Manus, The BioAlternatives Company®, today announced that it will break ground Friday, May 8, on a domestic biomanufacturing facility for artemisinin – the starting material for the world’s frontline antimalarial therapy – at its Augusta BioFacility. The project, first announced in 2024 in partnership with HHS ASPR’s Industrial Base Management and Supply Chain Office (IBMSC) under the Defense Production Act Title III program, marks the first build of a federal-private partnership that has since grown to $47.4 million.

‍

The expansion brings new cGMP capabilities to the Augusta site, combining biomanufacturing and flow chemistry under one roof – a rare configuration for essential-medicines production in the United States, and one that broadens the reach of Manus’ proven bioalternatives scale-up platform.

‍

Friday’s ceremony will bring together John Knox, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at HHS; U.S. Rep. Rick Allen, R-Ga., 12^th District; and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., 1^st District, who will be making his second visit to the facility in seven months. They will be joined by leadership from HHS ASPR’s IBMSC office, the Gates Foundation, which has previously funded Manus' artemisinin development program, and Manus’ construction and engineering partners.

‍

“This groundbreaking reflects a shift from dependence to capability," says Ajikumar “Aji” Parayil, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Manus. "For decades, the U.S. has relied heavily on overseas supply chains for the building blocks of essential medicines. What we’re establishing in Augusta is a new model – one that restores control, strengthens resilience, and proves that advanced biomanufacturing can be deployed at scale, here at home. This is not just about a single ingredient; it’s about building the bioalternatives infrastructure to secure many more."

‍

A platform with reach across more than 50 essential medicines

Earlier this year, Manus and HHS ASPR expanded the partnership to add shikimic acid – the starting material for oseltamivir, the flu antiviral better known as Tamiflu – bringing total federal investment to $47.4 million. Manus’ bioalternatives scale-up platform has the potential to secure domestic production of more than 50 essential medicines. The Augusta BioFacility currently supports more than 150 skilled biomanufacturing jobs in the community.

‍

Media note: The groundbreaking ceremony will be held Friday, May 8, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. EDT at Manus’ Augusta BioFacility, 1762 Lovers Lane, Augusta, Ga. Media interested in attending should contact Frederik Bjoerndal at fbjoerndal@manusbio.com.

‍