August 6, 2026 - Hello BioLinks readers

This week:

• Globe and Mail's Sean Silcoff reports on Canada's biotech moment
• Aspect Biosystems feature in BC Business
• LSBC Awards is a month away and we're 75% sold out

Has Canada’s biotech moment finally arrived? by Sean Silcoff of the Globe and Mail

The life sciences sector is seeing a resurgence globally, as well as here in Canada. With many promising, cutting-edge medical sciences companies poised at the edge of success, it is an exciting time indeed. The State Street SPDR S&P Biotech exchange-traded fund, or XBI – a sector benchmark – has appreciated by 70 per cent in value in the past year and recently topped its pandemic-level highs.

There's also a renewed determination across Canada to capitalize on our homegrown resources – including brainpower – to bolster our economic sovereignty. However, Canada's institutional investors, including its largest pension funds, largely remain on the sidelines. Foreign pharma giants, many with looming patent cliffs, are keen to acquire promising assets and technologies. The Globe and Mail’s Sean Silcoff reports on Canada’s biotech moment, asking the question, “With Big Pharmas at the doorstep and indifferent investors at home, can our domestic sector avoid getting hollowed out and finally produce globally relevant life sciences giants?” Read more (Globe and Mail subscription required).

Photo: Jimmy Jeong/The Globe and Mail

Aspect Biosystems, from UBC lab to $2.6-billion deal by Rob Shaw of BC Business

One of Canada’s, and BC’s success stories is Aspect Biosystems, which is based on graduate research that began at UBC in 2011. Since then, Aspect has exploded into a firm with more than $500 million in capital investment, 130 employees and a major $2.6-billion partnership with pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk to create cellular treatments for Type 1 diabetes.

 “I really think life science and biotech is Canada’s industry to own,” said Tamer Mohamed, CEO of Aspect Biosystems. “What has been missing is that necessary ambition to just totally own these categories we initiate and discover, and that’s something we have at Aspect. We’re relentless in our pursuit. And in many ways we’re being a bit un-Canadian to think we’ll get to where Canada ought to get to.” Read more.

LSBC Awards is a Month Away and We’re 75% Sold Out

Secure your tickets to our Awards Gala on September 9, 2026, before they are all gone. This event brings together the community and is an opportunity for team building, network expansion, and to celebrate a year of hard work with colleagues and friends. Purchase your tickets or tables today.

Member Highlights 

Kardium receives Health Canada approval for the Globe® Pulsed Field System. This builds on the successful U.S. launch of the Globe System following FDA approval in 2025. Read more.

“Health Canada approval represents another important milestone for Kardium and is especially meaningful as a Canadian based company,” said Kevin Chaplin, CEO of Kardium. “Following the successful introduction of the Globe System in the United States, we are excited to bring this innovative technology to physicians and patients in Canada. The Globe System reflects our commitment to developing a better way to treat AF through a personalized, efficient, and effective treatment.”

Ecosystem Highlights

Island Health has launched VitalHub's medical imaging referral management technology, making it easier to manage imaging referrals and reducing the time it takes for patients to be booked for diagnostic imaging. The new digital system helps improve efficiency for care teams and access for patients. Read more.

Health Canada has authorized a Phase I clinical trial for an investigational mRNA vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, advancing efforts to develop protection against the virus. Read more.

The Government of Canada is investing in a new laboratory facility in Winnipeg to boost the country’s ability to develop vaccines, treatments and other medical countermeasures for future public health interests. Read more.

Kudos

Congratulations to five cancer researchers, Drs. Liliana Attisano and Daniel Schramek, Dr. Jessica McAlpine, Drs. Rama Khokha and Christopher Maxwell, Dr. Pam Ohashi and Dr. Peter Dirks who were awarded a combined $33 million through the Terry Fox Research Institute's New Frontiers Program Project Grants, where they will help advance the understanding of cancer and improving diagnosis, detection, and treatment. Read more.

People on the Move

Congratulations to Dr. Janice Eng and Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose for their reappointment as Co-Directors of UBC's Centre for Hip Health and Mobility (CHHM). Read more.

Congratulations to Jennifer Taubert on her retirement after more than 21 years of leadership at Johnson & Johnson, followed by the appointment of Tom Cavanaugh as Executive Vice President and Worldwide Chairman of Innovative Medicine. Read more.

Congratulations to Loreto Grimaldi and Kaytek Przybylski on their new leadership appointments at WELL Health as Chief Legal Officer and Chief Digital & Information. Read more.

GuideStar has appointed Amanda Malone as the Chief Operating Officer, where she will help lead the company’s continued growth and operations. Read more.

Congratulations to Thomas J. Appio as he steps into the role of Bausch Health Companies and Lomb Corporations’ Board of Directors. Read more.

Congratulations to David Ferland-McCollough as he joins CQDM to help advance the AReNA Initiative. Read more.  

Applications Open

Apply by September 1, 2026, to join the Canadian Life Sciences Mission to Mexico, taking place November 3-5, 2026. Innovative Canadian pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies will have the opportunity to connect with Mexican industry leaders, explore commercial R&D partnerships, participate in curated B2B meetings and site visits, and gain valuable insights into one of Latin’s Americas fastest-growing life sciences markets. Learn more.

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

Membership Spotlight

Providence Research is the research partner of Providence Health Care, one of Canada's largest faith-based health care organizations operating 17 health care facilities in Greater Vancouver, including St. Paul's Hospital. Providence Research enjoys a reputation as a world-class place to conduct biomedical research and is ranked 4th in Canada’s top 40 Research Hospitals. 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.

Migraine and Nausea: What the Brain–Gut Axis Reveals About New Treatment Pathways

New research on the brain–gut connection is revealing why nausea often comes with migraines and could lead to better treatments...Read more.

UBRELVY® (ubrogepant) Recommended for Reimbursement by Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) for Acute Migraine Treatment

A new recommendation from Canada's Drug Agency could help more Canadians access UBRELVY (ubrogepant) for the treatment of acute migraine… Read more.

Labcorp Launches FDA-Approved PTEN Companion Diagnostic for Prostate Cancer

Labcorp has launched an FDA-approved companion diagnostic that helps identify prostate cancer patients who may benefit from more personalized treatment options… Read more.

Health Canada Approves KEYTRUDA® for the treatment of adult patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer who are ineligible for cisplatin containing chemotherapy, in combination with enfortumab vedotin, as neoadjuvant treatment and then continued after radical cystectomy as adjuvant treatment

Health Canada has approved KEYTRUDA in combination with enfortumab vedotin, giving eligible bladder cancer patients who cannot receive cisplatin a new treatment option… Read more.

New poll reveals Ontarians’ overwhelming desire for government investment in preventive healthcare measures

With Ontario’s healthcare system facing an aging population, new polls revealed that Ontarians want to invest in preventive healtcare measures… Read more.

Kardium Receives Health Canada Approval for the Globe® Pulsed Field System

Kardium has received Health Canada approval for its Globe Pulsed Field System, a new technology designed to treat atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat). This milestone brings a next-generation treatment closer to patients while highlighting the company's continued innovation in heart care… Read more.

Post doctoral fellow (Mitacs) – Immunologist/in vivo model development

The candidate will head a multidisciplinary project leading the mechanistic characterization and development of new in vivo models for validated endotoxin-clearance enhancing lipid nanoparticle RNA drugs for treatment of severe bacterial infections… Learn more.

Marketing & Partnerships Manager

This role requires building and nurturing relationships with clinics and referral partners, coordinating clinic onboarding and partnership initiatives, and conducting customer and stakeholder interviews to better understand user and clinic needs... Learn more.

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