Sanofi Opens $925-Million Flu Vaccine Facility in Toronto
Sanofi officially opened a new flu vaccine facility in Toronto on September 16, 2026.
The $925-million project is being called the largest single investment in a Canadian biomanufacturing facility. It will help make more flu vaccines in Canada. It will also help the country prepare for a future flu pandemic.
The new facility is called the Charles Best Building. It is located on Sanofi’s 52-acre Toronto campus.
The building is named after Dr. Charles Best. He helped discover insulin. He also served as an early medical director at the site that later became Sanofi’s Toronto campus.
The facility has officially opened and is fully operational. However, vaccine production has not started yet. Sanofi still needs regulatory approval before production can begin.
If that approval is received, production is expected to start in early 2027. The vaccines would be made in preparation for the 2027–28 flu season.
WHAT THE SANOFI FLU VACCINE FACILITY WILL MAKE
The facility will produce Fluzone High-Dose. It is a flu vaccine made for adults aged 65 and older.
Older adults account for most flu-related hospital stays each year, according to information shared by Sanofi.
Fluzone High-Dose contains four times the antigen found in standard-dose flu vaccines. An antigen helps the body learn how to fight a virus. The higher amount is meant to give older adults stronger protection against the flu.
The new facility will support several parts of vaccine production in one place. Sanofi says this will give Canada end-to-end flu vaccine manufacturing capacity.
This means more steps in the vaccine-making process can happen in Canada. It may also reduce Canada’s need to depend on vaccine supplies from other countries during a major health crisis.
Key details about the project include:
- The total investment is $925 million.
- The federal government provided $415 million in support.
- The Ontario government provided $55 million.
- Construction began in 2021.
- Production is expected to start in early 2027.
- The facility will make vaccines for the 2027–28 flu season.
- About 300 skilled jobs are expected to be created.
- The vaccine will be made for adults aged 65 and older.
Project began after the COVID-19 pandemic
Construction on the facility began in 2021. The project was planned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic showed that Canada could face problems when it depends on other countries for vaccines and medical supplies. Government leaders said the new Toronto facility would help Canada build a more reliable vaccine supply at home.
Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly spoke about lessons learned during the pandemic. She said Canada discovered key problems with vaccines, medical supplies and supply chains.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also spoke at the opening.
“If you invest in Ontario, we’re going to invest in you,” Ford said.
Ford said the pandemic showed why reliable supplies of medicines and vaccines are important. He said the new facility would give Ontario that capacity for years to come.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also attended the opening. She said the project was an important step for both Toronto and Canada.
New Jobs at the Sanofi Flu Vaccine Facility in Toronto
Sanofi says the expansion will create about 300 skilled jobs. The jobs will be in areas such as vaccine production, quality control and skilled trades.
Sanofi already has more than 2,000 employees in Canada. The company describes itself as Canada’s largest biopharma manufacturer.
The Toronto campus is also one of Sanofi’s five global research and development hubs. The company says it has invested more than $1.5 billion in pharmaceutical research and development in Canada over the past 10 years.
Vaccines made at the Toronto campus are sent to more than 60 countries around the world.
The opening is an important step, but the next stage depends on regulatory approval. If the process stays on schedule, the facility will begin making Fluzone High-Dose in early 2027.
- Sanofi Canada — Our Company: Strengthening Canada’s Vaccine Manufacturing Capacity
- CityNews Toronto — Sanofi Opens $925-Million Flu Vaccine Facility in Toronto
- Sanofi via CNW Group — Sanofi Inaugurates New Flu Vaccine Facility, Canada’s Largest Biomanufacturing Investment
- Ontario Newsroom — Ontario Expands Domestic Vaccine Manufacturing Capacity and Improves Pandemic Preparedness
