Ontario Together Fund invests $513K in Evik Diagnostic Innovations Inc.

Ontario Together Fund invests $513K in Evik Diagnostic Innovations Inc.

KANATA — Evik Diagnostic Innovations Inc. is investing nearly $1.5 million to ramp up the production of laboratory test mixture that is used in diagnostic devices to meet the increased demand from the medical device manufacturers due to COVID-19, with support of $513,200 from the Ontario Together Fund.

“Through the Ontario Together Fund, our government is making targeted investments in domestic businesses with the ideas and solutions to help us through this pandemic, while protecting jobs and the economy,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Evik Diagnostic’s forward thinking is another example of Ontario innovation at its very best. Ontario manufacturers continue to enhance our resilience to respond to any challenge while strengthening our economy.”

Evik Diagnostic Innovations is an Ontario manufacturer of key medical diagnostic components, including assay reagents in the form of freeze-dried pellets (also called single-assay beads). The assay reagents are laboratory test mixture that allow diagnostic devices to detect and analyse medical symptoms and infectious diseases such as COVID-19, HIV and Anthrax. They play an important role in the lab work required to diagnose, treat and monitor patients. The pellets also enable medical device manufacturers to store and ship their devices at the right temperature to remote locations.

The demand for reagent pellets significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Ontario’s support, the company will invest in an automated cartridge assembly line, which will speed up the production of reagent pellets. The company will also purchase robotic arms, set up robotic stations, and build an artificial intelligence driven assembly station.

“To be competitive and resilient in times of pandemic, companies like us must find ways to be innovative and collaborative,” said Vladimir Evtodienko, CEO of Evik Diagnostic Innovations. “We want to thank the Ontario government for their support. Evik is proud to scale up and accelerate our work that contribute to detecting and analysing infectious diseases such as COVID-19.”

“This investment in Kanata’s Evik Diagnostic is a signal of our continuing commitment to supporting Ontario’s innovative companies and to ensuring we have a resilient manufacturing sector,” says Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, MPP for Kanata-Carleton and Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “Our Government recognizes the expertise and capabilities found within Kanata’s high tech community to provide medical solutions for our country and for the international market. It is remarkable what Evik Diagnostic has developed and I want to commend the leadership and staff for their accomplishments.”