University of Alberta-hosted institute Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation partners with Entos Pharmaceuticals to manufacture COVID-19 vaccine in Alberta
Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API), a not-for-profit incubator for drug development hosted by the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, has partnered with Canadian biotechnology company, Entos Pharmaceuticals (Entos), to enhance Alberta-based infrastructure and capacity for the manufacturing of Entos’ breakthrough Fusogenix nucleic acid delivery platform, a COVID-19 vaccine.
API works to empower commercial development in the Canadian life sciences industry by building translational teams and capacity in drug development to support industry and innovators along all stages of the drug development process. Beginning in May 2020, API provided Entos’ growing enterprise with enhanced space and infrastructure in Edmonton as it developed its Fusogenix DNA vaccine candidates for SARS-CoV-2.
Now, API has started local GMP production of inputs for Entos clinical trial manufacturing, adding supply chain resiliency to Entos' manufacturing platform components for the clinical and commercial production of its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.
Next, the two companies will work together to secure enhanced Canadian-based capacity, including establishing a 40,000 sq. ft manufacturing plant in Edmonton that includes active pharmaceutical ingredient production and fill-finish capacity for sterile products to minimize gaps in the Canadian pharmaceutical supply chain and globally.
"We see Entos as a company with a very bright future," says Andrew MacIsaac, CEO, Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation. "Working with them to enhance their efforts addressing the COVID-19 crisis is a very meaningful investment of energy and effort. The potential for our region and Canada, as we secure manufacturing resiliency with them, is tremendous."
"We're thrilled to be working with API on this," says John Lewis, CEO, Entos Pharmaceuticals. "Combined with our Fusogenix genetic medicines platform, we are developing a robust, cost effective pathway to produce millions of doses of our COVID-19 DNA vaccine as well as future vaccines and therapeutics."
About Entos Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Entos develops next generation nucleic acid-based therapies using its Fusogenix genetic medicines delivery platform. Fusogenix is a proteo-lipid vehicle (PLV) formulation that uses a novel mechanism of action to deliver nucleic acid, intact and unmodified, directly into the cytosol of target cells. The technology applies a wide range of therapeutic types including gene therapy, mRNA, miRNA, RNAi, and CRISPR.
About Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation
Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API) is a federally incorporated Canadian not-for-profit institute based in Edmonton, Alberta, hosted by the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. API provides a wide range of services for industry and innovators who are pursuing the commercial development of life sciences discoveries. From GMP manufacturing to assays and analysis, API provides comprehensive pre-clinical and clinical development for companies on both a contract and capacity building basis.
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Kalyna Hennig Epp, Communications Coordinator
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta