The Biologics Manufacturing Centre is an end-to-end biomanufacturing facility, supporting the growth of domestic biomanufacturing production capacity for the future, ensuring that vaccines and other biologics can be safely manufactured in Canada for Canadians.
Designed to produce biopharmaceuticals like viral vector, protein subunit, and virus-like particle vaccines and other biologics, the Biologics Manufacturing Centre is an important part of Canada's biomanufacturing infrastructure and a key element of the Government of Canada's Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy.
Establishing the Biologics Manufacturing Centre
Learn more about how the NRC established the Biologics Manufacturing Centre.
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Governance
From the outset, the intent has been for the Biologics Manufacturing Centre to be self-contained and governed through a public-private partnership.
The NRC and CCRM as founding members, jointly set up a new legal independent not-for-profit corporation, Biologics Manufacturing Centre (BMC) Inc., to govern and operate the facility in December 2022. On April 1, 2023, Biologics Manufacturing Centre (BMC) Inc. officially assumed responsibility for the operations of the Biologics Manufacturing Centre.
The NRC continues to own the infrastructure, on behalf of the Government of Canada, and act as lessor of the building and equipment to Biologics Manufacturing Centre (BMC) Inc. The NRC is also providing annual funding to ensure the facility is maintained in a GMP readiness state and prepared to respond to public health emergencies.
Learn more about the new governance model for the Biologics Manufacturing Centre.
Learn more about Biologics Manufacturing Centre (BMC) Inc.
Construction
In August 2020, the NRC was mandated to design, construct, commission and qualify a new biomanufacturing facility on our Royalmount site in Montréal, Quebec.
Construction of the new Biologics Manufacturing Centre was completed in June 2021, only 10 months after breaking ground. This was achieved through an accelerated construction process, which allowed for a condensed construction schedule, while still addressing all of the many details required to ensure the facility would be compliant with good manufacturing practices (GMP), which ensure the safety of vaccine production for humans.
Operationalization
In August 2022, following an inspection of the facility, Health Canada issued the Biologics Manufacturing Centre's drug establishment licence, which demonstrates the facility's GMP compliance and authorizes the production of drugs for human use.
In preparation for the Health Canada inspection, the Biologics Manufacturing Centre completed the required activities for more than 50 rooms and more than 250 pieces of equipment in the facility.
Learn more about how the NRC established the new facility and prepared it for both a drug establishment licence and its first client project.
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Contact us
Email: NRC.BioManufacturingCentre-CentreProductionProduitsBio.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca