July 31, 2025 - Hello BioLinks Readers!

This week:

• Awards Early-bird Pricing Ends Today!
• LSBC Company of the Year Zymeworks Receives IND Clearance from the FDA
• UBC’s Dr. Paul Keown Honoured with Clinical Trials BC Award
• Find the Right Investor or Strategic Partner at Invest in BC
• Share your AI Adoption Story with the Province

Awards Early-bird Pricing Ends Today!

Our partners at biofilm MEDIA, a science-focused digital media company, have been busy capturing the incredible stories of our awards winners. We can’t wait to share these with you at our premier life sciences celebration on October 2. Today is the last chance to take advantage of early bird pricing, which will save you $500 on tables of 10. Don’t miss out, get your tickets here. 

LSBC Company of the Year Zymeworks Receives IND Clearance from the FDA

This year, Zymeworks has been recognized as the LSBC Company of the Year. Building on success, Zymeworks announces yet another exciting advancement in its therapeutics pipeline! The company received FDA Clearance of Investigational New Drug Application for ZW251, a novel Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC). 

“This advancement marks the second ADC from our wholly-owned pipeline, utilizing our proprietary TOPO1i payload, to progress into clinical development, reinforcing confidence in our approach,” said Paul Moore, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Zymeworks. “Like ZW191, which is currently in clinical trials, ZW251 utilizes the same payload paired with an optimized antibody.” Read more here.

UBC’s Dr. Paul Keown Honoured with Clinical Trials BC Award

This summer, he is starting the world’s first clinical trial using what is known as epitope matching for organ transplants. The research, which includes centres across Canada, looks at proteins on a donated organ that could trigger rejection — and tries to find a match so close that the recipient’s body thinks the organ is its own. 

“The excitement will be if we can carry it forward one more step to where people will get their kidney and never have to take immune suppressing drugs,” he says. “I think that is now within our grasp.”

Find the Right Investor or Strategic Partner at Invest in BC

In life sciences, where the work is complex and challenging, finding the right strategic partner or investor can be key to success. At LSBC’s Invest in BC, we’re providing local BC-based companies with the opportunity to connect with an engaged audience of local and international industry leaders. Last year, we facilitated over 440 one-on-one meetings during the event. Could a conversation lead to your next collaboration or deal? Join us on October 28-29 to find out. Get your tickets today!

Share your AI Adoption Story with the Province

Calling BC businesses! Share your real-world experiences with AI. These insights will be used to direct the development of future AI initiatives that reflect the needs and realities of BC businesses. Be part of the Province’s AI future, take the 10-15 min survey by September 30, 2025.

Member Highlights 

Novartis Canada announces Health Canada approval of Scemblix® for chronic myeloid leukemia, expanding treatment options for patients. Read more.

PHC Ventures invests in technology startup Moonrise Medical. The company is developing an innovative ultrasound diagnostic tool to transform how vascular disease is diagnosed and treated—particularly for patients at risk of limb loss due to Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and diabetic foot ulcers. Read more.

Biogen Canada Inc. announces the positive reimbursement recommendation by the Canada Drug Agency (CDA) Canadian Drug Expert Committee (CDEC) for SKYCLARYS™ (omaveloxolone). This milestone brings Canadians outside Quebec affected by this rare neurodegenerative disease a step closer to accessing the only approved therapy for the condition. Read more.

VoxCell BioInnovation announces a strategic collaboration with Inaphaea BioLabs to co-develop advanced, vascularized 3D in vitro tumour models to create fully perfusable, human-relevant 3D tumour models that will support drug screening and efficacy testing. Read more.

Industry Highlights

Government of Canada, the Azrieli Foundation and its Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, the Brain Canada Foundation, and Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council invest $44.8 million to advance research on dementia and healthy aging. Read more.

Kudos

Kudos to SFU Faculty of Health Science professors Ryan Allen, Kanna Hayashi and William Hsiao for receiving a Project Grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, securing more than $2.5M of funding. Read more.

People on the Move

Kapoose Creek Bio welcomes renowned drug discovery leader Dr. Stewart Fisher to Board of Directors. Read more.

Bausch Health announced the appointment of Michael Goettler and Sandra Leung to its Board of Directors. Read more.

Applications Open

Applications open for adMare’s Academy for its eighth cohort of its exclusive Executive Institute, a premier leadership program for senior life sciences professionals. Gain the skills, network, and insights to scale your organization and strengthen Canada’s life sciences ecosystem. The deadline is September 5, 2025. Learn more.

Canadian femtech companies looking to expand into Europe can now apply to the UK & France Femtech Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) program. Gain market insights, mentorship, and connections in two leading femtech hubs. The deadline is August 18, 2025. Learn more.

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

Member Spotlight

EY - How EY’s Global Life Sciences Sector can help your business

Our Global Life Sciences Sector brings together a worldwide network of 23,000 sector-focused professionals to anticipate trends, identify their implications and help our clients create competitive advantage. We can help you navigate your way forward and achieve sustainable success in the new health-outcomes-driven ecosystem. Learn more.

RepliCel Life Sciences Inc. - RepliCel is a regenerative medicine company developing autologous cell therapies to treat conditions linked to a deficit of healthy cells required for normal healing and function. Learn more.

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.

Kapoose Creek Bio Welcomes Renowned Drug Discovery Leader Dr. Stewart Fisher to Board of Directors

Kapoose Creek Bio is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Stewart Fisher to its Board of Directors...Read more.

ARC Medical Announces IPCOAT™ Medical Device Presentations at AAGL 2025

ARC Medical Inc. announced that three scientific abstracts highlighting one of its lead medical devices, IPCOAT™, have been accepted for presentation at the 2025 AAGL...Read more.

Health Canada Expands Approval of Scemblix®, Making it an Option for Newly Diagnosed and Previously Treated Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Patients

Novartis Canada is pleased to announce that Health Canada has granted a NOC for Scemblix® for adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase...Read more.

CDA Issues Positive Reimbursement Recommendation for SKYCLARYS™ (omaveloxolone), the Only Health Canada-Approved Treatment for Managing Friedreich Ataxia

Biogen Canada Inc. is pleased to announce a significant step forward for Canadians living with Friedreich ataxia (FA), with the positive reimbursement for SKYCLARYS™...Read more.

Bausch Health to Acquire DURECT Corporation, Strengthening Commitment to Developing Innovative Solutions for Patients with Liver Disease

Bausch Health Companies Inc. announced a definitive agreement under which Bausch Health will indirectly acquire DURECT Corporation, including a novel therapeutic molecule...Read more.

AbbVie Submits for U.S. FDA Approval of Combination Treatment of VENCLEXTA® (venetoclax) and Acalabrutinib for Previously Untreated Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

AbbVie announced the submission of a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the U.S. FDA for the fixed-duration, all-oral combination regimen of VENCLEXTA® (venetoclax) and acalabrutinib...Read more.

Acuitas Therapeutics’ Scientists Collaborate with the University of Zurich and the University of Pennsylvania to Develop a Novel Deep Learning Model for Efficient Adenine Base Editing

Acuitas Therapeutics announced the publication of a new study in Genome Biology, titled “Predicting adenine base editing efficiencies in different cellular contexts by deep learning”...Read more.

Zymeworks Announces FDA Clearance of Investigational New Drug Application for ZW251, a Novel Glypican 3-Targeted Topoisomerase 1 Inhibitor Antibody-Drug Conjugate

Zymeworks Inc. announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the investigational new drug (IND) application for ZW251...Read more.

PHC Ventures Invests in Moonrise Medical to Advance Vascular Diagnostics and Limb-Saving Innovation

PHC Ventures has invested in a Canadian health technology startup developing an innovative ultrasound diagnostic tool to transform how vascular disease is diagnosed and treated...Read more.

Lexaria Provides Positive Interim Results on Partial 8-week Data from Phase 1b, GLP-1-H24-4 Study

Lexaria Bioscience Corp., a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, provides the following partial 8-week positive interim results update on the phase 1b, 12-week chronic study GLP-1-H24-4...Read more.

InMed to Present INM-901 Data at Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2025

InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that it is presenting new preclinical data from its INM-901 program at the upcoming Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2025...Read more.

UBC’s Dr. Paul Keown Honoured with Clinical Trials BC Award for Advocacy and Leadership

UBC Faculty of Medicine professor Dr. Paul Anthony Keown has been awarded the Clinical Trials BC Leadership & Advocacy Award for his outstanding contributions...Read more.

Bausch Health Announces the Appointment of Two New Members to Its Board of Directors

​Bausch Health Companies Inc., a global, diversified pharmaceutical company, announced the appointment of Michael Goettler and Sandra Leung to its Board of Directors, effective July 22, 2025...Read more.

Analytical Chemist

Pharma Inventor, Inc. is seeking an energetic, result-oriented individual with proven track records of success to join our dynamic team. The successful candidate is expected to have extensive experience in Analytical Chemistry to work independently within a team structure, design and execute analytical testing and troubleshoot when needed...Learn more.

Research Associate – Medicinal Chemistry

Pharma Inventor, Inc. is seeking energetic, result-oriented individuals with proven track records of success to join our dynamic team. The successful candidate is expected to have extensive experience in modern organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry...Learn more.

Scientist/Senior Scientist, Translational Biology & Pharmacology

You will leverage their kidney disease biology expertise to support the advancement of specific programs and/or exploratory projects, proactively representing the Translational Biology & Pharmacology team on cross-functional project teams...Learn more.

Research Associate II, Bioconjugation Chemistry

The key responsibilities for this position will be synthesizing and analyzing protein-oligonucleotide conjugates including antibodies, antibody fragments, and other target-binding scaffolds...Learn more.

VP, Pre-Clinical Research and Development

This role is responsible for the company’s pre-clinical research and development function for all Eupraxia products. They will be a key member of the R&D leadership team, responsible for defining and executing the preclinical strategy that advances the company’s therapeutic pipeline...Learn more.

Procurement Specialist (Part-Time Contract)

This role is essential in managing procurement processes for capital expenditures, accessories, and consumables while establishing supplier relationships and ensuring smooth operations...Learn more.

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