February 29, 2024

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.

You can find previous editions of BioLinks newsletters and other resources on our website at News/Publications.

Life Sciences BC News

What an incredible day we had yesterday at Access to Innovation! Our 9th annual conference was held at the Vancouver Convention Centre with over 200 registered for the event. Many would agree, now is one of the most exciting times for life sciences in BC. 

The theme for this year’s program was “Powering Life Sciences Innovation and Sustainable Economic Growth.” We kicked off the day with a keynote addressing some of the ways we can tackle climate change. A panel discussion led by Genome BC encouraged everyone to reconsider how all voices can be heard through reconciliation. The importance of collaboration within our sector was emphasized. We heard how academia, industry, and centres of disease control can collaborate to fight public health crises, dispelling some of the stigma around STI research.

Speakers

Throughout the day, we discussed some of the challenges facing our fast-growing sector, including patient access, a potential talent gap, and the resources and training around clinical trials. Although Canadian innovation is touted to “punch above our weight”, we are encouraged to be maybe a little less Canadian, think big, and step out of imposter syndrome. 

We were also joined by Providence Health Care for a panel discussion on transforming healthcare and the associated economic benefits. Speaking to the new St. Paul’s Clinical Support and Research Centre (CSRC), this was a timely conversation for many reasons, one of which was St. Paul’s Foundation’s recent announcement that they raised a record-breaking $5.52 million for the CSRC at the recent 17th annual Scotiabank Feast of Fortune. Congratulations to St. Paul’s Foundation on this successful event and momentous achievement. 

We closed the day at Access to Innovation with a fireside chat, where we were pleased to be joined by the Honourable Brenda Bailey, BC Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. It was a day for innovative presentations, in-depth discussions, and meaningful connections.  

We hope that everyone who attended left feeling energized about the future of life sciences in BC – a future that requires collaboration and a shared commitment towards sector advancement. Thank you to all the speakers, panelists, and our generous sponsors for a truly remarkable event.   

Member Highlights 

ARC Medical Inc. was featured in an article by Medical Device Network about the Company’s plans to evaluate its fluid medical devices, JOCOAT™ and IPCOAT™, for the prevention or reduction of adhesions following surgeries. Read the article here. 

ARC Medical Inc. was also highlighted by Life Science Intelligence for achieving an exciting milestone – the first deployment of its novel JOCOAT™ fluid medical device in two surgical patients. See the post here. 

SeraGene Therapeutics Co-Founders, Amy Wong Strilchuk, Christian Kastrup, and Pieter Cullis, published an article in Science Translational Medicine titled “Lipid nanoparticles and siRNA targeting plasminogen provide lasting inhibition of fibrinolysis in mouse and dog models of hemophilia A". Their research illustrates the potential of RNA therapies to improve the treatment of coagulation disorders. Read the article here. 

UBC Faculty of Medicine researchers announced a first-of-its-kind clinical trial exploring the potential of CBD as a treatment for bipolar depression alongside primary courses of treatment. The new trial is being funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and has been approved by Health Canada. Learn more here. 

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced that it will provide $12.6 million in grant funding to 19 organizations to improve the HIV landscape for Black women and girls in the U.S. through the Company’s Setting the P.A.C.E. Initiative. Learn more here. 

PHC Corporation of North America announced the launch of a dual voltage ultra-low temperature freezer. The new model of PHCbi brand VIP® ECO SMART ULT freezer series is designed for use in facilities, including medical institutions, universities, and pharmaceutical companies. Read more here.  

Filament Health CEO Benjamin Lightburn was interviewed by Pharmaceutical Executive about the Company’s successes with psychedelic drug development and the unique business strategies required when working with pharmaceutical psychedelics. Read the article here. 

New Member

BFC Technologies Inc. supplies customized design-build process solutions for a wide range of customers including the biotech, pharmaceutical, and nuclear industrial sectors. 

Welcome to the LSBC community!

Industry Highlights

The Government of Canada announced the results of Canada’s first Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence Early Career Transition Award – 43 early-career researchers will receive a total of $28.4 million in support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and partners. The funding seeks to support Black people and racialized women who are underrepresented as they transition to independent academic or research positions. Read more here. 

The Government of Canada announced that Moderna has completed construction of its new state-of-the-art mRNA vaccine production facility in Laval, Quebec. This represents a major milestone in the Canadian biomanufacturing sector as it strengthens Canada’s domestic vaccine and therapeutics production capacity. Learn more here. 

The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, launched the Government of Canada's sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) action plan 2024-2030, in addition to announcing $2.45 million in funding to address STBBI in Canada. Learn more about the Action Plan here. 

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) spoke with The Innovation Platform about Horizon Europe in Canada, a program designed to fund science and research initiatives to better the planet. Read more here. 

Kudos

Congratulations to LifeLabs on the grand opening of their newest Patient Service Centre in North Pickering, Ontario. The expansion represents an important milestone in providing healthcare services for the rapidly growing city, and aligns with LifeLabs’ mission to enhance accessibility and convenience for residents. Read more here. 

St. Paul’s Foundation announced that $5.52 million was raised for the new St. Paul's Clinical Support and Research Centre at the 17th annual Scotiabank Feast of Fortune gala. Well done on this exciting achievement! Learn more here. 

Congratulations to Gene Bio Medical for being selected to participate in the upcoming Team Canada Trade Mission to Malaysia and Vietnam. Gene Bio Medical will join the business delegation in March 2024, and will use the opportunity to make strides in expanding its international footprint and diversifying its market presence in Asia. Read more here. 

Kudos to GlycoNet Investigators Dr. Mohamed Osman and Dr. Lisa Willis at the University of Alberta whose research was named by Arthritis Society Canada as one of the top 10 research advances of 2023. Their research identified intriguing similarities between systemic sclerosis and cancer. Learn more here. 

Congratulations to Vertex Pharmaceuticals CEO and President Reshma Kewalramani on being named to the 2024 STATUS List for the second consecutive year. Read more here. 

Kudos to Dr. Victoria Lee, President and CEO of the Fraser Health Authority, for being awarded the Vancouver Medical Association’s Primus Inter Pares or “First Among Equals” award. The award recognizes members of the medical community for their leadership, fellowship, and contributions to society. See the post here. 

People on the Move

WELL Health Technologies Founder, Chairman, and CEO Hamed Shahbazi has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of HEALWELL AI, a global leader in AI powered preventative care. Concurrent to the appointment, Kingsley Ward will step down as HEALWELL’s Chairman but will continue to serve as an Independent Director on the board. Read more here. 

Genome BC announced that Wes Peterson has joined the Company as Vice President, Corporate Development. Peterson has more than two decades of experience in areas that include finance, research, management and strategic leadership. Learn more here. 

Dr. Robert Huizinga has been elected to the Board of Directors of Kane Biotech Inc., and has also been appointed as Executive Chair. Dr. Huizinga will focus on the development and implementation of strategic initiatives for the Company, among other initiatives. Read more here.  

Applications Open

Gowling WLG has announced that applications are now being accepted for the second year of its Life Sciences, Society and the Law student scholarship, with the support of Bayer Inc. The program will award a $5,000 scholarship to a student currently enrolled in an accredited Canadian law school as the program seeks to provide financial support to a new generation of legal leaders in life sciences. The deadline for applications is April 30, 2024. Apply here. 

Pfizer Canada is now accepting applications for its 2024 summer student program. The program is open to full-time post-secondary students who will be enrolled in the Fall 2024 semester, and who are legally authorized to work in Canada. There are a variety of roles in areas that include Marketing, People Experience, Medical Affairs, and more. Learn more here. 

adMare BioInnovations announced the launch of its new training offering, the BIS Program: Industry Essentials. This 4-week, cohort-based program is designed for post-secondary students and early-career life sciences professionals without a science background, and who want to learn more about the biopharma industry, therapeutics development, and commercialization. Applications for this program are being accepted until April 24, 2024. Learn more here. 

Applications are now being accepted for the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences’ new national program, CASTL Elevate. The six-week program is being funded by Upskill Canada and the Government of Canada, and will give participants the opportunity to engage in self-directed learning opportunities that include BioTalent Canada’s Essential and Technical Skills Fundamentals, self-directed courses from the CASTL Online Academy, and more. The deadline to apply for the next cohort is March 11, 2024. Learn more here. 

Applications are open for the 2024 Technology Impact Awards, which celebrate outstanding companies and individuals who have made a significant impact on BC’s tech industry. The awards deadline is March 15, 2024. Learn more and apply here. 

We invite you to explore our expanded list of current life sciences application opportunities by clicking the button below. 

Upcoming LSBC events and programs at-a-glance

Until next week,

The LSBC team

New Chair, Members Appointed to Interior Health Board

Dr. Robert Halpenny has been appointed chair of Interior Health’s board of directors, succeeding Dr. Doug Cochrane after his passing earlier this month. Halpenny will serve as Interior Health board chair until the end of 2026. Since 2015, he has been the chair of the Medical Services Commission...READ MORE

AbbVie and OSE Immunotherapeutics Announce Partnership to Develop a Novel Monoclonal Antibody for the Treatment of Chronic Inflammation

AbbVie Inc. and OSE Immunotherapeutics SA, a clinical-stage immunotherapy company, announced a strategic partnership to develop OSE-230, a monoclonal antibody designed to resolve chronic and severe inflammation, currently in the pre-clinical development stage...READ MORE

Introducing Wes Peterson, Genome BC’s New Vice President, Corporate Development

With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Wes brings a wealth of experience in finance, research, management and strategic leadership to our organization. Wes joins Genome BC from the BC Beverage Technology Access Centre, where he served as General Manager for the last five years...READ MORE

WELL Health Founder & CEO Hamed Shahbazi Appointed Chairman of the Board of HEALWELL AI

Mr. Shahbazi’s appointment to Chairman of HEALWELL is strategically important for shareholders of both WELL and HEALWELL given WELL’s equity ownership of HEALWELL, its option to become a controlling shareholder based on an option to acquire multi-voting shares and the shared objective between the companies to leverage AI and other leading-edge technologies to support healthcare providers...READ MORE

UBC Researchers Launch Clinical Trial Exploring CBD for Bipolar Depression

Despite available treatments, there is a persistent unmet need for more effective and well-tolerated therapies.The new trial, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and approved by Health Canada, will explore whether CBD can help manage acute bipolar depression alongside primary courses of treatment...READ MORE

Pfizer Canada Named One of Montreal’s Top Employers for 2024

Pfizer Canada was named one of Montreal’s Top Employers for 2024 by Mediacorp Canada Inc. Pfizer has had a long-standing presence in the Greater Montreal area, providing a positive work environment and benefits offerings to its Montreal-based employees for over 70 years...READ MORE

Gilead Announces Funding Initiative to Support HIV Prevention, Anti-Stigma and Health Equity Efforts for Black Cisgender and Transgender Women and Girls in the U.S.

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced it is providing a total of $12.6 million in grant funding to 19 organizations working to improve the HIV landscape for Black women and girls in the United States. These grants are a part of Gilead’s new Setting the P.A.C.E. (Prevention, Arts and Advocacy, Community, Education) initiative...READ MORE

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Grants Priority Review of Epcoritamab (EPKINLY®) for Difficult-to-Treat Relapsed or Refractory Follicular Lymphoma (FL)

AbbVie announced that the U.S. FDA has granted Priority Review of the supplemental Biologics License Application for epcoritamab-bysp, a treatment of adult relapsed or refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL) after two or more lines of therapy...READ MORE

GSK’s RSV Vaccine, Arexvy, Accepted for Review by Health Canada for Prevention of RSV Disease in Adults Aged 50-59 at Increased Risk

GSK submitted a Supplementary New Drug Submission to Health Canada to expand the use of Arexvy, GSK’s respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, to include adults aged 50-59 at increased risk for RSV disease. If approved, GSK’s RSV vaccine would be the first vaccine available in Canada to help protect this population...READ MORE

Vertex Receives CHMP Positive Opinion for KALYDECO® for the Treatment of Infants With Cystic Fibrosis Ages 1 Month and Older

Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced that the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use adopted a positive opinion for the label expansion of KALYDECO® for the treatment of infants with cystic fibrosis ages 1 month to less than 4 months old...READ MORE

LifeLabs Celebrates Grand Opening of Patient Service Centre in North Pickering, Ontario

Situated at 1690 Dersan St., this is the second LifeLabs location in Pickering, further expanding LifeLabs' commitment to providing essential healthcare services to communities across Canada....READ MORE

PHC Corporation of North America Launches Dual Voltage Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer

PHC Corporation announces the launch of a new model of VIP® ECO SMART ultra-low temperature freezer series for use in facilities including medical institutions, universities, and pharmaceutical companies. This is the first PHCbi brand ULT freezer to feature dual voltage capability, allowing laboratories to switch between 115V and 220V power sources...READ MORE

Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that transform lives, today and for generations to come. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term, sustainable perspective. More than 53,000 employees serve over 130 markets in the two business units, Human Pharma and Animal Health. The Canadian headquarters of Boehringer Ingelheim was established in 1972 in Montreal, Quebec and is now located in Burlington, Ontario. Boehringer Ingelheim employs approximately 500 people across Canada. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/ca. LEARN MORE.

Government of Canada and Partners Invest Over $28 Million to Support Underrepresented Early Career Health Researchers

Yasir Naqvi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced the results of Canada’s first Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence Early Career Transition Award. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research and partners are providing $28.4 million to support 43 early-career researchers focusing on health research in the areas of infectious and chronic disease, brain and mental health, aging, rare diseases, improving the health care system, and more...READ MORE

Government of Canada Announces Major Milestone in the Canadian Biomanufacturing Sector

Moderna is marking a major milestone, having completed construction of its new state-of-the-art mRNA vaccine production facility in Laval, Quebec. This also represents a major milestone in Canada’s efforts to strengthen our domestic vaccine and therapeutics production capacity, as Moderna’s facility will be able to produce, if needed, approximately 100 million mRNA vaccine doses annually...READ MORE

Business Development Intern

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Project Manager / Gestionnaire de projet

Dr. Darcy Wagner is a new recruit that joined the Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases research group at the Meakins-Christie Laboratories of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. She is looking for a project manager for her Canada Excellence Research Chair in Lung Regenerative Medicine....LEARN MORE

Senior Manager, Quality Assurance, GMP

The Senior Manager, Quality Assurance, GMP will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and ensure adherence to GMP regulations and regulatory requirements in support of Xenon’s late-stage clinical development programs and NDA preparation...LEARN MORE

Research Scientist 3, Computational Chemistry

The Research Scientist 3, Computational Chemistry will contribute to Xenon’s Drug Discovery Programs by leveraging their expertise in programming, scripting, machine learning, AI, and/or computational chemistry. This ideal candidate demonstrates enthusiasm for drug discovery, capable of working closely with IT professionals and cross-functional scientists...LEARN MORE

Vice President, Process Development & Manufacturing

Reporting to the Chief Technical Operating Officer, this role requires a deep understanding of biopharmaceutical process development, cGMP manufacturing, and regulatory requirements associated with cell-based therapies and combination products...LEARN MORE

Manager, End User Services

This role will be responsible for ensuring an exceptional work experience across the company by limiting disruptions and enhancing productivity. This individual will lead a small team of Vancouver-based employees and a future Managed Services Provider...LEARN MORE

Associate Professor (tenure) or Professor (tenure) Sir Magdi Yacoub Professorship in Tissue Regeneration

Reporting to the Director of the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering, the successful candidate will be expected to lead an independent, internationally-recognized research program, participate in the teaching activities of the School, provide mentorship and training to undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate learners...LEARN MORE

Associate, In Vivo Bioprinting

Aspect Biosciences is seeking an Associate to join their high-performing team focused on developing bioprinted tissue therapeutics for cell therapy applications. In this role, you will focus on manufacturing various Bioprinted Tissue Therapeutics (BTT) to support Aspect’s GMP and Research /Development groups...LEARN MORE

Associate II, Quality Control

The Associate II, Quality Control will complete routine raw material testing, perform biological and mechanical analytical assays, aid in the development and validation of new assays, support R&D, Process Development, and Bioprinting Teams to characterize drug substance, drug product, and final product. This is an onsite position...LEARN MORE

Sales Representative

The full-time Sales Representative is responsible for sales of In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) and bio-reagent products in global markets. The position is the principal point of contact between a business and its customers. Sales reps ensure current customers have the right products and services, identify new markets and customer leads, and pitch prospective customers...LEARN MORE

Arrowsmith Genetics (AGx) is a preclinical stage, precision oncology company. AGx’s technology analyzes patient-specific tumour mutations, uses the results to identify new drug targets, and generates small-molecule therapy candidates for those targets. The company’s humanized yeast platform is fast, suitable for essential proteins, and finds binding sites that are unique to the targeted protein to minimize off-target effects. LEARN MORE.

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