Life Sciences BC News, November 21, 2024

Congratulations to Zymeworks for announcing a major milestone representing years of dedicated effort and excellence in science and business, all while facing the challenges of the journey from innovation to commercialization. Zymeworks with Jazz Pharmaceuticals has received FDA approval for the first and only dual HER2-targeted bispecific antibody approved for HER2-positive BTC in the US. Read more.

BC has been home to innovations that have impacted the lives of patients worldwide. Notable examples were during COVID-19 when technology and therapies discovered and developed by Acuitas and AbCellera in partnership with major pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Lilly were at the forefront of the battle against the pandemic. Novateur Ventures has chronicled the past 25 years of therapeutic innovations.

This week LSBC hosted a McCarthy Spotlight Speaking Series. We were joined by Dr. Lakshmi Krishnan, Vice President of Life Sciences for the National Research Council (NRC), who spoke about NRC's unique role in fostering life sciences growth. LSBC's 2024 Companies to Watch also took the stage to share their unique stories. Thank you to the speakers from Kapoose Creek Bio, SeraGene Therapeutics, VoxCell BioInnovation, Mesentech, and Reverb Therapeutics. HEALWELL AI was also recognized at this year’s LSBC awards.

Drug development is a team sport, and every innovation that has successfully reached patients represents concerted efforts by high-functioning teams. Non-scientific team members are just as key to success as our amazing scientists. If you’re a professional working within the sector in fields such as IT, HR, or accounting for example, and would like to hone your scientific knowledge at a foundational level, join us on December 4 & 5 for BioBasics 101, a two-day course that will cover the underlying science of biopharma. Learn more and register here.

As we head towards the end of the year, it may be a time to reflect and connect with the community to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year or support each other in challenging times. LSBC has launched our holiday parties! We will be hosting one in Victoria on December 12 (register here) and another in Vancouver on December 18 (register here). Join us with BC’s life sciences community next month.

Member Highlights 

Genome BC, STEMCELL Technologies and UBC collaborate to accelerate stem cell development. This new collaboration aims to accelerate stem cell research and its use in developing new disease treatments. Read more.

Augurex and New Day Diagnostics announce the launch of anti-14-3-3eta reagents, enabling a first-in-class diagnostic test for axial spondyloarthritis. The new laboratory-developed test aims to reduce the extensive diagnostic delay, provide clinicians with a reliable tool to help improve patient outcomes, and potentially aid the early diagnosis and treatment of axial spondyloarthritis. Read more.

Pender Ventures announces the close of the Pender Technology Inflection Fund II with over $100 million in commitments. Pender will continue to invest in mission-critical B2B tech and healthtech companies. Read more.

Reverb Therapeutics announced a collaboration with Royalmount Laboratories, based in Montreal, as Reverb works towards lead selection and pre-IND enabling work on its first drug candidate. Read more.

NanoVation Therapeutics announced the expansion of its Board of Directors and the close of a funding round led by Convergent Ventures. Zachariah Jonasson, CFO and CBO of Absci Corp and David Main, President and CEO of Notch Therapeutics joined the Board. Read more.

Industry Highlights

Government of Canada announced an investment of more than $638 million in science and research funding. More than $452 million will be distributed through the Research Support Fund (RSF) and over $182 million will support 224 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs. Read more.

Canada’s Minister of Health announced a $5.2 million investment in collaboration with other federal and provincial partners, for 35 research projects that will help Canada prevent, prepare for, recover from, and respond to outbreaks of avian influenza A(H5N1). Read more.

On November 9 a teenager in BC was hospitalized and tested presumptive positive for H5 avian influenza. The Public Health Agency confirmed the individual has avian influenza H5N1 and the virus is related to the avian influenza H5N1 viruses from the ongoing outbreak in poultry in BC. Read more.

Government of Canada establishes a Committee of Experts to make recommendations on National Pharmacare. The committee members include Dr. Nav Persaud (Chair), Dr. Stéphane Ahern, Amy Lamb, Dr. Steve Morgan, and Linda Silas. Read more.

New LSBC Members

[Individual] Edwin Blewett - Dr Edwin Blewett is a self-employed economist doing business for forty years as Counterpoint Consulting Inc (www.gocounterpoint.com). Edwin has been an angel investor for the past twenty years. Learn more.

[Individual] Bob Dalton - Bob is a seasoned engineer and executive with over 35 years of experience driving technical and business innovation across various industries, including the life sciences. He is skilled in new technologies, leading teams, and building relationships, while keeping financial objectives in focus. Most recently, Bob was the Vice President of Instrumentation and Bioengineering at STEMCELL Technologies and is currently exploring new professional opportunities. Learn more.

Kudos

Congratulations to the 20 winners of the inaugural AbbVie Migraine Career Catalyst Award™ contest, a first-of-its-kind contest designed to support the career aspirations of people living with migraine. Read more.

Kudos to the first grant recipients of the BeiGene Canada Fund for Research and Innovation! The initial half-million-dollar fund is aimed at advancing Canadian non-clinical research that moves us closer to more precise, effective cancer care, bringing public funding agencies, health charities, and private sector partners together to maximize collaborative impact. Read more.

Congratulations to Dr. Amber Simpson (Queen's University), Dr. Lillian Siu (Princess Margaret Cancer Centre) and team on receiving a Terry Fox Research Institute-Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network Technology Development Award to advance precision immunotherapy! Read more.

Canary’s Chief Data Science Officer David Lee was recently recognized by Life Sciences Voice as a Rising Star Winner for 2024. This prestigious accolade honours the Rising Stars in the Life Sciences industry—dynamic professionals who drive positive change, foster innovation, and enable transformation across the sector. Read more.

The Senft family has received the National Philanthropy Day 2024 Spirit of Generosity Award! The family, with its dedication and connection to the BC Cancer Foundation, has become a catalyst in advancing cancer research and care in BC. Read more.

The Health Research Foundation (HRF) of Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) has announced its 2024 HRF Award Winners! Dr. Michael Hill has been named the 2024 recipient of the HRF Medal of Honour and Dr. Sonia Anand is the recipient of the 2024 HRF Diversity and Equity in Research Award. Additionally, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Co. is the recipient of the 2024 Prix Galien Canada Innovative Product Award. Read more.

People on the Move

HEALWELL AI Inc. has announced the formation of a Strategic Advisory Board. The first three members include Beatrice York, Dr. Marcel Reichart, and Reeva Misra, all of whom bring diverse and highly valuable expertise to HEALWELL, enhancing its mission of delivering cutting-edge solutions in the health and wellness sector. Read more.

Marc McCoy, MD/MSc has been welcomed to the team at Lumira Ventures as a Venture Clinician. Since joining its Venture Innovation Program in April 2022, Marc has leveraged his expertise in business, data science, and medicine to analyze clinical innovations and uncover commercial opportunities. Read more.

Labcorp shared that Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Glenn Eisenberg will retire from the company and Julia Wang will join as EVP and CFO on December 2, 2024. Read more.

Applications Open

This week, we share a success story from one of the many programs LSBC promotes as opportunities for the life sciences community.

After earning a molecular biology degree, Mauricio Romero realized he lacked the practical skills to enter the workforce—until he discovered CASTL's Elevate program. This 6-week national training initiative, aimed at advancing Canada's biomanufacturing sector through comprehensive training, helped him gain the practical skills he needed to land a job at Phyton Biotech, working on chemotherapy drug purification. His story highlights how Elevate can unlock career opportunities in biomanufacturing, whether you're starting out or changing careers. Learn more. For employers looking for biomanufacturing talent and to hire Elevate graduates, please contact Jennifer Lenentine, Program Manager, at jennifer@castlcanada.ca.

The UBC School of Biomedical Engineering is hosting an online information session on Tuesday, November 28 at 5:30 PM PT for the upcoming course, “Unmet Needs in Healthcare: Strategy & Solutions,” starting on January 7, 2025. This course is part of the Micro-certificate in Innovation Leadership: Medical & Bio-Innovations. Learn more.

Apply now to PacifiCan’s Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative! The Initiative supports businesses with projects focused on AI commercialization, along with not-for-profit organizations with projects that help develop the AI ecosystem in BC. Expressions of interest from companies are due January 17, 2025. Applications from not-for-profits are accepted on a continuous basis. Learn more.

Are you a medical device, diagnostic, or digital health company entering the US market? Apply to MedTech Innovator and gain access to top-tier mentoring, coaching, and education in a four-month program tailored to help innovators address obstacles and maximize opportunities to bring their products to market quickly and effectively. Apply by January 15, 2025. Learn more.

Amplitude Ventures and its venture creation studio, Pre-Amp, are very happy to invite all health-focused PhD candidates, post docs, and MDs to apply to the Pre-Amp Fellowship. Applications are due January 31, 2025. Learn more.

Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network has launched its 2025 funding competitions for early-career clinician-scientists and bioinformaticians. Register your intent for the Clinician-Scientist Awards (for physicians) by December 18 at 5 PM ET. Learn more. Applications for the Health Informatics & Data Science Awards (graduate or post-doctorate students) are due January 26, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET. Learn more.

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

Member Spotlight

Alliance Scientific Inc., headquartered in the greater Vancouver area, is a full-service provider of laboratory casework systems and fume hoods. Their target markets are universities, colleges, industry, research, healthcare, and schools.

We are the exclusive Western Canadian dealer for the Bedcolab lines of steel laboratory casework and the CiF Lab Solutions Premium Grade wood veneer furniture. We are able to offer the complete spectrum of conventional, flexible, and adaptable laboratory casework systems and through our ownership of Vancouver based fume hood manufacturer H. H. Hawkins Ltd., we are able to offer a full range of bench mount and floor mount laboratory fume hoods. Learn more.

Until next week!

LSBC Team

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.

December 18 - We invite you to join us alongside your industry colleagues for an evening of relaxed camaraderie as we toast the holiday season at the annual Life Sciences BC Holiday Party.

Catch up with the community while indulging in light refreshments at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel on Wednesday, December 18th, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM PT.

Roche Canada Announces New Informatics Jobs in Ontario’s Life Sciences Sector

Hoffmann-La Roche Limited (Roche Canada) is pleased to announce, with support from the Government of Ontario through its agency, Invest Ontario, the addition of up to 250 new jobs to Ontario...Read more.

NTx Announces Expansion of Board of Directors & Completion of Funding Round led by Convergent Ventures

NanoVation Therapeutics announced the expansion of its Board of Directors and the close of a funding round led by Convergent Ventures...Read more.

Labcorp CFO Glenn Eisenberg Announces Plans to Retire

Labcorp announced that Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Glenn Eisenberg will retire from the company and Julia Wang will join on December 2, 2024...Read more.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Wins The 2024 Prix Galien Innovative Product Award

Prix Galien Canada is pleased to announce that Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Co. is the recipient of the prestigious Innovative Product Award for the development of CAMZYOS™ (mavacamten)...Read more.

HEALWELL AI Appoints Beatrice York, Dr. Marcel Reichart, and Reeva Misra to Strategic Advisory Board

HEALWELL AI Inc., an AI and data science company focused on preventative care, is pleased to announce the formation of a Strategic Advisory Board to assist in guiding the Company’s future strategic initiatives...Read more.

InMed Announces Publication of Study on Anti-Inflammation by Modulation of Endocannabinoid System

InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that a peer-reviewed scientific study has been published in the international journal Biofactors...Read more.

Spinal Cord Injuries from Mountain Biking Exceed Hockey, Other High-risk Sports

New research from the UBC faculty of medicine reveals an alarming number of people suffering spinal cord injuries while mountain biking, often leading to permanent and life-altering paralysis...Read more.

Tochtech to Collaborate with Top Clinicians in Innovation Factory’s HEALTHI Program

Tochtech is pleased to be accepted into Innovation Factory’s HEALTHI (Hamilton Ecosystem to Accelerate and Leverage Trials of Health Innovation) program, delivered in partnership with the Synapse Life Science Consortium...Read more.

In Honour of World COPD Day GSK Promotes Environmentally Responsible Disposal of Used Inhalers through Health Product Stewardship Program

To mark World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day, GSK Canada is placing a spotlight on its partnership with the Health Products Stewardship Association (HPSA)...Read more.

BeiGene Canada Announces Inaugural Grant Recipients at New Brunswick’s Health Research Symposium

BeiGene Canada, known for its focus on developing accessible and affordable oncology therapies, has announced the first grant recipients from its BeiGene Canada Fund for Research and Innovation...Read more.

WAT Medical Continues Support for Red Cross and Veterans Association

WAT Medical Enterprise Ltd. proudly reaffirms its commitment to community support by donating to the American Red Cross and the American Veterans Association...Read more.

Augurex Life Sciences and Quest Diagnostics Collaborate to Improve Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis and Management

Augurex announced that it has formed a nonexclusive agreement with Quest Diagnostics under which Quest will validate and offer a lab-developed test based on the Augurex 14-3-3η (eta) biomarker in the United States...Read more.

Dr. Nika Shakiba and Dr. Lyndia Wu Appointed Canada Research Chairs

Congratulations to Dr. Nika Shakiba and Dr. Lyndia Wu on being appointed Canada Research Chairs, amongst 20 chairs at UBC...Read more.

Six UBC Medicine Researchers Among new and renewed Canada Research Chairs

Six researchers from the UBC Faculty of Medicine are among the new and renewed Canada Research Chairs recently announced by the Government of Canada...Read more.

Lexaria Signs Contract For New DehydraTECH GLP-1 Biodistribution Study

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. announces it has engaged a contract research organization to perform the world’s first-ever fluorescently tagged DehydraTECH-semaglutide (“FTS”) rodent biodistribution study (the “Study”)...Read more.

BioTalent Canada Unveils New Tools to Boost Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Ontario’s Bio-Economy

BioTalent Canada is pleased to release new resources designed to help bio-economy employers attract, recruit, and retain persons with disabilities, fostering a more inclusive sector...Read more.

AbbVie Awards 20 Individuals Living With Migraine To Support Career Aspirations

AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) announced 20 winners of the inaugural AbbVie Migraine Career Catalyst Award™ contest, a first-of-its-kind contest designed to support the career aspirations of people living with migraine...Read more.

Microbion Announces Positive Topline Results from Phase 2 Study of Topical Pravibismane for Moderately Infected Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Microbion Corporation announced positive topline safety and efficacy results from its recently completed Phase 2 study of topical pravibismane for diabetic foot ulcer infections (DFI)...Read more.

Ethics Board Approval Granted for Lexaria’s 12-Week Phase 1b DehydraTECH GLP-1 Study in Diabetes and Weight Loss

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. announces it has received lead clinical site human research ethics committee approval that was required before dosing can begin in the Company’s Phase 1b, 12-week chronic study GLP-1-H24-4...Read more.

Genome BC, STEMCELL Technologies and UBC Collaborate to Accelerate the Ability to Develop Stem Cells

A new collaboration between Genome BC, STEMCELL Technologies and researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) aims to accelerate stem cell research and its use in developing new disease treatments...Read more.

Frontage Laboratories and Medicover Integrated Clinical Services Announce Strategic Collaboration to Expand Global Genomic Testing Services

Frontage Laboratories, Inc. announced that the two companies have entered a strategic collaboration for their genomic services…Read more.

Augurex and New Day Diagnostics Announce Launch of Anti-14-3-3eta Multiplex Analyte Specific Reagents; Enabling a First-In-Class Diagnostic Test for Axial Spondyloarthritis

Augurex Life Sciences Corp. announced the launch of Anti-14-3-3eta Multiplex Analyte Specific Reagents, supporting the development of a first-in-class diagnostic test...Read more.

Advanced DNA Sequencing to Reveal Unknown Hereditary Links to Cancer

UBC researchers are part of a new project that aims to improve early detection of hereditary cancers through advanced DNA sequencing...Read more.

Product Project Manager

We are looking to add an experienced Full-Time Product Project Manager to join our amazing team and further our efforts in partnering with organizations in the pharmaceutical manufacturing and life sciences segment...Learn more

Senior / Research Technician, Preclinical

Reporting to the Scientist II, Preclinical, our Senior/Research Technician, Preclinical will be responsible for designing, executing, analyzing, and making recommendations on research protocols for our internal projects...Learn more

Sr. Research Associate, Oligonucleotide Chemistry

Borealis Biosciences is seeking a skilled and team-oriented senior research associate with expertise in oligonucleotide chemistry to join the chemistry group in Vancouver, BC...Learn more

Scientist, Bioconjugation Chemistry

Borealis Biosciences is seeking a skilled and team-oriented scientist with expertise in bioconjugation chemistry to join the chemistry group in Vancouver, BC...Learn more

Senior Human Resources Coordinator

The Senior 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 Director/Executive Director, Analytical Development

We are seeking a Senior Director/Executive Director, Analytical Development to join our CMC team. The incumbent will be responsible for leading a team of analytical development scientists and external FTEs and for ensuring that robust analytical methodology is developed and validated...Learn more

Data Science and Pharmacokinetic Modeling Scientist

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Data Science and Pharmacokinetic Modeling Scientist to cover a maternity period of not less than 12 months to maintain and evolve our programs designed to deliver appropriate, robust and defensible data in a readily understandable manner...Learn more

[Individual] Edwin Blewett - Dr Edwin Blewett is a self-employed economist doing business for forty years as Counterpoint Consulting Inc (www.gocounterpoint.com). Edwin has been an angel investor for the past twenty years. Learn more. Learn more.

[Individual] Bob Dalton - Bob is a seasoned engineer and executive with over 35 years of experience driving technical and business innovation across various industries, including the life sciences. He is skilled in new technologies, leading teams, and building relationships, while keeping financial objectives in focus. Most recently, Bob was the Vice President of Instrumentation and Bioengineering at STEMCELL Technologies and is currently exploring new professional opportunities. Learn more.

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