CQDM announces the creation of a biomanufacturing services platform to boost expertise in Quebec and accelerate the development of RNA therapies

CQDM is proud to announce the creation of the RNA Therapy Development and Production Network, which will offer RNA therapy biomanufacturing services to academic and industrial researchers.

Led by the IRCM, McGill University and Sherbrooke University, this Network is one of the five key initiatives of the mobilizing project on RNA therapies announced on April 30 by the Government of Quebec. The aim of this initiative is to strengthen the RNA therapy ecosystem in Quebec and fast-track the province to become a world leader in this field.

The Network will provide a full range of services, from the initial design of RNA therapies to preclinical-scale production, formulation and delivery. Both researchers and companies will be able to benefit from cutting-edge expertise to accelerate the development of their most promising RNA therapies, advancing them more quickly towards clinical trials, and ultimately benefiting patients. It should be noted that the services offered by this new Network will add to the range of services available to quebec businesses, and partnerships are also expected to be forged.

The Network will be based on three complementary platforms at the partner institutions:

• Sherbrooke University’s RNomic Platform
• IRCM’s Sidney-Altman RNA Therapeutic Hub
• Therapeutic messenger RNA platform at McGill University’s Centre for RNA Sciences

All the information on this ambitious initiative, as well as on the other initiatives of the mobilizing RNA project announced on April 30, is available on the AReNA website at: arenapole.ca.

“Quebec is fortunate to have world-class researchers developing RNA-based therapies. With projects like this, Quebec will continue to make a mark worldwide in this strategic sector.” Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal Region.

Diane Gosselin, President and CEO of CQDM: “This platform is a solid example of the fruitful collaboration between academia and industry in Quebec. It will improve research into RNA therapies and accelerate the development of new treatments for patients.”

“IRCM is the first institution in Quebec to have brought together basic research units and cutting-edge clinics under the same roof, encouraging fruitful synergies and taking discoveries from the laboratory to the patient. So, it’s only natural for us to be a major partner in this network, to keep promoting towards excellence, innovation and the training of the next generation of high-performance scientists for the medicine of tomorrow.” Jean François Côté, President and Scientific Director of IRCM.

“McGill is proud to be an engaged research partner in the Reseau and to work together with universities, industry, and government toward common goals,” said Martha Crago, Vice-President, Research and Innovation. “By leveraging the world-leading expertise connected to our Canada First Research Excellence Fund initiative, DNA to RNA: an Inclusive Canadian Approach to Genomic-based RNA Therapeutics (D2R), and the McGill Centre for RNA Sciences, our researchers will help accelerate innovation in the field.”

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About AReNA:

Established through the collaborative efforts of ARN Québec, Axelys, CQDM, and Montréal InVivo, AReNA aims to unite and champion Quebec’s leading players in the RNA therapy sector. Our mission is to position Quebec as a hub of excellence in this field, both nationally and internationally, fostering growth and innovation in the region. Working closely with key stakeholders in Quebec’s RNA sector, AReNA seeks to maximize its impact through strategic collaboration. For more information, please visit: arenapole.ca