API Stories
Marking Milestones: Advancing the CMPC’s Sterile Manufacturing Capacity
Our team recently marked two significant progress in expanding our sterile manufacturing capacity at the Critical Medicines Production Centre (CMPC)—a cornerstone of the nearly $200 million Canadian Critical Drug Initiative (CCDI) which we lead in partnership with the University of Alberta.
Earlier this month, Hans Bauer, our VP of Technical Operations, and Shiva Chaudhary, Engineering Manager, traveled to Italy to oversee two critical activities:
- Completed the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for the washer and sterilizer from Fedegari.
The washer and sterilizer ensure aseptic conditions by thoroughly decontaminating direct-contact components such as vials and stoppers, supporting the highest standards in sterile production. The Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) is a key step in verifying that the equipment functions as intended and meets our specifications before it is shipped and installed.
- Conducted a pre-FAT review at Steriline to evaluate the progress of the robotic filling line.
The robotic filling line, a core equipment at CMPC’s aseptic manufacturing system, enables precise, automated production of sterile injectables at clinical and commercial scales with dose accuracy, low reject rates, and minimal losses—essential for high-value, time-sensitive therapies. The pre-FAT review confirms system integration and readiness for qualification.
These progress mark important steps toward establishing a secure and scalable sterile drug manufacturing platform in Canada, crucial for enhancing health emergency preparedness and ensuring a reliable domestic supply of critical medicines. We’re proud to be advancing this important work and look forward to the next phases, including equipment qualification and additional Factory Acceptance Tests, as we move closer to bringing this state-of-the-art facility into operation.
Events
Life Sciences Week 2025
With Life Sciences Week just around the corner, we’re gearing up for Alberta’s biggest life sciences celebration yet! This five-day province-wide event, taking place from September 22 to 26, will bring together entrepreneurs, researchers, students, investors and industry leaders to spotlight the talent, technologies and ideas driving our life sciences sector forward.
Curious what we have lined up for you so far? Here’s what’s happening each day:
- Monday, Sept 22 — Kickoff + Life Sciences Campus Tour
Start the week with the official launch of Life Sciences Week, followed by exclusive guided tours of cutting-edge labs and facilities at the Life Sciences Campus in Edmonton Research Park.
- Tuesday, Sept 23 — Calgary Showcase Day + U of A Student & Industry Day
In Calgary, innovators and startups gather at Platform Calgary for a full day of insights, networking and collaboration. Meanwhile, at the University of Alberta, students and early-career professionals connect with industry through lab tours, panel sessions and interactive programming.
- Wednesday, Sept 24 — Edmonton Showcase Day
Join Edmonton’s dynamic innovation community at Edmonton Unlimited for a day packed with presentations, panels, startup pitches and networking opportunities—all showcasing the region’s life sciences excellence.
- Thursday, Sept 25 — BioAlberta Health & Life Sciences Showcase
Celebrate Alberta’s top innovators at BioAlberta’s annual showcase and awards, recognizing leadership and impact across the health and life sciences sector.
- Friday, Sept 26 — Science Unframed Wrap-up Party
Close out the week with a vibrant celebration at the Art Gallery of Alberta—a chance to reflect, connect and toast to a successful Life Sciences Week!
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting week! Visit lifesciencesweek.ca to get involved today.
Get InvolvedLife Sciences & Innovation News
- 48Hour Discovery received $1.1 million in federal funding to enhance its drug discovery platform through AI as part of an $11-million announcement from Prairies Economic Development Canada.
- ATMA CENA announced the development of a new mental health centre for children and teens in Fort McMurray. The centre will focus on early intervention and accessible mental health care.
- Future Fields raised $8 million in Series A funding to expand its EntoEngine platform. CEO Matt Anderson-Baron said the platform aims to tackle bottlenecks in protein production for the biopharma, food, and agriculture sectors.
- Lumiio is supporting the Inflamed Brain Alliance with the launch of the Canadian PANS Registry, a national research initiative designed to drive change for families affected by PANS and PANDAS. The registry aims to inform clinical research and improve care pathways through shared lived experiences. The goal is to register 100 patients by the end of 2025.
- Nanostics received a significant investment from Genome Canada and Genome Alberta to advance the adoption of ClarityDX Prostate across the country. “This investment helps translate Alberta science into a better care for men across Canada,” said Genome Alberta CEO David Bailey.
- NiaHealth raised $5.75 million in seed funding led by Golden Ventures, with participation from The51, Fullscript CEO Kyle Braatz, Klue CEO Jason Smith, CIBC Capital Markets managing director Kathy Butler, and Good Future’s Satish Kanwar and Arati Sharma. Returning investors Boris Wertz of Version One Ventures and Wattpad co-founder Ivan Yuen participated as well.
- PanTHERA CryoSolutions, co-founded by Jason Acker of the University of Alberta and Robert Ben of the University of Ottawa, was acquired by U.S.-based BioLife Solutions for more than $20 million. The company, one of the first members of the Health Innovation Hub, was created to solve a critical problem in cell preservation with a molecule that controls ice.
- RJH Biosciences reports that its mRNA-Fect Ultra transfection reagent effectively delivered therapeutic mRNA to lung cancer cells, significantly reducing cell viability 48 hours post-transfection, when compared to GFP mRNA controls.
- Voyageur Pharmaceuticals has signed Latin American distribution deals to address contrast media shortages and expects an FDA submission by year-end, targeting Q4 2026 U.S. sales.
- Voyageur Pharmaceuticals signed a non-binding MOU with Altillion to develop North America’s first fully integrated iodine-based drug manufacturing platform. The collaboration involves producing more-than-99%-pure iodine flake using Altillion’s tech from U.S. brine sources, with plans for an iodine extraction facility in Oklahoma and a manufacturing campus in Texas.
- Alberta Innovates is investing $348,750 in wearable health technology in partnership with the Canadian Sport Institute Alberta to bring wearable and wellness technology into the daily lives of Albertans.
- BioAlberta has partnered with Parlee McLaws LLP to provide its members with free IP strategy consultations. These sessions, which can focus on patents, trademarks, or combined strategies, will provide members with practical insights and an IP strategy cheat sheet to help them respond to funders and investors.
- GlycoNet signed an MOU with Japan’s Institute for Glyco-core Research to strengthen global collaboration on glycomics.
- The Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital will receive 10 custom-built emPOWER cars for young children with mobility challenges, thanks to donations and a partnership with Kids Included. These vehicles, designed for children ages two to five, offer joystick and switch access, and can be adapted to other technologies like brain-computer interface.
- The Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital has joined the CanStroke Recovery Trials network, becoming a designated site for the CAMAROS trial. The study will investigate the safety and effectiveness of Maraviroc, a drug for promoting neuro-recovery after stroke.
- The Sturgeon Community Hospital has opened a $1-million simulation centre, funded by the Sturgeon Community Hospital Foundation, for staff to practice medical response exercises.
- University of Alberta researchers Frederick West and Frank Wuest have developed a new radiotracer that could improve the speed and accuracy of breast cancer imaging. Unlike current methods using glucose, the new tracer mimics fructose and targets the GLUT5 protein found in breast cancer cells. Animal testing has been successful, and clinical trials in Europe will soon begin.
- A University of Alberta research team led by Kristi Baker and Shayla Mosley has identified a DNA structure that can activate the STING protein in colorectal cancer cells, which are typically resistant to immunotherapy.
- Catherine Patocka and Jessalyn Holodinsky from the University of Calgary are developing a learning health system to improve emergency departments by reducing unnecessary referrals. The system aims to provide feedback to healthcare providers who refer patients to emergency, using data from electronic health records to show referral patterns and gather input on what information would be helpful.
- Researchers at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary used bacteriophages to treat a patient’s chronic hip infection after antibiotics failed.