Industry Committee on Feb. 16th, 2021

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

That's disappointing to hear.

With regard to our current task force, the secrecy around some of the decisions and the process seems to be undermining the public. There's no doubt about it. How does that translate to the scientific community, especially as we're looking to grow our own talent for the future out of this? I'm just wondering about that aspect, because I know the public is very concerned about the fact that there are no clear answers for even the contracts, for example, let alone the operations of the task force.

[Prof. Amir Attaran]

This is just it. We are in the current predicament because two Canadian inferiorities have collided. We are inferior in science. Our government particularly is scientifically inferior, but we're also more secretive. When you take the scientific backwardness combined with the secrecy that didn't allow outsiders to detect our missteps in 2020, you end up with the disaster we have in 2021.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Right now, our minivan plant is down for three weeks because we're dependent upon a small part from....

Thanks, Madam Chair. I see the card. I'm red-flagged. I'm finished.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Thank you.

We'll now go to our next round.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Madam Chair, I would just like to point out that the interpreters have had difficulty. There was no break in the interpretation, but at times it was difficult to hear Prof. Attaran.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Okay. Thank you.

Professor Attaran, I'm just going to remind you, if it's possible, to get the microphone close to you so we can make sure we have good translation. Thank you.

We'll now go to MP Rempel Garner.

You have the floor for five minutes.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

To the CEO of Providence, it's my understanding that there are concerns about the efficacy against variants of some of the adenovirus-based vaccines, such as Novavax and AstraZeneca. Is that your understanding?

[Brad Sorenson]

Yes, that is what's been reported in the literature.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Sorenson, it's my understanding as well that mRNA-based vaccines are becoming the gold standard, if you will, with early data with regard to efficacy against the variants. Is that correct?

[Brad Sorenson]

Yes. Again, if you're looking at reported data, the messenger RNA vaccines are responding to the variants the quickest.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

In terms of Canada's ability to respond to variants with our existing vaccine purchase strategy, do you have confidence that we would be able to deal with efficacy concerns related to the variants as our current plan currently stands?

[Brad Sorenson]

The adenoviruses are not effective against the variants. They also have a challenge because of the vector delivery system. They have to adapt to the actual design of the vaccine itself and the delivery system in order to accommodate, so they are going to be slow to respond.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

An mRNA technology could technically—to put it simply—turn on a dime faster than the adenovirus-based platform. Is that correct?

[Brad Sorenson]

The mRNA vaccines have the ability to be redosed, so they do not have that same challenge as the viral vector deliveries.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

With regard to the platform you're building, would you be in a position, should you be able to scale up, to potentially respond to variants with boosters or a redesigned formula, if you will?

I'm sorry. I'm an economist, not a virologist. Is that something you could do?

[Brad Sorenson]

Absolutely.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

What I'm not understanding here is the problem with scale-up.

Maybe I'll back up. What does the industry need in Canada and what do you need to develop enough capacity for us to be able to produce domestically on an mRNA platform in the medium term—let's say, within a year?

[Brad Sorenson]

We've already taken steps to accommodate for that. With the capacity at the Northern RNA facility in Calgary partnered with the capacity of the Emergent BioSolutions facility in Manitoba, we have the ability to produce over 120 million doses of vaccine.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Did the federal government reach out to you all to offer assistance in this process?

[Brad Sorenson]

No.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Did anyone take your call?

[Brad Sorenson]

No.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Do you have any suspicion as to why that would be?

[Brad Sorenson]

That's a question for the federal government.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

What do you need from us? We need your vaccines. What do you need?