Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Submits Permit Application for Barite Project, Aiming to Become North American Supplier of Pharmaceutical Barium Contrast Agents
Voyageur Pharmaceuticals has submitted a multi-year exploration permit application for its Frances Creek barite project in British Columbia, which could position the company as a secure North American source of pharmaceutical-grade barium contrast products.
Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (TSX-V: VM) announced the submission of a Multi-Year Area-Based Notice of Work application to the British Columbia Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals for its Frances Creek barite project. The application seeks authorization for a five-year advanced exploration program on a 76.8-hectare work area, including extraction of 2,000 tonnes of high-grade barite ore in Year 1 and a geotechnical drilling program to support feasibility studies.
The move is significant because it advances Voyageur's strategy to become a fully vertically integrated barium contrast media supply chain, controlling raw material sourcing through to final production. Currently, most pharmaceutical barium sulfate is synthetically produced, which management believes results in lower imaging quality. Voyageur's Frances Creek resource has an average grade of 98.8% BaSO4, exceeding the 97.5% pharmaceutical grade standard, as confirmed in a March 3, 2026 news release.
The Year 1 program includes extraction of 1,000 tonnes from the A Zone and 1,000 tonnes from the B Zone, staying within the annual limit of 1,000 tonnes per cell under the Mineral Tenure Act. The barite will be processed on site using dry densimetric technology, producing an initial concentrate that will be shipped to Voyageur's future facility for upgrading to USP-grade barium for pharmaceutical contrast agents.
The application also includes a geotechnical drilling program to provide rock mechanics and slope stability data needed to finalize quarry pit wall designs and waste rock storage configurations. This information is the primary remaining data required to complete a National Instrument 43-101 Final Feasibility Study, building on the company's 2022 Preliminary Economic Assessment and an ongoing Pre-Feasibility Study.
Brent Willis, CEO of Voyageur, stated: “This Notice of Work submission is a significant de-risking milestone. The Year 1 test extraction will generate the material required to advance process development and validation at our pilot plant in support of a future full-scale pharmaceutical API facility. The accompanying geotechnical program will enable us to progress the project to Final Feasibility Study level. Frances Creek’s grade and purity continue to position Voyageur as a potential future secure North American supplier of pharmaceutical barium contrast products.”
The 2022 PEA for the Frances Creek Project outlined a low-cost open-pit development scenario with a 10-year project horizon, total capital of $36 million over three years, a payback period of 11 months after start of production, and average operating gross margins of ~75%. Recent market observations indicate that costs for imported pharmaceutical-grade barite have increased significantly compared to PEA assumptions, which may positively influence updated project economics.
The project hosts an indicated and inferred mineral resource of 132,000 tonnes of pharmaceutical-grade barium sulfate. All proposed activities will be conducted in accordance with the Mines Act and the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia, with progressive reclamation planned upon completion.
Voyageur Pharmaceuticals is a Canadian public company focused on developing barium and iodine active pharmaceutical ingredients and aims to become the first vertically integrated company in the radiology contrast media drug market. More information is available on the company's website.