September 21st, 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.

At last week's Awards event, we also unveiled this year's edition of the Life Sciences BC Magazine, a collaborative effort with Business in Vancouver.

We are now able to share the digital version with you! Inside, you'll discover insightful articles featuring many of our sector leaders on topics including groundbreaking next-generation therapeutics, BC's talent pipeline, the latest in clinical trials, strategies for sector expansion, valuable messages from government representatives – and more! Read it here and let us know if your organization would like printed copies!

Next week marks the celebration of Global Biotech Week, an event with its roots in Canada since its inception in 2003. This annual event serves as a powerful platform for raising awareness about the biotechnology industry and its immense global potential. It targets policymakers, policy influencers, and the wider public, seeking to shed light on the far-reaching impact of biotechnology.



We encourage our readers in the biotech space to help spread awareness! You can find promotional resources here.

Member Highlights 

BCIT has received $33M in funding towards an exciting new state-of-the-art Trades and Technology Complex, which will increase access for students pursuing a trades and technology education and career and help the Province of BC meet the demand for an estimated 85,000 new trades jobs expected over the next ten years. Learn more.

Barry Allen, CEO of Sonic Incytes - LSBC 2023 "Company to Watch" - shared advancements in their flagship product, Velacur™, at the Life Science Intelligence (LSI) Emerging Medtech Summit in Barcelona. Learn more. 

Dr. Fred Cushner, Chief Surgical Officer at Canary Medical, discusses how new technological advancements can potentially solve healthcare challenges in a recent article from Becker's Healthcare Hospital Review. Read it here.

COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide. A St. Paul's Hospital research team led by Dr. Tillie Hackett was recently featured in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine with their study that aims to prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), using technology that is the first of its kind on the West Coast of Canada and is funded in part through the St. Paul's Foundation and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Learn more. 

The Consulate of Canada in Barcelona, with the backing of the BC government, is at the forefront of a delegation heading to BioSpain. This biennial biotech conference, organized by ASEBIO, the Spanish Bioenterprises Association, will take place from Sept. 26-28 and will feature the participation of 12 Canadian organizations, including four from BC: Bold Therapeutics (who will be making investor pitches and also aLSBC 2023 "Company to Watch"), Response Biomedical, Stemcell Technologies, and SignalChem. The conference agenda includes sessions led by three distinguished Canadian speakers representing Jenthera Therapeutics, iGan Partners, and PEI BioAlliance. Canadian companies will have the opportunity to partake in an extensive program of site tours, allowing them to explore Barcelona's key life sciences centres. To learn more about how you can participate, contact Laetitia MacDougall from the BC Trade and Investment European Representative Office.

Check out this video showcasing a variety of beautiful images of crystals and molecules created by science professor Vance Williams of SFU, a true synergy of art and science.

New Members

We are pleased to welcome the following new LSBC Members: 

Mintz is a general practice, full-service Am Law 100 law firm employing approximately 550+ attorneys serving clients worldwide.

The Terry Fox Research Institute has invested in groundbreaking scientific projects that accelerate discoveries for the benefit of cancer patients. Today, their investment expands beyond flagship basic science and translational research programs.

C-POLAR is an international bioprotection leader offering revolutionary protection against viruses, microorganisms, and fungi amid the rising prevalence of global outbreaks.

Welcome to the LSBC community!

Industry Highlights

Canada recently met with provincial and territorial trade ministers as part of the yearly Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting for Ministers Responsible for International Trade, where they discussed the deep and growing commercial relationship between Canada and the United States. Canada's recently appointed and first Canadian Indo-Pacific trade representative was also introduced. Learn more.

Health Canada has authorized the use of the Moderna SPIKEVAX™ COVID-19 vaccine targeting the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant. Health Canada is also actively reviewing submissions from Pfizer-BioNTech seeking authorization for their COVID-19 vaccine and has received a submission from Novavax for their COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more. 

Kudos

Congratulations to Norma Biln, CEO at Augurex, who is a finalist for the 2023 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, which recognize women business owners across Canada who make impressive and substantial contributions to the local, Canadian, or global economy. See the full list of honourees here.

Congrats to Axolotl Biosciences, which develops bioinks for 3D printing human tissue models for research and drug discovery, for being named in Canada Venture News’ as one of 15 Canadian 3D tech startups that are revolutionizing the industry. Read the article here.

Kudos to UBC Faculty of Medicine researchers Lori Brotto, Jessica Liauw, and Saraswathi Vedam, who are leading three Pan-Canadian Women’s Health Coalition Hubs to improve health care for women and gender-diverse people. Learn more.

Congratulations to our members who have been recognized as 2023 PharmaVoice 100 honorees, recognizing individuals across the life sciences sector for their contribution to patients and the industry. Learn more.

BIOTECanada has awarded Roberto Bellini its Gold Leaf Award for the Game-Changing Industry Leadership category, recognizing an individual who demonstrates exemplary vision in Canadian biotechnology through a global context. Learn more about the Gold Leaf awards here. 

People on the Move

Dr. Teodor Veres, Director of Research and Development at the National Research Council of Canada’s Medical Devices Research Centre, was elected as a 2023 Fellow to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Learn more.

Aspect Biosystems has appointed seasoned biopharmaceutical development executive Lloyd Mackenzie as Chief Technical Operations Officer. Mackenzie brings over 25 years of strategic leadership experience spanning all stages of drug development across therapeutic areas, from discovery to late-stage global clinical trials.

Applications Open

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) have announced a joint funding initiative, "Advancing Socio-Economic Research for Evidence-Informed Public Health Decision-Making," to support research opportunities for evidence-informed public health decision-making on selected public health priority topics in Canada. Applications are due Dec. 15. Learn more.

Innovative Solutions Canada has launched its call for prototypes related to Clean Technology and Climate Change, Health, and Military and Space, offering up to $2.3M in funding to test innovations in real-world environments while providing valuable feedback and the opportunity to have government as a first customer. Applications are due Oct. 3. Learn more from the links provided.

The 2024 Canada-Chicago Mentoring Program (C2MP), a collaboration between the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) and MATTER, Chicago's leading life sciences and healthcare incubator, invites life sciences companies looking to expand its presence in the United States to join their 6-month hybrid mentoring program is designed to support company growth in the US market. The program, which runs from Feb. 7 – Sept. 30, 2024, offers a range of benefits, including live pitch presentations, business-to-business meetings, and educational workshops. Applications are due Sept. 27. Learn more.

CIHR's Health Research Training Platform (HRTP) funding opportunity is now open. It's intended to support the development of interdisciplinary, inter-jurisdictional, and intersectoral research training platforms that will attract a diverse cadre of trainees and early career researchers (ECRs) and equip them with the foundational skills and knowledge required for a wide range of careers within and outside of academia. Applications are due Nov. 15. A virtual information session will be held on Oct. 19 at 2:00 p.m. EST. Learn more.

The European-Canadian Centre for Innovation and Research (ECCIR) is providing a funding opportunity for Canadian SMEs looking to work with innovative partners in Germany. The Canada–Germany 2023-24 collaborative industrial research and development call for proposals (NRC IRAP-ZIM Call 12) is open to companies from Canada and Germany who wish to perform joint R&D leading to technology commercialization focused on developing innovative products, processes, or technology-based services in all technological and application areas that have strong market potential. The Canadian registration deadline is Oct. 13, and the EOI deadline is Oct. 25. Learn more.

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

The Last Word

*Booth update* We look forward to hosting a booth at the upcoming MedTech Conference in Anaheim, CA, October 9 – 11. Please note that our booth number has changed to #225. Please let us know if you plan to attend so we can feature your company in our conference booklet! Learn more. 

Complimentary registration is now open for our highly anticipated Showcase Series: Prince George event on Oct. 18th! This annual gathering celebrates the region's cutting-edge research and innovation, featuring local leaders in research, academia, and industry. Learn more and register here.

This year’s Invest in BC presented by Lumira Ventures, taking place on Nov. 2 at the Terminal City Club, is shaping up to be another incredible event! Selected companies will pitch to investors such as CQDM, CTI Life Sciences Fund, J.P. Morgan, Rising Tide, United Therapeutics, Taiho Ventures, Johnson & Johnson, Merck - and more! Learn more here.

Until next week,

Wendy and the LSBC team

25th Annual LSBC Awards presented by Farris Highlights

Strategic Partnership Agreement Between the RQOH and BFL Canada in Commercial Insurance for Non-profit Housing

The Réseau Québécois des OSBL d’habitation (RQOH) and BFL CANADA have entered into a strategic partnership to execute on a shared mission: ensure the financial well-being of one of Quebec’s largest non-profit housing portfolios. They have initiated a strategic partnership to strengthen the Assurances Sékoia program, established in 2004... READ MORE

Canada’s Biosciences Talent Pool at Risk Without Sustainable Student Internship

BioTalent Canada has issued a new report detailing the success of its national Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) and its positive impact on the severe Labour Market Shortages affecting Canada’s Bioscience industry. This comprehensive report, titled “Biosciences Booster: Student Work Placement Program propelling Canada’s bio-economy forward,” highlights the remarkable success that has been achieved since the bioscience and healthcare SWPP program began in 2017... READ MORE

Filament Health and Jaguar Health Joint Venture Magdalena Biosciences Completes Import of Coca Leaf From Peru

Filament Health Corp., a clinical-stage natural psychedelic drug development company, today announced that Magdalena Biosciences (“Magdalena”), a joint venture formed by Filament and Jaguar Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: JAGX) (“Jaguar Health”), successfully completed an import of coca leaf to Filament’s Metro Vancouver research and development facility... READ MORE

Unlocking Breakthrough Research: Health Research BC Funds 41 Research Trainees to Improve Health and Health Outcomes

Health research enables discovery breakthroughs in the mysteries of health, disease, and sickness, that ultimately lead to effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatments. Michael Smith Health Research BC is providing funding to 41 early career researchers through our Research Trainee Program to enrich BC’s health research talent... READ MORE

AbCellera Expands Multi-Target Antibody Discovery Collaboration with Regeneron

The collaboration, which began in March 2020, leverages AbCellera’s antibody discovery engine and Regeneron’s VelocImmune®mice to identify novel therapeutic antibodies. AbCellera has initiated programs for all four of the original targets, with Regeneron exercising its rights to advance antibody candidates into further preclinical development for the two programs that have been completed... READ MORE

Aspect Biosystems Appoints Lloyd Mackenzie as Chief Technical Operations Officer

Aspect Biosystems, a biotechnology company pioneering the development of bioprinted tissue therapeutics, announced the appointment of Lloyd Mackenzie as the company’s Chief Technical Operations Officer. Mackenzie will oversee all facets of technical operations, including facilities and lab operations, manufacturing, quality control and assurance, regulatory, and project management, further fueling the growth of the company... READ MORE

The Antigen Test Kits Developed by GBM Play a Crucial Role in Mitigating the Transmission of New COVID Variant Which Has Ravaged the World This Fall.

The Omicron variant continues to evolve, with XBB subvariants such as EG.5 continuing to circulate in USA, Canada and globally. EG.5 and another new subvariant, BA.2.86, have recently become a key part of conversations about how this fall’s anticipated spike in COVID-19 cases will play out... READ MORE

Mintz’s Lisa Adams Honored As 2023 Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

Mintz is pleased to share that Member Lisa Adams has been named to the 2023 Top Women of Law list by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Lisa is an esteemed intellectual property attorney whose practice encompasses all areas of intellectual property. She advises clients on a wide range of IP matters including strategic patent portfolio development, clearance to market analyses, acquisitions, diligence, and post-grant proceedings at the US Patent and Trademark Office... READ MORE

BCIT Announces $33M in Funding for New Trades and Technology Complex Showcasing Industry Support and Demand for Grads

BCIT announced a milestone of $33 million in funding towards a new state-of-the-art Trades and Technology Complex. The Trades and Technology Complex will increase access for students pursuing a trades and technology education and career, which will help the Province of BC meet the demand for an estimated 85,000 new trades jobs expected over the next 10 years... READ MORE

McDermott + Bull Has Been Engaged to Lead the Search for Health Research BC, Board Directors

McDermott + Bull has been engaged to lead the search for Health Research BC, Board Directors, seeking to place two distinguished board positions. This search will be led by McDermott + Bull Principal Alex Verdecchia and Search Consultant Alina Ivanets... READ MORE

Renaissance BioScience Appoints Kenneth Judge to the Company’s Board of Directors

Renaissance BioScience Corp., a leading global bioengineering company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Kenneth Judge to the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Judge was appointed a Strategic Advisor to the Renaissance Board in August 2023 and he will now be formally joining the Board as a Director... READ MORE

ESSA Pharma Announces Initiation of Phase 2 Study Evaluating Masofaniten (EPI-7386) in Combination with Enzalutamide in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

ESSA Pharma Inc.,a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for the treatment of prostate cancer, today announced the initiation of the Phase 2 portion of its Phase 1/2 study evaluating its lead candidate, masofaniten, a first-in-class N-terminal domain androgen receptor inhibitor, in combination with Astellas and Pfizer’s antiandrogen enzalutamide in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (“mCRPC”) naïve to second-generation antiandrogens... READ MORE

Faculty of Medicine Researchers Lead New Pan-Canadian Women’s Health Research

The Coalition, comprised of 10 virtual research hubs across Canada, is set to improve health care for women and gender-diverse people and recently received $8.3 million in federal funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Gender and Health and Women and Gender Equality Canada... READ MORE

Publication of Paper

VoxCell is delighted to share a significant milestone achieved by VoxCell BioInnovation – the publication of our groundbreaking paper, “Preclinical Testing Techniques: Paving the Way for New Oncology Screening Approaches.” This collaborative effort is led by VoxCell’s former Biomedical Engineer, Antonia van Rijt, VoxCell’s CEO, Dr. Karolina Valente, and VoxCell’s Lead of Tissue Engineering, Evan Stefanek; it promises to reshape the landscape of preclinical testing in the field of oncology... READ MORE

Johnson & Johnson Marks New Era as Global Healthcare Company with Updated Visual Identity

For more than 135 years, Johnson & Johnson (the “Company”) (NYSE: JNJ) has provided health care products and solutions to people worldwide. Now, with its exclusive focus on healthcare innovation and tackling the toughest health challenges, the Company is updating its brand and uniting both its medtech and pharmaceutical segments under the Johnson & Johnson brand name to demonstrate its collective power in healthcare... READ MORE

AbCellera Announces Collaboration with Incyte to Accelerate the Discovery and Development of Therapeutic Antibodies in Oncology

“We are excited to partner with Incyte, which has a track record of developing first-in-class medicines and bringing them to patients in need,” said Murray McCutcheon, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Partnering at AbCellera. “We look forward to working as an extension of Incyte’s team to address complex antibody discovery challenges and accelerate the development of Incyte’s preclinical pipeline of oncology medicines.”... READ MORE

New Bausch Health Treatment PrUCERIS® (budesonide) Aerosol Foam Now Available Across Canada to Treat Mild to Moderate Distal Ulcerative Colitis in Adults

UCERIS is the only glucocorticosteroid rectal foam available in Canada indicated for the induction of remission in adult patients with active mild to moderate distal ulcerative colitis extending up to 40 cm from the anal verge. In a study comparing budesonide foam and budesonide enema in patients with active distal ulcerative colitis, most patients (84%) preferred the foam formulation because of its better tolerability and easier application... READ MORE

Cytiva Expands Scientific, Digital, and Training Offering in China

Recognizing the long-term needs of the biopharma industry in China and Asia-Pacific, global life sciences leader Cytiva has opened its expanded Shanghai facility. The facility is 11 000 m2, fully operational, and designed to help advance and accelerate the development of novel therapeutics. Customers have access to a wide range of technologies, solutions, and services, including Cytiva’s Fast Trak training center, a Center of Excellence for single-use technologies, and a new automation and digital lab... READ MORE

United Therapeutics Issues its 2023 Corporate Responsibility and Public Benefit Report

United Therapeutics Corporation (Nasdaq: UTHR), a public benefit corporation (PBC), today announced the release of its 2023 Corporate Responsibility and Public Benefit Report covering its 2022 progress toward its public benefit goals and objectives and summarizing its efforts to advance the interests of its patients and other stakeholders... READ MORE

Santis Health Adds Saäd Rafi as an Executive Advisor to Bolster Next Decade of Growth

Saäd Rafi has joined Santis Health as Executive Advisor, bringing three decades of public and private sector leadership experience to support the company’s next stage of growth. At Santis, Saäd will provide senior level strategic counsel to clients to position them for success in Canada’s complex health care eco-system... READ MORE

Paladin Labs Inc., headquartered in Montreal, Canada, is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring or in-licensing innovative pharmaceutical products for the Canadian market.

Paladin has a focused marketing and sales organization that has helped it evolve into a well-known Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company with a breadth of products. Paladin is an operating company of Endo International plc (NASDAQ: ENDP), a highly focused generics and specialty branded pharmaceutical company delivering quality medicines to patients through excellence in development, manufacturing and commercialization.

LEARN MORE

Minister Ng Meets With Provincial and Territorial Trade Ministers

At the meeting, the ministers discussed the deep and growing commercial relationship between Canada and the United States. Minister Ng reaffirmed her commitment to continue working closely with provinces and territories to address shared concerns and enhance North American competitiveness through trade. The Minister emphasized the importance of supporting rules-based trade to enhance competitiveness under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement and Canada’s ongoing to address unjustified U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber... READ MORE

Canada Chicago Mentoring Program (C2MP)

The Trade Commissioner Service is partnering with MATTER, the leading life sciences/healthcare incubator in Chicago, to provide strategic guidance via team-based mentoring to four Canadian start-ups in the 10th annual cohort of the Canada Chicago Mentoring Program (C2MP). If selected, you will participate in a 6-month mentoring program that includes: Day of Acceleration in Chicago. live Pitch Presentations at the start and end of the program, educational workshops, and monthly meetings with your dedicated mentoring team... READ MORE

Health Canada Authorizes Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Targeting the Omicron XBB.1.5 Subvariant

Health Canada has authorized the use of the Moderna SPIKEVAX™ COVID-19 vaccine targeting the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant for people six months of age and older. Health Canada received Moderna’s submission for its new COVID-19 vaccine on June 29, 2023. After a thorough, independent review of the evidence, Health Canada has determined that the vaccine meets the Department’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements... READ MORE

Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub - Industry Partnership Manager

Working under broad directions of the Executive Director of CIEBH, the Industry Partnership Manager will develop and mobilize academic and hospital discoveries originating from the University and its Affiliated Hospitals, through fostering sponsored research, supporting entrepreneurship, developing and implementing knowledge mobilization plans, engaging with researchers and industry, and conducting evaluations...LEARN MORE

Scientist, Preclinical Research

Bold Therapeutics is seeking to hire a Scientist to join and expand their preclinical research team. A successful candidate will support Bold Therapeutics’ preclinical oncology research efforts, with a focus on cellular biology and understanding the mechanism of action of BOLD-100 and our other metallotherapeutics. The role involves collaborating with Bold Therapeutics’ research team, as well as our network of academic and industry partners, to advance the understanding of our key assets...LEARN MORE

Postdoctoral Position at Eyam Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics - Bioinformatician

This is a unique opportunity to experience collaborative research with leading industry and academic experts. The successful candidate will work both in-person, on site at our Vancouver/Greater Vancouver Area offices, and remotely on a project to create and use novel algorithms for the development of self-amplifying nucleic acid vaccines...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

Santis Health is an integrated communications, government relations and strategy firm exclusively focused on providing first-class counsel and support for clients in the health and life sciences sectors.

We operate from an understanding of the context within which our clients work – including expert knowledge of the decision-making processes at play in government and across the health system, the actors and factors that weigh on those processes, and the best possible way to drive collaboration and impact.

LEARN MORE

Stay current by subscribing to this and our events newsletter!

Follow LSBC on Social Media!