Several years ago, SC Public Radio interviewed Nephron’s Lou Kennedy about why she decided to move her pharmaceutical manufacturing company from Florida to South Carolina. It turned out to be a good move as the company has grown significantly since then.

What has happened since then, the virus has brought Nephron to the forefront of needed supplies, telehealth, rural broadband and anticipated economic recovery.

Here’s what she has to say now:

• On covid-19: “As you know, it’s a severe respiratory distress virus and we are making the meds that are used to treat the symptoms …We typically ship about 85 million doses a month. During March, we shipped 193 million so we were busy.”

• On Rural Broadband: “I was working on this mission in 2019. After we have seen so many people being aided and assisted by the use of tele-health/tele-medicine amid this crisis, I recognized this is an even more important time for us to talk about the need for rural broadband. This is truly infrastructure just like roads and been supported bridges…I have what Congressman Jim Clyburn has been saying and doing.”

• On Gov. McMaster’s leadership: “I am so proud of the way Gov. McMaster has handled this state, the way that he has done everything down…I’m very appreciative his stay at home order, versus just shutting and I’ve told him so.”

DID YOU GET blocked? An 18-wheeler turned over on Augusta Road (US 1) at I-26 early May 13. The incident resulted in closing of all lanes of Augusta Road. Traffic was detoured onto I-26.

A tow-truck was on the site at around 6:30 a.m. to pull the overturned tractor trailer back onto its wheels. West Columbia Police, West Columbia Fire and Lexington County Fire Services were on the scene, along with the SC Highway Patrol.

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