COVID testing supplies get local boost from province A Mississauga company will receive $1.4 million in provincial funding to help boost production on COVID- 19 testing supplies. The province announced last week that Microbix Biosystems will receive the investment, as the government continues to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will allow Microbix to make viral transport media, the solution used to transport and and preserve test specimens.
The solution will be used in patient sampling kits, which will reduce the reliance on labs to assess variable international sources while processing thousands of tests daily. “Ontario’s worldclass entrepreneurs and innovators have stepped up to mobilize our manufacturing and innovation might to produce critical medical supplies throughout the fight against COVID-19,” said Minister of Economic Development Vic Fedeli, who made the announcement.
“By supporting companies like Microbix, we are supporting madein-Ontario solutions and reducing our dependence on foreign supply chains, strengthening our domestic capacity and ensuring we are better prepared for the future.” In a statement, the province said that the company’s expertise in manufacturing viral and bacterial antigens and reagents for the global diagnostics industry will continue to position Ontario as a world leader in the quality control and accuracy of COVID-19 tests.
The funding will also help support automated high-volume manufacturing for the viral transport media (up to 60,000 units per day) and quality assessment products (QAPs) at up to 10,000 units per day. QAPs emulate real patient samples, while being consistent, non-infectious, and stable. The investment is expected to create “multiple” new jobs at the company, said local representatives. Over 120 international companies rely on Microbix for reagents that are at the core of testing infectious diseases. As part of this initiative, the company will create multiple new jobs. “
Local businesses contribute to Ontario’s economy by accelerating growth, providing employment opportunities and spearheading innovation. Microbix Biosystems is a perfect example of the hard work and manufacturing strength of businesses in Ontario both before and during the pandemic,” said Deepak Anand, MPP for Mississauga-Malton.
