August 24th, 2023

Life Sciences BC seeks to raise the profile of our members and supporters, highlight their achievements, and promote BC's dynamic life sciences ecosystem. If you have news or a story to share, let us know. You can find previous editions of BioLinks newsletters and other resources on our website at News/Publications.

Member Highlights 

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third-leading cause of death worldwide, and a research team led by Dr. Tillie Hackett of the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation at St. Paul’s Hospital has identified the precise cells that destroy the lungs’ smallest airways in COPD. Their findings were recently published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Read more.  

The 2023 Engineers and Geoscientists BC Annual Conference and AGM will be held in Whistler from October 26-28th. Featuring relevant educational sessions, inspirational keynote speakers, valuable networking opportunities, a tradeshow, and a prestigious awards gala, this promises to be an exciting industry event sponsored by companies including LSBC member Berkley Canada. Learn more and register here.  

NervGen Pharma Corp.’s President & CEO, Mike Kelly, was interviewed by Outsourced Pharma where he discussed the role of intellectual responsibility in drug development. Read the interview here.  

Cervical cancer is the fourth most diagnosed cancer worldwide. Thanks to groundbreaking research led by Drs. Janice Kwon and Lori Brotto of the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, a new study shows that there is potential to significantly improve the quality of life for women diagnosed with early-stage cervical cancer with a simple hysterectomy. Learn more. 

LifeLabs has announced the opening of a new Patient Service Centre in Trail, BC. This exciting expansion will enhance access to timely health care and provide a much-needed resource for the community. Learn more.  

Rates of skin cancer are rising in BC, with around one in seven people in BC expected to develop skin cancer during their lifetime. BC Cancer is taking a lead on sun safety policy talks to advocate for the future planning of outdoor spaces. Learn more.  

According to a new study published by the UBC faculty of medicine, BC Cancer, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, radiation may not be necessary for some patients with low-risk breast cancer after breast conserving surgery. This allows them to avoid the harmful side effects and adds capacity back into the public health care system. Learn more. 

Additional news from the UBC faculty of medicine highlights that researchers have been awarded $7 million in new funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and JDRF Canada to aid the advancement of precision medicine to help transform diabetes treatment. Read more.  

Canary Medical Inc.’s CEO, Dr. Bill Hunter, is among the impressive roster of speakers at the upcoming DeviceTalks West 2023 conference in October. Learn more about how medical device companies are working to solve health care’s biggest problems and more here. 

New Members

Canary Global Inc., a biotech company focused on developing novel therapeutics and diagnostics for diseases caused by dysregulated microRNA expression, has recently joined as a premium member. The company was founded in 2020 by a team of experienced scientists and entrepreneurs with a deep understanding of microRNA biology and drug development. They are headquartered in Burlington, Ontario with lab space being developed in Vancouver and have a mission to become the leading provider of microRNA-based therapeutics and diagnostics.  

UBC Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics has also joined as a premium member.

Welcome to both!  

Industry Highlights

After 50 years in the making, Health Canada has approved a vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in people aged 60 years or older! Learn more.  

Applications Open

Lumira Ventures is accepting applications for its Fall 2023 Lumira Venture Innovation Program (VIP). Apply online to be a Venture Fellow, a 6-12 month program for Ph.D., MD, and MBA students who are motivated to build a career in life sciences innovation. The deadline to apply is September 17th.  

We invite you to explore our expanded list of current life sciences application opportunities by clicking on the following link: Applications Open.

Kudos

Congratulations to the team at Lonza, who have been shortlisted in the Best Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization category at the 10th Annual World ADC Awards, an industry-leading awards ceremony honouring the best in antibody-drug conjugate development. Learn more.

Kudos to UBC faculty of medicine student, Dr. Rohit Singla, who was awarded a 2023 Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) Award for leadership and innovation. Dr. Singla is currently an MD/PhD candidate in biomedical engineering, and is passionate about understanding human health and developing innovative solutions at the intersection of technology and medicine. Read more.  

Kudos also to VoxCell BioInnovation for being recognized as one of the top 25 science start-ups globally, and the only Canadian company in 2023 to be included as a 2023 Falling Wells Venture winner! CEO and CSO Dr. Karolina Valente is set to pitch the company’s groundbreaking work at the renowned Falling Wells Science Summit in Berlin this fall. Learn more.    

People on the Move

Congratulations to Dr. Karen Smith and Jeffrey A. Bailey who recently joined Aurinia Pharmaceutical Inc.’s Board of Directors, and to Dr. Daniel G. Billen, who was appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors. All three individuals bring decades of combined leadership experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.  

Congratulations also to Dr. Josemund Menezes, the new Managing Director of Zymeworks Inc.’s new early research & development hub in Singapore! Dr. Menezes has more than 18 years of industry experience across pharma, biotech, and local CRO companies spearheading global Phase I to III clinical trials in oncology, vaccines, and immunology.  

The Last Word

I’d like to close by reminding all members to utilize the valuable resources that accompany your LSBC membership, including our job board. Whether you are seeking a new opportunity (there are lots of current fantastic opportunities!) or recruiting new team members, we encourage you to check out the LSBC job board, the largest targeted life sciences job board in the province. 

Until next week,

Wendy and the LSBC team

Aequus Announces Zimed® PF Website Launch

Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, are thrilled to announce the launch of our user friendly education website for patients and professionals. With a focus on elevated, interocular pressure, Glaucoma and Dry Eye Disease, this website features Zimed® PF, the first preservative-free multi-dose Bimatoprost available in Canada. The response from Canadian physicians at the 2023 annual COS conference in Quebec City has been nothing short of exceptional...READ MORE

BIOMEDevice 2023: StarFish Medical Exhibits

StarFish Medical, Canada’s largest medical device design company, will exhibit in booth 620 at BIOMEDevice Boston 2023, September 20-21, 2023 at the Convention & Exhibition Center in Boston, MA. BIOMEDevice Boston 2023 is the Region’s Epicenter for Innovation and brings engineers, business leaders, disruptive companies, and innovative thinkers from the region’s top start-ups and medical device OEMs together to inspire the next life-changing medical device...READ MORE

NervGen Pharma to Present on its Drug Candidate NVG-291 and Spinal Cord Injury at Investor Conference

NervGen Pharma Corp., a clinical stage biotech company dedicated to developing innovative solutions for the treatment of nervous system damage, announced that members of its management team will present at the KOL Discussion on Spinal Cord Injury hosted by PropThink Digital Conferences. President & CEO, Mike Kelly, and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Dan Mikol, will join Rich Macary, President of Macary Advisors, a biotech/medtech consulting and advisory firm. The virtual presentation will be held on Thursday, August 24, at 11:00 am ET...READ MORE

Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc. Announces Addition of Intellectual Property For Its Novel Development and Use of Tetrodotoxin (Ttx) to Relieve Pain

WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company based in Vancouver, Canada developing a non-opioid analgesic, Halneuron®, announced the publication of a recent patent application filed with the World the Intellectual Property Organization through the Patent Cooperation Treaty. The application, as published is directed to a novel injectable formulation of tetrodotoxin...READ MORE

Aurinia Appoints Two New Board Directors with Deep Experience in Biopharma Leadership, Commercial Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions and Advancing Therapeutic Pipelines

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has appointed two new directors. Dr. Karen Smith and Jeffrey A. Bailey joined the board of directors of the Company effective August 18, 2023, bringing with them decades of combined leadership experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry...READ MORE

BeiGene Canada Invests 500K to Fund Innovative Cancer Research

BeiGene Canada, the country affiliate of global biotechnology company BeiGene, specialized in the discovery and development of novel, affordable, and accessible oncology medications, announced the launch of a partnership fund to support Canadian, non-clinical, cancer research and innovation. The initial half-million-dollar BeiGene Canada Fund for Research and Innovation was set up to work with other health research funding and programs across Canada...READ MORE

LifeLabs, Canada’s Leading Medical Laboratory Expands to Trail BC with a Brand New Location Opening Fall 2023

LifeLabs, Canada’s leading provider of medical diagnostic services and recognized as the most trusted brand in health diagnostic services by Canadians, is thrilled to announce the opening of its new Patient Service Centre (PSC) in Trail, British Columbia...READ MORE

Aequus Pharmaceutical Canada Announces a Pause in Sales of Evolve Intensive Eyedrops and Gel in Canada

Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company announces the pause of sales of its Evolve Intensive eyedrop and Intensive gel products in Canada.The manufacturer, Medicom Healthcare (UK), is in the process of changing its MDSAP provider. The switch was necessitated by the existing Notified Body being unable to offer all relevant global certifications. Until this process is completed, Aequus Pharmaceuticals will pause sales of the class leading Evolve® range of products in the Canadian market...READ MORE

BC Cancer Taking the Lead on Sun Safety Policy Talks Amidst Climate Change

As climate change causes hotter, dryer conditions for months on end, changing behaviours may not be enough to reduce exposure to ultraviolet (or UV) rays. Long term exposure to UV rays can increase the risk of skin cancer, a largely preventable disease. Many people are aware of the personal behaviours they need to take in order to stay sun safe; including wearing sunscreen, covering up, wearing hats and sunglasses and using sunscreen...READ MORE

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Announces Closing of Non-Brokered Private Placement for Gross Proceeds of C$22,287,125

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Phase 2 clinical-stage biotechnology company with an innovative drug delivery technology platform, is pleased to announce that it has closed the previously announced non-brokered private placement and has issued 3,183,875 common shares of the Company, at a price of C$7.00 per Common Share for gross proceeds of C$22,287,125...READ MORE

Quebec Becomes the First Province to Reimburse Minjuvi® (Tafasitamab) in Combination with Lenalidomide for Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Incyte Biosciences Canada announced that Quebec has made Minjuvi® (tafasitamab) in combination with lenalidomide accessible with reimbursement under the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) for eligible patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This first listing follows a positive clinical recommendation by the health technology assessment agency Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS)i in December 2022...READ MORE

UBC Researchers Find Radiation not Necessary for some Patients with Low-Risk Breast Cancer

Some patients with early-stage, low-risk breast cancer may not need radiation therapy after breast conserving surgery, according to new research from the UBC faculty of medicine, BC Cancer, McMaster University and Hamilton Heath Sciences. The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, shows women 55 or older with a specific subtype of stage 1 breast cancer can be effectively treated with just surgery and endocrine therapy...READ MORE

Frontage Acquires Nucro-Technics Inc. and Nucro-Technics Holdings, Inc.

Frontage Laboratories, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Frontage Canada, Inc., completed the acquisition of Nucro-Technics Inc. and its affiliate Nucro-Technics Holdings, Inc. Nucro-Technics is a pharmaceutical contract research organization that conducts analytical chemistry, microbiology, toxicology, bioanalytical, and stability sample storage and testing services. In addition, it provides consulting services, especially in quality control and assurance as well as in Natural Health Product Regulations...READ MORE

StressMarq Biosciences is a bioreagents company producing antibodies, proteins, assay kits and small molecules for the life sciences research market. Our customers include scientists in academia, biotech/CROs/pharma and government institutions. In recent years, StressMarq has developed a range of fibrilized and oligomeric protein preparations for use in neurodegenerative disease research, including alpha synuclein, amyloid beta, tau, SOD1 and TTR. Our strategic efforts are currently focused on being a world leader in the development and supply of fibrilized proteins, oligomers, and antibodies to these constructs to assist researchers studying Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, our diverse portfolio of antibodies, proteins, immunoassay kits and small molecules bridge across the life sciences, including products for neuroscience, cancer research, cardiovascular disease and cell signaling. To aid research worldwide, StressMarq has an extensive network of international distributors in over 45 countries. LEARN MORE

Administrative Assistant, Research and Innovation

The position is responsible for providing administrative support to the two Research and Innovation Directors (Director, Research and Innovation Operations and Director, Data Science) and three Senior Managers (Senior R&I Manager, Health; Senior R&I Manager, ANR; Senior Programs Manager). As well as supporting the R&I Senior Management Team by coordinating, organizing, and executing general administrative duties, coordinating meeting logistics, providing general meeting support, executing travel and event management, and performing expense/invoice processing...LEARN MORE

Animal Technician

Alpha-9 is seeking a team-oriented Animal Research Technician to join the Translational Biology group within the organization. The ideal candidate will have experience in providing technical in vivo support for research programs, preferably with radioactive substances. This person will be responsible for laboratory animal care and well-being, in addition to conducting in vivo research experiments with experimental radiopharmaceuticals...LEARN MORE

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Positions (2) Nanomedicine or Chemical Biology

UBC is seeking two full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor positions in their Nanomedicine and Chemical Biology Research Theme, where the research programs focus on many aspects of drug discovery, development and delivery. The major focus of this position will be the development of a cutting-edge, externally-funded, world-class research program. Other responsibilities will include teaching nanomedicine/drug delivery or chemical biology and other related topics to students in the BPSc, PharmD, and MSc/PhD programs, as well as new programs under development...LEARN MORE

HR Generalist

uBriGene are seeking a skilled HR Generalist with a strong focus on either HR Operations or talent acquisition to join their organization. The HR Generalist will play a critical role in supporting the day-to-day HR operations or talent acquisition functions of the company. This position requires a detail-oriented individual who can effectively manage multiple tasks while maintaining a high level of professionalism and confidentiality. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of HR best practices, talent acquisition strategies, and possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills...LEARN MORE

Executive Project Manager – Piloter/Scaler and Lab Facility Construction

The Executive Project Manager will play a pivotal role in the successful establishment of a multi-use, modular biomanufacturing scaler/pilot and wet lab facility for new and establishing life sciences companies. This individual will report to the VILS board and oversee the coordination and execution of the facility's design and construction phase, actively engage in tenant recruitment and consultation efforts, and create a comprehensive business plan for the facility. The role will serve as a key liaison between the VILS Board of Directors, contractors, potential tenants, and other stakeholders, ensuring effective communication and reporting on project-related matters...LEARN MORE

Medical Science Liaison – Oncology (British Columbia)

Amgen is seeking a Medical Science Liaison - Oncology to work full-time at the Vancouver location. Requirements for the candidate include a PhD/MD/PharmD and 2+ years of relevant medical science or industry experience. Preffered qualifications include medical/scientific expertise in Oncology/Hematology, and Medical Science Liaison experience...LEARN MORE

Canary Global Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company focused on developing novel therapeutics and diagnostics for diseases caused by dysregulated microRNA expression. CGI is leveraging this Nobel Prize-winning discovery into an entirely new class of medicines. In addition to novel drug discovery for obesity and metabolic disease, the company's lead product candidate is a small molecule drug that targets microRNA-21, a microRNA that is implicated in a wide range of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegeneration. The company is also developing a point-of-care molecular diagnostic test that can be used to rapidly and accurately measure microRNA levels in blood or other bodily fluids. This test could be used to diagnose diseases early, monitor disease progression, and select patients for personalized therapy as well as improve the efficiency of clinical trials. LEARN MORE

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