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The EQUIP-A-Pharma program will combine Battelle’s synthesis platform and Aprecia’s 3D printing technology to produce APIs and finished drugs at the same site, aiming to strengthen US pharma supply resilience and support essential medicines.
Via financial support from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Office of Industrial Base Management and Supply Chain (IBMSC), Battelle, an independent, non-profit applied science and technology organization, and Aprecia, a pharma company, have been granted a US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) agreement to further a research program—known as Establishing Qualification Processes for Agile Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (EQUIP-A-Pharma).
ASPR's goal is to provide help with preparing for, responding to, and recovering from public health emergencies and disasters. The EQUIP-A-Pharma research program will explore how Battelle’s custom small-scale chemical synthesis platform, combined with Aprecia’s advanced 3D printing technology, can accelerate US drug manufacturing to provide high-quality, sustainable medicines, beginning with two therapies designated as essential for the US population.
The program is intended to design agile pharma manufacturing sites that produce two components. One of which includes active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), who have further thrown into the spotlight after President Trump signed an executive order that would involve filling the Strategic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Reserve (SAPIR) with critical drug components.2 ASPR will be creating a list of 26 drugs fundamental to national health and security; it was also be securing a six-month supply of critical APIs (preferably from domestic sources) for placement in the SAPIR, update the 2022 list of 86 essential medicines, and propose a plan to obtain and store a six-month API supply for those drugs.
Finished pharmaceutical dosage forms will also be produced.
This will be done at the same location, which in turn, shortens the pharmaceutical raw material supply chain while also decreasing any supply chain risk supply chain risk associated with commercial product distribution.
Battelle’s synthesis platform is being developed to design multiple APIs while fully complying with regulatory standards pertaining to drug manufacturing.
Meanwhile, Aprecia’s Z-Form Flex technology platform allows for agile production by creating finished tablets directly within the primary packaging, simplifying both the manufacturing and packaging processes. The platform is also designed with the ability to quickly adapt formulations, which could be quite helpful in medications that support diverse patient populations.
"We are optimistic that the EQUIP-A-Pharma research program will help identify pathways that will bring agile pharmaceutical manufacturing technology to the masses," commented Greg Kimmel, general manager, health unit, at Battelle. "Agile pharmaceutical manufacturing technology is a game-changer, and this program will help us bring to life its benefits including, enabling point-of-need manufacturing for military operations, addressing public health emergencies, like drug shortages, and serving as a foundational tool for personalized medicine."
The program is also anticipated to produce vital scientific data that’s necessary to not only prove that agile manufacturing can meet the FDA’s drug product registration requirements, but that the program can be used to create safe and effective pharma products. It will also enable the broader adoption of advanced manufacturing tech including Aprecia’s 3D printing technology, open the door to pharma technology commercialization private capital, and help drive the agile pharmaceutical manufacturing technology into the greater marketplace.
"The EQUIP-A-Pharma program provides a critical opportunity to collaborate with public health stakeholders on agile pharmaceutical manufacturing utilizing our 3D printing technology," said Kyle Smith, Aprecia’s president and COO. "By collaborating with Battelle and DARPA, we will focus on creating a pathway that ensures Aprecia's innovative manufacturing processes address unmet medical needs. This commitment will deliver safe and effective medications more efficiently to those who need them most, including military personnel."
Experts also believe that 3D printing is poised to revolutionize the production of personalized medicines by enabling the on-demand creation of patient-specific treatments.3
References
1. Battelle and Aprecia Collaborate with US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to Advance US Drug Manufacturing Capability Utilizing 3D-Printed Technology to Produce Essential Medicines at the Point of Need. PR Newswire. August 19, 2025. Accessed August 19, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/battelle-and-aprecia-collaborate-with-us-department-of-health-and-human-services-hhs-and-us-defense-advanced-research-projects-agency-darpa-to-advance-us-drug-manufacturing-capability-utilizing-3d-printed-technology-to-p-302532560.html
2. Saraceno N. Trump Executive Order Targets Domestic API Stockpile to Strengthen US Pharmaceutical Supply Chain. Pharmaceutical Commerce. August 14, 2025. Accessed August 19, 2025. https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/trump-executive-order-domestic-api-stockpile-pharma-supply-chain
3. Jambulingam T. Strategic Trends in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing for Industry Leaders. Pharmaceutical Commerce. March 10, 2025. Accessed August 19, 2025. https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/strategic-trends-pharmaceutical-manufacturing-industry-leaders
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