CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island– BIOVECTRA broke ground today, with help from provincial and federal officials, on a cutting-edge facility that will manufacture mRNA vaccines and therapeutics starting in 2023.
BIOVECTRA’s mRNA Vaccine and Biomanufacturing Centre will add 36,000 square feet to its existing Charlottetown campus and, when operational, the cGMP facility will be able produce 160 million doses of mRNA vaccine and prepare and package 70 million final vaccine doses per year for commercial distribution.
“Today is the tangible beginning to a very exciting future for our company,” explains Oliver Technow, CEO BIOVECTRA. “This biomanufacturing centre is the cornerstone of BIOVECTRA’s expansion plans for an end-to-end solution to produce mRNA vaccines and therapies.”
“We appreciate the support from all levels of government as well as the interest this expansion has generated both within our local communities and throughout North America,” added Mr. Technow.
The company previously announced its $79.6 million expansion of its business to produce mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, with the Government of Canada contributing $39.8 million through the Strategic Innovation Fund and a $10 million investment from the Province of Prince Edward Island back in November 2021. At least 125 new highly skilled jobs and 220 Co-op placements will be created in both Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.
“BIOVECTRA is a true leader in bioscience research and innovation, and we’re so proud they call the east coast home,” said Premier Dennis King. “This new facility means many great things for our province. It means good jobs for Islanders, strengthening our economy, readiness for future health emergencies, and ultimately, growing the bioscience sector in Prince Edward Island.”
The expansion also includes completing a Single-Use Clinical Scale Microbial Suite in Windsor, Nova Scotia this summer (2022), as well as opening a research and development facility in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The addition to BIOVECTRA’s Windsor site supports the development and production of plasmid DNA, the key ingredient to manufacture mRNA therapeutics and vaccines.
“As a Canadian company, BIOVECTRA is honoured to help our country face future pandemics, while also creating the versatile technology platforms that can help clients deliver the treatments that will become the next generation of patient care,” explained Mr. Technow.
