The Government of Canada will invest up to C$415 million to support Sanofi Pasteur in building an end-to-end influenza vaccine biomanufacturing facility in Toronto. This new facility will focus on ensuring drug product formulation, fill-and-finish, and inspection.
As part of this project, Sanofi will invest more than C$455 million and look to create and maintain 1,225 highly skilled jobs in Canada. The Government of Ontario will also invest C$55 million, making this a C$925-million project. In addition, the company will also invest at least C$79 million a year to fund Canadian research and development
Sanofi chose Canada as the home of its international production and distribution center for its high-dose seasonal influenza vaccine, FLUZONE® High Dose Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine. In addition to creating jobs and funding Canadian research, this facility means better pandemic preparedness for all Canadians, points out the Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
In the event of a future flu outbreak, Sanofi says it will be able to manufacture pandemic influenza vaccine at population scale at its new facility. It will have the capacity to produce enough vaccine doses to support the entire Canadian population within approximately six months of the World Health Organization identifying a pandemic influenza strain, adds a company official.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for a strong domestic biomanufacturing sector,” says Champagne. “Today’s announcement will not only reinforce Canada’s biomanufacturing capacity but also strengthen our country’s pandemic preparedness.”
Over the last 12 months, the government has made investments of more than $1 billion to advance industrial R&D in vaccines and pharmaceuticals as well as expand biomanufacturing capacity. It will continue enhancing pandemic preparedness today and in the future by making Canada more self-sufficient while reducing exposure to possible future economic impacts and supply chain challenges, says Champagne.
