DLA Troop Support pharmacists boost domestic production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, strengthening military medicine

Pharmacists from the Defense Logistics Agency’s Troop Support Medical unit are helping lead a push to expand U.S. manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients, a priority highlighted in a recent Department of War pharmaceutical security working group update and a late-July briefing to Assistant Secretary of War (Health Affairs) Keith Bass. DLA Troop Support Acquisition Executive William Kenny joined the briefing.

The pharmacists’ role centers on advising how to build and connect public- and private-sector capacity to lessen reliance on foreign suppliers and ensure military treatment facilities have timely access to essential medicines. “There are a number of efforts across the federal government supporting the development of industry for the domestic production of APIs,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Josh Stallings, Medical Customer Pharmacy Operations Center. “We are uniquely positioned to advise what private and public partnerships are available for this effort.”

Congress has directed the government to develop a domestic industrial base for API production, spurring exploratory work on ways to scale U.S. capacity and reduce offshore dependence. “Our work with APIs is really a collaborative effort from the top down,” Air Force Lt. Col. Daniel Corwin said. “Congress reviewed the current status of API production and directed the DOW to develop partnerships and examine how to minimize reliance on offshore sources to develop a plan to be self-reliant.”

Health officials say onshore manufacturing is central to preparedness and supply chain resilience. “Manufacturing medicines from start to finish in the United States ensures a secure supply of essential medications,” said Health and Human Services Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response John Knox. “Traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing is often too rigid and slow to adapt to changing demands, especially during national emergencies.”

Agency leaders point to data-sharing and interagency coordination as pathways to remove bottlenecks and accelerate domestic production. “For example, DOW data sharing and interagency partnerships, like the one between CPOC and the United States Food and Drug Administration, can streamline this production by removing barriers for domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing,” Stallings said. “This also leverages collective efforts in the event of any disturbance to the drug supply chain.”

Corwin said the work is aligned with a broader federal push to bolster supply assurance across essential medicines. “DLA is working with its Whole of Government partners to develop a domestic manufacturing base for each active pharmaceuticals if one does not exist,” Corwin said. “This expands the DOW manufacturing of essential domestic drugs to meet the global warfighter need.”

He added that sustained collaboration with industry will be critical in emergencies. “The partnerships we form with other agencies and private industry allow us to leverage the domestic pharmaceutical community,” Corwin said. “By tapping into the expertise (of our partners) during a potential adverse event, we can better understand how APIs can best be leveraged in an emergency.”

Kenny underscored the pace of progress. “There is unprecedented momentum in partnerships supporting the domestic production of APIs,” he said. “These relationships grow stronger daily to frame the onshoring process from start to finish. This is a significant milestone in drug supply chain security crucial to warfighter readiness.”