Question Period Note: NRC IRAP SUPPORT FOR BIOMANUFACTURING IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19

What has the National Research Council’s (NRC) Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) done to support biomanufacturing in Canada in response to COVID-19?

• At the onset of the pandemic, NRC’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) moved quickly to help Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) bolster domestic biomanufacturing capacity and develop safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics.

• NRC IRAP is working with ISED to provide support to three innovative SMEs to scale up production facilities and increase Canada’s biomanufacturing capacity.

• To further support COVID-19 vaccine development, NRC IRAP is providing financial and business support to seven innovative SMEs to develop COVID-19 vaccine candidates, based on recommendations from the Vaccine Task Force.

• NRC IRAP is also providing support to seven innovative SMEs for the development of pharmaceuticals to treat COVID-19.

SUPPLEMENTARY MESSAGES

• NRC IRAP is taking a broad approach to supporting biomanufacturing in Canada to address the immediate needs related to COVID-19, and to position Canada to meet future biomanufacturing needs.

Canadian biomanufacturing capacity

NRC IRAP is working with ISED to support three innovative Canadians SMEs to increase biomanufacturing capacity in Canada: BioVectra (PEI); Novocol Pharmaceuticals of Canada (Ontario); Resilience (Ontario). This work addresses capacity to produce several different types of vaccines. Work is ongoing with deliverables over the next 18 months.

Canadian COVID-19 vaccine development

As of May 4, 2021, NRC IRAP is supporting seven firms developing COVID-19 vaccines. NRC IRAP support to these firms is based on advice and recommendations from the Vaccine Task Force. The firms that were funded through NRC IRAP include:
• Providence Therapeutics (Alberta)
• Biodextris (Quebec)
• Entos Pharmaceuticals (Alberta)
• Immunovaccine Technologies (Nova Scotia)
• Glycovax Pharma (Quebec)
• Symvivo (British Columbia)
• Treadwell Therapeutics (Ontario)

Canadian COVID-19 therapeutic development

As of May 4, 2021, NRC IRAP is supporting seven therapeutic projects to fight COVID-19, including:
• Bold Therapeutics (British Columbia)
• HyperMabs (Ontario)
• JN Nova Pharma (Quebec)
• Laurent Pharmaceuticals (Quebec)
• Mannin Research (Ontario)
• Qu Biologics (British Columbia)
• Vasomune Therapeutics (Ontario)

Some therapeutics that were funded through NRC IRAP address issues associated with COVID-19 including lung inflammation and respiratory distress. Others target the ability of the virus to enter the body and replicate.

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