July 2, 2026 - Hello BioLinks readers

This week:

• Last chance: Apply to pitch at Invest in BC by July 6
• Trade & Invest Blog: adMare expands wet lab capacity
• AI giant Anthropic launches Claude Science

Last Call for Applications: Pitch at Invest in BC

The July 6 deadline to apply to pitch at Invest in BC is just around the corner! Put your company in front of more than 100 investors during Life Sciences Investment Week in Vancouver, taking place November 2–5, 2026. The week features an exclusive investor social, two days of company pitches and partnering (November 3-4) at Invest in BC, plus a range of satellite events designed to help you build valuable connections. Stay tuned for more details. Whether you're seeking investment, strategic partners, or both, this is an opportunity you won't want to miss.

Learn more and apply to pitch at Invest in BC today here.

Conexeu Science’s leadership team celebrates the opening of the company’s new laboratory.

Trade & Invest BC Life Sciences Blog: Expanding Wet Lab Capacity in Vancouver’s Life Sciences Hub

The launch of adMare Bioinnovations’ co-location space, supported by funding from both provincial and federal governments, represents a coordinated investment designed to address infrastructure constraints, strengthen the ecosystem and support company growth. A key advantage of the facility is its ability to reduce the operational burden on tenants, allowing faster scale with less friction. Current tenants include: Discovery Genomics, an early-stage Vancouver-based venture; Conexeu Sciences which has intellectual property rooted in UBC research; and United Therapeutics, a global biotech pioneering alternatives to expand the supply of transplantable organs. By combining targeted public investment, shared infrastructure, and a co-location model designed to foster collaboration, the facility strengthens the conditions that support company success. Read more.

Anthropic Launches Claude Science and Makes Move into Drug Discovery

On Tuesday, Anthropic announced Claude Science, a major new product intended to support scientific research in the same way that Claude Code supports software engineering.

Along with the launch of Claude Science, available to paid subscribers, Anthropic also announced that it will be using the product to pursue some of its own research into drugs for rare, neglected diseases. Read more (MIT Tech Review).

Member Highlights 

NervGen, this year’s LSBC emerging biotech company of the year, announced positive independent, blinded biomechanical gait analyses demonstrating genuine neural recovery with NVG-291 in its Phase 1b/2a study. Read more.

Zymeworks to acquire Theravance Biopharma and add YUPELRI^® (revefenacin), an approved treatment of COPD to its portfolio. YUPELRI^® is positioned to add near-term commercial cash flows for Zymeworks, alongside existing Ziihera^® cash flows. Read more.

Kudos

People on the Move

Jim Martin, a respected community leader at University of Northern British Columbia’s Board of Governors will be appointed as the New Board Chair, where he will help strengthen UNBC’s connections and impact across the North and beyond.  Read more.

Congratulations to Matheus Vieira who will be proceeding with a new global leadership position as the Global Commercialisation Strategy Leader, Obesity and Metabolism at Roche Headquarters in Basel, Switzerland.  Read more.

BD has appointed Matthew Sassone as the worldwide president of BD Pharmacy Automation, where he will be responsible for driving the global strategy, performance and growth of the Pharmacy Automation business. Read more.

Congratulations to Roland Wandeler, PhD, as he takes on the role of Chief Executive Officer at Idorsia. Read more.

Applications Open

PacifiCan is investing in organizations that help BC businesses innovate, improve productivity, and grow through its Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) program. The program supports projects that strengthen business growth by advancing later stage innovation. Applications open from June 24 to September 11, 2026. Learn more.

The Health Research Foundation is inviting proposals for its 2026 Health System Solutions Grant Program, supporting applied research that improves care pathways, reduces barriers to innovative medicines and strengthens health system performance. Letters of intent are due July 22, 2026. Learn more. 

The 2026 BIOTECanada Gold Leaf Awards are accepting nominations to recognize the innovators, leaders, and organizations making a last impact on Canada’s biotech industry. Nominations close July 10. Learn more.

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

Membership Spotlight

TruMotion Technologies, is dedicated to improving mobility and preventing blood clots in individuals with limited or no mobility. Its flagship product, the Range of Motion (ROM) Device, automates clinically proven range-of-motion exercises to improve venous circulation. Learn more.

Apricell is a biotechnology startup supported by a world-class team of specialists, redefining the future of drug development through the integration of human-relevant tissue models and intelligent data analytics. Our platform leverages advanced organoid and Organoid-on-a-Plate™ technologies to deliver high-throughput, predictive systems that improve therapeutic discovery, support more reliable preclinical decision-making, and help reduce the risk of clinical trial failure. Learn more.

Chondros Bio is a University of British Columbia spinout developing a novel solution for one of orthopedics' most persistent challenges: repairing damaged cartilage and bone in the knee. Cartilage has virtually no ability to heal itself, and patients with these injuries face a difficult path — limited treatment options, progressive deterioration, and an eventual march toward total joint replacement. Learn more.

Kelvin Wong is a biochemist with multinational experience in MNC as Medical Affairs. He is passionate about scientific communication and collaboration, active in teaching and publications, and has a strong interest in translating complex science into meaningful medical education and stakeholder engagement. Learn more.

Dr. Kishor M. Wasan is an eminent Canadian pharmacologist, pharmacist, and academic leader renowned for his groundbreaking research in lipid-based drug delivery and global health. He has served as a senior academic administrator at prominent Canadian universities and has led pivotal research initiatives tackling neglected tropical diseases and prostate cancer. He was a full professor (now retired) & Former Dean and is a University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Distinguished Alumnus and Fellow Member, Royal Society of Medicine (London, UK). Learn more.

Until next week!

LSBC Team

September 9 - The 28th Annual Life Sciences BC Awards is a distinguished occasion that 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.

November 3-4 - Life Sciences BC is pleased to announce the 11th 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.

New Hub Accelerates Getinge’s Digital Healthcare Innovation

Getinge has launched a new Digital OR Hub to accelerate connected healthcare technologies that support smarter, more efficient surgical care… Read more.

CHMP recommendation advances Johnson & Johnson’s TECVAYLI®▼ (teclistamab) plus Daratumumab as a Potential standard of Care for Relapsed/Refractory multiple Myeloma

Johnson & Johnson has received a positive CHMP recommendation for TECVAYLI® plus daratumumab, marking an important step toward expanding treatment options for adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in Europe… Read more.

The BC blueprint: Reducing Ovarian Cancer risk across a lifetime

BC researchers are advancing new strategies to help reduce ovarian cancer risk across a lifetime, supporting earlier prevention and better long-term health outcomes… Read more.

Johnson & Johnson presents new IMAAVY® (nipocalimab-aahu) data at European Academy of Neurology (EAN) 2026 Congress Reinforcing sustained Disease control in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis

Johnson & Johnson has announced new data showing IMAAVY (nipocalimab) delivers sustained disease control for people living with generalized myasthenia gravis, reinforcing its potential as a long-term treatment option…. Read more.

UBC Medicine researchers lead National Teams to Advance Cardiac Arrest Prediction and Recovery

UBC Medicine researchers are leading national efforts to improve cardiac arrest prediction and recovery, helping advance better patient outcomes… Read more.

NervGen Announces Positive Independent, Blinded Biomechanical Gait Analyses Demonstrating Genuine Neural Recovery with NVG-291 in Phase 1b/2a CONNECT SCI Study

NervGen has shared new findings highlighting NVG-291's potential to restore neural function and improve mobility after spinal cord injury… Read more.

Perioperative Option Approved in Canada for Patients with Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Unable to Receive Cisplatin-Based Therapy

Pfizer Canada has announced a newly approved option for eligible bladder cancer patients who cannot receive cisplatin-based therapy, helping expand treatment choices around surgery… Read more.

Zymeworks to Acquire Theravance Biopharma, Inc.

Zymeworks has announced its acquisition of Theravance Biopharma, strengthening its pipeline and expanding its portfolio of innovative therapies… Read more.

BeOne Medicines Announces Positive Phase 3 Results for BRUKINSA in Frontline Mantle Cell Lymphoma

BeOne Medicines has shared positive Phase 3 data for BRUKINSA, reinforcing its potential in frontline mantle cell lymphoma treatment… Read more.

Billions of Doses later: Global Review confirms mRNA Vaccines are safe, Effective and full of promise

A comprehensive global review confirms the safety and effectiveness of mRNA vaccines, while highlighting their potential to transform the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, cancer, and more… Read more.

Vertex Announces US FDA Approval for Expanded Use of CASGEVY® for the Treatment of People Ages 2 Years and Older With Sickle Cell Disease or Transfusion-Dependent Beta Thalassemia

Vertex has received U.S. FDA approval to expand the use of CASGEVY, making the one-time gene therapy available to children as young as two with sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia… Read more.

Scientist / Senior Scientist, Bioconjugation

The role requires Designing, executing, and optimizing site-specific and stochastic bioconjugation reactions (e.g., maleimide–thiol, NHS-ester amine coupling, strain-promoted azide–alkyne “click” chemistry, enzymatic conjugation) to generate antibody–payload conjugates... Read more.

Research and Innovation Coordinator

The role supports the development and implementation of efficient processes, including automated workflows, tools and documentation to strengthen R&I program administration and post-award management, playing a key role in supporting the integration and effective use of Proposal Central across R&I and with Genome BC funded project teams. Learn more.

Contracts and Budgets Specialist, VCH Research Institute

This role requires supporting the (VCHRI) Office of Clinical Trials Administration providing contractual interpretation, negotiations, advice and support to ensure VCH’s and VCHRI’s compliance with the complex legal and regulatory framework for research on human subjects. Learn more.

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