Alkermes plc (Nasdaq: ALKS), an Ireland-based biopharmaceutical company, has awarded grants to 10 non-profit organisations from the firm's COVID-19 Relief Fund, a special edition of Alkermes Inspiration Grants program, it was reported on Wednesday.

The grants are intended to assist non-profit organisations in their work to rapidly address pandemic-related requirements for people living with addiction, serious mental illness, or cancer. Over 350 applications were submitted in May 2020 for this competitive program.

The company chose the grant recipients based on certain criteria including, a focus on people living with mental illness, substance use disorders, or cancer; clearly defined needs, objectives, activity format, mode of delivery, and intended audience; relevance to the COVID-19 pandemic; ability to implement in a rapid time frame and sustainability of the impact beyond the immediate crisis; the organisation's ability to execute the proposed program; and uniqueness and creativity of the proposed program/solution.

Since 2016, the Alkermes Inspiration Grants program has awarded more than USD3m in funding to innovative programs that it says support the comprehensive needs of those most impacted by serious diseases in its areas of focus.