Evonik is investing more than €93m in a new GMP manufacturing facility in Canada to expand production of lipid-based drug delivery systems.

New facility to expand manufacturing capacity

The new facility in Vancouver will increase Evonik’s manufacturing capacity for lipid-based drug delivery systems by more than three times compared with its existing operation at the site.

The investment is worth more than CAD $150m (€93m) and is supported by up to CAD $68m (€42m) in external funding from the Canadian federal government’s Strategic Response Fund.

Production is expected to begin by the end of 2029, with the facility designed to support the growing demand for lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) used in advanced medicines.

LNPs are increasingly used to deliver nucleic acids such as messenger RNA and other therapeutic molecules into cells, making them an important component of several emerging drug platforms.

Focus on LNPs and advanced medicines

Evonik said the new facility will provide GMP manufacturing capabilities for lipid-based drug delivery systems, including LNPs used in vaccines and other therapeutics.

The Vancouver operation has developed through Evonik’s previous acquisitions of Transferra Nanosciences and Northern Lipids, building expertise in lipid formulation and drug delivery.

The expansion will also include additional quality control and microbiological testing capabilities, supporting the manufacture and release of drug products under GMP requirements.

Evonik’s global network for lipid-based drug delivery includes operations in the US and Europe, with the Vancouver expansion adding further capacity in North America.

Manufacturing infrastructure for emerging therapies

The investment comes as pharmaceutical developers increasingly use lipid-based delivery systems in vaccines, RNA therapeutics and other advanced medicines.

Evonik said the new facility will strengthen its ability to support customers developing and manufacturing these therapies, from development through to commercial production.

The company’s investment also expands Canadian manufacturing infrastructure for advanced drug products, with production at the Vancouver site expected to start by the end of 2029.

The project gives Evonik additional GMP capacity at a time when reliable manufacturing and drug-delivery infrastructure are becoming increasingly important for bringing complex medicines from development into clinical and commercial use.