Ontario Construction News staff writer
OmniaBio, a Canadian cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), is building a massive biomanufacturing facility in Hamilton in Hamilton’s McMaster Innovation Park.
A tentative agreement with Invest Ontario includes a $40 million loan, for the $580 million project.
“As the first facility of its kind to provide commercial-scale cell and gene therapy manufacturing in Canada, OmniaBio will support our pipeline of homegrown life sciences companies, while boosting Ontario’s presence in the global biotech industry,” said Vic Fedeli, minister of economic development, job creation and trade.
“This is the kind of value-added, strategic investment that our government is proud to champion – creating skilled jobs, advancing our healthcare and driving innovation.”
As the largest tenant in a new development park, OmniaBio will support a range of cell and gene therapy companies – both homegrown and international – by providing process development and clinical/commercial production services in compliance with global health standards.
The OmniaBio investment supports Ontario’s goal to become a North American leader in life sciences and offer a collaborative ecosystem for the development, commercialization and adoption of innovative health products and services.
“OmniaBio Inc. will be a game-changer for Ontario and Canada. It will provide missing infrastructure to allow Ontario and Canadian cell and gene companies to remain here, while also attracting foreign companies,” said Michael May, chair, OmniaBio Inc.
“Cell and gene therapy is Canada’s opportunity to be global leaders in life sciences. Investing in manufacturing is a key driver, and we’re grateful to Invest Ontario for its leadership and foresight.”
OmniaBio is a branch of Toronto-based Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM), a leader in developing and commercializing regenerative medicine-based technologies and cell and gene therapies and will draw from an existing global client base.
Ontario’s life sciences sector is the largest in Canada (representing more than 50 per cent of related economic activity) and comprises about 1,900 firms employing around 66,000 people.
“Invest Ontario welcomes the opportunity to partner with OmniaBio Inc. in this transformative project that will boost life sciences talent, innovation and supply chain capacity. Our team looks forward to building on today’s announcement as we pursue strategic investments with homegrown champions and global leaders to drive Ontario growth and innovation,” said Trevor Dauphinee, CEO, Invest Ontario.
