Alliance for Building Better Medicine

What Alliance for Building Better Medicine does

Alliance for Building Better Medicine is a non-profit coalition and ecosystem accelerator headquartered at 800 E Leigh St, Richmond, Virginia. Founded in 2020, it coordinates 16 partners and 23 supporting organizations across pharmaceutical manufacturers (Civica, Phlow, AMPAC Fine Chemicals), universities (Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia State University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech), community colleges (Reynolds, Brightpoint, plus additional coalition members), municipal governments (Cities of Richmond and Petersburg), and economic development bodies (Greater Richmond Partnership, Virginia's Gateway Region, Activation Capital, VIPC, Virginia EDP) to reshore advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing of essential medicines into the United States.

The Alliance's core technical platform is advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing, with continuous-flow and other innovative chemical and engineering technologies as the featured proprietary capability for lowering the cost, accelerating the delivery, and reducing the environmental impact of generic-medicine production. Its operational "products" are programs rather than software: the Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (a $120 million industry-led workforce training facility supported by AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, and Merck), the Richmond-Petersburg APM Workforce Initiative (a Good Jobs Challenge-funded training and credentialing program delivering associate degrees, certificates, and apprenticeships), and the broader ecosystem-development platform that coordinates R&D, supply chain, and infrastructure activity across member organizations.

As a non-profit coalition/accelerator, the Alliance does not sell commercial products. Revenue is generated through federal grants (EDA Build Back Better Regional Challenge $52.9 million, NSF Engines Development Award $1 million, EDA Good Jobs Challenge $3.94 million), state seed funding (GO Virginia $2.5 million), and corporate membership/MOUs (Walmart, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Merck). Pricing is not applicable. Customer-facing segments are manufacturers seeking R&D, workforce, and supply chain support, workforce candidates seeking credentials and career pathways, and downstream beneficiaries (healthcare providers and patients) for the produced essential medicines.

Name

Alliance for Building Better Medicine

Legal name

Alliance for Building Better Medicine

Website

https://buildingbettermedicine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alliance for Building Better Medicine is a nonprofit coalition and ecosystem accelerator, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, coordinating public and private sector partners to reshore advanced, continuous-flow pharmaceutical manufacturing of essential generic medicines to the United States through workforce training, R&D, and supply chain programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Ecosystem Development

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Global Supply Chain, Procurement & Market-Shaping Partnerships (Medicines/Diagnostics/Vaccines) (HLAJAOAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health, Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAJ), Clinical Research Support (CRC/CTA) (EDAOAJAO)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem
• Workforce development programs
• Biopharmaceutical research collaboration
• Supply chain reshoring
• Advanced manufacturing training

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Coalition Membership and Grants: As a nonprofit coalition, the Alliance operates through membership contributions, federal and state grants, and public-private partnership funding. Revenue supports workforce development, infrastructure development, and ecosystem coordination rather than commercial product revenue.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Alliance for Building Better Medicine is a nonprofit coalition and ecosystem accelerator that coordinates public and private sector stakeholders in the Richmond-Petersburg region of Virginia to reshore U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturing. It operates workforce development programs (including the Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and the Richmond-Petersburg APM Workforce Initiative), supports R&D through academic partners such as the Medicines for All Institute at VCU, and helps attract investment and manufacturing capacity for essential generic medicines using continuous-flow and other advanced manufacturing technologies.

Product overview

The Alliance for Building Better Medicine operates as a coalition and ecosystem accelerator—not a single commercial product or software platform. Its core 'products' are organizational programs: the Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (APM) providing workforce training and credentials; the Richmond-Petersburg APM Workforce Initiative delivering educational programs including associate degrees and certifications; and the broader Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Ecosystem Development platform connecting stakeholders across manufacturing, R&D, workforce development, and supply chain sectors. Together these initiatives aim to reshore essential medicine manufacturing to the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (APM) A neutral, industry-led workforce training center providing industry-aligned training, credentials, and certifications via hands-on GMP simulated training, classroom labs, and apprenticeships in the Richmond-Petersburg-Charlottesville region for individuals entering pharmaceutical manufacturing roles.
• Richmond-Petersburg Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (APM) Workforce Initiative Workforce training initiative providing two associate degrees, career studies certificates, and non-credit credential programs equipping individuals for technician-level jobs in advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and biotechnology sectors.
• Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Ecosystem Development Collaborative platform driving R&D, advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing, workforce development, and supply chain development in the Richmond-Petersburg region. The ecosystem connects public and private sector stakeholders including manufacturers, researchers, educators, and government to create a resilient regional biopharmaceutical ecosystem.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly $1.5 billion in regional investment attracted since 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, major and core.

• University of VirginiasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2025University partner in Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing workforce development coalition.
• Virginia TechsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2025University partner in Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing workforce development coalition.
• Old Dominion UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2025University partner in Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing workforce development coalition.
• James Madison UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2025University partner in Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing workforce development coalition.
• Hampton UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2025University partner in Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing workforce development coalition.
• Blue Ridge Community CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2025Community college partner in Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing workforce development coalition.
• Piedmont Virginia Community CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2025Community college partner in Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing workforce development coalition.
• Virginia Community College SystemsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2025Statewide system partner in Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing workforce development coalition.
• WalmartmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022Joined Alliance to create reliable supply of safe, high-quality, and affordable medicines. Represents major retail distribution channel for essential medicines produced by ecosystem.
• Phlow Corp.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Founding member and key industry partner of the Alliance. Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Robby Demeria serves as Founding Board Chair. Phlow secured $354M federal contract for essential medicines manufacturing and $37M capital raise.
• Civica Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Nonprofit generic drug manufacturer and Alliance member. Operates $140M Petersburg insulin plant manufacturing affordable medicines at no more than $30 per vial. Invested $27.8M in Chesterfield testing facility.
• AMPAC Fine ChemicalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturer with Petersburg facility. Expanded facility creating over 150 new jobs. Partner in API development and manufacturing.
• Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Member hosting Medicines for All Institute. VCU Engineering leads R&D innovation. President Michael Rao participates in APM workforce initiatives. Launched new Pharmaceutical Sciences degree program.
• Virginia State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020HBCU member supporting engineering and workforce programs. Participated in Engineering Interns + Manufacturers = Success (S2) program with $39,200 GO Virginia funding.
• Activation CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Organizing entity for cluster accelerator. Received $15M state funding for Richmond Innovation Center. Led NSF Engines Development Award application.
• U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020200-year-old organization advancing quality medicines science. Partnered with Phlow to open Richmond labs for pharma technique development. Contributed policy expertise for APM consortium.
• Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Joint workforce division of Reynolds and Brightpoint Community Colleges. Led workforce intermediary capabilities through Good Jobs Challenge. Offers pathways from certificates to advanced degrees.
• Brightpoint Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Alliance member providing pharmaceutical manufacturing training programs. Helps connect individuals to careers in the industry through workforce development initiatives.
• Reynolds Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Lead applicant for $3.94M EDA Good Jobs Challenge Award. J. Sargeant Reynolds CC leads Richmond-Petersburg APM Workforce Initiative under leadership of President Paula Pando.
• Greater Richmond PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Lead regional economic development organization. President Jennifer Wakefield serves on Alliance leadership. Drives organizational vision for City of Richmond and surrounding counties.
• Virginia's Gateway RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Economic development organization for Tri-Cities and surrounding counties. CEO Keith Boswell available for Alliance speaking engagements. Markets the region for pharma cluster expansion.
• Virginia Economic Development PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020State economic development authority supporting Alliance mission. President Stephen Moret quoted in support of regional pharma cluster growth.
• Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Virginia's statewide economic development authority for innovation ecosystems. CEO Joe Benevento signed MOU for $120M workforce investment. Supports Life Sciences innovation including Research Diamond and Lab-to-Launch initiatives.
• Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Member and APM Tech Hub Lead Entity. CEO John Milton-Benoit leads coalition's APM strategy. Engages industry needs assessment and innovation translation.
• City of RichmondcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Municipal partner represented in Alliance. Mayor Dr. Danny Avula emphasizes biotechnology sector growth and medicine supply chain strengthening.
• City of PetersburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Host city for major pharmaceutical facilities. Mayor Sam Parham highlights city's pharma campus success with three state-of-the-art pharmaceutical companies. Biggest economic development in 40 years.
• Medicines for All InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Internationally recognized leader in improving generic drug manufacturing by curbing waste, cutting costs, and reducing pollution. Led by Frank Gupton, Ph.D. Hosted at VCU Engineering.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MassBio: A leading state/regional life sciences trade association that drives cluster development, workforce, and policy advocacy for Massachusetts biopharma. Comparable role as the convener of a regional life sciences ecosystem and equivalent stage of cluster maturity.
• Indiana Biosciences Research Institute: Indiana's industry-led biosciences research institute bringing together industry, academia, and state economic development to build life science capacity. Comparable public-private model and emphasis on advanced biomanufacturing and workforce development.
• Phlow Corporation: A nonprofit essential medicines manufacturer that operates within the Alliance as a founding member and uses continuous-flow chemistry to produce affordable generic APIs. Highly comparable mission and operating model—domestic essential-medicine production backed by public and federal partnerships.
• North Carolina Biotechnology Center: The oldest state-funded life sciences accelerator in the U.S., driving workforce, R&D, and capital formation across North Carolina. Closest direct analog—a publicly supported, place-based biotech cluster builder focused on domestic manufacturing and workforce readiness.
• California Life Sciences: The largest U.S. state-level life sciences trade association representing the California biopharma ecosystem. Comparable model: industry-led coalition that champions workforce, R&D, capital formation, and policy for regional cluster growth.
• Civica Inc. A nonprofit generic drug manufacturer that is a core member of the Alliance and operates a Petersburg, Virginia facility plus a Chesterfield testing lab. Same nonprofit model, same essential-medicine thesis, and operates in the same regional cluster.

Broad incumbents

• Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO): The largest U.S. biotech industry trade association with national scope covering biopharma policy, capital markets, and patient access. Comparable coalition/governance ethos but operates at national scale rather than regional ecosystem-building.
• Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA): The national trade association representing the U.S. pharmaceutical research and manufacturing industry. Less focused on a single regional cluster but a broader version of the Alliance's reshoring and supply chain narrative for branded pharma.

Regional players

• BioOhio (OHTec): The nonprofit industry group working to grow Ohio's bioscience industry cluster. Same sector and mission (cluster growth, workforce, capital formation) but anchored to a different regional footprint.

Others

• Activation Capital: The Virginia innovation ecosystem backer that helped launch the Alliance via GO Virginia seed funding and houses the Richmond Innovation Center. Operationally adjacent—not a direct competitor—as a co-funding and infrastructure partner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/allianceformed
• Facebookfacebook.com/buildingbettermedicine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/buildingbettermedicine
• Instagraminstagram.com/buildingbettermedicine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alliance for Building Better Medicine