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.
