Ontario Celebrates Launch of Canada’s Largest Biomanufacturing Facility
May 30, 2024
Sanofi’s new facility will significantly increase domestic production of life-saving vaccines
The Ontario government joined Sanofi to celebrate the grand opening of their new, $800 million vaccine manufacturing facility at its Toronto campus. The new building, spanning approximately 200,000 square feet, will produce pediatric and adult vaccines for pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria and tetanus, significantly increasing the country’s production of life-saving vaccines for domestic and global markets.
“Our government is pleased to support Sanofi as they expand their footprint in Ontario,” said Premier Doug Ford. “This new state-of-the-art facility is another vote of confidence in our workers and our growing life sciences sector, helping to ensure people in Ontario and around the world have increased access to life-saving vaccines when they need them.”
Sanofi’s new facility builds on the company’s expansive footprint in Ontario, which includes a full spectrum of R&D, manufacturing, clinical trials, regulatory, distribution and commercial operations. As part of Sanofi’s 2,000 employees in Canada, the facility will employ 200 people and is supported by federal, municipal and provincial governments including a $50 million investment from the province of Ontario.
“Ontario is a life sciences superpower, with a long history of cutting-edge innovation and discovery,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Sanofi’s new facility represents a strategic link in our province’s biomanufacturing supply chain and is a welcomed addition to Ontario’s growing life sciences ecosystem — the largest in the country.”
Sanofi is also building a second new facility at its Toronto campus to increase production of the Fluzone High-Dose Influenza Vaccine, a flu vaccine specifically formulated for people 65 years and older.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, Ontario has become a hub of health care innovation and technology that is connecting more people to the care they need, when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Sanofi’s new state-of-the-art vaccine manufacturing facility in Toronto is championing made-in-Ontario vaccinations that will build healthier communities in our province, and around the world, for years to come.”
As part of the government’s life sciences strategy, the province is investing $15 million through the Life Sciences Innovation Fund and $100 million through the Ontario Together Fund to help establish Ontario as a global biomanufacturing and life sciences hub. Over the past three years, Ontario has attracted over $3 billion in investments from life sciences companies and global biomanufacturers.
Quick Facts
- Ontario’s life sciences sector is a key economic driver, employing more than 72,000 people in high-value jobs across 2,000 firms, and exporting over $12 billion in goods to markets around the world.
- Ontario is a central hub for health research talent that includes 19 of Canada’s top 40 research hospitals. These facilities are leading ground-breaking trials on local, national and international levels.
- The province’s life sciences strategy, Taking Life Sciences to the Next Level, is establishing Ontario as a global biomanufacturing and life sciences hub. The goal is to grow the sector by targeting 85,000 high-value jobs by 2030, a 25 per cent increase from 2020.
- To support the next stage of the province’s life sciences strategy, our government established a Life Sciences Council that has supported the creation of jobs and encourages the adoption of Ontario made innovations to improve health care.
- Each year, the Sanofi’s Toronto campus produces vaccines that protect over seven million Canadians against infectious diseases and exports vaccines to over 60 countries.
Quotes
“Vaccines save lives. That’s why we’ll be producing a lot more of them in Canada, including flu vaccines. Sanofi’s two new facilities in Toronto will create good-paying jobs, protect the health and well-being of Canadians, and give our scientists, innovators, and researchers a fair chance to succeed.”
– The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada
“Companies around the world are taking notice of Ontario’s thriving life sciences ecosystem, access to top tier talent, competitive business costs and advanced innovations. Thanks to investments like this one from Sanofi, our province’s life sciences and biomanufacturing sector continues to grow and provide job opportunities through made-in-Ontario solutions.”
– Nina Tangri
Associate Minister of Small Business
“Sanofi remains committed to investments and innovation that improve people’s lives around the world. Our new vaccine manufacturing facility at our Toronto Campus will help ensure children and adults, in Canada and in 60 countries, are protected from pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria and tetanus. Our dedication to innovation and scientific advancement is unwavering and we continue building our new influenza and pandemic preparedness facility which will be operational in 2027. We thank the federal, provincial and municipal governments for their crucial collaboration and for their commitment to public health.”
– Stephanie Veyrun-Manetti
Country Lead Canada and General Manager Specialty Care, Sanofi
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Ontario Continuing to Attract New Investments and Jobs
Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, issued the following statement on May 10’s employment release by Statistics Canada, which showed Ontario is leading the nation in job creation, adding 25,000 jobs in April, including 5,800 jobs in the manufacturing sector.
