CCRM and McMaster Innovation Park partner to build and operate biomanufacturing campus

HAMILTON, Ont. and TORONTO — CCRM and McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) have announced they have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to partner in the development of a biomanufacturing campus at MIP focused on regenerative medicine-based technologies and cell and gene therapies. The envisioned facility will enable CCRM to scale its operations and provide critical space, services and support to cell and gene therapy focused ventures from across Canada and the world.

The agreement, which is focused on an initial CDMO facility to produce cells and viral vectors for Phase III clinical trials and commercial-scale manufacturing, represents the first phase of a long-term initiative to develop a biomanufacturing campus at the innovation park, and thus form the western anchor of the emerging life science corridor spanning from Hamilton to Toronto. The short-term priority is to develop a costed facility design and an investment thesis that the parties will use to secure industry, regulatory and government support, along with the funding necessary for its construction and operation.

“Our partnership with MIP is about more than building a facility,” said Michael May, President and CEO, CCRM, in a prepared statement. “This is about building domestic manufacturing capacity within the region for the next generation of medical advances. Our expectation is that the biomanufacturing campus within MIP, and the CDMO, will result in jobs, economic stimulus for the region and, most importantly, life-saving products for patients. For Canada, our opportunity to be amongst the global leaders in cell and gene therapy is of strategic significance.”

CCRM will retain its current Toronto offices, research facilities and manufacturing facilities in the MaRS Centre.

“The introduction of CCRM to MIP’s innovation ecosystem is in the context of MIP’s 2.8 million sq. ft. Life Sciences ‘MegaHub’, announced earlier this year. CCRM will be an anchor within the MIP, and because they will retain their research facilities within MaRS, it will act as an ongoing and active connection between two of the most advanced life science ecosystems within Canada.” Ty Shattuck, CEO of McMaster Innovation Park, added. “Today, entrepreneurs, leading global companies and investors in the life sciences increasingly see the Toronto-GTA-Hamilton area as a global-calibre life sciences corridor. This region has established itself as a prolific global leader in life sciences innovation. MIP plays an important and growing part in that success, working with exciting organizations like CCRM.”