TGN BIOTECH ACQUIRES LAND IN ST-TITE-DES-CAPS
A Biopharmaceutical complex for 2004
ST-TITE-DES-CAPS, Quebec, September 4, 2003- TGN Biotech inc., a Quebec-based biotechnology company specializing in the production of recombinant proteins announced today that it has acquired more than 200 hectares of land in St-Tite-des-Caps, Quebec. A swine production unit should be built in 2004 in order to manufacture valuable drugs and is expected to create 20 jobs over a 3-year period.
This high sanitary-status swine unit will consist of a reproduction complex, a service center and 3 harvesting centers. With a maximum capacity of 1,000 animals this unit will be relatively small for a complex of this type. A manure treatment system developed by Envirogain (BioFertile™) will be included in the project to eliminate any odor or environment risk.
« There were many reasons to chose St-Tite-des-Caps for our production facility » said Dr. François Pothier, TGN Biotech’s President and CEO. « Its closeness to Quebec City, its large surface area and the exceptional collaboration offered by the local administration have simplified our choice » he added.
« TGN Biotech’s acquisition shows the economic development potential of our region » said Ms. Anne-Marie Guilbault, mayor of St-Tite-des-Caps. « The close collaboration between the municipality, the MRC, the Quebec Metropolitan community and the Provincial Government has allowed St-Tite-des-Caps to attract this important project » added Ms. Guilbault.
Charlevoix MP, Mr. Rosaire Bertrand, was very pleased by the news that TGN Biotech chose Saint-Tite-des-Caps. «The creation of 20 new jobs in Charlevoix is excellent news and I offer TGN all my best wishes for this project ».
TGN Biotech has recently closed a second round of financing for more than 5 million dollars and a portion of these proceeds were used to acquire this site. The financial partners participating in this financing were Foragen Technologies, Innovatech Québec and Fondaction CSN.
Other partners involved in this project include Envirogain Inc. of Quebec City who have developed the manure treatment system and the engineering firm of Les Consultants Yves Choinière Inc. has been involved in the project design.
Founded by University Laval Professors François Pothier and Marc-André Sirard, TGN Biotech is currently developing its patented SEMENESIS™ technology. SEMENESIS™ involves using the porcine seminal gland as a bioreactor to produce recombinant proteins that are active drug ingredients. Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, SEMENESIS™ allows for a significant reduction in production costs thanks to its reduced investment in infrastructure and rapid development schedule. The drugs being developed by TGN Biotech will be less costly to the healthcare system and therefore more easily accessible to patients who suffer from major diseases.
Source : Bertrand Bolduc, TGN Biotech Inc.
(418) 263-2000, # 202
(514) 816-2826
Information :
Mr. Gilles Ménard
Treasurer-secretary
Municipalité de St-Tite-des-Caps
(418) 823-2239
Mr. Bertrand Bolduc
Chief Operating Officer
TGN Biotech Inc.
(418) 263-2000 #202 / (514) 816-2826
bbolduc@tgnbiotech.com
Ms. Pascale Duchesne
Director, Regulatory Affairs
TGN Biotech Inc.
(418) 263-2000 #203
pduchesne@tgnbiotech.com
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