Granville Biomedical, a Newfoundland and Labrador health-tech company, has expanded its vision from women’s health to manufacturing a Health Canada certified novel nasopharyngeal swab for COVID-19 testing.
Regarded for its anatomically accurate and affordable women’s health simulation models, the company initially utilized its innovative 3D printing technology to develop nasopharyngeal testing swabs that focus on improving patient comfort and front line workflows. With a rounded hollow tip, the single biocompatible medical-grade material is deemed to be as effective as market leading swabs in laboratory studies according to the National Microbiology Lab and Health Canada. With backgrounds in product design and nursing respectively, co-founders Christine Goudie and Crystal Northcott used their ideal combination of skills to create a patent-pending medical device.
In the lead up to receiving its Class I Medical Device approval from Health Canada, Granville Biomedical received a non-repayable $44,625 from the Provincial Government to assist with its research and validation testing. The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) is also providing Granville Biomedical with advisory services, and research and development funding of up to $186,794 to support this project.
Headquartered in St. John’s, the competitively-priced nasopharyngeal swab is proudly manufactured in Canada, allowing domestic supply chains to be secure during the pandemic and beyond. The company has increased workflows in order to scale production to reach upwards of two million swabs per month by June.
Since the emergence of the global pandemic, Newfoundland and Labrador based companies have produced Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and testing tools used to help diagnose, combat and prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Quotes
“With their tech skills, knowledge and equipment to pivot operations, the team at Granville Biomedical impresses with their re-imagined nasopharyngeal testing swabs. The result is a unique medical device that focuses on patient comfort, while improving access to COVID-19 testing. This innovative company has grown so much in the Genesis Enterprise Program, we’re proud to support it, and I look forward to see where Christine and Crystal go next.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology
“We are incredibly proud to be part of a local solution for COVID-19 testing. Our entire team has worked relentlessly to advance our R&D efforts in order to address extreme healthcare supply shortages throughout the country. The financial support we received from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador was pivotal for us during our transition into medical device manufacturing. It afforded us the opportunity to navigate the Health Canada regulatory approval pathway involved in the development of a Class 1 medical device. With such unwavering local support, we are optimistic about the future of our company and about creating positive economic impact as we rebuild the local economy together.”
Christine Goudie
Co-Founder + CEO, Granville Biomedical Inc.
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Media contacts
Eric Humber
Industry, Energy and Technology
709-729-2691
erichumber@gov.nl.ca
Christine Goudie
Granville Biomedical Inc.
403-540-2188
christine@granvillebiomedical.ca