Sanofi-Aventis to tackle global health with Canadian facility

A state-of-the-art research facility is to be built by the vaccines division of Safoni-Aventis, Safoni Pasteur, in Ontario, Canada, the company has announced.

Its latest venture is aimed at promoting health across the globe by improving vaccine offerings by the firm.

The CA$100 million (50.1 million pounds) centre will be based at the company’s existing north Toronto Connaught Campus and includes investment into the building and the purchase of specialised research and development (R&D) equipment.

Sanofi-Aventis stated the overall investment would support “high-value R&D jobs over the next five years”.

The Ontario government will support the project with a contribution of CA$13.9 million through its Biopharmaceutical Investment Programme.

Sanofi Pasteur president and chief executive Wayne Pisano said: “Today’s announcement demonstrates Sanofi Pasteur’s commitment to growing R&D capabilities in Canada for new and innovative vaccines that will help protect the health of people worldwide.”

Research focus will include paediatric combination vaccines, pneumococcal protein vaccines and cancer vaccines, and supports the company’s immunology thrust.

Sanofi-Aventis in the UK is based at Guildford, Surrey.