On October 17, 2024, OmniaBio welcomed over 200 guests to our Hamilton facility commemorating the opening of our purpose-built, commercial cell and gene therapy manufacturing and AI centre of excellence.
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Celebrating the Hamilton Grand Opening
Centre of Excellence Opens at Canada's Innovation Park, Advancing Cell and Gene Therapies
OmniaBio marked a major milestone with the grand opening of its 120,000-square-foot commercial-ready facility in Hamilton, Canada. The event, themed "Opening Doors to a Future That Matters: Celebrating Cell and Gene Therapy Innovation," denoted the company’s commitment to advancing the development and manufacturing of cell and gene therapies for North American and global therapeutic developers.
Designed with throughput in mind to support both autologous and allogeneic therapies, the new facility will be powered by advanced technologies and AI models to automate these complex processes. It features process and analytical development, training, QC and scalable manufacturing capabilities to meet the growing demands of therapeutic developers as they progress through clinical development to commercialization. During the event, guests toured the purpose-built site and learned how OmniaBio’s facility will deliver industry-leading cell and gene therapy capabilities that streamline program progression and address industry challenges.
Discover the Highlights from our Opening Event:
Initially founded by Canada’s Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM) and later joined, in partnership, by MEDIPOST, Co., Ltd., OmniaBio leverages over a decade of manufacturing and analytical technology expertise, developed through partnerships in Canada, the U.S. and, internationally. The opening program featured insights from OmniaBio leaders, CCRM and MEDIPOST representatives, government officials and a patient advocate. Presentations highlighted the facility’s role in advancing life-saving therapies, the benefits of domestic biomanufacturing, and the talent development opportunities it brings to Hamilton, Ontario. Speakers emphasized the importance of collaboration in making these treatments accessible, with Michael May, President and CEO of CCRM, recognizing the decades of ecosystem-building that laid the groundwork for this launch.
“This facility is where the future of medicine is being built—where cell and gene therapies offering durable treatments can be stamped with ‘Made in Ontario,’” said Michael May. He underscored the site’s potential to manufacture innovative therapies and its target of growing to 500 employees.
Antonio Lee, Global President at MEDIPOST Co., Ltd. & Co-CEO and Director at MEDIPOST Inc., noted, “CCRM, MEDIPOST, and OmniaBio share a common goal of providing advanced therapies for patients with unmet medical needs.” OmniaBio’s President and CEO, Mitchel Sivilotti, highlighted the integration of automation and AI to boost throughput, quality, and cost-efficiency, driving innovation in cell and gene therapy manufacturing.
“We're very focused on innovation, integrating approaches that increase throughput and the quality of our products and reducing cost. And this has brought us really to an intersection of biologic drugs, automation, and very unique skill sets that our Canadian folks here are going to learn along with us and be able to translate into drugs for patients worldwide,” said Mitchel Sivilotti.
Kenneth Harris, OmniaBio’s Chief Strategy Officer and Head of AI, demonstrated the facility’s AI-driven automation, emphasizing ambitious goals to cut manufacturing costs by 50% and quadruple productivity.
Laurie Adami, a cancer veteran and patient advocate, shared her powerful story, reminding us of our work's profound impact. Her resilience and advocacy inspire us to push boundaries and work harder daily to bring more life-changing therapies to patients in need. The event also featured networking opportunities and a reception, fostering discussions on the future of cell and gene therapy.
OmniaBio’s new facility represents more than just a building; it’s a launchpad for manufacturing innovation, ecosystem collaboration, and the delivery of transformative therapies. As the cell and gene therapy landscape evolves, OmniaBio is positioned to lead the way, combining specialized cell-based processes with AI technical expertise, and a relentless focus on meeting customer milestones driving the industry forward.
Read the official press release here.
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