OSUR: Gov to Relaunch Free At-Home COVID Test Program

US Government Invests $600M in COVID-19 Test Manufacturing
Sep 20, 2023 | staff reporter

NEW YORK – The US Department of Health and Human Services announced on Wednesday that it is investing $600 million in COVID-19 test manufacturing.

The funding will go to 12 US-based COVID-19 test manufacturers and will support the production of approximately 200 million new over-the-counter COVID-19 tests for future federal government use, the agency said in a statement.

The largest amounts were awarded to iHealth ($167 million), Access Bio ($88.7 million), CorDx ($86.4 million), Azure ($61.2 million), and Maxim Bio ($49.5 million). Other manufacturers include Kwell Laboratories ($31.4 million), Princeton BioMeditech ($28.7 million), QuidelOrtho ($28.6 million), InBios ($20.7 million), Sekisui ($20.5 million), Orasure ($5.7 million), and Advin ($4.5 million).

"The Biden-Harris Administration, in partnership with domestic manufacturers, has made great strides in addressing vulnerabilities in the US supply chain by reducing our reliance on overseas manufacturing," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. "These critical investments will strengthen our nation's production levels of domestic at-home COVID-19 rapid tests and help mitigate the spread of the virus."

In addition to the funding, the US government is reopening its COVIDTests.gov website on Sept. 25, allowing households to order four free antigen tests. The tests will detect currently circulating COVID-19 variants and are intended for use through the end of 2023, HHS said.