British Columbia, Canada: A Global Launchpad for mRNA and Nanomedicine Innovation

Life Sciences Series Article 1: Spotlight on Canada’s fastest growing Life Sciences jurisdiction.

British Columbia (B.C.) is one of the world’s most sought-after scientific hubs for investment in messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) and lipid nanoparticles (LNP), two of the most promising platforms for transforming the future of healthcare. With a legacy of scientific excellence, a thriving biotech ecosystem and bold government leadership, the province is positioning itself as a launchpad for next-generation therapeutics and biomanufacturing. This launchpad is uniquely positioned to generate substantial health and economic benefits for people in Canada and beyond.

The story of British Columbia’s leadership in mRNA innovation began decades ago, with foundational research that helped shape the global response to COVID-19. At the heart of this legacy is Dr. Pieter Cullis of the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, whose pioneering work in LNP delivery systems enabled the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. His research not only helped save millions of lives worldwide but also catalyzed the growth of a vibrant biotech sector, leading to companies like Acuitas Therapeutics, NanoVation Therapeutics and Integrated Nanotherapeutics. These homegrown companies are now advancing RNA-based vaccines and therapeutics to prevent and treat infectious diseases, cancer, or rare diseases, neurological disorders—placing British Columbia at the forefront of a global health revolution.

For Canadians, investing in mRNA-based biotechnology goes beyond preventing and treating disease. It is about enhancing national and global health security through increased readiness. British Columbia has already demonstrated its ability to deliver on these priorities. The province’s strategic investments in life sciences are designed not only to accelerate innovation but also to strengthen domestic capacity for rapid response to global health threats. Through its Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy, British Columbia has invested over $737 million to expand research infrastructure, build advanced manufacturing facilities and support commercialization.

Flagship initiatives such as Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub led by UBC and its AVENGER facility will create a national RNA vaccine platform to rapidly develop and manufacture next-generation vaccines within 100 days. The Advanced Therapeutics Manufacturing Facility on the UBC campus will manufacture clinical-grade cell- and gene-based therapies, including mRNA vaccines, LNP formulations, synthetic DNA constructs and more, at scale for local clinical trials.

For global investors and private companies, British Columbia offers access to world-class mRNA and LNP technologies, clinical trial infrastructure to de-risk development, a robust talent pipeline, competitive R&D tax credits, and a rapidly expanding industrial and research base. The collaborative and stable ecosystem, uniting academia, startups, industry, the health system and government, makes British Columbia a fertile ground for breakthrough innovation and commercialization.

In the Vancouver area, the biotech landscape is especially supported by companies leading the life sciences revolution:

• Acuitas Therapeutics continues to develop best-in-class LNP delivery systems, proven to be incredibly effective for mRNA Vaccines and next-generation CRISPR therapies.
• NanoVation Therapeutics is advancing LNP delivery for cardiometabolic and rare diseases.
• Borealis Biosciences uses advanced LNP and RNA technologies to target kidney cells.
• Genevant Sciences holds more than 700 LNP patents and maintains global pharmaceutical partnerships.
• Cytiva, formerly Precision NanoSystems, specializes in LNP formulations.
• Evonik Canada offers GMP manufacturing services for RNA therapeutics.

With strong public and private investment, expanding clinical and manufacturing infrastructure, and a collaborative ecosystem that connects discovery to commercialization, B.C. is investment-ready.

British Columbia has become more than an innovation hub—it is both a launchpad for the next generation of medical breakthroughs and a growing driver of an increasingly diverse economy. An exciting future for transformative healthcare and economic prosperity is being built here.

Investor Alert: Unlock the Future of Innovation in British Columbia

Join the visionaries shaping tomorrow’s economy at the 10th Annual Invest in B.C. Conference, happening October 28–29, 2025 in Vancouver.

Meet the founders, funders and futurists behind British Columbia’s most groundbreaking ventures—from genomics and clean tech to AI and advanced manufacturing. This is your front-row seat to the province’s most investable innovations.

Explore other opportunities or connect with us at:  www.britishcolumbia.ca/industries/life-sciences