April 28th, 2023

Life Sciences BC seeks to raise the profile of our members and supporters, highlight their achievements, and promote BC's dynamic life sciences ecosystem. If you have news or a story to share, let us know.

BC Health Professionals Awarded Funding to Improve Health Outcomes

A new cohort of 16 health professional investigators funded by Michael Smith Health Research BC are conducting and applying research to ultimately improve health outcomes in BC and beyond. This year’s recipients are tackling a broad range of health challenges including: food as an intervention to reduce effects of woodsmoke exposure on respiratory health; integration of shared decision-making in heart failure pharmacotherapy; accelerating diagnosis of glioma (a type of brain cancer) in BC; and updating guidelines deprescribing medications based on needs and current evidence...READ MORE

uBriGene Biosciences Inc. closes 150 million CNY (20 million USD) Series C+ round

uBriGene Biosciences Inc. has closed a 150 million CNY (20 million USD) Series C+ financing round. It was completed just half a year after uBriGene’s Series C funding in September 2022, when the company received hundreds of millions of CNY. The funds will be used for the expansion of uBriGene’s global footprint, developing prospective key technologies, and enhancing its global-oriented CGT CDMO platform. The goal of expanding global production capacity is to meet the needs of overseas market, fully exploit the team’s strengths and advantages, improve the manufacturing platforms based in the United States and Canada to better provide services for global customers...READ MORE

Spring Activator, Nimbus Synergies, and Discovery Foundation Team up to Launch Program to Strengthen Impact Focused Health Innovation in BC

Nimbus Synergies, an investor, partner, and mentor to early-stage health tech startups based in Canada, is proud to announce its partnership with Spring Activator, the Discovery Foundation, and Innovate BC to launch a program that strengthens impact focused health innovation ecosystem in BC. The program is designed to support health innovation startups by preparing them for investment and connecting them with investors...READ MORE

Innovative Treatment Targets Blood Clots Without Increased Bleeding Risk

By combining their expertise in blood clotting systems and chemical synthesis, the researchers have designed a new compound called MPI 8 that prevents blood clots without any increased risk of bleeding — a common side effect of existing blood thinners.

• Safer and more effective blood thinners could be on the way following a groundbreaking discovery by researchers at UBC and the University of Michigan, published in Nature Communications...READ MORE

PharmAla Biotech to Supply Incannex with GMP LaNeo MDMA and Psilocybin

PharmAla Biotech have received a signed purchase order for GMP LaNeo MDMA and Psilocybin by Incannex (IHL.ASX), a NASDAQ-listed psychedelic research company and clinic operator based in Australia

• PharmAla will be the initial supplier for clinical materials in a series of Psychedelic therapy clinics planned for opening by Incannex in Melbourne and across Australia...READ MORE

Salix Partners with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance on Community Screening Program

Bausch Health Companies Inc. and its gastroenterology business, Salix Pharmaceuticals, announced a partnership with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (Alliance), the nation’s nonprofit leader dedicated to combatting colorectal cancer, to increase awareness and access to preventative colorectal screenings in medically underserved communities.

• Program Seeks to Increase the Number of People Screened to Help Prevent Colorectal Cancer Diagnoses in Philadelphia...READ MORE

Gene Biotechnology Enterprises Ltd. Partners with CBRF PRAIRIE Hub on its Commercialization Efforts

Gene Biotechnology Enterprises Ltd is an executive commercialization business partnering with CBRF PRAIRIE Hub, led by the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and University of Saskatchewan/VIDO. Through Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy (the Strategy), the Government of Canada is investing more than $2.2 billion over seven years to continue growing a strong, competitive biomanufacturing and life sciences sector, and to ensure Canada is prepared for future pandemics by increasing domestic capacity through investments and partnerships to produce life-saving vaccines and therapeutics...READ MORE

Renaissance BioScience Corp. and Timeless Capital Corp. Announce Definitive Agreement and TSXV Conditional Approval of Transaction

Timeless Capital Corp. and Renaissance BioScience Corp. are pleased to announce that they have entered into an amalgamation agreement dated April 5, 2023 (the “Amalgamation Agreement”) in connection with their previously announced business combination (the “Transaction”) and that shareholders of Renaissance approved the Transaction and related matters at an annual general and special meeting of shareholders held on April 21, 2023...READ MORE

Health Canada Approves BEYFORTUS™ (nirsevimab) for the Prevention of RSV Disease in Infants

Health Canada has issued a Notice of Compliance (NOC) approving BEYFORTUS™ (nirsevimab) for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in newborns and infants during their first RSV season, and children up to 24 months of age who remain vulnerable to severe RSV disease through their second RSV season

• BEYFORTUS™ (nirsevimab) is the first and only single-dose immunization designed for the prevention of RSV disease in newborns and infants, including those born healthy, at term or preterm, or with specific health conditions1
• Clinical trial data show BEYFORTUS™ is effective in reducing medically attended RSV infections including hospitalizations...READ MORE

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Showcases its XEN1101 Epilepsy Program at the 2023 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., a neurology-focused biopharmaceutical company, announced its upcoming oral and poster presentations at the 2023 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting in Boston, MA

• Oral presentation by Dr. Jacqueline French to outline sustained monthly reduction in focal onset seizures during open-label extension of X-TOLE study
• Poster to present the trial design for Phase 3 X-ACKT clinical study evaluating XEN1101 in additional epilepsy indication of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures...READ MORE

Ondine Reports Successful Food Pathogen Study

Ondine Biomedical, a Canadian life sciences company, reported that photodisinfection being developed for food processing demonstrated high efficacy against key food-borne pathogens. Results of the proof-of-concept study, presented on 12 April, 2023,[1] confirmed 4-5 log (up to 99.999%) elimination of pathogens commonly found on hard surfaces in meat processing facilities, as well as those directly located on fresh-cut chicken, beef, and pork meat – paving the way for Canadian leadership in food safety innovations. On the basis of these findings, Ondine intends to apply for additional non-dilutive funding to continue the development of food-safe photodisinfection technology...READ MORE

Takeda has Secured Three-Year Contract in Key Immunoglobulin Category

Takeda Canada Inc. has entered into a three-year agreement with Canadian Blood Services (CBS) that includes GAMMAGARD LIQUID®, GAMMAGARD® S/D and CUVITRU®, resulting from CBS’s request for proposal for immunoglobulin therapy within its formulary mix. The three-year agreement is the second consecutive time Takeda has received a significant award for these products with the option for two one-year extensions, reinforcing the company’s leadership position in immunoglobulin therapy...READ MORE

CIHR Institute of Gender and Health Opens Vancouver Office, Hosts Nation-wide Listening Tour

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Gender and Health (IGH) – led by scientific director and Faculty of Health Sciences professor Angela Kaida – is celebrating the opening of its new office at Simon Fraser University’s Vancouver campus, located at Harbour Centre.

The hour-long event will take place on May 2, 2023 from 9:00 am PDT and will be livestreamed on Facebook. A recording of the proceedings will be available on the CIHR’s Facebook account after the event...READ MORE

Funding Supports Tech-Skills Training for Under-Represented British Columbians

A more diverse technology sector is the result of a successful start to the Innovator Skills Initiative program, providing tech companies with funding to hire and develop talent, including those from under-represented groups.

In 2021, the Government of B.C. made a $15-million investment to launch the Innovator Skills Initiative through Innovate BC, which has helped approximately 3,000 people get their first job in technology and contributed to this growing sector. With the continued success of the Innovator Skills Initiative, the Province is investing an additional $5 million to the Innovator Skills Initiative, creating a more inclusive economy...READ MORE

International Partnership Supports Vaccine Research to Prevent Future Outbreaks

Investment will strengthen pandemic preparedness and accelerate career development for Canadian vaccine researchers

Canadian and international experiences with infectious disease outbreaks, including most recently with the COVID-19 pandemic, underscore the importance of continuing to build global expertise in epidemic and pandemic preparedness and ensuring Canadian researchers remain leaders in vaccine development...READ MORE

Medical Services Commission, Telus Health Reach Agreement on LifePlus Program

The Medical Services Commission of British Columbia and Telus Health have reached a settlement regarding Telus’s LifePlus program.

Telus Health has worked with the commission and committed to make agreed-upon operational changes to its LifePlus program to ensure its compliance with the Medicare Protection Act. As a result of the pending modifications to the LifePlus program, the commission has suspended its pursuit of an injunction...READ MORE

Minister Ng Announces New Venture Capital Investments for Life Sciences Sector

The Government of Canada is committed to creating a vibrant and sustainable venture capital (VC) industry in the Canadian life sciences sector. The result will be improved access to capital for innovative early-stage companies that are developing the solutions of the future while creating good jobs for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, announced that $50 million will be invested in six venture capital funds focused on the Life Sciences sector under the renewed Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI)...READ MORE

Governments of Canada, France Create New Joint Committee on Science, Technology and Research

The Honourable François‑Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, alongside Sylvie Retailleau, French Minister of Higher Education and Research, announced the creation of a joint committee between Canada and France to help strengthen the long-standing partnership between Canada and France in science, technology and innovation (STI). The committee will encourage the identification of thematic priorities for Franco-Canadian cooperation in STI, and promote new opportunities for Canadian and French researchers and innovators to work together to find evidence-based solutions to global challenges...READ MORE

Fraser Health Authority’s Eagle Ridge Hospital goes LIVE with MEDITECH Expanse

Eagle Ridge Hospital became the first of Fraser Health Authority’s twelve hospitals to go LIVE with MEDITECH Expanse on April 15.

As a step toward innovating the future of care, Eagle Ridge Hospital became the first of Fraser Health Authority’s twelve hospitals to go LIVE with MEDITECH Expanse on April 15.

The implementation of Expanse is part of the Advance Program at Fraser, a clinical transformation that is taking place across the organization. The program focuses on leveraging technology and innovation to continuously improve the quality, consistency, and safety of the patient care provided...READ MORE

Mitacs Internship Funding Will Help Connect Students, Employers

More than 10,000 new internships will be funded for students in priority sectors, such as clean technology, life sciences, emergency management, advanced timber and agritech, to better connect B.C. employers with the talent and skills of the future.

The B.C. government has provided Mitacs with $50 million to support 10,000 paid internships over five years...READ MORE

Province Seeks Input from Internationally Trained Professionals

Internationally trained professionals are invited to share their views on the foreign credential recognition process in B.C. and identify barriers that may be preventing them from fully participating in the labour market

Feedback gathered through an online survey will inform legislation to improve foreign credential recognition. Responses will help steer the Province in removing barriers to create clearer and faster pathways for skilled people who have immigrated to Canada, while maintaining excellence in services and safety that people depend on...READ MORE

QC Associate II – Routine Testing

Evonik Vancouver Laboratories (VAN) is seeking a QC Associate II - Routine Testing to work full time on-site. The role holder is responsible for proactively ensuring the day-to-day QC activities are executed/ performed efficiently and effectively in accordance with approved SOPs/ analytical methods, GxP and EHSS requirements. Qualification necessary include a BSc. in chemistry, applied sciences, or equivalent, with ≥ 4 years of work experience in a regulated pharmaceutical laboratory environment. 

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Quality Systems Specialist

Evonik Vancouver Laboratories (VAN) is seeking a Quality Systems Specialist to work full time on-site. The role holder is primarily responsible for material and external supplier management, GMP training, and supporting QS related activities to achieve the best-in-class quality operation that fits for a CDMO at the Vancouver site of Evonik Canada Inc. BSc. Qualifications in chemistry, biological/ applied sciences, pharmaceutical engineering, or equivalent, with ≥ 5 years of work experience in GMP regulated environment are recommended.

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Director, Business Development

Xenon Pharmaceuticals is seeking a Director, Business Development to work full-time on-site. The role holder will be part of a team responsible for managing product out-licensing and search efforts to identify, in-licensing, collaborations and acquisition targets which align with Xenon’s product pipeline strategy. The candidate will ideally have a strong scientific background and business acumen in the biotechnology or pharma industry with a proven ability to work collaboratively with cross functional teams and external partners.





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With 5 Partners working in Life Sciences across a diverse array of functional disciplines, and geographies we are highly effective at identifying and engaging top-level talent on an international scale. Leveraging deep vertical experience, innovative thinking, and proven time-saving methodologies (LEAN Six Sigma certified) we thrive in the recruitment of difficult-to-find, culture-critical executive talent.

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Ondine Biomedical Inc. is developing non-antibiotic therapies for the treatment of a wide variety of complex bacterial, fungal and viral infections. The Company is focused on developing and commercializing innovative products using its patented light-activated platform technology, Photodynamic disinfection (PDD). PDD eradicates pathogens by using a non-thermal light source with a specific wave length and a photosensitizing solution that selectively stains the targeted pathogens.

The PDD treatment does not harm human tissue and provides an immediate broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy without the development of bacterial resistance to the therapy. Ondine continues to develop a number of other applications of PDD, including Exelumea, which eradicates bacterial biofilms on the inner surface of endotracheal tubes thereby reducing the risk to patients on long-term intubation of contracting ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Ondine is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and has a research and development laboratory in Bothell, Washington, USA.

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