Canada’s government is providing of contribution of CAN$62 million ($43 million) towards a CAN$198.5 million ($136 million) biomanufacturing and research and development facility which is being planned by Entos Pharmaceuticals.
Located in Edmonton, Alberta, the 103,000-square-foot facility will be used to produce genetic medicines that have the potential to treat infections, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. The investment from Canada’s government follows a CAN$15.5 million ($11 million) investment, made in 2022, from the Government of Alberta.
Entos Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage company which has developed the Fusogenix PLV drug delivery system. The company says that this proprietary platform is formulated with FAST proteins, which are the smallest viral membrane fusion proteins, to enable the delivery of nucleic acid to target cells through direct fusion.
“By supporting the construction of this state-of-the-art facility in Edmonton, we are strengthening our capacity to produce cutting edge therapeutics and vaccines, which will better equip Canada in responding to future heath emergencies,” said François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
The project builds on the partnership that Entos has established Eli Lilly & Company to research, develop and commercialise nucleic acid products targeting the central and peripheral nervous system. Entos Pharmaceuticals also has partnerships Oisin Biotechnologies, OncoSenX, and Aegis Life, which are aimed at advancing the therapeutic pipeline for cancer and rare genetic diseases such as Duchenne and Muscular Dystrophy.
Entos Pharmaceuticals said that the new facility will act as a hub for next-generation therapeutics. The company will also seek to foster collaborations with Canadian academic institutions and industry partners. Entos Pharmaceuticals is a University of Alberta spinout from the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. “This extraordinary investment from the federal and provincial governments ensures Alberta, and the University of Alberta, continues to play a leading role in strengthening Canada’s biomanufacturing and pharmaceutical sector,” said Bill Flanagan, President and Vice Chancellor University of Alberta.
As well as supporting the development of the new facility, the Canadian Government said that its investment will also contribute to increased domestic biomanufacturing capacity, as well as build on domestic strengths in the emerging biomanufacturing field. Canada has established a Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy which presents a long-term visions to protect Canadians against future pandemics and other health emergencies, as well as grow a competitive life sciences sector. The 2021 Budget provided CAN$2.2 billion ($1.5 billion) over seven years to support growing Canada’s life science sector and improving pandemic preparedness.
“We are resolved to foster innovation and secure a resilient life sciences ecosystem that will keep Canadians safe for generations to come,” Champagne added.
Entos Pharmaceuticals has two R&D laboratories in San Diego, California, US, and is currently managing the development of an additional 32,000 square-foot R&D and pilot facility and phase-1 GMP manufacturing facility in Carlsbad, California.
Further reading
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• Canada’s government invests in advanced manufacturing and other clusters
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