Innovation and the support of innovation in the life sciences is extremely important for future success and development within the sector. We’re celebrating this during Access To Innovation, where you will hear industry experts and thought leaders share experience and progress in bringing R&D from bench to bedside. Other sessions include incorporating digital data and envisioning the hospital of the future, diversity in clinical trials, and using IP to support growth.
I’m very honoured to have the Honourable Ravi Kahlon MLA, Minister for Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, joining me for a fireside chat to open Day Two. I’m sure our conversation will be stimulating and full of insight as usual.
Life sciences and the need for innovation seems to be on the agenda federally too. Coverage in The Hill Times this week [paywall Broad support in life sciences innovation vital in preparing for future pandemics, say industry experts] Quoting Andrew Casey, president and CEO of BIOTECanada, the article notes, “More shots on net are what we need to do to prepare for the next [health crisis], not trying to figure out the exact shot we need to take. I think nurturing an ecosystem that develops more solutions, more ideas, the talent, [and] the science, that’s a better play.” Innovation François-Philippe Minister Champagne concentrates on vaccines while describing the boost to self-sufficiency from funding to support biomanufacturing.
Success from innovation comes from a good foundation in science excellence, and our sector in BC is brimming over with it. Recent news from LSBC member, Gandeeva celebrates this. The company has announced successful Series A funding ($40M USD) for its AI-driven cryo-EM platform . Coming out of UBC, the platform has already delivered on the first atomic level imaging of the new Omicron spike protein and, as Tyler Orton writing for BIV notes, also involves support from LSBC members, UBC Medicine, Amgen Ventures and Amplitude Ventures.
In another example of science excellence in action, UBC's School of Biomedical Engineering director, Peter Zandstra, who was recently appointed to the Order of Canada, writes an op ed for The Hill Times. He describes how a multidisciplinary approach without siloes is helping to grow BME expertise.
I’m also celebrating David Lee, Canary Medical, who is listed as an award winner in LifeSci Voice’s 2021 Top Industry Leaders. The list also includes our LSBC global pharma members and sponsors, Merck, Takeda, Pfizer, GSK, J&J, Baisch, LifeLabs and Roche.
People on the move include Dan Mitsuka, who has joined LSBC member, Gowling WLG as a partner in the Administrative Law Group, and BC Chamber of Commerce welcomes Roxanne Schutz as its new VP of Operations. I’m also very pleased to share news from Sonic Incytes Medical Corp. announcing the appointment of Barry Allen as the new CEO and Natalie Dakers as the new Board Chair.
The call for EY Entrepreneur of The Year closes April 15; it would be lovely to see BC life sciences well represented in the nominations.
February 11 is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which is being recognized by LSBC member, Aspect Biosystems with a Women in Biotech panel. Diversity is an important topic in our sector currently; we’re addressing this in sessions at Access To Innovation on its impact on clinical trials and equitable access to healthcare.
Wendy and the LSBC Team
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Gandeeva Therapeutics, a precision biotechnology company harnessing the power of cryogenic electron microscopy and machine learning to develop novel therapeutics at an accelerated pace, announced it has raised US$40 million in Series A funding led by Lux Capital and Leaps by Bayer, with participation from Obvious Ventures, Amgen Ventures, Amplitude Ventures and Air Street Capital . ...Read More
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Roche announced that the U.S. FDA has approved Vabysmo™ (faricimab-svoa) for the treatment of neovascular or “wet” age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema, two leading causes of vision loss worldwide ...Read More
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Pfizer Inc. announces that the European Commission granted marketing authorization for LORVIQUA® (or LORBRENA®) as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)- positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) previously not treated with an ALK inhibitor... .. Read More
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The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has adopted a positive opinion recommending to extend the approval of Dupixent® (dupilumab) in the European Union to include add-on maintenance treatment for children aged 6 to 11 years with severe asthma with type 2 inflammation characterized by raised blood eosinophils and/or raised fractional exhaled nitric oxide who are inadequately controlled on two maintenance therapies. .. Read More
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The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has granted a positive opinion recommending Jardiance® (empagliflozin) for the treatment of adults with symptomatic chronic heart failure, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Co. announced. .. Read More
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Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical stage pharmaceutical development company is pleased to announce that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the Canadian Patent Office for patent application No. 3101853 entitled: Compositions and Methods for Treating Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. .. Read More
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Acuitas Therapeutics announced it has entered into a sponsorship agreement with the 2022 Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair. This is a partner-level sponsorship and is concentrated on encouraging young minds to get involved in science. .. Read More
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Gowling WLG is pleased to announce that Dan Misutka has joined the firm as a partner in the Administrative Law Group. He will split his time between our Calgary and Vancouver offices. .. Read More
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Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics announced data from six preclinical studies demonstrating that molnupiravir, an investigational oral antiviral COVID-19 medicine, was active against the SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron (B1.1.529) in vitro. .. Read More
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Virogin Biotech, a clinical-stage biotech company, announces their Investigational New Drug application for VG161 has been granted by the U.S. FDA, allowing Virogin to initiate a Phase II clinical trial of VG161. .. Read More
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Zymeworks Inc., announced the closing of its previously announced underwritten public offering of 11,035,000 common shares, including the exercise in full of the underwriters' option to purchase 1,875,000 additional shares, and, in lieu of common shares to certain investors, pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 3,340,000 common shares . .. Read More
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Following the closing of its US$7.3M Series A raise in December 2021, the Sonic Incytes Medical Corp. Board of Directors announced the appointment of Barry Allen as the new CEO and Natalie Dakers as the new Board Chair to lead the company through its next stage of growth. .. Read More
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Virogin Biotech, a clinical-stage biotech company, announceD that their Investigational New Drug application for VG201 has been granted by the U.S. FDA, allowing Virogin to initiate a Phase I clinical trial of VG201. .. Read More
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Medtronic Canada ULC, a subsidiary of Medtronic plc, a global leader in healthcare technology, applauds the Alberta government's announcement of a comprehensive reimbursement program for continuous glucose monitoring for eligible residents living with diabetes, under the age of 18. .. Read More
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Cytiva, a global life sciences leader, announces the winner of its first BioChallenge for the Australia and New Zealand region. The competition attracted 32 proposals from academic institutions and start-up companies across the region’s biotechnology industry.. .. Read More
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Health Canada invites you to complete a short survey. At this time, we are looking to engage stakeholders for feedback and satisfaction survey on HC programs... READ MORE
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Evonik Health Care partners with the world’s pharmaceutical, medical device and nutraceutical companies to transform complexity into value. Their core competencies allow them to specialize where you need them most, ensuring access to the right people, products and capabilities to streamline your path to market and improve commercial performance.
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Kardium Inc. is a rapidly growing medical solutions company that has developed an advanced system for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), which affects more than 37 million people worldwide. The Globe® Mapping and Ablation System is the most complete solution for AF, offering single-shot pulmonary vein isolation, high-definition mapping, and atrial ablation - all in a single catheter.
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Growth Marketing Manager
International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) is seeking a Growth Marketing Manager who is responsible for managing and integrating the marketing and communications strategy for the Society consistent with their global branding and positioning.
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Research Scientist
Qu Biologics Inc. is seeking a Research Scientist who can multi-task and learn new skills efficiently and be adaptive to growth to ensure Qu’s SSI Technology Platform is fully supported in process & assay development and testing.
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LSBC Job Board
Jobs posted to our Job Board automatically post out to all our social media accounts for wider sharing. Make sure you include your company name in the first line of your job ad for maximum exposure!
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Post 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
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