The Government of Canada is investing $60 million to support the modernization and expansion of Delpharm’s biomanufacturing facility in Boucherville, Que.

The funding, provided through the Strategic Innovation Fund, is part of a larger $220-million project designed to enhance domestic biomanufacturing capacity significantly and secure the local supply chain for essential medicines.

The modernization will include a 28,000-square-foot expansion, the installation of state-of-the-art equipment, and upgrades to comply with new Health Canada standards. The improvements will double the facility’s production injectable-drug capacity to approximately 130 million units per year. The project is expected to run until 2031 and will maintain over 500 highly skilled jobs in Quebec, while also providing 150 co-op placements for students.

“By increasing our domestic capacity to produce essential sterile injectables, we are securing a made-in-Canada supply chain and ensuring long-term access to the medicines Canadians need,” said Industry Minister Anita Anand.

The investment will not only support innovation in the biomanufacturing sector but also reinforce Canada’s health security and economic resilience, she added.

Delpharm has also signed a 10-year agreement with Sandoz to ensure a stable supply of critical medicines in Canada.

“This transformation will make our site a world-class facility, in addition to significantly increasing our production capacity and competitiveness,” said Mathieu Grondin, site director at Delpharm. “The injectable medications we produce at the site for Sandoz are necessary in almost all surgeries performed in Canada and used to treat patients in intensive-care units.

“This reality makes the Sandoz-Delpharm partnership an essential component for the proper functioning of the country’s healthcare system.”

The modernization and expansion project could not proceed without the federal investment, he added.

Stéphane Lepeu, chief commercial officer at Delpharm, said the investment will strengthen the company’s Boucherville site as a North American hub for sterile and biological product manufacturing.

“This investment enhances the appeal of our Boucherville site, recognized as our centre of expertise in sterile and biological products for the North American market.”

Laurel Broten, CEO of Invest in Canada, praised Delpharm’s decision to expand in Canada.

France-based Delpharm operates multiple manufacturing sites worldwide and specializes in the production of sterile drugs, supplying hospitals and healthcare facilities in Canada and the U.S.

Pictured: Delpharm biomanufacturing plant in Boucherville, Que.

Photo: Delpharm