April 3, 2025 - Hello BioLinks Readers!

LSBC President & CEO Wendy Hurlburt is thrilled to join the Board of Nimbus Synergies, an early-stage health tech investment firm along with Bree Stanlake, Vancouver Site Director for Creative Destruction Lab (CDL). These appointments mark a pivotal step in Nimbus’ evolution to become Canada’s leading health technology venture investment platform. Read more.

Peter Zandstra, director of UBC's School of Biomedical Engineering, discusses the opportunity for Canada to attract talented scientists and engineers due to instability in U.S. science. He highlights the importance of creating conditions for returning talent and strengthening Canada's leadership in health tech innovation. Zandstra advocates for long-term funding, strategic collaboration, and incentives for private and global investment in Canadian research. He also emphasizes the need for policies supporting domestic health tech manufacturing, streamlined regulatory frameworks, and national integration of innovation efforts. Read more (Globe & Mail subscription required).

Join us next Monday, April 7 as we celebrate the opening of UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering. Open house from 12-3 PM. Learn more.

Good news, in times of bad news, always brings more light to the hard work of our life sciences sector. Congratulations to BC-based Chinook Therapeutics on the FDA approval of atrasentan (Vanrafia). Novartis acquired Chinook Therapeutics in 2023 for $3.2 billion upfront with a conditional payment tied to FDA approval. Novartis has positioned Vanrafia as a “foundational therapy” in IgAN because it can address a broad population of patients with persistent proteinuria. Read more.

Member Highlights 

HEALWELL completes the acquisition of Orion Health, becoming a global leader in healthcare data interoperability and artificial intelligence. Read more. 

Sanofi receives Health Canada approval for once-weekly ALTUVIIIO® for the treatment of Hemophilia A. Read more.

UBC Faculty of Medicine and BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute developed a new way to quickly find personalized treatments for young cancer patients. Read more.

NervGen announces expanded access to allow treatment use of the investigational product NVG-291 for those individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) who have participated in NervGen clinical trials and meet specific eligibility criteria. Read more.

Industry Highlights

The Honourable Darren Fisher, MP for Dartmouth–Cole Harbour, announced a $5 million non-repayable investment in Neptune BioInnovation Inc. to create a multi-user bio-innovation hub in Nova Scotia. Read more.

Government of British Columbia launches its health authority review to optimize resources for patient care and reduce unnecessary administrative costs. Read more.

Government of British Columbia is offering free additional COVID-19 and measles vaccines, prioritizing those at higher risk of severe illness. Read more.

Kudos

Congratulations to Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute investigator and UBC ICORD director Dr. Brian Kwon for being awarded UBC’s premier research honour: the Jacob Biely Faculty Research Prize. Read more.

Kudos to TruMotion Technologies Ltd. for being selected as a funding recipient in the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation’s inaugural Ignite program. Read more.

Applications Open

Applications are now open for BioTalent Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), a work-integrated learning initiative designed to enhance the job readiness of students enrolled in STEM, healthcare, business, and other programs at Canadian post-secondary institutions. Learn more.

Applications open for Rhode Island Life Sciences Hub’s New Business Attraction Program. Life science companies seeking to establish their first presence in Rhode Island may be eligible for funding through this program. The next application deadline is May 25, 2025. Learn more.

See our expanded list of current life sciences opportunities on our website.

Member Spotlight

UBC Venture Funds - The UBC Venture Funds invest in UBC originated ventures that are built upon the amazing research and innovation emerging from UBC as a global top 40 research university. Our investment capital comes from donors who not only support UBC and its entrepreneurs but also allow the UBC Venture Funds to become evergreen funds with a generational impact on UBC, British Columbia and beyond. Learn more.

Until next week!

LSBC Team

May 26 - Join us for Innovation & Investment Insider Tours

The Innovation & Investment Insider Tours is a curated investor experience showcasing groundbreaking innovation in cleantech, life sciences, and creative tech. Connect with high-growth companies, industry leaders, and investors in a dynamic setting designed for meaningful conversation. The event will begin with transportation from downtown Vancouver to Surrey, the fastest-growing city in the Metro Vancouver region, for a networking lunch, followed by three sector-specific investment tours.

May 27-30 - Join us for Web Summit Vancouver

Web Summit Vancouver is one of the most anticipated global technology conferences, bringing together industry leaders, startups, investors, innovators. Attending this event offers companies unparalleled networking opportunities, access to cutting-edge insights, and exposure to potential business growth avenues. 

Productive and Durable Protein A Resins Bring Cost Efficiency to mAb Capture

Cytiva developed two new protein A resins: the MabSelect SuRe 70 and the MabSelect PrismA X...Read more.

Researchers Develop New Way to Match Young Cancer Patients with the Right Drugs

The team is the first in Canada to combine these two techniques to identify and test a drug for a young patient’s tumour in time for their treatment...Read more.

HEALWELL Completes Acquisition of Orion Health, Becoming a Global Leader in Healthcare Data Interoperability and Artificial Intelligence

HEALWELL AI Inc., a healthcare artificial intelligence company focused on preventative care, is pleased to announce the Company has acquired all of the ordinary shares of Orion Health...Read more.

All Provinces and Territories Sign Rare Disease Drug Agreements

Quebec signed a bilateral agreement under the federal government’s National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases, making it the final jurisdiction to do so...Read more.

Media Update: Once-weekly ALTUVIIIO® Approved in Canada for the Treatment of Adults, Adolescents and Children Living with Hemophilia A

Health Canada has issued Notice of Compliance (NOC) for ALTUVIIIO® for the treatment of adults, adolescents and children with hemophilia A...Read more.

Nimbus Synergies Bolsters Health Tech Leadership with Strategic Board Appointments

Nimbus Synergies is pleased to announce the appointment of Wendy Hurlburt and Bree Stanlake to its Board of Directors...Read more.

NervGen Initiates Expanded Access Policy

NervGen Pharma Corp. announced the company has initiated an expanded access policy to allow treatment use of the investigational product NVG-291 for those individuals with spinal cord injury...Read more.

Semaglutide 2.4 mg Reduces Burden of Total Cardiovascular Events in People with Established Cardiovascular Disease and Overweight or Obesity

A new sub-analysis of the SELECT trial data shows semaglutide 2.4 mg substantially reduces the burden of total cardiovascular events in people with established CVD and overweight or obesity without diabetes...Read more.

SCORE Analysis of Semaglutide 2.4 mg Demonstrated Risk Reduction in Cardiovascular Events in a Real-world Setting

Novo Nordisk presented new data from the retrospective, observational SCORE study that assessed treatment with semaglutide 2.4 mg and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events...Read more.

Vertex Announces Program Updates for Type 1 Diabetes Portfolio

Vertex has completed enrollment and dosing in Parts A and B of the Phase 1/2 VX-264 (cells + device) study and the planned analysis at Day 90 for Part B...Read more.

Laboratory Technician

The Laboratory Technician will conduct accurate diagnostic specimen testing and reporting, reinforcing our position as a pioneer in autoimmune diagnostics. This role demands meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to quality and efficiency to uphold our high standards...Learn more.

Senior Scientist – Structural Biology

The Structural Biology laboratory provides comprehensive molecular insights and structure-based design for drug-target assessment, mechanism of action, protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions, as well as protein engineering to facilitate drug discovery across various therapeutic areas...Learn more.

Scientist – Immunology

The candidate will be responsible for leading a small team in the development of novel mRNA-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease...Learn more.

Chief Executive Officer

As CEO, you will provide strategic vision, leadership, and influence to drive Health Research BC’s mission forward. Reporting to the Board of Directors, you will engage with a diverse range of partners to enhance the province’s health research ecosystem...Learn more.

Partnerships Specialist

You will be responsible for identifying and negotiating partnerships with external organizations. In this role, you will establish and nurture relationships with funding partners, proactively seek new opportunities, and ensure compliance with partnership agreements...Learn more.

Analytical Chemistry Manager – up to 18-month Maternity Leave Replacement

This position reports to the Vice President of CMC and is responsible for the management of technical operations related to analytical services of existing operations for the supply of existing and new sustained release drug products...Learn more.

Associate / Sr Associate – Biologics Discovery (14-Month Contract)

You will perform flow cytometry testing and analysis, including sample preparation, instrument calibration, data acquisition, and data analysis. Your expertise will contribute to the development of novel antibody-based therapeutics for serious illnesses...Learn more.

Process Development Scientist

The Process Development Scientist will be responsible for leading the development of novel viscous liquid formulations, the practical process scale up and ultimately involved in the detailed technology transfer to contract 3rd party manufacturing facilities...Learn more.

Research Scientist

This role contributez to the R&D of pipeline products and the existing lead drug candidate for treating osteoarthritis and eosinophilic esophagitis. The successful candidate will be a highly motivated, independent and creative scientist, ideally with previous academic and/or industrial experience...Learn more.

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