COVID-19 related vaccines, therapies and biomanufacturing projects

From: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Background

In March 2020, the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) was identified to deliver the Medical Countermeasures (MCM) initiative and was granted authority to invest $792M under the MCM stream to fund clinical trials and manufacturing capacity at scale to increase the chances of timely vaccines, treatments and improve Canada's long-term pandemic preparedness.

The first project, Abcellera Biologics, was announced within 19 days of the start of project negotiations. The speed at which this project was announced demonstrates SIF's commitment to confront the COVID-19 pandemic by mobilizing its resources to facilitate projects that would benefit Canadians.

Overview

The MCM stream is divided in three types of projects: vaccines, therapies and biomanufacturing projects. Under the MCM, to date SIF has:

• 11 announced projects (see table)

Process for project selection

In April 2020, an open call for proposals was issued. Due to the complex scientific and technical nature of the proposals, after initial SIF assessment, the COVID-19 Vaccine Task force or the COVID-19 Therapeutics Task Force composed of leading scientific and industry experts provided advice on proposals.

Announced projects descriptions

• Abcellera Biologics Inc.'s project is in direct response to Canada's fight against COVID-19 and Canada's ability to respond to future pandemics. It will enable the rapid discovery of antibody therapies to treat and prevent COVID-19 and establish a Good Manufacturing Practice antibody production facility for Canada's long-term emergency preparedness.
• Variation Biotechnologies Inc.'s project supports the development of Canada's MCMs in immediate response to COVID-19. Variation Biotechnologies Inc. (VBI) will advance the development of an enveloped Virus-Like-Particle (eVLP) vaccine candidate for COVID-19 through pre-clinical studies and clinical trials.
• Precision NanoSystems Inc. will help advance the development of a ribonucleic acid (RNA) vaccine against COVID-19 through pre-clinical studies and clinical trials.
• Medicago's project advances a virus-like particle vaccine, developed on the company's unique plant-based production platform, through clinical trials. It will also establish a large-scale vaccine and antibody production facility to increase Canada's domestic biomanufacturing capacity.
• Arch Biopartners' project advances Metablock, a treatment to help block inflammation in the lungs, liver and kidneys, through clinical trials II.
• Edesa Biotech Research, Inc. is developing a monoclonal antibody therapy (EB05) as a treatment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, the leading cause of death among COVID-19 patients.
• Precision NanoSystems Inc.'s project will enhance Canada's biomanufacturing capacity by expanding production capabilities of ribonucleic acid (RNA) vaccines and future genetic medicines.
• KABS Laboratories Inc. will expand the domestic biomanufacturing capacity in Canada by enlarging its Saint-Hubert facility and establishing a new facility in Val-des-Sources. As a result, KABS Laboratories Inc. will be able to produce monoclonal antibody therapies in Val-des-Sources and fill and package them in Saint-Hubert.
• Novocol Pharmaceutical of Canada's project will expand its biomanufacturing facilities in Cambridge, Ontario, supporting the growth of Novocol's fill-finish services to strengthen Canada's long-term response through improved pandemic preparedness for vaccines and therapies.
• Immune Biosolutions Inc. will develop and advance its COVID-19 therapeutic candidate from preclinical studies through to Phase II clinical trials. In addition, Immune Biosolutions will establish clinical scale biomanufacturing capacity and develop a new accelerated discovery process that will support future biologics and discovery work.
• Resilience Biotechnologies Inc.'s project will increase its manufacturing and fill-finish capacity for a number of vaccines and therapeutics, including for those that use novel technology such as mRNA and that are now being deployed to fight COVID-19.

Sanofi FLUZONE® High Dose Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine

On March 31, 2021 the Government of Canada has announced an investment of up to $415 million to support in building an end-to-end influenza vaccine biomanufacturing facility in Toronto, Ontario. The facility will serve as their international production and distribution center of their high-dose seasonal influenza vaccine, FLUZONE® High Dose Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (FLUZONE® HD QIV). This demonstrates Canada's ability to attract foreign investments and to develop facilities with made-in-Canada solutions while focusing on both short-term strategic solutions and a long‑term vision in rebuilding Canada's biomanufacturing sector.