Celebrating a Century of Vaccine Creation

A leading vaccine developer and manufacturer with roots at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine is celebrating the 100^th anniversary of its founding.

That company — Sanofi Pasteur — was born from the work of Dr. John G. FitzGerald, who wanted to make infectious disease prevention broadly accessible. FitzGerald began making diphtheria antitoxin in a backyard lab and stable on Barton Avenue in 1913. He soon partnered with the University of Toronto to found the Antitoxin Laboratories on May 1, 1914. 

Originally located in the basement of a building on U of T’s St. George campus, the lab quickly outgrew its space during a shortage of tetanus antitoxin during World War I. Three years after it was established, the lab moved into a new facility in north Toronto. Named in honour of the Governor General of the day — the Duke of Connaught — the new company was called Connaught Antitoxin Laboratories and University Farm.

In an open letter marking the milestone, Sanofi Pasteur’s President J. Mark Lievonen said, “Today, on the anniversary of our founding, I am inspired by how far we have come as an organization — one that began with a single man’s vision — now championed by thousands strong.”

A number of immunization innovations were made by the company, including working with Frederick Banting and Charles Best to make the first supply of insulin for clinical trials in 1922. Important contributions were also made toward the introduction of the Salk polio vaccine and the eradication of smallpox.

In the early 1970s, the University of Toronto sold the company, which is now the vaccines division of the French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi. At its Canadian headquarters in Toronto, the company continues to celebrate its rich local history. Today, the Connaught Laboratories and University Farm are still part of Sanofi Pasteur’s Steeles Avenue West campus. FitzGerald’s original stable also sits on the property, serving as a small museum. 

Around the world, Sanofi Pasteur employs nearly 13,000 people and is currently working toward vaccines against dengue fever, C. difficile, pneumococcal disease and HIV.