Its project will maintain, advance and expand world-leading Canadian science focused on plant-based vaccine production
The Government of Canada is investing in a robust, dynamic and resilient life sciences ecosystem capable of responding to current and future health emergencies. Since March 2020, over $2.2 billion has been invested to strengthen domestic biomanufacturing capabilities and help keep Canadians healthy and safe.
Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced a federal contribution of $40 million through the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) to support Aramis Biotechnologies' $80 million project to advance plant-based vaccines and therapeutics and to proceed with the development of a next-generation influenza vaccine.
Aramis Biotechnologies, which is headquartered in Québec, is seeking to advance plant-based vaccines and therapeutics against influenza and other diseases, leveraging and improving upon Medicago's world-leading technology platform. Medicago, a former Québec-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in plant-based vaccine production, was the first and only Canadian-based company to develop and receive Health Canada authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine. Medicago ceased operations in February 2023 after its parent company, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, initiated an orderly wind-down of the company.
In December 2023, Aramis secured Medicago's key assets, including its technology platform, intellectual property and fully equipped pilot biomanufacturing facility, with the goal of further developing plant-based vaccine production in Canada. This SIF investment will support Aramis's process optimization and research and development activities so the company can continue to retain, improve and expand on this made-in-Canada science and technology platform. This investment will also support this new, fully Canadian-owned company in creating and maintaining at least 80 well-paying jobs.
The investment in Aramis marks another significant step forward in the implementation of Canada's Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy. This project signifies an important opportunity to retain and continue to improve upon a leading made-in-Canada vaccine platform, strengthening the domestic vaccine technologies pipeline and building complementary capabilities that will ensure that Canada is well prepared to face future health emergencies.
