US Congressman commends the contribution of SP Industries in the fight against COVID-19

SP Industries, Inc. (SP), has hosted a visit by US Congressman, Brian Fitzpatrick, who was on a fact-finding mission to find out more about the work SP is doing to support Operation Warp Speed, and discuss SP’s plans for increasing capacity and capabilities.

Operation Warp Speed (OWS), an initiative of the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), aims to deliver 300 million doses of a safe, effective vaccine for COVID-19 by January 2021, as part of a broader strategy to accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. OWS engages with private firms and other federal agencies to coordinate existing HHS-wide efforts, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) partnership, and NIH’s Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative.

During the tour of the facilities, Congressman Fitzpatrick – Republican member of the US House of Representatives representing PA first district, which includes Warminster, PA, the home of SP corporate headquarters - met with members of the SP Executive Leadership Team. He was briefed on SP’s comprehensive design and manufacturing capabilities for pharmaceutical fill-finish equipment and freeze dryers. Freeze drying is often a crucial step in the production of diagnostics, vaccines and biologics, in order to maintain quality and efficacy, as well as extend shelf life. In response to the COVID-19 crisis and OWS, SP has recently scaled-up and re-designed its engineering, production and supply chain in order to complete several large, high-profile, COVID-19-related orders within unprecedented timescales.

Congressman Fitzpatrick addressed SP’s on-site employees, thanking them for their efforts in supporting Operation Warp Speed, and explained that they are making a real and tangible difference working on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. He went on to say how SP’s contribution, together with US government departments and other corporations, are providing the tools and capabilities to be successful during this unprecedented situation. Comparing the US response to COVID-19 with the response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, he said the US is making the same ‘Never Again’ pledge, and as part of that, Congressman Fitzpatrick is sponsoring the Made in America Emergency Preparedness Act. He then responded to questions from SP employees during an open Q&A session.

In appreciation of SP’s work providing cutting-edge equipment to diagnostic and pharmaceutical companies, which enables them to manufacture high quality tests and treatments for COVID-19, Congressman Fitzpatrick presented SP’s President and CEO, Brian Larkin, with a certificate and a flag that has flown over the US Capitol Building. Responding afterwards, Brian Larkin said: “We are honored to have Congressman Fitzpatrick at our corporate headquarters in Warminster, PA. It was an opportunity for him to see first-hand SP’s capabilities in the fight against COVID-19, the commitment and talent of our employees, and discuss how - with his support - we can build upon our success and expand employment opportunities to meet continued demand for the life sciences and pharmaceutical equipment produced by SP.”

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