August 13, 2026 - Hello BioLinks readers | | |
This week:
- Government consultation on immigration priorities: submit by Sep 1
- 2026 pre-budget consultations: share your feedback by Sep 8
- Life Sciences Investment week – get your conference pass
- Celebrate the LSBC Company of the Year and more with us
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Consultations on Economic Priorities for Category-based Selection in Express Entry
Should the government focus on bringing more physicians with Canadian experience, or more researchers into the country? Provide your feedback on the economic priorities the Government of Canada should consider to help address Canada’s economic and labour force needs through category-based selection. You are invited to complete the online survey by September 1, 2026. Learn more.
Federal Government Seeks Input for Budget 2026
Have your say on Budget 2026! The Government of Canada has launched its 2026 pre-budget consultations and is inviting Canadians, businesses, and organizations to share their ideas and priorities. Join the conversation and submit feedback by September 8, 2026 via an online questionnaire or formal submission. Read more.
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Life Sciences Investment Week Will Bring 100 Investors to Vancouver
This year, we are excited for the continued evolution of Invest in BC into Life Sciences Investment Week, which includes the two-day conference as well as a slate of curated side events meant to foster high-value connections. With your Conference and Partnering Pass you will get access to event partnering, and both days of programming featuring keynotes, dynamic panels, and investor-ready company pitches. Learn more and secure your pass today.
| | Photo: Jimmy Jeong/The Globe and Mail | | |
Congratulations to This Year’s LSBC Company of the Year, Kardium!
Last week, Kardium announced they had received Health Canada approval for the Globe® Pulsed Field System. This follows on from last year’s FDA approval and represents another important milestone for Kardium and is especially meaningful as a Canadian based company. Celebrate our Company of the Year, Kardium and our other award winners at our Gala on September 9! Get your tickets before they sell out.
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AbCellera announced some very exciting news this week including positive top-line results from their Phase 2 clinical trial study for a treatment for menopausal women with hot flashes. With the potential to be a best-in-class treatment, this is incredible news for both women’s health and for AbCellera. The team also announced a $200 million public offering. Congrats to the team!
Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals reports symptom response data from its ongoing Phase 1b/2a RESOLVE Trial. Read more.
“The results from this analysis of Phase 1b/2a data, which looks at the proportion of patients that exhibit different levels of symptom severity following treatment with EP-104GI, support our previously released results and implies that EP-104GI is having a meaningful effect for EoE patients,” said Dr. Jeymi Tambiah, Chief Medical Officer of Eupraxia.
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BC’s new SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine has welcomed its first 48 students. The three-year program will prepare future doctors with a strong focus on primary and community-based care, helping strengthen access to health care across province. Read more.
The Government of Canada is providing $24 million to launch Canada’s first national research network focused on cannabis and brain health. The initiative will support research into how cannabis use may affect the brain and help guide future health recommendations and policies. Read more.
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Congratulations to UBC Faculty of Medicine professor Dr. Jim Christenson on receiving the Order of British Columbia, the provinces highest form of recognition. Read more.
Congratulations to UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Researchers Wei Zhang, Kate Johnson, Joel Finbloom, Ly Vu, Jason Min and Colleen Inglis, recognized as part of the $45.8 million in combined funding awarded through the latest CIHR and Health Research BC Competitions. Read more.
Congratulations to UBC Medical student Stephanie Quon on receiving the 2026 Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award. This award recognizes medical students across Canada who have demonstrated outstanding community leadership, superior communication skills and a strong commitment to advancing medical knowledge. Read more.
| | CASTL is welcoming new leaderships Matthew J. Carlyle, Ron Keefe, Heather Delage, Maxime Pesant, Paula Casalino and Sarah Gllagher, where they will help expand CASTL’s national impact, strengthen industry-informed training, and support continued growth and innovation across Canada. Read more. | | Congratulations to Juliette Sabbatani on her appointment as Company Support Advisor at CQDM, where she will support entrepreneurs and help advance the next generation of biotechnology companies in Quebec. Read more. | | |
MedTech companies are invited to take part in the One Six 8 Ventures Global MedTech Showcase on September 29. Eight selected companies will pitch to global investors and industry leaders, including representatives from Johnson & Johnson and Hologic, at no cost. Deadline: August 20, 2026. Learn more.
Startups in regenerative medicine and cell and gene therapy are invited to join JEAP and explore opportunities to grow in Japan through mentorship, industry connections and investor exposure. Final Deadline: October 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. JST. Applications submitted by August 16 Japan time / August 14 Canada time will be reviewed first. Learn more.
A new funding opportunity from Health Research BC is coming this fall. The Mobilize Award will provide up to $20,000 to support postdoctoral fellows, early- and mid-career researchers, and research users across BC in developing and sharing research knowledge through collaborative projects. Applications are expected to open in October 2026. Learn more.
| | See our expanded list of current life sciences opportunities on our website. | | |
| Manzanita Pharmaceuticals is developing a nerve imaging agent to guide surgeons during cancer resections. In 2024-2025 they plan on optioning or selling this “for profit” asset, and relocating to British Columbia to develop their “social impact” assets to treat (i) optic neuritis, that may presage multiple sclerosis; (ii) pain with non-opiate medication; and (iii) Optic Pathway Glioma, a children’s cancer of the optic nerve that affects patients with neurofibromatosis. Learn more. | | |
| Collaborative Drug Discovery (CDD) was established in 2004 when founder & CEO Barry Bunin was an entrepreneur in residence at Eli Lilly & Co. Their product–CDD Vault is a hosted scientific data management platform that gives drug discovery teams a single, trusted system for storing, analyzing, and sharing research data. The software application replaces the fragmented spreadsheets, siloed notebooks, complex data room configurations and disconnected tools that slow science down. Learn more. | | | | Brenda Irwin is the Managing Partner and founder of the Relentless Venture Fund. With more than two decades of experience as a health technology investor, including 12 years as a Partner at BDC Venture Capital, Brenda has sat on the boards of two dozen private and publicly traded organizations. Learn more. | | |
Until next week!
LSBC Team
| | September 9 - The 28th Annual Life Sciences BC Awards is a distinguished occasion that brings together British Columbia’s vibrant life sciences community to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our peers and recognize the tireless efforts of those who have devoted their careers to advancing health innovations. | | November 3-4 - Life Sciences BC is pleased to announce the 11th annual Invest in BC presented by Lumira Ventures. This highly anticipated event serves as a premier gathering for life sciences innovators in British Columbia, connecting them with investors and potential partners locally, nationally, and around the world. | | |
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Creative Biolabs: Addressing Immuno-Oncology Development Bottlenecks from Target Validation to Biologic Optimization
Creative Biolabs is expanding its immuno-oncology services to help researchers develop and test potential cancer treatments more efficiently… Read more.
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AbCellera Announces Positive Top-Line Phase 2 Clinical Trial Results for ABCL635, Demonstrating Significant Reduction in Frequency and Severity of Vasomotor Symptoms and a Favorable Tolerability Profile
AbCellera reported positive Phase 2 results for ABCL635, showing it may help reduce menopause-related hot flashes and improve sleep…Read more.
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BeOne Medicines and Revolution Medicines Announce Clinical Development and Regional Commercialization Collaboration
BeOne Medicines and Revolution Medicines are partnering to develop and expand access to new treatments for patients with certain types of cancer… Read more.
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New research explores how data can help detect disease earlier and improve patient care
Genome BC is supporting six new research projects that use health data to help detect diseases earlier and improve patient care… Read more.
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Labcorp Announces FDA Approval of Companion Diagnostic Supporting Patients with Advanced Melanoma
Labcorp received FDA approval for a new test that helps guide treatment decisions for patients with advanced melanoma… Read more.
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Expanding access to knee osteoarthritis imaging
Clarius is making knee imaging more accessible with portable ultrasound, helping healthcare providers assess osteoarthritis more easily… Read more.
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Fasenra ® (benralizumab) now approved in Canada for Hypereosinophilic Syndrome
Health Canada has approved AstraZeneca’s Fasenra® to help manage hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) in patients aged 12 and older, providing a new option to help control the condition and prevent flare-ups… Read more.
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Itovebi® (inavolisib) now publicly funded in Quebec for advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with a PIK3CA mutation following unanimous recognition of therapeutic value by INESSS
Itovebi® is now publicly covered in Quebec for eligible people with a specific form of advanced breast cancer, giving patients greater access to a targeted treatment that can help delay the cancer’s progression… Read more.
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BD Accelerates Advanced Tissue Regeneration Strategy with Landmark PREVENT Trial
BD has reached a key milestone in its PREVENT clinical trial, which is studying whether Phasix™ Mesh can help reduce the risk of incisional hernias in high-risk patients after abdominal surgery… Read more.
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AbCellera Announces Pricing of Oversubscribed $200 Million Public Offering of Common Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants
AbCellera has raised $200 million through an oversubscribed public offering. The funding will help advance its drug development programs, support research, and strengthen the company’s ongoing growth… Read more.
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Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Reports Symptom Response Data from its Ongoing Phase 1b/2a RESOLVE Trial, Including New Data on Odynophagia (Painful Swallowing) in Eosinophilic Esophagitis Patients
Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals shared positive results from its ongoing RESOLVE trial, showing that its treatment may help reduce painful and difficult swallowing in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)… Read more.
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Helping Protect Others Matters to Canadians, but Vaccine Uptake Gaps Remain Ahead of the Respiratory Illness Season
A new Merck Canada survey found that while Canadians value vaccines, gaps in vaccination remain ahead of respiratory illness season… Read more.
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