The company, the vaccine production and development division of French drugmaker Sanofi, has invested $101m (€71m) in the new R&D unit, which is located on the firm’s Connaught campus manufacturing facility in Toronto.
Spokeswoman Nancy Simpson told in-Pharmatechnologist.com that: “The new R&D building allowed us to bring several operations, including 60 employees who were based at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, under one roof.
“What the company did was to look at all R&D activity and rather than have two global sites doing the same type of work, we created centres of excellence, so for example, Toronto is the centre of excellence for analytical and bioprocess R&D.
Simpson added that: “We have a highly skilled workforce in Toronto, educated scientists with much experience. The company has been involved with R&D since its roots which go back to 1914, so it makes sense to continue to invest here on our Connaught Campus.
The province of Ontario contributed $14m to the project through its Biopharmaceutical Investment Program, which is part of the Next Generation of Jobs Fund, as part of an effort to secure manufacturing jobs in the region.
In a press statement premier Dalton McGuinty said: “Sanofi Pasteur is a valued partner in our commitment to health care in Ontario.
"This impressive new building houses some of the most exciting talent anywhere, doing some of the most vital research in the world. We congratulate Sanofi Pasteur and look forward to new breakthroughs and new jobs."