ARCHIVED - Government of Canada supports development of seasonal influenza vaccines

Quebec-based Medicago Inc. recognized as a Canadian Innovation Leader

August 25, 2010 — Ottawa, Ontario

Canadians may soon have faster access to pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccines, thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada to Medicago Inc., a Quebec business. The announcement was made by Sylvie Boucher, Member of Parliament for Beauport-Limoilou, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology).

"Our government is investing in science and technology to create good jobs, strengthen the economy and improve Canadians' quality of life," said MP Boucher. "This investment has helped develop a new technology to speed up production of vaccines that are critical for the health and safety of Canadians."

Since initially receiving funding in 2001, Medicago Inc. has most recently received $279,712 from the National Research Council of Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program to continue the development of their technology that could deliver a vaccine for testing in less than a month after the identification and reception of genetic sequences from a pandemic strain. This could result in populations being vaccinated before a pandemic strikes and in supplying the world quickly with large volumes of vaccine antigens.

A Canadian Innovation Leader Certificate was also presented to Medicago Inc. to highlight its success as an innovative Canadian firm that has successfully linked scientific research to commercialization, jobs and economic growth.

"NRC-IRAP's continued support has been instrumental for the expansion of our products and for the development of technology aiming to deliver effective and affordable vaccines," said Andy Sheldon, President and CEO of Medicago. "Our relationship with the National Research Council of Canada has helped us move forward and we have benefited from its continued guidance and contributions."

Medicago Inc. was founded in 1999 and employs approximately 90 people. The company is developing vaccines based on two proprietary technologies: its plant-based Proficia™ manufacturing technology and its Virus-Like Particles (VLPs). Proficia™ is a robust vaccine and antibody production system based on protein expression in plant leaves. This technology has the potential to offer speed and cost advantages over traditional egg-based and cell production systems. Medicago's VLPs resemble a virus, allowing them to be recognized readily by the immune system, however, they lack the core genetic material, making them non-infectious and unable to replicate. The company is currently using tobacco leaves to produce pandemic and seasonal influenza VLP vaccines.

Backgrounder

National Research Council of Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program

National Research Council Canada's main outreach to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is through its Industrial Research Assistance Program, which provides support to innovative companies in Canada undertaking research and technology development projects for commercial purposes.

The Industrial Research Assistance Program provides a range of both technical and business-oriented advisory services along with necessary financial support to qualified innovative Canadian SMEs. The program is delivered by a field staff of 240 business and technology experts in more than 100 communities across Canada. Working directly with SMEs, the Program supports innovative research and development and helps companies become commercialization-ready with their new products and services.

While the Program operates three separate contribution programs - contribution to firms, contribution to organizations and the Youth Employment Program - its main contribution component is in the form of a non-repayable contribution that reimburses the labour costs of a research and development project directly to firms.

Science at work for Canada

The Industrial Research Assistance Program received an incremental investment of $200 million over two years through Canada's Economic Action Plan. The Program is committed to using this new funding to help the government build a competitive advantage for Canada based on excellence in science and technology.

The funding includes $170 million to double the Program's contributions to firms and $30 million to help hire more than 1000 new post-secondary graduates via its Youth Employment Program.

The commitment in Canada's Economic Action Plan reinforces the Industrial Research Assistance Program's mandate to help SMEs develop technologies and successfully commercialize them in a global marketplace. It also broadens the Program's ability to provide science and technology expertise to SMEs. It is estimated that this new money will allow it to support approximately 1400 additional SMEs beyond its existing base over this two year period.

Canadian Innovation Leader (CIL) Certificate

A Canadian Innovation Leader is an SME that demonstrated a specific advance in research and development within its industrial sector. This advance has contributed to the wealth of the country, from a corporate growth perspective, through job creation or through a particular investment in research and development that has improved the lives of Canadians. The National Research Council of Canada created the Canadian Innovation Leader Certificate Program to recognize Canadian firms that have successfully developed and applied innovative technologies, linking scientific research to commercialization, jobs and economic growth.

About Medicago Inc.

Medicago Inc. was founded in 1999 and employs approximately 90 people. The company is developing vaccines based on two proprietary technologies: its plant-based Proficia™ manufacturing technology and its Virus-Like Particles (VLPs). Proficia™ is a robust vaccine and antibody production system based on protein expression in plant leaves. This technology has the potential to offer speed and cost advantages over traditional egg-based and cell production systems. It can deliver a vaccine for testing in less than a month after the identification and reception of genetic sequences from a pandemic strain. Medicago's VLPs resemble a virus, allowing them to be recognized readily by the immune system, however, they lack the core genetic material, making them non-infectious and unable to replicate. The company is currently using tobacco leaves to produce pandemic and seasonal influenza VLP vaccines.

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