Moderna has partnered with a local pharma company to produce m RNA vaccines right here in Cambridge, Ont., the province announced this past Thursday.
The announcement said Moderna will be using Novocol Pharma’s facilities to handle the final preparation and packaging of respiratory m RNA vaccines before they’re shipped out across Canada.
“Moderna’s multi-million dollar investment means that the MRNA vaccines manufactured by Moderna in Canada will be prepared and packaged right here at the Novocol plant,” Doug Ford said during Thursday’s morning announcement.
“I’m so pleased to announce that our government is supporting this new partnership with a $4 million investment through the Ontario Together Fund.”
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This plan to start operations in Cambridge is part of a decade-long deal between Moderna and the federal government aimed at building respiratory vaccine production capacity within Canada, according to Patricia Gauthier, president of Moderna Canada.
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“Today is a very important milestone in that commitment,” she added. “Moderna will now be able to deliver domestic end-to-end MRNA vaccine production, ensuring Canadians have secure, onshore, direct access to our MRNA vaccines for future pandemic and health emergencies.”
Also included in this agreement was an announcement last November that Moderna would open a factory in Laval, Quebec, which can churn out 100 million doses annually.
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This Thursday, officials from Moderna explained that once produced, vaccines would be sent over to Cambridge for completion of manufacturing steps.
“The final step in preparing our vaccines for use is a process called Fill Finish and Moderna is a partnership with Novocol Pharma ensures continuity in Canada’s vaccine supply chain. Vaccines produced at our manufacturing plant, which is now under construction in Laval, will be finished into vials of prefilled syringes here in Cambridge, Ontario,” explained Jerh Collins, who heads up manufacturing and quality for Moderna.
Ford mentioned this setup will help keep Canada ready for any future emergencies that might come up.
*With files from the Canadian Press
& copy 2023 Cambridge Chronicle, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
