Life Sciences BC News, August 29, 2024 | |
With summer soon coming to an end, it’s time to shift our attention to the fall and transition back into regular routines. And there is so much to look forward to! | |
Among the achievements being celebrated this year are those by Augurex for being named the 2024 Emerging Company of the Year. Augurex is a leader in biomarker-driven diagnostic solutions for the detection and management of autoimmune diseases. The Company began their research programs in 2008 focused on the 14-3-3η protein, a novel biomarker involved in the joint damage process, with current applications in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Through biologically informed, integrated digital solutions, Augurex is transforming health management and empowering patients to actively participate in their own care. Recently, Augurex announced that it had achieved certification under the Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP) – a significant accomplishment that reflects the Company’s dedication to maintaining high quality and regulatory standards. Read more. | |
Emerging companies like Augurex are vital to the livelihood of the life sciences sector. They help to drive innovation and boost growth, allowing for greater opportunities and synergies across our entire ecosystem. | |
Following the LSBC Awards Gala is the 9th Annual Invest in BC conference, taking place October 29 to 30 at the Vancouver Convention Centre West. While always a premier gathering for healthcare innovators in British Columbia, this year’s event has been revamped to offer attendees an exciting two-day program featuring 30+ company pitches from pre-seed to public, insightful presentations, and engaging panel discussions, as well as on-site meetings arranged through BIO One-on-One Partnering™. This innovative system helps to identify potential partners and request meetings with investors, business development executives, entrepreneurs and innovators. Early Bird pricing for tickets is available until September 9. Register here. | |
Please keep an eye on our Events page for upcoming annual and new events as we move through events season. | |
Congratulations are in order for Dr. Allen Eaves, Dr. Julio Montaner and Bridgitte Anderson from BC’s life sciences community who have been honoured wi King Charles III Coronation Medal. This prestigious recognition was created to mark the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. It is the first Canadian commemorative medal to mark a coronation. Recipients represent a diverse group of individuals who have made significant contributions to British Columbia or to a particular region or community in the province or who have attained an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to the province. Read more. | |
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Tell us about your lab space needs: LSBC pulse survey
LSBC will be undertaking a short pulse survey by phone this August to gather important information on our sector’s lab space needs. Data will be anonymized and aggregated and available to the sector, including government, for planning purposes.
Help support this important data collection through participating in our very short phone survey if contacted. Or please reach out to us at Labspace@lifesciencesbc.ca
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Cytiva sponsored the Global Biopharma Sustainability Review, which includes insights from executives in 18 countries. The research details the benefits of meeting sustainability targets, as well as the potential risks of not having clear measures in place to measure progress. Read more.
Getinge announced that it will acquire Paragonix Technologies, Inc., a growth leader in organ transplant products and services in the United States. The acquisition allows Getinge to expand its portfolio into high growth markets, and further positions the Company at the forefront of organ preservation and transportation market. Read more.
Quest Diagnostics announced that it has completed the acquisition of LifeLabs from OMERS. The CAN $1.35 billion deal will enhance access to diagnostic innovation for patients in North America through greater access to specialized tests, improved online appointment scheduling and patient service centre processing, and more. Read more.
Simon Fraser University School of Medicine announced that it has submitted the Data Collection Instrument and the Medical School Self-study. This is the latest milestone for the team as they work towards achieving preliminary accreditation. Read more.
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The Regulations Amending the Food and Drug Regulations and the Medical Devices Regulations (Recalls, Establishment Licenses and Finished Product Testing) under section 30 of the Food and Drugs Act, have been updated by Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, per the recommendation of the Honourable Minister of Health. Read more.
The Government of Canada announced that it will provide $6,621,475 to seven Canadian organizations as part of the Enhanced Surveillance for Chronic Disease Program (ESCDP). Through the ESCDP, the Public Health Agency of Canada provides support to projects that address public health evidence gaps. Read more.
Registration for Web Summit Vancouver: Town Hall 2024 is now open. On Wednesday, September 4 from 1-4 p.m. at the Vancouver Convention Centre, learn about plans for the upcoming Web Summit Vancouver (May 27-30, 2025). Co-hosted with Destination Vancouver and in partnership with a variety of BC leaders and stakeholders, including Innovate BC, PacifiCan, and the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. The Town Hall will also be live streamed. Read more.
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ViewsML's vision is to harness the power of AI to bring precision medicines faster and to more patients worldwide. Learn more.
FMRK is an emerging medical device company that aims to accelerate and enable decentralized healthcare through innovative, easy to use, point of care diagnostic tests. Learn more.
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A team from the Engineers in Scrubs program at UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) was recently awarded $15,000 through the SBME Trainee Research award. The team created a simulator for surgical practitioners in low resource settings to practice providing treatment for newborns with small bowel blockages. Read more.
Congratulations to Augurex, who recently achieved successful certification under the Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP). This certification allows Augurex to streamline its regulatory processes and expand global reach of its autoimmune disease management platforms. Read more.
Two of our members have received BIOTECanada’s 2024 Gold Leaf Awards, recognizing individuals and companies who have made significant contributions to the biotech industry in Canada. Dr. Peter Zandstra, Director of UBC’s SBME, has been awarded the Leadership Award for his innovative contributions, visionary leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit in the biotechnology sector. Read more. Aspect Biosystems has received the Biotech Company Award, which honours companies who have demonstrated exemplary performance and innovation in their technological advancements, business milestones, and/or product pipelines. Read more.
Kudos to the 45 recipients of the 2024-2025 AbbVie Immunology Scholarship, which supports students living with chronic, inflammatory diseases as they pursue higher education. Read more.
Renaissance BioScience Corp. has been awarded Crop Protection Solution of the Year from the AgTech Breakthrough Awards. This award recognizes its dedication to advancing sustainable agriculture and responsible farming with targeted crop protection solutions. Read more.
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UBC’s School of Population and Public Health announced that Dr. Aslam Anis has been appointed Director, effective to June 30, 2029. Read more.
Christine Burnell has joined the SFU School of Medicine’s leadership team as Executive Director, Operations, bringing a wealth of experience in post-secondary education. Read more.
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The Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) is a 5-day program offering essential strategy, resources and mentorship, equipping small and medium-sized businesses to scale up, develop and activate an export plan. The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade is offering a full bursary to LSBC members - which covers the full program cost of $5,000. When applying online, companies can simply mention Life Sciences BC as their referral contact to receive the bursary. Learn more.
Calling all Seed to Series A companies planning for US market entry! Applications are open for the Pathway to Silicon Valley program held in Palo Alto, California on November 19 & 20, 2024. Engage with experienced Bay Area executives and form invaluable connections at this curated immersion program. Learn more.
Innovation UBC (entrepreneurship@UBC) and SFU VentureLabs teams will be running the Lab2Market Discover program this fall! Researchers in emerging technologies are invited to apply for this 10-week program to make the leap into entrepreneurship. Applications are due in September for upcoming cohorts. Learn more.
Apply now for the Canadian Women-in-Tech SaaS Market Accelerator program, organized by the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle! This hybrid accelerator helps cohort companies refine their go-to-market strategy and begin market validation in the USA. Apply by August 31, 2024. Learn more.
Life sciences companies with products on a regulatory journey can apply to raise funding at the Startup TNT Life Sciences Summit 2024. Pitch your startup to local investors, receive valuable feedback, and join a supportive community. Learn more.
Stem Cell Network has launched registration for their upcoming workshop “How to Lead and Engage High-Performing Multi-Generational Teams.” Gain practical leadership insights and strengthen your research initiatives at this highly interactive workshop. Register by September 15, 2024. Learn more.
Stem Cell Network is also hosting Careers Beyond Academia, a virtual career seminar series profiling the different careers available to trainees who hold a degree in the life sciences. Learn more.
DIGITAL is running two calls for proposals to help grow Canada’s AI talent pool. Up to $30M of new investment is available to advance Canadian-led digital innovation for workforce development. Learn more.
| See our expanded list of current life sciences opportunities on our website. | |
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Variational AI has developed an AI-based platform to rapidly generate novel multi-target kinase inhibitors focused on solid tumour indications. The platform is able to optimize selectivity in addition to binding affinity, PK, toxicity, and synthesizability simultaneously using multiproperty optimization and generate novel compounds from new areas of chemical space in a matter of weeks.
Founded in 2019, Variational AI is currently collaborating with partners on novel kinase targets and will develop its own internal pipeline of next-generation kinase inhibitors. Variational AI is post-seed and pre-series A with investors from Seattle and Silicon Valley. The leadership team combines true machine learning scientists from MIT, Caltech, Google, Microsoft and D-Wave Systems with drug discovery and development veterans with 124 patents, 11 drugs licensed to Roche, AstraZeneca, Merck, and BMS. Learn more.
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Until next week!
LSBC Team
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September 10 - We look forward to celebrating excellence in life sciences at the 26th Annual Life Sciences BC Awards, presented by Farris, on September 10, 2024.
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. Please note that ticket sales are now closed.
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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.
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First Results from Lexaria’s Second GLP-1 Human Pilot Study
Lexaria Bioscience Corp., a global innovator in drug delivery platforms announces that the first results from human pilot study #2, GLP-1-H24-2 have been received...Read more.
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Johnson & Johnson is Transforming Solid Tumor Cancer Outcomes with New Data at the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer and European Society for Medical Oncology Congress
Johnson & Johnson announced that 11 oral presentations from the Company’s industry-leading solid tumor portfolio and pipeline will be featured at the 2024 WCLC and the ESMO 2024 Congress...Read more.
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European Commission Approves RYBREVANT®▼ (amivantamab) in Combination with Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Adult Patients with Advanced EGFR-mutated Non-small Cell Lung Cancer After Failure of Prior Therapy
Janssen-Cilag International NV announced that the European Commission has approved a Type II extension of indication for RYBREVANT®▼ in combination with chemotherapy...Read more.
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AbbVie Awards Scholarships to 45 U.S. Students Living With Chronic Immune-Mediated Diseases
AbbVie announced the 2024-2025 recipients of the AbbVie Immunology Scholarship, aimed to support students living with chronic, inflammatory diseases as they pursue higher education...Read more.
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WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. Announces Fast Track Designation Granted by the FDA for Halneuron® (Tetrodotoxin for Injection) for the Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain
WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. developing Halneuron® for pain, announced that the FDA has granted Fast Track designation to Halneuron® for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (“CINP”)...Read more.
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Quest Diagnostics Completes Acquisition of LifeLabs, Enhancing Access to Diagnostic Innovation
Quest Diagnostics announced the completion of its acquisition of LifeLabs from OMERS. The transaction, valued at approximately CAN $1.35 billion, including net debt, has received all necessary approvals and is now closed...Read more.
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European Commission Approves BALVERSA®(erdafitinib) for Adult Patients with Unresectable or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma
Janssen-Cilag International NV announced that the European Commission has approved BALVERSA®▼ as a once-daily oral monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma...Read more.
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PADCEV® (enfortumab vedotin) in Combination with Pembrolizumab Approved by Health Canada to Treat Advanced Bladder Cancer
Pfizer Canada ULC announced that Health Canada has approved PADCEV® in combination with pembrolizumab, for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer...Read more.
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Health Canada Approves KEYTRUDA® for the Treatment of Adult Patients with Unresectable Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Cancer (mUC) with no Prior Systemic Therapy for mUC, in Combination with Enfortumab Vedotin
Merck announced that Health Canada has granted approval of KEYTRUDA® in combination with enfortumab vedotin for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer...Read more.
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Positive 8-Week Body Weight Results from Lexaria’s GLP-1 Diabetes Animal Study
Lexaria Bioscience Corp., a global innovator in drug delivery platforms announces that it has received and can now report on 8-week body weight results from ongoing animal study WEIGHT-A24-1...Read more.
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WELL Health’s OceanMD and HEALWELL’s Intrahealth Announce Partnership to Expand Access to eReferral Healthcare Solutions
WELL Health Technologies Corp. and HEALWELL AI Inc. are jointly pleased to announce WELL’s subsidiary OceanMD and HEALWELL’s subsidiary Intrahealth Solutions have entered into a strategic partnership...Read more.
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Getinge to Acquire Paragonix Technologies, a Growth Leader in the Organ Transplantation Market
Getinge announces an agreement to acquire 100% of Paragonix Technologies, Inc. for an aggregated purchase price, including upfront and earn out payments, estimated to approximately USD 477 million…Read more.
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Augurex Achieves MDSAP Certification
Augurex Life Sciences Corp., a leader in biomarker-driven diagnostic solutions for the detection and management of autoimmune diseases, announced its successful certification under the Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP)…Read more.
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BioTalent Canada Empowers Employers with New Ontario Program to Promote Diverse Hiring for Business Growth
BioTalent Canada announced a new initiative — EnAbling Change for the Bio-economy — to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion within Canada’s bio-economy...Read more.
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Positive Interim Blood Sugar Results from Lexaria’s GLP-1 Diabetes Animal Study
Lexaria Bioscience Corp. a global innovator in drug delivery platforms announces that it has received 4-week and 8-week blood glucose results from ongoing animal study WEIGHT-A24-1…Read more.
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Sustainability: A Key Differentiator as Biopharma Faces Momentum Challenges, Global Survey by Cytiva Reports
In the Global Biopharma Sustainability Review, more than 800 pharma and biopharma professionals articulate the benefits of meeting sustainability targets – and the risks of not clearly measuring progress on those targets...Read more.
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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
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Center of Excellence Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunogenecity Mitigation and Immunopeptidomics
We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow with previous training in immunology and biochemistry to help develop the next generation of screening tools to identify and quantify the presence of immunogenic sequences, motifs, and structures in candidate therapeutic molecules...Learn more
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Associate Scientist – Experimental Immunology
Well-suited applicant will have broad laboratory training, deep scientific curiosity and a positive approach to working in a team-based research environment. This individual will also have a track record of creative problem-solving...Learn more
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Associate – Experimental Immunology (12-Month Contract)
The position would involve the cell isolation from primary human tissues, primary cell culture, sample management and tracking and general assay development. Well-suited applicant will have broad laboratory training and a positive approach to working in a team-based research environment...Learn more
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Senior Administrator, Human Resources
The Senior Administrator will be responsible for coordinating recruitment scheduling for executive level positions (VP and above), scheduling Senior Hire orientations and supporting training events for department heads...Learn more
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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
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Research and Innovation Manager, Health
The Research and Innovation Manager, Health is a collaborative member of the Research and Innovation team and works seamlessly across the organization...Learn more
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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
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Manager, Capital Campaign
St. Paul’s Foundation is seeking a Manager, Capital Campaign to be an integral part of an established, respected non-profit on the cusp of opening an incredible new hospital, research complex, and health campus...Learn more
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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
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Laboratory Assistant, Lab & Facilities
The Lab Operations Assistant will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including consumables inventory management, restocking lab supplies, shipping/receiving and maintaining equipment in good working order...Learn more
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Senior Animal Care Technician (18 month contract)
The Sr. Animal Care Technician reports to the Director, In Vivo Resources and is responsible for the various technical procedures that support the scientific research conducted during the execution of in vivo studies...Learn more
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Principal Scientist – Discovery Protein Sciences
The Therapeutic Discovery organization is seeking to fill a position at the Principal Scientist level in our Discovery Protein Sciences group in Vancouver, Canada. This position, which is laboratory-based, will support the design and generation of complex biological molecules...Learn more
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Senior Associate, LNP Internal Manufacturing
As the Sr. Associate, Internal LNP Manufacturing, you will have a key role manufacturing, testing and shipping LNP drug products for multiple partner programs as part of this crucial department...Learn more
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Post a Job on the LSBC Website | |
LSBC Membership Discounts on Job Postings
As an LSBC member, your first five job postings EARN a free repost on BioTalent Canada's The Petri Dish. After your first five posts, you will also receive 25 per cent off all job postings on The Petri Dish. Want more info? Contact talent@lifesciencesbc.ca.
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Current approaches for biomarker use in precision medicine are slow, expensive, and variable, leading to inefficient and inadequate delivery of personalized treatments.
ViewsML's vision is to harness the power of AI to bring precision medicines faster and to more patients worldwide. Our mission is to create the world's first foundational AI virtual biomarker library for research scientists and clinicians. By virtualizing immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in turn biomarkers - and thus bypassing this wet lab process - we give researchers back 100% of their IHC time, 50% of their budget and richer data sets. We allow for better drug characterization through virtual multiplexing, more precise patient selection in clinical trials, and virtualization of clinical diagnostic assays to more efficiently identify and triage patients for treatment. Learn more.
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FMRK is an emerging medical device company that aims to accelerate and enable decentralized healthcare through innovative, easy to use, point of care diagnostic tests.
Using cutting edge technological advancements, we can reduce wait times in doctor’s offices and Emergency Rooms by creating viable alternative testing and treatment locations in community settings such as Pharmacies and Long Term Care Facilities. Learn more.
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