|
|
Summer is well underway in the city and life seems be heading to a new normal. Alongside the heat, Business in Vancouver writer, Tyler Orton, notes that Vancouver has climbed one step higher to become the no. 11 tech hub in North America.
Over the last 16 months, we’ve been following our Life Sciences BC members with interest as they’ve flexed and pivoted to support local, federal and global efforts for healthcare with great success. In addition to vaccine technology, therapeutics and medical device innovation, members are also involved in research on the aftereffects of the pandemic.
|
|
One example is a study managed by LSBC member, CHÉOS on people who tested positive for COVID-19. The study, which is part of CANCOV, the Canadian COVID-19 Prospective Cohort Study, that will follow individuals for three years, amassing data from multiple sites including St. Paul’s Hospital. Results should help researchers solve the puzzle of long COVID to enable development of therapeutic strategies. There’s a link to enroll for the study here.
LSBC sponsors, Pfizer and AbbVie have also announced their involvement in a collaborative project to aid therapeutic discovery. The platform uses whole exome sequencing data from UK Biobank participants. As the world’s largest browsable resource, scientists worldwide now have access to data linking rare protein-coding genetic variants to human health and disease.
LSBC Members in the News
UBC Faculty of Medicine announces the appointment of Dr. Nadine Caron as Special Advisor on Indigenous Health to the Vice-President, Health and to the Dean. “In this newly-created role, Dr. Caron will provide vision, leadership, and diplomacy in advancing both UBC Health’s and the Faculty of Medicine’s strategic focus on promoting an Indigenous lens on collaborative health education and research.”
Catch up with LSBC Board Member, Jennifer Cudlipp in this great Q&A with the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade here.
And congratulations to ABOzymes and Axolotl, listed by Nature in the 2021 Spinoff Prize list of university "Spin-Offs to Watch"
|
|
We also have advertising opportunities coming up in our annual magazine that can amplify your presence Please scroll down the newsletter for more details.
LSBC Team
|
|
|
|
Investor Readiness Program – Open for Applications |
Are you a B.C SME in the life sciences industry? Looking to learn and get experience in pitching for potential investors? Become investor-ready with LSBC’s Investor Readiness Program!
A 7-month program designed around individual coaching and complemented by educational workshops, goal setting, peer-to-peer feedback, and conference opportunities, this program brings together SMEs & matches them with experienced and well-networked life sciences EIRs. Apply here
For questions regarding the program, please contact William Burrows, Director of Business &Operations
|
|
|
|
Our annual magazine, Life Sciences 2021, in production with Business in Vancouver, hits the stands in late September to coincide with our annual Awards ceremony. The deadline for an ad buy is August 11; further details and a media kit are available.
Please contact Laura Torrance, Sales Manager with BIV on 604-608-5145 or ltorrance@biv.com.
|
|
|
|
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. and New York, NY– Today, access to the world’s largest browsable resource linking rare protein-coding genetic variants to human health and disease was launched through a genetic exome sequence analysis collaboration between AbbVie, Biogen Inc. and Pfizer. Managed by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, the browser gives access to results from analyses of whole exome sequencing data from 300,000 UK Biobank research participants. READ MORE
|
|
|
|
VANCOUVER, BC – Incisive Genetics Inc., a privately held biotech company specializing in the research and development of a novel non-viral delivery platform for targeted CRISPR-based gene therapies, announced the close of its $2.5 million seed financing. The financing syndicate was led by investors Noel Hall and Sandra MacPherson of the MacHall group and Haig Farris, OC. READ MORE
|
|
|
|
VANCOUVER, BC, – ImmunoFlex™, a life sciences company developing products based on advancements in genomics research announced that it has completed and analyzed its clinical trial of 21 patients, aged 60 to 70 years. The exploratory trial was the latest of several small trials where ImmunoFlex has focused on analysing immune system modulation at a genomic level resulting from treatment with compounds including CBD, THC, NAC and several other widely available compounds. READ MORE
|
|
|
|
Vancouver, BC – Qu Biologics Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSIs), a novel platform of immunotherapies designed to restore innate immune function, is pleased to announce that data from Qu’s RESTORE clinical trial were presented at the 16th Congress of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO). READ MORE
|
|
|
|
VANCOUVER, BC– AbCellera, a technology company with a centralized operating system for next-generation antibody discovery, announced today that Neil Berkley has been appointed as Chief Business Officer (CBO). Mr. Berkley’s role will include leading the strategy and continued growth of AbCellera’s partnership business, which currently includes a diverse portfolio of more than 100 programs with drug developers of all sizes. READ MORE
|
|
|
|
VANCOUVER, BC– NervGen Pharma Corp, a clinical stage biotech company dedicated to creating innovative solutions for the treatment of nervous system damage, today announced the addition of three world-class scientists and clinical researchers to its Alzheimer’s Disease Scientific Advisory Board. Drs. Martin Farlow, Reisa Sperling and Michael Weiner have agreed to join Drs. Jeffrey Cummings, Bruce Lamb, George Perry and Henrik Zetterberg on the Alzheimer’s Disease Scientific Advisory Board to guide NervGen as it prepares for the Phase 1b clinical trial of its lead compound, NVG-291, in Alzheimer’s patients that is slated to begin in 2022. READ MORE
|
|
|
|
Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced the launch of a new clinical research program that will evaluate the use of the drug Ifenprodil (NP-120) in treating pancreatic cancer. The announcement followed the positive results of a study that demonstrated Ifenprodil’s significant anti-tumor effect in an animal model of pancreatic cancer. READ MORE
|
|
|
|
Why do some people infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 get severe disease while others have no symptoms? Why do some experience long-term effects and others recover quickly? These are some of the questions that a new study, launching this week at St. Paul’s Hospital, aims to answer. READ MORE
|
|
|
|
In its seventh year of implementation, trading partners involved in manufacturing, distributing, and dispensing prescription drugs in the U.S. (Industry) continue to grapple with requirements of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), working to set up a fully interoperable electronic system for securing and tracing products across Industry sectors by November 2023. The goal of the DSCSA is to produce a system that enhances national pharmaceutical supply chain security; achieving this goal has required two phases of implementation.
|
|
|
|
- Support the transition to a green economy
- Foster an inclusive recovery
- Preserve Canada's competitiveness and future-proof SMEs through digital adoption
- Strengthen capacity in sectors critical to Canada’s recovery/growth
|
|
 |
Herstasis Health is a Vancouver-based medical device and data science company working to give the one billion women aged 35-55 undergoing menopause more control of their changing sexual and reproductive health. Herstasis will enable global translational research in women’s health, along with physician decision support, and ultimately personalized medicine for menopausal women experiencing traumatic and untreated changes in their physical and mental health.
|
|
|
|
Gilead Sciences is a research-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative medicines. As they pursue this goal, Gilead strives for positive social and environmental change within their company and supply chain. Gilead’s management approach is designed to create a sustainable future that reflects their integrity and commitment to excellence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
PERSPECTIVES ON GLOBAL HEALTHCARE INNOVATION |
What’s driving innovation in life science and healthcare? SVB is committed to serving the ecosystem by providing industry-leading reports featuring proprietary analysis and targeted outlooks to help companies and investors achieve their goals. Twice a year we publish deep-dive analyses describing fundraising, investment, M&A and IPO activity of private, venture-backed biopharma, medical device and diagnostic/tools companies. Our deep relationships with top life science and healthcare entrepreneurs and investors inform our insights and give us a vantage point unlike any other bank. To find out more about Silicon Valley Bank click here
|
|
|
|
Posting A Job on the LSBC Website |
LSBC Membership Discounts on Job Postings
As an LSBC member, your first five job postings EARNS a free repost on BioTalent Canada's The Petri Dish After your first five reposts, you will also receive 25% off all job postings on The Petri Dish. Want more info? CONTACT: Peter McLoughlin - talent@lifesciencesbc.ca
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
