Life Sciences BC News, October 10, 2024

We welcomed a new cohort to our annual Investor Readiness Program this week as we kicked off our fifth year of the program. This year, ten BC small- and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) were matched with individual Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) for an exciting six-month program that will prepare them for due diligence, pitching, and other requisites for an investor audience.

Our President & CEO, Wendy Hurlburt will also be speaking with an inspiring panel of leaders at the OBIO Women Leaders in Life Sciences Breakfast in Toronto. Join Wendy for this dynamic event and discover the incredible impact women are making in the life sciences sector. Learn more and register here.

Do you work in life sciences but don't have a scientific background?

Want to gain a foundational understanding and have more confidence when speaking with colleagues and clients?

Registration for our BioBasics 101 on December 4-5 is now open. Learn more.

Member Highlights 

AI Clinical Research announces start-up activities for studies in osteoarthritis, lung cancer, glioblastoma, and multiple myeloma.

Evonik established a new global network to develop system solutions that address upstream challenges in cell culture. Read more.

Variational AI, the developer of the Enki™ generative artificial intelligence (AI) platform for drug discovery, announced a collaboration with ImmVue Therapeutics Inc. Under the collaboration, Variational AI will deliver novel and selective lead compounds to ImmVue based on a pre-clinical target product profile (TPP) defined by ImmVue’s scientific team. ImmVue will pay an upfront fee and milestone based on success and have the right to own the compounds on an exclusive basis moving forward. Read more.

Congratulations to the participants of Innovation UBC’s Immersion Week. The conference explored how universities are leading innovation and shaping societal progress through post-secondary education. Read more.

Industry Highlights

Health Canada invests $12.29 million in the prevention and treatment of cancer for firefighters. The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, tabled the National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting in Parliament and announced an investment of $12.29 million over 5 years and $220,000 ongoing, to advance firefighter health and safety. Read more.

Former Deputy Minister of Health Canada, Dr. Stephen Lucas has been welcomed as Mitacs’s new Chief Executive Officer. He brings nearly four decades of public sector leadership, with extensive experience in research and innovation, health, energy and natural resources, and climate change policy as well as federal-provincial-territorial relations. Read more.

New LSBC Members

The following members are a part of our Investor Readiness Program (IRP)

Curetech E-Health Inc. is an innovative health technology company based in British Columbia, Canada. Learn more.

Geno10X Biosciences aims to revolutionize medical diagnostics with AI-powered, non-invasive rapid tests for early disease detection. Learn more.

ImageCyte Technologies Inc. will introduce new life-science tools to simplify studying biological cells behaviors. Learn more.

Revyn Medical Technologies Inc. is a medical device design and development company that focuses on the betterment of gynecology through the creation of medical technology that meets the needs of the end users. Learn more.

Tochtech Technologies Ltd. is an award-winning digital health tech company based in Canada. Learn more.

Torus Biomedical Solutions Inc. has developed an advanced medical imaging technology designed to seamlessly integrate with existing X-ray equipment in operating rooms. Learn more.

TruMotion Technologies Ltd., are dedicated to improving mobility and preventing blood clots in individuals with limited or no mobility.  Learn more.

Kudos

Lehana Thabane, PhD, chair of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) has announced the CMHF’s 2025 inductees. Read more. A heartfelt congratulations to UBC professor Dr. Nadine Caron, who is being recognized for her transformative leadership in Indigenous health and surgical practice. Read more.

Congratulations to GlycoNet Board Member Dr. Nils Petersen, who recently received a Professional Achievement Award from the Western University Alumni Association in recognition of his lifelong dedication to scientific excellence and mentorship. Read more.

Last month, McCarthy Tétrault’s life sciences industry expertise and innovative client service were recognized at the 2024 LMG Life Sciences Americas Awards. Notably, David Frost was awarded Financial & Corporate Attorney of the Year – Canada. Congratulations! Read more.

Kudos to the Innovation BC ventures that were recognized as finalists at the New Ventures BC Competition awards. Special congratulations to LSBC member, CereCura Nanotherapeutics, who was named the winner of the competition’s Top Science-Based Company In-Kind Prize. Read more.

Congratulations to Colliers, who has been named to the TIME World’s Best Companies 2024 rankings. The list is based on a comprehensive analysis and ranking conducted by Statista to identify the top-performing companies across the globe. Read more.

Raffaele Colombo, PhD, Zymeworks’s Associate Director, Medicinal Chemistry, has been selected as a 2024 PharmaVoice 100 honoree. Dr. Colombo has been instrumental in advancing Zymeworks’s company pipeline, leading the development of novel ADC candidates designed to balance efficacy and tolerability. Read more.

People on the Move

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced the appointments of Chief Scientific Officer Amanda Malone, as Chief Operating and Scientific Officer, and Rahul Sarugaser, as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development. Read more.

Sarah Jacklin, Regional General Counsel at Stryker, has taken on an expanded role as Managing Director for Canada. During her time at Stryker, Sarah has been recognized as an exemplary leader, impactful collaborator, customer partner, and experienced advocate for the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Read more.

Applications Open

Don’t miss this new funding opportunity from Genome British Columbia and Genome Alberta designed to accelerate the adoption of genomics in healthcare delivery. Learn more.

Want to present your research at the 2024 Organoid Symposium, hosted by Stem Cell Network and the University of Toronto’s Applied Organoid Core? Submit your abstract by October 16 for a chance to present your work and receive a travel stipend. Learn more.

Apply now for UBC Sauder’s Community Business Project (CBP) and gain access to free consulting from teams of bright, creative, and highly motivated UBC Master of Management (MM) students. Apply by October 31. Learn more.

Are you a Canadian SME interested in growing your business abroad? National Research Council Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) has partnered with Japan’s Keihanna Research Complex to establish industrial co-innovation opportunities between Canadian SMEs and Japanese organizations. Register your interest by October 31! Learn more.

Nominations are still open for the 2025 Life Sciences Ontario Awards Gala! Don’t miss your chance to honour and celebrate the exceptional individuals and companies that are pioneering innovation and making remarkable strides in our industry. Submit your nominations by November 18! Learn more.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research has announced its Summer Program in Aging (SPA). The strategic theme for SPA 2025 is “Training a Healthcare Workforce to Meet the Needs of Older Adults.” Apply by November 26. Learn more.

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

Member Spotlight

WAT Medical Enterprise is a company that develops safe, effective, and user-friendly smart medical technologies. Our current products primarily target three common medical conditions: nausea-induced vomiting, primary migraines and obesity.

We understand the side effects and cost of available drug treatments, and how they often cause hesitation among people who need them. As a result, we developed a drug-free therapy that uses precise transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to target different areas of the body to deliver treatments with precision and without side effects.

Learn more.

Until next week!

LSBC Team

October 29 & 30 - Life Sciences BC is pleased to announce the 9th annual Invest in BC presented by Lumira Ventures conference.

This highly anticipated event serves as a premier gathering for healthcare innovators in British Columbia, connecting them with global investors. This year we’ve reimagined the conference, offering attendees a dynamic two-day program featuring 30+ company pitches from pre-seed to public.

December 4 & 5 - Life Sciences BC, in partnership with Biotech Primer, is pleased to present BioBasics 101: The Biology of Biotech for the Non-Scientist.

This intensive two-day ‘master course’ is designed to help non-scientists gain a foundational understanding of the science that forms the backbone of biopharma so that you can converse more effectively with colleagues, clients, regulators, and scientists.

Ethisphere Recognizes Labcorp with Compliance Leader Verification™

Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, announced that Labcorp earned the coveted Compliance Leader Verification from August 2024 through December 2025...Read more.

Lexaria Updates Current GLP-1 Market

Lexaria Bioscience Corp., a global innovator in drug delivery technology, provides an update on recent glucagon-like peptide-1 (“GLP-1”) receptor agonist market sector advancements...Read more.

Bausch Health and Salix Survey Highlights Urgent Need for Improved Understanding of Liver Disease Across Healthcare Provider Disciplines as Prevalence of Cirrhosis Rises

Bausch Health Companies Inc. and its gastroenterology (GI) business, Salix Pharmaceuticals, released Liver Health Trends Report in Action, the latest Liver Health Annual Trends Report...Read more.

BioTalent Canada Announces Research Project to Strengthen Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in Alberta’s Bio-economy

BioTalent Canada announced a new project that will uncover insights and shape strategies to transform the inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) of the workforce in Alberta’s bio-economy...Read more.

Genome BC Funds Crucial Research to Combat an Emerging Deer Disease in British Columbia

CWD is sometimes called ‘zombie deer disease’ because in the final months of the illness infected deer can seem disoriented, wander aimlessly, become thin, frail and drooling and stagger about...Read more.

The New Ventures BC Competition Awards: Celebrating Our Ventures’ Success

The New Ventures BC Competition awards are a testament to the strength of entrepreneurial spirit and the innovation born from UBC’s community of creators, thinkers, and trailblazers...Read more.

Colliers Named to TIME World’s Best Companies 2024 List

Leading diversified professional services and investment management company Colliers has been named to the TIME World’s Best Companies 2024 rankings…Read more.

Farris Represents STEMCELL on Biotechnology Acquisitions

Farris recently represented STEMCELL Technologies, Canada’s largest biotechnology company, on two significant acquisitions in the biotechnology sphere...Read more.

Dr. Nadine Caron Inducted into Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

UBC professor Dr. Nadine Caron is being inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in recognition of her transformative leadership in Indigenous health and surgical practice...Read more.

GlycoNet Board Member receives Professional Achievement Award

We are proud to share that GlycoNet Board Member Dr. Nils Petersen recently received a Professional Achievement Award from the Western University Alumni Association...Read more.

Variational AI Selected by ImmVue Therapeutics to Power Immuno-Oncology Drug Discovery

Variational AI, developer of the Enki™ generative artificial intelligence (AI) platform for drug discovery, announced a collaboration with ImmVue Therapeutics Inc...Read more.

Evonik Establishes Global Competence Network for Cell Culture Solutions

Evonik has established a new global network to develop system solutions that address upstream challenges in cell culture…Read more.

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Strengthens Senior Management Team

Eupraxia announced the recent appointments of Chief Scientific Officer Amanda Malone, as Chief Operating and Scientific Officer, and Rahul Sarugaser, as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development...Read more.

Regulatory Affairs Associate

We are currently seeking for a dynamic Regulatory Affairs Associate who will be responsible to register and maintain regulatory approvals in the global markets that the RAMP products are sold in to support the core purpose of saving lives globally...Learn more

Manager, Memberships & Sponsorships

The Manager, Memberships & Sponsorships, manages the planning and support of the members and sponsors. With responsibility for securing agreements and contracts, the Manager, Memberships and Sponsorships leads acquisition and retention strategies...Learn more

Technologist

Bodycomp Imaging is looking for a full-time and a part-time technologist at Bodycomp Imaging. Both technologists will be responsible for operating and maintaining DEXA scanners, performing body composition scans, and ensuring accurate and precise data collection...Learn more

Senior Manager, CMC, Quality Control

he Senior Manager, CMC, Quality Control will work flexibly across several small molecule drug development programs with an emphasis on managing outsourced testing and stability program for the cGMP API and drug product (DP) manufacturing and testing campaigns...Learn more

Senior Scientist, CMC, Drug Product

The candidate will be responsible for leading the development of suitable formulations for the in vivo assessment (including for GLP toxicology studies) of novel chemical compounds originating from our Discovery team...Learn more

HR Coordinator/Senior HR Coordinator

The Human Resources Coordinator/Sr. Human Resources Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the entering and coordination of data, documents and processes into the various HR systems in an accurate and timely manner to ensure flawless execution...Learn more

Senior Administrator, Human Resources

The Senior Administrator will be responsible for coordinating recruitment scheduling for executive level positions, scheduling Senior Hire orientations and supporting training events for department heads, supporting contracts and Statements of Work...Learn more

Scientific Liaison and Solutions Lead

We are seeking a highly motivated and scientifically minded individual with a strong background in precision medicine, spatial omics, oncology, and/or pathology to join our team...Learn more

Chief Medical Information Officer

The Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) is responsible for the medical leadership that advances the utilization of technology-enabled information management systems, to ultimately improve quality outcomes for patients within clinical operations across the entire region...Learn more

Chief Executive Officer

The CEO is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the organization including the development and ongoing refinement of organization strategy, business development and revenue generation, structure, product development, partner and client relations...Learn more

Research and Innovation Manager, Data Science

Reporting to the Director, Data Science you will work with the Research and Innovation leadership and the other members of the Data Science team to implement Genome British Columbia’s (Genome BC) Data Science Strategy...Learn more

Specialist, Quality Assurance

We are seeking a Quality Assurance Specialist to be responsible for implementing and maintaining Augurex’s electronic Quality Management System (eQMS) in accordance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, internal quality requirements and specifications...Learn more

Sr. Manager, Regulatory Affairs

We are seeking a Sr. Manager, Regulatory Affairs to be responsible for working directly with our Global Head of Product R&D and external regulatory consultants on the FDA 510(k) submission for SPINEstat®...Learn more

Team Lead, Clinical Genotyping

Reporting to the Assistant Laboratory Director, the Team Lead, Clinical Genotyping coordinates and provides work direction to the Clinical Laboratory Drug Resistance Testing and Genotyping team...Learn more

Curetech E-Health - An innovative health technology company based in British Columbia, Canada. Our mission is to transform the way people monitor and manage their health, particularly during physical activity. We set out to develop non-invasive, cutting-edge health monitoring solutions specifically designed for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

As we progressed, we created a smart blood pressure monitor that not only tracks essential health metrics but also integrates seamlessly with telemedicine services, providing users with real-time access to healthcare professionals for personalized advice. Learn more.

Geno10X Biosciences - Aims to revolutionize medical diagnostics with AI-powered, non-invasive rapid tests for early disease detection. Launching with a first-in-class non-invasive molecular HPV test, our innovative platform combines quantum dot sensing with RNA aptamer technology to achieve 100 times higher sensitivity than current methods, delivering results in just 45 minutes.

By addressing a $77 billion global Point of Care Testing market, we're not only tapping into a lucrative business opportunity but also significantly improving patient outcomes and increasing early testing compliance and reducing healthcare costs. Learn more.

ImageCyte Technologies - Biological cells are complex. For as long as we've studied them it's been known that cells move, interact and respond in ways we don't really understand. Learning about these behaviours is important in the development of new treatments for diseases ranging from diabetes to cancer. Unfortunately, the process of studying these cell behaviours is very difficult. While we do have the ability to study these cells, it's been both expensive and challenging to scale these findings.

At ImageCyte we will introduce new life-science tools to simplify studying these cell behaviors. We do this by isolating cells in massive arrays of nanowells, enabling precise observations of vast numbers of samples. This will allow scientists to better understand the cells, and diseases, they are working on. Learn more.

Revyn Medical Technologies - A medical device design and development company that focuses on the betterment of gynecology through the creation of medical technology that meets the needs of the end users.

Our first product is a complete alternative to the vaginal speculum: a device developed in the mid-19th century by a man who tested it on enslaved women and which has created a barrier between patients and the only care that identifies cervical cancer. The Revyn design was created with the study of the human factors of all end users to increase patient comfort, practitioner usability, and device effectiveness. The implementation of a replacement for the vaginal speculum, that eliminates all pain points of patients and practitioners, will increase the uptake of preventative care and help reach the goal set by the World Health Organization to eliminate cervical cancer. Learn more.

Tochtech Technologies - An award-winning digital health tech company based in Canada. Using cutting-edge IoT, cloud services and AI technology, we create smart care hardware and software products and solutions that enable healthcare and senior care providers to remotely access vital data to enable safety and evidence-based care. Learn more.

Torus Biomedical Solutions - Developed an advanced medical imaging technology designed to seamlessly integrate with existing X-ray equipment in operating rooms. This technology assists orthopedic surgeons in making precise measurements of lengths and alignments of the operative anatomy, aiming to improve patient outcomes, reduce complications, and avoid repeat surgeries.

Recently, Torus has successfully closed a deal with a leading U.S. spine implant company to bring the technology to the U.S. market. Torus is now focused on applying the technology to new clinical areas of orthopedic surgery, including joint replacement and fracture fixation surgeries. Learn more.

TruMotion Technologies - We are dedicated to improving mobility and preventing blood clots in individuals with limited or no mobility. Our flagship product, the Range of Motion (ROM) Device, automates clinically proven range-of-motion exercises to improve venous circulation. With sensor technology and tailored solutions, our mission is to provide accessible, automated care, allowing people to age, heal, and regain independence from the comfort of their own homes.

Please visit us at www.trumotion.ca or reach out to us at truteam@trumotion.ca. Learn more.

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