Province invests $4 million in Cambridge company to produce mRNA vaccines

Premier Doug Ford joined deputy premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones in Cambridge on Thursday to announce a $4 million investment to expand vaccine manufacturing at Cambridge company Novocol Pharma in partnership with Moderna Inc.

Cambridge mayor Jan Liggett, MPP Brian Riddell, MP Bryan May and MPP Jess Dixon were also on hand for the announcement.

The province says it secured an investment from the manufacturer of the Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine to provide Ontarians better access to vaccines that will be critical for pandemic preparedness. 

Moderna is partnering with Novocol Pharma to add new manufacturing capabilities to the company's Cambridge facility that will allow them to complete the final steps of preparing and packaging respiratory mRNA vaccines for distribution in Ontario and throughout Canada.

"Just over a year ago we announced a 10-year strategic partnership with the Government of Canada to provide on shore respiratory vaccine manufacturing capabilities," Patricia Gauthier, president and general manager of Moderna Canada, said.

"Today is a very important milestone in that commitment. Moderna will now be able to deliver domestic mRNA production, ensuring Canadians have secure on shore direct access for future pandemic and health emergencies. We're very proud to expand our footprint and investment in Ontario."

The partnership is expected to create jobs in Cambridge and the surrounding region and help the province become more self-sufficient, a press release said.

The Ontario government is supporting the project through the Ontario Together Fund.

“Moderna’s new investment is a huge vote of confidence in our province, our workers, and our growing life sciences sector,” said Premier Ford. “Not only will this investment create good paying jobs, it will provide our health care workers and people with more reliable access to life-saving vaccines, helping to ensure we no longer have to rely on other jurisdictions to keep us safe.”

Chief operating officer of Septodont and president of Novocol Pharma Atif Zia said the partnership will help strengthen Canada’s domestic supply chain for the production of vaccines and pandemic preparedness.

"Expanding our biomanufacturing capacity will help ensure we have a strong medical supply chain today and in the future,” added Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

Sylvia Jones, said the announcement means Ontario will no longer need to rely on other countries to keep our communities safe. 

“This partnership between Moderna and Novocol Pharma will create good paying jobs for the Cambridge community and help shore up our domestic production of vaccines to ensure faster access in the event of a future public health challenge,” she added.