BIOVECTRA Launches Specialized Capabilities in mRNA Drug Product Development and Biomanufacturing

Posted on by BIOVECTRA

CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, November 17th, 2023 –  Today BIOVECTRA celebrates the completion of its $90 million plus biologics expansion at the company’s new state-of-the-art Biomanufacturing Centre with project partners the Government of Canada and Government of Prince Edward Island.

“This expansion places BIOVECTRA at the forefront of supporting the next generation of treatments for today’s rare and incurable diseases and producing vaccines to tackle future pandemics,” said BIOVECTRA CEO Oliver Technow. “Today also marks a milestone in the accelerated growth of Atlantic Canada’s bioscience sector and celebrates the creation of highly skilled careers in life sciences.”

BIOVECTRA’s expansion was realized on an ambitious 18-month timeline, from groundbreaking to completion, and adds Canadian-based solutions to a global effort to deliver the next generation of patient care through mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. This suite of BIOVECTRA capabilities specialized in mRNA, pDNA, lipid nanoparticle and fill/finish work is unique and the first of its kind in Canada. It marks a milestone in Canada’s strategy for better preparedness in a future health crisis by creating specialized domestic biomanufacturing capacity.

“Today’s grand opening of BIOVECTRA’s new state-of-the-art facility strengthens Atlantic Canada’s status as a hub for biomanufacturing and life sciences. Our Government’s participation to this project is another important step towards cementing Canada’s position as a global leader in the sector. It enables BIOVECTRA to boost Canada’s domestic production capacity for vaccines and therapeutics for Canadians, while building a strong life and science sector and creating hundreds of well-paying jobs in the region.” -The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“BIOVECTRA’s expansion into mRNA vaccines and therapeutics puts Prince Edward Island on the map as a global player in the manufacturing of drug therapeutics,” says Premier Dennis King. “This work will help to make the next generation of life-saving treatments available to Islanders, Canadians and all global citizens while having positive ripple effects for into PEI’s health, education and labour market sectors.”

mRNA and pDNA products are emerging globally as the next generation of solutions for improved patient care. From research discovery through to final commercial vials, BIOVECTRA can support clients from biotech start-ups to blue-chip pharmaceutical companies with their mRNA / pDNA drug product projects from its Atlantic Canada-based operations.

Expansion Recap

  • New Biomanufacturing Centre (Charlottetown, PEI): 36,000 square feet of cGMP manufacturing space for mRNA, pDNA and lipid nanoparticle formulation. Vaccine and therapeutic production capacity for 160 million doses per year and fill/finish capacity for 70 million doses per year for commercial distribution.
  • Specialized Process Development Science Laboratories (Dartmouth, NS & Charlottetown, PEI): 27,000 combined square feet of large molecule process science and analytical laboratories for mRNA, pDNA, LNP and protein-based vaccines and therapeutics.
  • Single-Use Biologics Fermentation Suite (Windsor, NS): pDNA and protein by microbial fermentation in a cGMP facility running 100 litre to 1,000 litre batches. It is the only single-use suite of its kind in Canada.
  • Creates research partnerships and new development opportunities for professionals in the Life Sciences and biomanufacturing sector, including the addition of 125 new positions in PEI and NS and up to 225 co-op terms.

Helpful Links

BIOVECTRA Biologics Expansion Launch Video
BIOVECTRA mRNA Vaccine and Bio-manufacturing Facility Announced

About Us

BIOVECTRA (www.biovectra.com) is a global biotech and pharmaceutical CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organization) that specializes in clinical-to-commercial scale production capabilities for: biologics, small molecules, bioreagents, lipids, pDNA, mRNA and LNP manufacturing and fill finish for drug products. Flexibility, creativity, process optimization and compliance are at the heart of our method. With more than 50 years of experience, over 600 employees, and cGMP facilities in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, Canada, we assure our programs advance on time and with the highest quality outcomes.


BIOVECTRA Business Contact
Jessica Madigan
Director, Business Development
[email protected]
1-858-442-3940

BIOVECTRA Media Contact
Bobbi Jo Walker
Director, Corporate Communications
[email protected]
902-218-7649

SEO plus – Test

  • 20+ years at GSK, leading R&D activities on multiple vaccine programs
  • Recently held positions in industry include: Senior Director (Function Head), Protein Biochemistry; Director, Antigen Design & Prototype Production; and, Associate Director, Antigen Design and Protein Characterization.
  • Key areas of expertise are:
    • Process development of protein Biologics/Recombinant Antigens
    • Recombinant protein expression (mammalian, insect, yeast, bacterial)
    • Production/design of Viral Vectors, mRNA vaccines, Bacterial outer membrane vesicles
    • Protein Engineering and Structural Biology
    • Defining quality attributes, biophysical characterization of proteins, and analytical strategy
  • Post graduate degrees in Functional Genomics (Université Laval) and Bioinformatics (MIT); M. Sc. Microbiology and Immunology (Laval).
  • 25+ Patent & 5 Scientific Publications

Normand Blais – Senior Director Development & Innovation, Biologics

  • 20+ years at GSK, leading R&D activities on multiple vaccine programs
  • Recently held positions in industry include: Senior Director (Function Head), Protein Biochemistry; Director, Antigen Design & Prototype Production; and, Associate Director, Antigen Design and Protein Characterization.
  • Key areas of expertise are:
    • Process development of protein Biologics/Recombinant Antigens
    • Recombinant protein expression (mammalian, insect, yeast, bacterial)
    • Production/design of Viral Vectors, mRNA vaccines, Bacterial outer membrane vesicles
    • Protein Engineering and Structural Biology
    • Defining quality attributes, biophysical characterization of proteins, and analytical strategy
  • Post graduate degrees in Functional Genomics (Université Laval) and Bioinformatics (MIT); M. Sc. Microbiology and Immunology (Laval).
  • 25+ Patent & 5 Scientific Publications

Oliver Technow - Chief Executive Officer

  • Industry Master Degree from Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce, Frankfurt Germany.
  • More than 20 years of global pharmaceutical industry experience.
  • Held numerous leadership positions in commercial development, marketing and brand management, and lifecycle management and has extensive product launch and market access expertise in Europe and North America.
  • In 1997, joined Eisai GmbH in Frankfurt, Germany and in 2002, was appointed Director, CNS Business Unit; in 2006, was appointed Vice President, Head of Global Marketing for Eisai Inc. in Woodcliff Lake, NJ;  in 2011, was appointed Vice President, Established Products Business Unit; in 2013, was appointed President & General Manager for Eisai Limited in Mississauga, ON.
  • Appointed President of BIOVECTRA Inc., December 10, 2015.
  • Board Director for BIOTECanada
  • Member of the Steering Council of Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC)
  • In 2017, appointed to the Government of Canada’s Health/Bio-sciences Strategic Economic Table
  • In November 2019, promoted to Chief Executive Officer at BIOVECTRA
  • In June 2020, named new Chair of PEI BioAlliance Board of Directors