Civica Rx was launched in September 2018 by several major hospital groups in an effort to combat regular shortages and the increasing prices of drugs [1]. The founding members of the company were Intermountain Healthcare, Ascension, SSM Health and Trinity Health [2]. These were then joined by Catholic Health Initiatives, HCA Healthcare, Mayo Clinic and Providence St Joseph Health. The 12 new members include:

• Advocate Aurora Health
• Allegheny Health Network
• Baptist Health South Florida
• Franciscan Alliance
• Memorial Hermann Health System
• NYU Langone Health
• Ochsner Health System
• Sanford Health
• Spectrum Health
• St Luke’s University Health Network
• Steward Health Care
• UnityPoint Health

These 12 health systems represent approximately 250 hospitals across the US and bring the total number represented by the company to approximately 750 hospitals.

Civica Rx expects to bring over 14 hospital-administered generics to hospitals and healthcare systems in 2019 as the initial focus of the company’s efforts, with many additional medications prioritized by the healthcare systems as the next phase of focus. The company still needs approval from FDA to directly manufacture the generics or subcontract the manufacturing to trusted supply partners.

Martin VanTrieste, CEO of Civica Rx said that ‘drug shortages have become a national crisis where patient treatments and surgeries are cancelled, delayed or suboptimal’.

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References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Hospitals launch non-profit generics company [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2019 Jan 25]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Generics/General/Hospitals-launch-non-profit-generics-company
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Hospitals to start own generics company [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2019 Jan 25]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Generics/News/Hospitals-to-start-own-generics-company

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