July 13th, 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 

Alliance Scientific has assisted in establishing a Vancouver Chapter of Sustainable Labs Canada (SLCan), a Canadian volunteer organization focused on ensuring sustainable community-based labs. See Alliance Scientific's recently completed demonstration lab and fume hood testing room here.

Avantor President and CEO Michael Stubblefield recently spoke with Axios about prioritizing sustainability while continuing to help customers solve complex scientific challenges. Read the article here. 

PharmaAla Biotech and Numinus Wellness were recently featured in the MedicalGold.ca article "FDA Approval For MDMA Is Coming Next Year: Here Are The 3 Companies Positioned To Profit Most," Read it here.

Dr. Paul Moore of Zymeworks was recently featured in Drug Target Review, discussing the significance and potential of T cell-engaging bispecific antibodies to address solid tumours. Read the interview here. 

Genome British Columbia has released its Annual Report for the fiscal year 2022/2023, highlighting how genomics has been applied to some of today's most significant challenges. Read it here.

WELL Health Technologies has released its 2022 ESG Report, outlining their theme for this year: "Taking Care of the Care Providers." It includes insights on the organization's impact and commitment to healthcare providers, data security and fostering a healthy workplace. Read it here.  

StressMarq's GRP78 protein (SPR-119) was used in a study that found MANF regulates neuronal survival and is required to protect dopamine neurons in an animal model of Parkinson's disease. Read the study here. 

Industry Highlights

Canada has announced an investment of $1.1M in research to promote sleep health. This funding will support a  team led by Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen at the University of British Columbia, which will prioritize equity as it relates to insomnia, sleep health, and public health interventions. Learn more.

Canada has announced $560K in funding to the University of Alberta over two years to conduct the first comprehensive national review of how medical assistance in dying (MAID) is provided across the country and expand understanding about individual and family experiences with MAID. Learn more.

Canada has announced up to $500K in funding for the Autism Alliance of Canada to collaborate with the Pacific Autism Family Network, and Autism Speaks Canada to outline the requirements to design, develop, implement, and evaluate a National Autism Network that will support the implementation of a national autism strategy. Learn more.

The Science Fair Foundation is inviting young innovators with a project or idea that can make a difference to register for this year's Youth Innovation Showcase to tell the world about their project and for a chance to win $5K! Registration opens on August 14. Learn more.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a new draft guidance highlighting fundamental considerations to researchers investigating the use of psychedelic drugs to potentially treat medical conditions, including psychiatric or substance use disorders. This is the first FDA draft guidance that presents considerations to the industry for designing clinical trials for psychedelic drugs. Learn more.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), has announced $18M in funding over the next five years, awarded to 16 Technology Access Centres. Learn more.

The Consulate of Canada in Barcelona, Global Affairs Canada, and the Association of Bio-Enterprises in Spain invite Canadian organizations to join them at BIOSPAIN 2023. In addition to supporting Canadian companies during the event, the Canadian Consulate will organize a full-day program in Barcelona with local sector partners. To learn more, email Aurora Polo, Trade Commissioner at the Consulate of Canada in Barcelona, Spain, responsible for the Life Sciences and Health sector in Spain and Andorra and Lead of the European Life Sciences Team.

Canada is seeking input on improving access to drugs and other health products in Canada. Information gathered will be used to develop solutions for Health Canada and others who have a role to play in helping prevent shortages. The consultation period ends Aug 4. Learn more.

Applications Open

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research Fellowships competition 2023-24 is now open. CIHR funds trainees at all levels – Masters, Doctoral, and Postdoctoral – in all health disciplines, including health professionals interested in pursuing health research. Applications are due by October 5. Learn more.  

Applications for the BC Nimbus Synergies Health Impact Investor Challenge, presented by Nimbus Synergies, a program for startups or healthcare-focused businesses, accredited and non-accredited investors, and those interested in exploring the world of impact investing, are now open! The registration deadline is Sept 14. Learn more.

VIATEC has a call for nominations to join its Board of Directors and help shape the future of tech. Nominations close Sept 5. Learn more. 

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 Simon Fraser University Faculty of Health Sciences members who received awards from the Canada Institutes for Health Research this spring to support outstanding postdoctoral fellows or students pursuing a doctoral or master's degree in a health-related field. Learn more.

Congratulations to Prince Edward Island BioAlliance CEO Rory Francis on being inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. 

Kudos to Jade Bouchard, a Co-op at STEMCELL Technologies, for winning the BioTalent Canada 2023 Catalyst Award for Top New Hire.

The Last Word

SAVE THE DATE! Applications to pitch at this year's Invest in BC presented by Lumira Ventures, will be open from July 24 to August 25!

This highly anticipated event, held on November 2, serves as a premier gathering for healthcare innovators in British Columbia, connecting them with global investors. Learn more. 

A reminder that applications are open until July 31 for our annual Investor Readiness Program (IRP), which helps BC early-stage small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) in the life sciences sector become investor-ready and advance their businesses.



Participants benefit from individual mentoring, educational workshops, goal setting, peer-to-peer feedback, networking opportunities, group meetings, and more. The program culminates in a pitch session to a group of pre-qualified investors. Learn more and apply here.

"The best part of the IRP program for us was finetuning our story and learning how to pitch our vision to life science and digital health investors. Our mentor was a very experienced industry professional who gave us great advice and provided new perspectives on our go-to-market planning."

Christine Somerville, HealthQb Technologies and 2023 IRP Graduate

Until next week,

Wendy and the LSBC team

Evonik’s Health Care Production Site in Ham, France, Goes Carbon Neutral

Evonik’s production site in Ham in northern France has reduced its direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) greenhouse gas emissions to zero. This is the first site from the Health Care business at Evonik to go carbon neutral and underscores the business’s commitment to its goal of becoming carbon neutral in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030...READ MORE

PLUVICTO™ Receives Positive Recommendations from CADTH and INESSS for Progressive PSMA-Positive Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. is pleased to announce that the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) Canadian Drug Expert Committee (CDEC) and the Institut national d’excellence en santé et services sociaux (INESSS) have recommended PLUVICTO™ (lutetium (177Lu) vipivotide tetraxetan injection) for public reimbursement...READ MORE

Bausch Health Enters Into $600 Million Financing Facility With KKR

Bausch Health Companies Inc. and KKR announced that Bausch Receivables Funding LP, an Ontario limited partnership and wholly-owned subsidiary of Bausch Health, has entered into a $600 million non-recourse financing facility with KKR and its credit funds and accounts. The facility will be collateralized by certain accounts receivables originated by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bausch Health...READ MORE

OraPharma to Participate in the First-Ever Research and Technology Pavilion Sponsored by Pacific Dental Services® at the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA®) Annual Conference

Bausch Health Companies Inc. and its oral health care business, OraPharma, announced its presence at the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA®) Annual Conference held in Chicago, IL from July 7-9, 2023. ADHA is the largest and oldest organization representing the professional interests of more than 226,000 dental hygienists in the United States. OraPharma will join ADHA to celebrate 100 years of advancing the dental hygiene profession, oral health, and overall health by participating in the first-ever Research and Technology Pavilion, sponsored by Pacific Dental Services® (PDS) – one of the country’s leading dental and medical support organizations...READ MORE

Aequus Announces Financing to Support Launch of Zimed Preservative Free (Bimatoprost 0.03%)

Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc., announces it has increased its debt by $400,000 to support the launch of Zimed® PF. Mr. Doug Janzen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, has agreed to provide financing to Aequus by way of an unsecured demand loan of C$400,000. The Loan bears interest at an annual rate of two and a half percent (2.5%) to be calculated and repaid monthly and is repayable on demand. “We remain very excited about the commercial prospects for Zimed and these funds will be used to support operations as we work to a successful launch in August”, said Mr. Janzen...READ MORE

Biosimilar BYOOVIZ™ Now Reimbursed in Quebec to Treat Serious Retinal Disorders

Biogen Canada Inc. is pleased to announce that Quebec has become the first province to reimburse PrBYOOVIZ™ (ranibizumab injection), an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) biosimilar therapy for certain eye conditions affecting the retina. BYOOVIZ, which references PrLUCENTIS®, is the first biosimilar available in Canada to treat retinal vascular disorders including neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema...READ MORE

Filament Health to Supply Psilocybin for Recipients of The Canadian Institutes of Health Research Psilocybin Operating Grants

Filament Health Corp., a clinical‐stage natural psychedelic drug development company, announced that it will supply psilocybin for two clinical trials which have received The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Operating Grants for Psilocybin-assisted Psychotherapy for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. The clinical trials will study the effects of Filament’s botanical psilocybin drug candidate, PEX010, for alcohol use disorder and treatment resistant depression...READ MORE

Dr. Pieter Cullis Named Fellow of U.K.’s Prestigious Royal Society

Dr. Pieter Cullis, a professor in the UBC faculty of medicine’s department of biochemistry and molecular biology, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of sciences and the oldest science academy in continuous existence. The appointment recognizes Dr. Cullis’ groundbreaking work developing the lipid nanoparticle delivery technology that enables advanced nanomedicines, such as the highly effective COVID-19 mRNA vaccines...READ MORE

McDermott + Bull Has Been Engaged to Lead the Search for University of Saskatchewan, Dean, College of Kinesiology

McDermott + Bull has been engaged to lead the search for the University of Saskatchewan’s Dean, College of Kinesiology. This search will be led by McDermott + Bull Principal Alex Verdecchia and Search Consultant Alina Ivanets...READ MORE

Cortexa Makes First Drug Order for Australian Commercial Market

PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the research, development, and manufacturing of novel MDXX class molecules (including MDMA), is pleased to announce that Cortexa, its Joint Venture with Australian company Vitura Health has executed its first purchase order for PharmAla’s GMP LaNeo MDMA, in both finished capsule and raw API forms. Cortexa will also be ordering an amount of GMP Psilocybin API...READ MORE

Renaissance BioScience Corp. and Timeless Capital Corp. Announce Refinancing of Secured Convertible Debentures and Reduction of Minimum Concurrent Financing

Renaissance BioScience Corp. announce the close of the non-brokered refinancing of the Company’s existing $5,000,000 principal amount of 12% secured convertible debentures maturing on June 30, 2023. Pursuant to the Refinancing, the Company issued a first tranche of $5,560,000 principal amount of 15% secured convertible debentures maturing on June 30, 2025. Holders of the Existing Debentures either exchanged their Existing Debentures for New Debentures or they were repaid with the proceeds from the sale of New Debentures to other subscribers...READ MORE

Primesite Research Solutions is an Integrative Site Network and a Clinical Trials Consultancy group based out of Western Canada.

We are a team of research professionals offering clinical trials management services in financial oversight, study budget negotiation, human resources management and site operations. Primesite works in person and remotely to offer integrative research services specific to the needs of the client. Primesite’s mission is to facilitate quality research. We strive to forge integrative, supportive, professional relationships that enable researchers to do what they do best so that they can focus on their research and patient care — without worrying about the cost of doing it and the logistical commitments. LEARN MORE

Government of Canada Supports the Establishment of a National Autism Network

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, announced up to $500,000 in funding for Autism Alliance of Canada to collaborate with the Pacific Autism Family Network and Autism Speaks Canada to outline the requirements to design, develop, implement, and evaluate a National Autism Network that will support the implementation of a national autism strategy...READ MORE

Government of Canada Supports Research to Better Understand the Delivery of Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced $560,000 in funding over two years to the University of Alberta to conduct the first comprehensive national review of how MAID is provided across the country and expand understanding about individual and family experiences with MAID...READ MORE

Minister Ng Announces Appointments to BDC Board of Directors

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the BDC, announced the appointment of Marie-Soleil Lacoursiere and Stéphane Therrien, and the reappointment of Suzanne Trottier, to the BDC’s Board of Directors, effective June 22, 2023...READ MORE

$18 Million Awarded to Technology Access Centres in Support of Colleges and Communities’ Research and Innovation Needs

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), is pleased to announce a total funding of $18 million over the next five years, awarded to 16 Technology Access Centres. This funding is provided through the College and Community Innovation (CCI) program’s 2022 Technology Access Centre (TAC) grants...READ MORE

B.C. Builds New Opportunities for Careers in Skilled Trades

More people will be able to access new and enhanced resources and programming to support entering the trades and to help complete their apprenticeships through a $5-million provincial investment...READ MORE

Government of Canada Announces Additional Research Funding to Help All People in Canada Sleep Soundly

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, announced an investment of $1.1M in research to promote sleep health. This announcement builds on a $3.8M investment the Government of Canada and partners made in 2022 to support two interdisciplinary research teams that are studying sleep and sleep disorders as part of a Sleep Research Consortium. This additional funding will support a third team that is joining the consortium...READ MORE

Manager, Commercialization

The Manager, Commercialization assists in managing Praxis’ Commercialization Program (including SCI Incubate and SCI Accelerate programs) to expand and strengthen Praxis’ network for commercialization, helps to evaluate technologies and implement mechanisms for mentorship and coaching for SCI technologies based on their specific needs. This position is expected to execute on Praxis’ fundraising strategy to meet initial targets for the Commercialization Program/Innovation Fund from various sources, including government, people of high net worth, and corporate giving from industry....LEARN MORE

Associate Director/Director, CMC

Xenon Pharmaceuticals is seeking an Associate Director/Director, CMC to join the CMC team. The incumbent will be responsible for managing Xenon’s GMP and non-GMP analytical, synthesis and preformulation/solid state analysis contract research organizations (CROs) as well as coordinating preformulation activities performed internally and externally...LEARN MORE

Associate Director, Information Security & Risk Management

Xenon Pharmaceuticals is seeking an Associate Director, Information Security & Risk Management. This role will be responsible for assessing the adequacy and performance of existing security controls, developing a multi-year roadmap to enhance controls and mitigate risk as the company evolves, and executing against that roadmap – i.e. enhancing existing and implementing additional controls as needed...LEARN MORE

LSBC is pleased to announce that Microbiome Insights has rejoined our member community!

Microbiome Insights, Inc. is a global leader providing end-to-end microbiome sequencing and comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. The company is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, where samples from around the world are processed in its College of American Pathologists (CAP) accredited laboratory.

Working with clients from pharma, biotech, nutrition, cosmetic and agriculture companies, and world-leading academic and government research institutions, Microbiome Insights has supported over nine hundred microbiome studies, from basic research to commercial R&D and clinical trials. The company's expert bioinformaticians and data scientists deliver industry-leading insights, including biomarker discovery, machine-learning-based modelling, and customized bioinformatics analysis.

Learn More

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