Announcement of an Exempt Purchase

CuraScript provides specialty pharmaceutical products for UI Health patients. Recently, the hospital has started to provide CAR-T therapy to appropriate patients using Kymriah. This therapy is for patients who have failed previous cancer treatment and is considered a last line therapy.

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for medical supplies or medical services necessary for the delivery of care and treatment at medical, dental, or veterinary teaching facilities utilized by SIU or U of I (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b-5)) CuraScript is the only specialty distributor that can provide Kymriah to hospitals wanting to use this therapy in its patient population. Novartis, the pharmaceutical company that makes Kymriah, has put in place a limited distribution system using CuraScript. It is important for us to have access to this drug for our patients.