Columbia: The University of South Carolina is joining a handful of universities nationwide to implement saliva tests for COVID-19, as part of its plan to reopen for classes this week. The tests will be free for students, faculty and staff on the school’s Columbia campus, the university said in a news release Tuesday. The tests, which require a spit sample, are an alternative to nasal swab tests and typically deliver results within 24 hours. The implementation of the tests comes amid the university’s attempt to hold classes, which are set to begin Thursday, in person. Other higher education institutions in the state, including Clemson University and the College of Charleston, are delaying the start of in-person teaching because of the pandemic. The University of South Carolina is now the only school in the state to receive state certification for the saliva tests, and one of a handful of universities nationwide approved for the tests. The school said West Columbia-based Nephron Pharmaceuticals donated 50,000 sample tubes and a robot for processing samples.
Month: August 2020
ICYMI: SC women celebrate a century of having the right to vote, call on more women to seek office
A century after women across America gained the right to vote, a bipartisan group gathered Tuesday on the Statehouse steps to celebrate the glass ceilings shattered by South Carolinians while recognizing the state still lags in female representation. …
South Carolina legislators didn’t officially support women’s suffrage with a “yes” vote until 49 years later.
Lou Kennedy, the president and CEO of Nephron Pharmaceuticals, recalled what activist Eulalie Salley, then 85 years old, said at that bill’s signing in 1969.
“Well, boys, I’ve waited 50 years to tell you what I think about you for taking so long to pass this,” Salley, one of the state’s first female real estate agents, said while standing next to then-Gov. Robert McNair.
“We can relate to what Ms. Salley said back then,” said Kennedy, who noted she’s often the lone woman in a business meeting.
“There are still obstacles each of us face along the road to equality. I’m encouraged that, today, little girls know they can be CEOs, university presidents, board chairs, governors, senators, lieutenant governors and they can run for president of the United States. But we still have work to do,” said the former chairwoman of the state Chamber of Commerce.
“As we celebrate 100 years of women voting, we should also remember to lift as we climb,” she continued. “Empowering young women to pursue careers in businesses, the life sciences and, yes, elected office. The only way we’ll see more women serving in office is if more women run for the office and vote.”
ICYMI (Post & Courier): USC offering students free, fast saliva-based tests to contain campus spread of COVID-19
From the Post & Courier: USC said its testing program got a boost from Nephron Pharmaceuticals, a West Columbia-based company that donated 50,000 vials and a robot that will help test the samples.
“If we want to stop the spread of this deadly virus, we have to expand COVID-19 screening where breakouts can occur, such as college campuses, and that is why this partnership with Carolina is so important,” Nephron CEO Lou Kennedy, a major USC donor, said in the announcement. “Returning to normal begins with reliable, rapid testing. We are proud to welcome the Gamecock family back to campus by working together with the university to make this kind of test available.”
ICYMI (Associated Press): Nephron Donation Helps UofSC Start Free COVID-19 Saliva Tests
The University of South Carolina is joining a handful of universities nationwide to implement saliva tests for COVID-19, as part of its plan to reopen for classes this week.
The school said West Columbia-based Nephron Pharmaceuticals donated 50,000 sample tubes and a robot for processing samples.
“If we want to stop the spread of this deadly virus, we have to expand COVID-19 screening where breakouts can occur, such as college campuses, and that is why this partnership with Carolina is so important,” Nephron CEO Lou Kennedy said in a news release.
The saliva testing approach could lower the barrier to testing across the state, as no trained personnel, testing sites, or personal protective equipment are needed to collect samples, USC School of Medicine professor Helmut Albrecht told state legislators earlier this month. People could provide samples in classrooms and airports, churches and dinner parties, and even at home, Albrecht said.
ICYMI (The State): Kennedy: “Returning to normal begins with reliable, rapid testing”
From The State newspaper: The University of South Carolina will begin using a new type of coronavirus testing on campus starting Wednesday.
Unlike the traditional tests — which take several days to get results — the saliva tests can get results back within 24 hours, USC said in a news release.
Adding saliva testing, “makes it possible for the university to test thousands of students and employees daily for COVID-19,” the statement said.
Testing — dubbed “SAFE,” for Saliva Assay Free Expedited — will be available for students, faculty and staff, the release said.
The SAFE tests were developed by USC College of Pharmacy researchers and works by identifying coronavirus DNA, statement said.
After the test was developed, Nephron Pharmaceuticals donated 50,000 sample tubes and a testing robot to USC to speed up testing.
“If we want to stop the spread of this deadly virus, we have to expand COVID-19 screening where breakouts can occur, such as college campuses, and that is why this partnership with Carolina is so important,” Nephron CEO Lou Kennedy said in a release. “Returning to normal begins with reliable, rapid testing. We are proud to welcome the Gamecock family back to campus by working together with the university to make this kind of test available.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently gave approval to saliva tests, which are thought to be cheaper, faster, and less uncomfortable than the swab tests.
“Getting test results back in hours instead of days is a game changer,” Caslen said in the statement. “Thanks to the College of Pharmacy, our COVID-19 planning group, and Nephron Pharmaceuticals, the saliva test will play a critical role in keeping our campus safe. I strongly encourage everyone in our community to take advantage of this innovative opportunity in addition to wearing face coverings and practicing physical distancing.”
Charleston Post and Courier (Guest Column): Return production of medications and medical supplies to US
BY LOU KENNEDY
The team at Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corp. in West Columbia has been honored to answer the call to serve during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.
We have shipped hundreds of millions of doses of life-saving respiratory medications to patients nationwide. We have provided tens of thousands of gallons of Nephron-made, FDA-approved hand sanitizer to students, businesses, families and those in need. And we recently announced a $216 million expansion that includes factory production space where we will fill COVID-19 vaccines.
Every Nephron employee has a sense of pride. Of patriotism. But I would be remiss if I failed to mention that we also share a sense of concern.
China is one of the world’s largest suppliers of the precursor chemicals used to make active pharmaceutical ingredients and personal protective equipment. What we have come to recognize firsthand are the perils of dependence on foreign counties, such as China, for medicine and medical supplies.
As trade tensions between China and the United States grew last year, I was afraid China could intentionally disrupt the drug supply chain to the United States, exacerbating the drug shortage crisis, increasing the cost of drugs and potentially killing American patients.
The recurring question I had was: What can America do to break this dangerous dependence?
Now, as the world considers how to deal with China in the aftermath of this pandemic, the picture of a potential supply chain disruption is grimmer, serving as a vivid reminder that we are talking about matters of life and death.
I have been vocal about this issue for quite some time. In fact, I discussed America’s dependence on China for drug ingredients last year with federal officials, including President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. When U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham visited our plant a few weeks ago, we agreed: Something must be done to find American solutions to this American public health crisis.
So, it should be no surprise that I am excited about the executive order President Trump signed last week to shore up the domestic supply chain for life-saving medicines, reduce dependence on foreign sources of drugs and medical supplies and expand domestic production of both.
When the president signed this new executive order, he said: “As we’ve seen in this pandemic, the United States must produce essential equipment, supplies and pharmaceuticals for ourselves. We cannot rely on China and other nations across the globe that could one day deny us products in a time of need. We can’t do it. We can’t do it. We have to be smart.”
I could not agree more.
This is a no-brainer. The pandemic has taught us an important lesson. The best way to protect American patients, families and businesses is onshoring production of the things we need to keep them healthy and safe.
Over the past five months, the American people have endured hardships no one could have foreseen. We grieve with those who have lost loved ones to this unrelenting silent enemy. We support business owners small and large who want to slow the spread of this virus so we can reopen the world’s greatest economy. And we share the frustrations many people feel with politicians who are focused on winning the next election, rather than preparing for the next public health crisis.
We are grateful for these first steps President Trump is taking to make sure we never end up in this place again.
At Nephron, we have the technology, resources and people it takes to successfully partner with the federal government to make the public health preparedness infrastructure of this nation stronger than ever. South Carolina can and will be a leader in the effort to find American solutions for American public health.
This new executive order is the right way to do it.
Lou Kennedy is CEO of Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corp. who served on Gov. Henry McMaster’s accelerateSC task force.
FOX Carolina Exculsive: SC company’s lab to help with rapid COVID-19 testing
“Supplies are packed inside a mobile clinical lab, which is headed to a company in Anderson County where employees will get rapid COVID-19 tests. ‘We’re trying to do whatever we can to be helpers,’ Lou Kennedy said. She’s the CEO and owner of Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation in Columbia. She along with scientists and researchers created an on-site lab in Columbia for the testing.
“’This allows us to do a nasopharyngeal swab or saliva and we process that into well plates,’ Kennedy said. ‘We can do 384 test at a time with future ramping up numbers.’ She says she wanted to keep employees and their families safe. ‘We can test every day,’ Kennedy said. She then thought of how she and the company could help the entire state. ‘Every four hours we get results from those first 384 tests and we’re able to run 24-7,’ she said. ‘We also have the Avid testing equipment that allows us to pull blood from the patient and do serology testing and those results come back in an hour.’
“FOX Carolina got an exclusive look inside the lab where swabs are analyzed and tests give more insight than positive or negative results. ‘What we want to do is get everything we can tell about the patient’s process through what they’re facing- whether they’re symptomatic, A symptomatic and we can tell that by what the equipment shows us,’ Kennedy said. The company also partners with several universities throughout the state for research, which include the University of South Carolina and Clemson to help with contact tracing and to understand other aspects of the virus. ‘There’s a great sense and spirit and community,’ Kennedy said. To get more information about individual or company rapid COVID-19 testing contact Nephron Pharmaceuticals.”
Nephron Announces $50,000 Donation to Red Cross of South Carolina
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. – Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation, one of the fastest-growing pharmaceuticals companies in the nation, today announced a $50,0000 donation to the American Red Cross of South Carolina in order to offset the extraordinary challenges the organization faces amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
This new partnership will help at this uniquely critical moment in our state and nation. The 2020 Hurricane Season has begun, and experts are predicting a very busy season with Hurricane Isaias already impacting our coast. As the American Red Cross of South Carolina works to prepare for disasters of any kind, this gift and partnership will help meet the needs of the communities across South Carolina. We are also facing fewer blood donations nationwide even as we face exponential increases in operating costs. In South Carolina, 32 hospitals depend on that lifesaving blood being on the shelves and available to meet the need across our communities.
“This has been a very difficult time for everyone in South Carolina as we adapt to this COVID-19 environment and our team continues to work hard to respond to those in need across our state, ” said Rod Tolbert, the Regional CEO of the Red Cross of South Carolina. “We are so appreciative of Nephron Pharmaceuticals and their generous donation and commitment to partner with us to better our communities and make them more resilient. Partners, like Nephron Pharmaceuticals, are vital during this challenging time.”
“Nephron is proud of the role our team has been able to play on the front lines of the nationwide response to COVID-19,” said Nephron CEO Lou Kennedy. “In fact, we believe it is our obligation to step up and serve during times of crises, and we are grateful for another opportunity to serve through this partnership with the Red Cross.”
One of the most important things people can do right now during this public health emergency is to give blood. If you are healthy and feeling well, please make an appointment to donate as soon as possible by visiting RedCrossBlood.org. All donations are being tested for COVID19 Antibodies and we are encouraging those that have recovered from a confirmed case of COVID19 to consider donating Convalescent Plasma.
You can also make a donation, of any size, to help the American Red Cross continue to deliver its lifesaving mission nationwide by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word CORONAVIRUS to 90999. These funds will help us make the urgent investments needed to ensure people can continue to turn to the Red Cross for help and hope—when it’s needed most.
About the Nephron Pharmaceuticals:
A West Columbia, S.C.-based company, Nephron develops and produces safe, affordable generic inhalation solutions and suspension products. The company also operates an industry-leading 503B Outsourcing Facility division which produces pre-filled sterile syringes and IV bags for hospitals across America, in an effort to alleviate their drug shortage needs. Nephron fills the needs of patients and health care professionals as they arise nationwide, and recently opened a CLIA-certified diagnostics lab.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org/SC or @RedCrossSC.