Life Sciences BC News, May 09, 2024

With BIO 2024 less than a month away, companies are gearing up for the international biotech conference that brings together sector leaders from around the world. Life Sciences BC will be leading the BC delegation in San Diego and exhibiting at the Canada Pavilion, booth #1321. Learn more about the exceptional life sciences ecosystem in BC and send us a meeting request through the BIO 1-on-1 Partnering System here.

In the latest episode of BIO’s podcast, experts answer, “What makes start-ups attractive for acquisition?” Companies interested in M&A are looking for detailed and compelling scientific data, strong IP, and assets that will address a therapy with evidence to potentially be best-in-class or first-in-class. Attending events like BIO and presenting is critical for making the connections that move business forward. Listen to the I am BIO Podcast here.

We are delighted to welcome Elleda Spitzer to the LSBC team! Elleda is joining us as Events Specialist Co-op for the summer term. A huge thank you to Nadia Shao, the former Events Specialist, for her dedication and outstanding contributions to the team over the spring. Niall Sendemir and Lily Nordgren will be remaining as Partnerships and Memberships Specialist and Marketing and Communications Specialist, respectively, for the summer. 

2024 LSBC Awards nominations are open until May 26. Don’t miss your chance to nominate a deserving member of our life sciences community. Recognition among our peers is sometimes the best reward and encourages the pursuit of excellence in improving patients' lives. Work that is often challenging, requires grit and takes an entire ecosystem of smart, dedicated, and talented people to do well. Learn more about this year's awards and nominate here.

A new gene therapy, using the gene-editing tool CRISPR has received approval in the U.K., the U.S., and the EU. This milestone marks a potential breakthrough for patients with life-threatening sickle-cell disease and is the first time a therapy using CRISPR has been approved for treatment in humans. CRISPR has been in the spotlight of ethical debates following the 2018 controversy of CRISPR technology being used to edit human embryos that were brought to term. Genome BC’s Chief Science Officer and Vice-President of Innovation and Research, Dr. Federica Di Palma, addresses what this could mean for the future of medicine in an op-ed published in The Vancouver Sun. Read more.

Also, in the Vancouver Sun this week, UBC's new president, Benoit-Antoine Bacon says BC’s largest university has an exciting future, given the city’s growing reputation as a biotech hub and new federal funding for life-science research at the university. This week, Ottawa announced an investment of $140 million in several projects at Canada’s immunoengineering and biomanufacturing hub at UBC. In the last 20 years, UBC has created about 250 significant new companies, generating thousands of jobs and billions in valuation and sales. Read more.

Member Highlights 

BeiGene, a global oncology company with a workforce of over 10,000 employees comes to Canada with the opening of its Toronto office. Read more. 

UBC’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (CIEBH) receives $140 million from the Government of Canada. CIEBH is a national research hub with more than 50 academic, industry, not-for-profit and health sector partners. The four supported projects will enable Canada to rapidly respond to future pandemic threats — in less than 100 days — and address some of the most pressing health challenges facing Canadians today. Read more.

Novo Nordisk announces Wegovy® as the first-and-only Health Canada-approved medication for chronic weight management. Read more. 

PharmAla launches an online portal for medical professionals focused on MDMA therapy. The portal is only available to pre-approved medical professionals and allows providers to learn more about MDMA, its effects, and the potential ability to access the molecule for their patients. Read more.

Industry Highlights

Government of Canada funds new projects in the domestic biomanufacturing and life sciences sector. Nearly $574 million in funding was announced for 19 projects at 14 research institutions across Canada, through Stage 2 of the integrated Canada Biomedical Research Fund (CBRF) and Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund (BRIF) competition. Read more.

Kudos

Congratulations to Amgen BC for the recent completion of its 4500 square foot research lab expansion in Burnaby, British Columbia. Read more.

People on the Move

NervGen Pharma announced a transition to its Board of Directors. Bill Radvak, NervGen’s Chairman and Co-Founder, will not stand for re-election and will be moving to a continuing role as advisor to the Board. Read more.

Congratulations to Mark Barnes, who started a new role as Associate Vice President of Strategy and Outreach (Interim) at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)! Mark’s previous position was Director of Research and Innovation at UNBC. Read more.

Bo Barnhart, previously VP of Translational Research at AbCellera joins venture capital firm Curie.Bio as Drug Maker in Residence. Read more.

Applications Open

Applications are open for Innovative Medicines Canada’s Diversity and Equity in Research Award! The award recognizes researchers working to advance equitable participation in health research and healthcare access across Canada. Applications are due by August 1, 2024. Learn more.

The Governments of Canada and the United Kingdom have opened a call for proposals for collaborative projects to develop products, processes, or services focused on the biomanufacturing of biologics and advanced therapeutics. Registration is due by July 2, 2024. Learn more.

The Health Research BC-Mitacs Industry-Based Program is open for 2024. The program provides graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with paid internships at BC-based life sciences companies to advance knowledge and gain business skills. Letters of intent are due by December 1, 2024 and are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more. 

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

Member Spotlight

Fasken is a leading full-service law firm with more than 800 lawyers on three continents and is at the forefront of the life sciences industry. We understand the complexities of the health product lifecycle and related commercial context. We also have expertise with the challenges of emerging life sciences companies, including finance, clinical research and strategic partnerships. We offer creative and commercially effective strategies for every opportunity and obstacle you may face. The diverse skill set of our Life Sciences Group enables us to provide integrated strategies from a range of perspectives - all tailored to your objectives...Learn more.

Until next week!

LSBC Team

May 23 - Join the excitement of BIO 2024 before the conference and learn about some of the innovative BC companies that will be attending.

Life Sciences BC is hosting a BC Delegation Spotlight: BIO San Diego webinar on May 23, 2024 from 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM PT, offering attendees an opportunity to gain insight into the innovative research and advancements in BC.

May 29 & 30 - LSBC, 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.

Health Canada Approves KEYTRUDA® for Adult Patients with Locally Advanced Unresectable or Metastatic Biliary Tract Carcinoma, in Combination with Gemcitabine-Based Chemotherapy

Merck announced that Health Canada has granted approval of KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with gemcitabine-based chemotherapy, for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic biliary tract carcinoma...Read more.

Ribobay Pharma Boosts CRDMO Offerings with Cytiva’s First FlexFactory Platform for Oligonucleotides

Ribobay Pharma will provide cGMP-level oligonucleotide (oligo) CRDMO services to the world using Cytiva’s first FlexFactory platform for oligo manufacturing...Read more.

Lexaria Begins Dosing of Its Second GLP-1 Human Pilot Study

Lexaria Bioscience announces that human pilot study #2, GLP-1-H24-2, is underway and the first dosing visit for all nine study participants has already concluded...Read more.

Lexaria Announces New Research Program to Evaluate Mode of Action and Performance of DehydraTECH-GLP-1 Drugs

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. announces an applied research program to evaluate certain molecular characteristics of DehydraTECH processed with the glucagon-peptide 1 drug, semaglutide, related to its mode of action and performance. The research will be conducted in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada...Read more.

QULIPTA™ (atogepant) Now Approved by Health Canada for the Preventive Treatment of Chronic Migraine in Adults

AbbVie announced that Health Canada has approved QULIPTA for the prevention of migraine in adults who have at least four migraine days per month.1 QULIPTA is the first and only oral, small-molecule calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist approved to prevent both episodic and chronic migraine...Read more.

Invitae Receives Court Approval for Sale to Labcorp

Labcorp and Invitae announced that the United States Bankruptcy Court has approved the previously announced bid by Labcorp to acquire assets of Invitae. The transaction is expected to bolster Labcorp’s genetic specialty testing capabilities...Read more.

Biotech Leader, BeiGene, Inaugurates Office in Toronto, Canada

BeiGene Canada opened its first office in Canada. Situated in downtown Toronto, the new office space will be the Canadian headquarters where the company will work to extend the boundaries of ‘the possible,’ fulfilling BeiGene’s promise of delivering best-in-class, innovative cancer treatments...Read more.

Numinus Wellness Focused on Boosting Profitability and Expanding Community Support

Numinus Wellness announces a strategic plan designed to streamline expenses and sharpen the company’s focus on its higher-growth U.S. operations. This initiative is designed to enhance its U.S. wellness clinics and clinical research facilities and expand enrollment in its practitioner training program...Read more.

NervGen Files Management Information Circular And Announces Board Of Directors Transition

Bill Radvak, NervGen’s current Chairman and Co-Founder, advised that he will not stand for re-election and will transition to a continuing role as an advisor to the Board. The Board will appoint a new chairperson from amongst the directors re-elected at the Meeting...Read more.

New Guidelines for Depression Care Emphasize Patient-centred Approach

Psychiatrists and mental health professionals have a new standard for managing major depression, thanks to refreshed clinical guidelines published today by UBC researchers at the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT)...Read more.

UBC Medicine Members Receive Funding for Projects Advancing Equity and Anti-Racism

UBC Faculty of Medicine community members are among the recipients of funding from UBC’s Strategic Equity and Anti-Racism Enhancement Fund. A total of 41 student, faculty and staff-led projects have been funded across UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan...Read more.

Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub Research Teams Awarded $140M in Federal Funding

The Government of Canada announced an investment of $140 million in projects associated with Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub — a UBC-led national research hub with more than 50 academic, industry, not-for-profit and health sector partners...Read more.

AI Can Tell if a Patient Battling Cancer Needs Mental Health Support

Researchers at the UBC Faculty of Medicine and BC Cancer have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) model that can accurately predict if a person receiving cancer care will require mental health services during their treatment journey...Read more.

The Health Research Foundation Calls for Nominations for the 2024 Diversity & Equity in Research Award

The Health Research Foundation of Innovative Medicines Canada is calling for nominations for the 2024 Diversity and Equity in Research Award, which recognizes exceptional researchers who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within health research...Read more.

PharmAla Launches Prescriber’s Portal for Medical Professionals Focused on MDMA Therapy

PharmAla Biotech Holdings is pleased to announce that it has officially launched its Prescribers Portal for medical practitioners with prescribing power to learn more about MDMA, its effects, and the potential ability to access the molecule for their patients...Read more.

WELL Launches its Second-Generation AI Powered Physician Co-pilot with Chronic Disease Detection Powered by HEALWELL AI

WELL Health Technologies and its investee company, HEALWELL AI, are pleased to announce the launch of the second generation WELL AI Decision Support. This enhanced version which features advanced chronic disease screening arrives just six months after the initial launch...Read more.

Musical Medicine: SFU Research Highlights Health Benefits of Hearing Music for Older Adults

Listening to music benefits older adults’ cognitive health, even if it’s music they haven’t heard before or don’t enjoy very much, according to a study by Simon Fraser University and Health Research BC researchers...Read more.

Wegovy® (Semaglutide Injection) Available in Canada

Novo Nordisk has announced that Wegovy® (semaglutide injection) will be available for Canadians who meet the requirements in the Health Canada approved product monograph on May 6, 2024...Read more.

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Announces Gastrointestinal Clinical Advisory Board

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc.announced the formation of a Clinical Advisory Board for its gastrointestinal program. The Clinical Advisory Board will work closely with Eupraxia as it continues its development of EP-104GI for eosinophilic esophagitis, which is currently in a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial...Read more.

Alpha-9 Oncology Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 1 Study of A9-3202 in Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Melanoma

Alpha-9 Oncology announced that the first participant has been dosed in the Phase 1 study evaluating 68Ga-A9-3202, a radiodiagnostic targeting melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) for the imaging of locally advanced or metastatic melanoma...Read more.

Accountant

Xenon Pharmaceuticals is seeking an Accountant to support our Finance team across the different functions within the department. This is a great opportunity for an individual who enjoys working on a variety of tasks as key responsibilities for this position span across our accounts payable, finance, and general accounting functions...Learn more

Analytical/Bioanalytical Scientist, Chemistry

The successful candidate will play a key role within the Technology Development team to advance our nucleic acid delivery platforms and enable diverse endeavors with our collaborators. This position will report to the Senior Director, Chemistry...Learn more

Program Coordinator

The University Health Network We are looking for a Program Coordinator to help grow the Computational Biology and Medicine Program at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre...Learn more.

Data Management Specialist

The University Health Network is looking for a Data Management Specialist to help grow the CBMP at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and curate and track multimodal data analyzed in the program...Learn more.

Research Scientist, Biology

SignalChem is looking for a highly motivated individual with in-depth knowledge of and extensive experience in cell signaling, preferably in the industry setting, to join its drugs discovery team as a research scientist...Learn more.

Material Management – Logistics Specialist II

This position is responsible for the oversight of overall inbound traffic of raw materials and supplies for the GMP Manufacturing group. Resulting in the coordination and collaboration with vendors, purchasing, accounting, manufacturing, process development, and project management...Learn more.

Application Scientist

The primary responsibilities of this role will be supporting a multidisciplinary team by providing support for the newest AtomForge technology. The focus will be on the small-molecule drug discovery market, with an emphasis on molecular dynamics and free energy calculations...Learn more.

Senior Manager, Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub

Working under broad directions from the Executive Director, CIEBH, the Senior Manager will manage operational and partnership activities of CIEBH, engage with researchers and industry partners to develop knowledge mobilization plans, while supporting implementation of initiatives for CIEBH...Learn more.

Scientific Project Associate

The Scientific Project Associate will work flexibly across several discovery-stage small molecule programs, providing critical compound logistics and contract management support...Learn more.

Clinical Trials Coordinator

The Clinical Trial Coordinator handles all aspects of enrolment and follow-up of clinical research study patients including initial recruitment of study subjects, continued follow up with enrolled subjects, and collection and maintenance of clinical research related data...Learn more.

If you haven't already, sign-up for this and our weekly events newsletter

Follow LSBC on Social Media