Civica Rx is a
nonprofit
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
generic drug
A generic drug is a pharmaceutical drug that contains the same chemical substance as a drug that was originally protected by chemical patents. Generic drugs are allowed for sale after the patents on the original drugs expire. Because the active ch ...
company founded in 2018 by leading U.S. health systems and philanthropies
for the purpose of preventing and mitigating drug shortages in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, and the price hikes that can accompany them.
Civica's mission is to make quality generic medicines accessible and affordable to everyone. Civica's business model is based on the Healthcare Utility concept.
Hospital pharmacists and physicians help prioritize what medications Civica provides. Member hospitals sign long-term purchase and supply contracts with Civica, adding stability to the market and helping to stabilize the market. Civica targets 6 months of extra inventory, enabling it to buffer any supply shortage in the market. While serving 55 health systems and 1,500 hospitals (or 1/3 of all licensed U.S. hospital beds), Civica also supplies the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Defense, and “340B” hospitals caring for vulnerable patients in some of the country’s most underserved areas.
As of April 2025, Civica has provided more than 210 million vials or syringes of essential medicines, enough to treat over 97 million patients across the U.S.
Civica is growing U.S. generic drug manufacturing capabilities with a new 140,000 square-foot sterile injectable manufacturing facility in Petersburg, Virginia, representing a $124.5 million investment.
The plant has the capacity to produce 90 million vials and 50 million prefilled syringes of essential medications per year and includes a high-speed filling line for additional pre-filled insulin pen capacity.
The first shipment of Civica private-label medication was
vancomycin
Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic medication used to treat certain bacterial infections. It is administered intravenously ( injection into a vein) to treat complicated skin infections, bloodstream infections, endocarditis, bone an ...
, delivered to Riverton Hospital, a part of Civica founder health system
Intermountain Healthcare
Intermountain Health (formerly Intermountain Healthcare) is a United States Non-profit organization, not-for-profit Health care, healthcare system with 385 clinics and 33 hospitals in the Intermountain West (primarily Colorado, Idaho, Montana, N ...
, in October 2019.
During the pandemic, 11 of Civica's 80+ medications were used to help COVID-19 patients, including neuromuscular blocking agents, sedation agents and pain management medications for patients on ventilators.
Partnerships and deals
In 2020, Civica and 18
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans announced an initiative to lower the cost of certain high-priced generic drugs for consumers at the pharmacy counter. The entity named CivicaScript builds on the mission of Civica to reach consumers directly with quality outpatient generic medicines that are affordable and available. CivicaScript's first product, abiraterone acetate 250 mg, is used to treat prostate cancer. CivicaScript's price for the medication is approximately $3,000 per month less than the average cost for someone with Medicare Part D.
In January 2021, Civica Rx announced its plans to build an essential medicines manufacturing facility in Virginia, part of a partnership with Virginia-based Phlow Corp to produce sterile injectable medications used in hospitals for COVID-19 patient care, emergency room and intensive-care unit treatments, surgeries, and to treat other serious conditions.
Civica is a key collaborator in the U.S. government-funded partnership with Phlow Corp, Medicines for All Institute at
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a Public university, public research university in Richmond, Virginia, United States. VCU was founded in 1838 as the medical department of Hampden–Sydney College, becoming the Medical College of Virgin ...
and AMPAC Fine Chemicals.
In March 2023, California Gov.
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Christopher Newsom ( ; born October 10, 1967) is an American politician and businessman serving since 2019 as the 40th governor of California. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served from 2011 to 201 ...
(D) announced a $50M 10-year deal with Civica to provide affordable
insulin
Insulin (, from Latin ''insula'', 'island') is a peptide hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreatic islets encoded in humans by the insulin (''INS)'' gene. It is the main Anabolism, anabolic hormone of the body. It regulates the metabol ...
(vials and pre-filled pen cartridges) to residents, part of the state's broader CalRx initiative to offer prescription drugs at low cost for all Californians.
References
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Pharmaceutical companies of the United States
American companies established in 2018
Non-profit organizations based in the United States
Generic drug manufacturers