September 11, 2025 - Hello BioLinks Readers!

This week:

• The Time is Now for Canada to Lead in Life Sciences
• Kardium receives FDA approval of the Globe® Pulsed Field System
• Northern Centre for Clinical Research Launches First Clinical Trial
• Sep 17: Get Ready for Invest in BC Webinar 
•  Featuring LSBC Deal of the Year: NanoVation Therapeutics

The Time is Now for Canada to Lead in Life Sciences

This is an inflection point for Canadian life science innovators. This morning Wendy Hurlburt joined a panel of Canadian thought leaders to discuss current geopolitical shifts and Canada’s strategy for life sciences innovation. As one of the most highly educated countries in the world Canada has a unique opportunity to lead in life sciences. 

From the panel a few things are clear, the life sciences sector has emerged as a priority for many countries, making it highly competitive global environment for investment and talent. There are several opportunities for Canada to rise to the occasion. While domestic funding does a great job at supporting early-stage companies, much of later stage capital comes from international sources. Speed is critical in terms of accessing capital and also intechnology adoption.

Continuing to work with government at multiple levels and forming a national industrial strategy is another key component. Integrating life sciences into our national defense strategy will ensure lessons that were learned from the pandemic are not forgotten. Government’s central role in investment is not to fund everything, but rather to act as a catalyst to attract a syndication of investors to support Canadian born innovations. Technology, including AI, has opened possibilities for life sciences in terms of speed and impact that were not available years ago.

Canada must act quickly and collaboratively to seize the moment and unlock its potential as a global leader in life sciences innovation, leveraging strengths in research, advancing national strategies, optimizing policies and regulatory pathways, and improving access to capital for sector-wide impact.

Kardium receives FDA approval of the Globe® Pulsed Field System

The big news last week was Kardium’s pre-market approval (PMA) for the Globe® Pulsed Field System and 510(k) clearance for both the Globe® Introducer sheath and the Globe® Pulsed Field System mapping software from the FDA. Congratulations to the Kardium team for this huge milestone, representing more than 15 years of dedication in pursuit of this mission. 

“The FDA approval of the Globe System represents the most significant milestone in the life of Kardium.” said Kevin Chaplin, CEO of Kardium. “We are extremely proud of the achievements of the team to deliver on our mission of developing the best treatment for AF. The Globe System supports a personalized, efficient, and effective AF treatment.” Read more.

Northern Centre for Clinical Research Launches First Clinical Trial

The Northern Centre for Clinical Research (NCCR) has launched its first clinical trial at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) in Prince George, providing people in rural, remote and Indigenous communities the opportunity to participate in research for a potential new treatment for chronic kidney disease.

The NCCR is a collaborative initiative between the UBC Faculty of Medicine, the University of Northern BC and Northern Health. Launched in 2022, the Centre aims to strengthen the capacity and coordination of clinical and life sciences research in northern BC by bringing together local partners and facilitating resource and expertise sharing across the region.

LSBC Growth Catalyst Program Fall Cohort Meeting

This week, LSBC welcomed companies from our Growth Catalyst Program for their fall cohort meeting. We are proud to support these high-growth companies through critical inflection points to attract capital, grow revenue, and build the workforce for BC’s regional economic development. We thank PacifiCan for partnering with LSBC to offer this program.   

Programming included a panel focused on the investor lens, along with discussion and breakout session time with investor panelists Allison Gaw (Amplitude Ventures), Lu Han (Lumira Ventures), Maria Pacella (Pender Ventures) and Jason Robertson (Nimbus Synergies). Panelist conversations featured themes of funding diversification, investor preparation, nontraditional pathways to success, and a view into their own evaluation processes, while casual networking breaks fostered community. This investment-focused session set the stage and built momentum for our upcoming Invest in BC on October 28-29. 

Learn more about the Growth Catalyst Program cohort here. 

Featuring LSBC Deal of the Year: NanoVation Therapeutics

Co-founded by Dr. Pieter Cullis, Dr. Dominik Witzigmann and Dr. Jay Kulkarni, NanoVation Therapeutics is delivering tomorrow’s genetic medicines, today. NanoVation develops scalable, nucleic acid-agnostic lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations customized for specific targets, payloads and routes of administration. 

“LNP-RNA drugs are rapidly causing a revolution in medicine. Almost any disease you care to name can potentially be treated using an RNA-based gene therapy” — Co-Founder Dr. Pieter Cullis 

This year, the company is recognized for its multi-target partnership with Novo Nordisk to develop genetic medicines targeting cardiometabolic and rare diseases. Novo Nordisk and NanoVation will collaborate on two lead programs to develop base-editing therapies for certain rare genetic diseases, and up to five additional future targets for cardiometabolic and rare diseases. NanoVation will receive research funding and is eligible to receive up to approximately US$600 million in up-front cash and potential milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on future product sales as part of the multi-year deal.

We look forward to celebrating this incredible deal with NanoVation Therapeutics on October 2. Tickets are selling fast; we are over 90% sold out for the Awards Gala. Book your tickets today.

Member Highlights 

Abdera Therapeutics presents initial Phase 1 Clinical data on ABD-147, a next-generation radiopharmaceutical therapy. Based on these initial data, the independent safety review committee recommended continuation of dose escalation with ABD-147. Read more.

Evonik and Ethris have teamed up to advance nucleic acid delivery, combining their expertise to accelerate the development of RNA-based therapies and vaccines. Read more.

Thryv Therapeutics receives FDA IND clearance of THRV-1268 for heart failure and atrial fibrillation and presents preclinical results. Read more.

Johnson & Johnson announced results from a clinical study showed RYBREVANT® (amivantamab-vmjw) plus LAZCLUZE® (lazertinib) demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful overall survival improvement for patients with lung cancer. This chemotherapy-free combination ushers in new era for first-line treatment, with overall survival projected to exceed four years, surpassing monotherapy TKI osimertinib by more than one year. Read more.

Ecosystem Highlights

Ontario has launched the Health Innovation Pathway to fast-track new medical technologies, improving patient care and supporting local innovators. Read more.

The Competition Bureau launched a consultation to guide a study on SME lending. Focusing on term loans, the study will examine how major banks may limit competition and raise borrowing costs. Feedback is open until October 3, 2025. Read more.

Government of Canada launches initiative to keep small- and medium-sized businesses growing in the face of trade challenges. The Regional Tariff Response Initiative will be delivered by PacifiCan in British Columbia to help B.C. businesses respond, adapt, and continue to compete. Read more.

Kudos

Congratulations to Wendy Lamson, NanoVation’s Chief IP Officer, who has been named to the IAM Strategy 300: World’s Leading IP Strategists 2025! Read more.

Congratulations to Dr. Matthew Macauley on being named a Member in the Royal Society of Canada, Canada’s highest academic honour. Read more.

Brad Nelson, a UVic scholar is recognized by the Royal Society of Canada, the pre-eminent body of independent scholars, researchers and creative individuals in the country. Read more.

People on the Move

As of September 30, 2025, Dr. Bev Holmes will conclude her term as President and CEO of Health Research BC. During her tenure, she secured over $238M in funding, expanded partnerships, and strengthened BC’s health research system. We thank her for her dedication and leadership. Read more.

AbCellera appoints Dr. Sarah Noonberg as Chief Medical Officer. Read more.



InBC appoints Thomas Park as new Chief Investment Officer. Read more.

Virica Biotech welcomes James Taylor, co-founder and former CEO of Precision NanoSystems, to its Board of Directors. Read more.

Applications Open

Meet with J&J in Vancouver. Members of the West North America Johnson and Johnson Innovation Global Partnering Team will be in Vancouver Monday October 27, 2025 to meet with early-stage startups and Life Science innovators before the Invest in BC Conference. Our goal is to be a point of entry into J&J. Read more.

Are you a health care professional conducting innovative research at Vancouver Coastal Health or Providence Health Care? Registration is now open for the 2026 VCHRI Innovation and Translational Research Awards. These awards support innovative research that will have an impact on patient care and provide savings for the health system. Register by November 3. Learn more.

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

Member Spotlight

eSense Health - is a digital health company dedicated to closing the care gap in women’s sexual health. Rooted in evidence-based science and developed by leading experts in clinical psychology and sexual medicine, eSense delivers self-guided, digital therapy grounded in gold-standard Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Therapy.

Our flagship program, designed initially for women in midlife experiencing low sexual desire and related distress, offers a private, accessible, and effective alternative to traditional therapy. Backed by a peer-reviewed randomized controlled trial—eSense empowers users to take control of their sexual well-being on their own terms, by addressing the stigma, cost and access that prevent many women from getting the help they need.



Until next week!

LSBC Team

October 2 - Join us for our 27th Annual Life Sciences BC Awards

This distinguished occasion 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.

October 28 - 29 - Join us for our 10th Annual Invest in BC presented by Lumira Ventures

Life Sciences BC is pleased to announce the 10th 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.

Acuitas Therapeutics and Collaborators Demonstrate Strong Protection Against P. vivax Malaria with mRNA-LNP Vaccine

Acuitas Therapeutics published a study in Molecular Therapy – Nucleic Acids on an mRNA-LNP vaccine targeting Plasmodium vivax. The vaccine showed a strong immune response and protection in mice...Read more

Idorsia to Collaborate with Two Leading Academic Medical Centers to Launch IMPACT-HTN – a US Initiative to Transform Care for Patients with Difficult-to-Control Hypertension

Idorsia Ltd. partners with Stanford and Duke Heart Centers to launch IMPACT-HTN, a three-phase program aiming to modernize treatment for difficult-to-control hypertension…Read more

RYBREVANT® (amivantamab-vmjw) Plus LAZCLUZE® (lazertinib) Offers Unmatched Survival Benefit in a Chemotherapy-Free Regimen, Reducing Treatment Resistance vs Osimertinib in First-line EGFR-Mutated NSCLC

Johnson & Johnson shared new data showing RYBREVANT® and investigational subcutaneous amivantamab offer improved outcomes and a better treatment experience for patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC…Read more

Data Published in The New England Journal of Medicine Demonstrate RYBREVANT® (amivantamab-vmjw) Plus LAZCLUZE® (lazertinib) is Re-Setting Survival Expectations in First-Line EGFR-Mutated Lung Cancer

Johnson & Johnson announced NEJM published Phase 3 MARIPOSA results showing RYBREVANT® plus LAZCLUZE® improves survival in first-line NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations… Read more

GSK Begins Shipping Influenza Vaccine Doses for the 2025-26 Flu Season in Canada

GSK Canada has begun shipping its Fluviral seasonal flu vaccine to provinces ahead of the 2025–26 flu season...Read more

Idorsia Highlights Very Low Real-World Abuse Potential of DORA Class for Insomnia Treatment at WSC 2025

Idorsia Ltd. presented real-world FAERS data at World Sleep 2025, showing how dual orexin receptor antagonists compare to other insomnia treatments…Read more

Northern Centre for Clinical Research Launches First Clinical Trial

The Northern Centre for Clinical Research has started its first clinical trial at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia, offering rural and Indigenous communities a chance to participate in research for a potential new chronic kidney disease treatment...Read more

Noa Therapeutics – National Eczema Association Awards Grant to Johns Hopkins University to Investigate Noa Therapeutics’ Novel Treatment for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases

Johns Hopkins University received a National Eczema Association grant to study Noa Therapeutics’ novel treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases, including atopic dermatitis…Read more

Cytiva and WhiteLab Genomics team up to use AI to accelerate cell line development

Cytiva and WhiteLab Genomics collaborate to leverage AI in accelerating stable cell line development for AAV-based genomic medicines, aiming to reduce development timelines and costs by up to 70%...Read more

Principal Immunoengineer – Protein Design & Immunogenicity (Large Molecule Discovery)

You will lead translational efforts in protein design with a mission to eliminate or reduce immunogenicity in large molecule therapeutics. This pivotal role bridges experimental immunology and computational science to ensure novel biologics are safe and effective from the outset...Learn more.

Senior Scientist – Directed Evolution & Protein Design, Large Molecule Discovery 

This role will specifically involve leading our enzyme engineering efforts around discovering novel therapeutics for rare and genetic diseases. Such efforts will entail the use of directed molecular evolution and rational design, including computational approaches...Learn more.

QC Team Coordinator

Proactively collaborate with stakeholders of various functional groups to prioritize the work for QC to meet the business needs to achieve the best-in-class operation for a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO)...Learn more.

Manager, Memberships & Sponsorships

This role will manage the portfolio of the members and sponsors. With responsibility for securing agreements, the Manager, Memberships and Sponsorships leads acquisition and retention strategies and the research of members’ and sponsors’ needs and opportunities...Learn more.

Scientist - Structural Biology 

This position supports 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.

Research Assistant, In Vivo Pharmacology 

Seeking an experienced research assistant to work in the Preclinical Group, reporting to the Senior Research Scientist, Preclinical. The research assistant will be responsible for conducting and supporting in vivo/in vitro studies to characterize the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics/distribution...Learn more.

Associate Scientist, Purification Analytics (12 Month Contract)

This specialized group is responsible for the high-throughput generation of tool and lead candidate large molecules for therapeutic discovery programs. It leverages a state-of-the-art, fully automated Biofoundry to produce recombinant DNA and protein...Learn more.

Research Associate I, Translational Biology & Pharmacology

The successful candidate will spend the majority of their time performing, analyzing, and interpreting endpoint assays to support in vivo pharmacology workflows, generating critical data to inform go/no-go decisions in platform development and preclinical drug discovery activities...Learn more.

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