Battelle and Aprecia partner with DARPA to 3D print drugs

Battelle, a global research and development organization, and Aprecia, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company, have been awarded a US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) agreement to advance the Establishing Qualification Processes for Agile Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (EQUIP-A-Pharma) program. The initiative is funded by 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), whose mission is to prepare for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies and disasters.

The EQUIP-A-Pharma program explores how Battelle’s custom small-scale chemical synthesis platform, combined with Aprecia’s 3D printing technology, can accelerate US drug production and deliver sustainable, high-quality medications. The project will initially focus on two essential medicines.

The program’s goal is to establish agile manufacturing sites that can produce both active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished dosage forms at the same location. This approach shortens supply chains and reduces distribution risk. Battelle’s synthesis platform is engineered to synthesize multiple APIs while meeting regulatory standards. Aprecia’s Z-Form Flex technology produces finished tablets directly in primary packaging, integrates packaging with production, and allows rapid formulation changes to serve diverse patient needs.

“We are optimistic that the EQUIP-A-Pharma research program will help identify pathways that will bring agile pharmaceutical manufacturing technology to the masses,” said Greg Kimmel, General Manager of the 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 will generate data to show that agile manufacturing can meet FDA registration requirements and produce safe, effective pharmaceuticals. It also aims to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies like Aprecia’s 3D printing, attract private investment, and expand commercialization opportunities.

“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, President and Chief Operating Officer at Aprecia. “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.”

With IBMSC support, Battelle and Aprecia aim to address drug shortages faster, enable military point-of-need production, strengthen supply chain resilience, and lay the groundwork for personalized medicine.