from health care providers, first responders, care homes and other essential workers.
 
MedPharm has used its formulation development expertise, facilities and collaborations with local businesses to help relieve the current shortage of sanitizer.
 
“We are fortunate to have 20 years of formulation and manufacturing expertise and the resources to be able to do what we can across both of our facilities in Durham, NC and Guildford, UK,” said Eugene Ciolfi, president and chief executive officer, MedPharm. “It is clear that key small local institutions desperately need the product now and we are proud to be able to support our local communities in any way we can at this time.”
 
In Durham, NC, MedPharm have combined their formulation development expertise with Bedlam Vodka who can supply the ethanol (instead of vodka) and the facilities for manufacturing the product. Agricultural and food testing experts Avazyme are providing the analysis required to ensure the product is high quality and meets the guidelines for hand sanitizer to be used as a disinfectant.
 
The sanitizer will be supplied to WakeMed, a leading NC-based healthcare provider, for use in their hospitals and numerous outpatient units in the local area.
 
“Our collaboration with local companies Bedlam Vodka and Avazyme in Durham means that we will be able to produce sanitizer in much larger quantities to support the local community at this time,” said Ciolfi.
 
MedPharm’s site in Guildford, UK will be formulating and manufacturing batches on-site to deliver to local hospices and care homes. The company’s suppliers have been quick to respond to requests for materials so that MedPharm could move quickly to production through provision.
 
“In Guildford, we quickly recognized that we had facilities for manufacturing this product on a modest scale,” Ciolfi said.