B.C. is home to the fastest-growing life sciences sector in Canada with more than 2,000 companies employing over 18,000 British Columbians who are working on innovations and research to improve lives around the world. Given this, it is extremely encouraging to see the collective focus on our sector and its potential, with the recent BC Budget 2022 allocations, and last week’s provincial funding announcement of nearly $195 million to the Michael Smith Health Research BC (Health Research BC) and Genome BC serving as examples. When you look at programs like the Personalized OncoGenomics Program, which recently released an animated video - funded by Health Research BC's Reach Award and by the Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre at BC Cancer - that provides an overview of cancer genomics and precision medicine, it’s easy to see the power and impact of life sciences.
This is why we were so proud to host our inaugural Invest in the West presented by Amplitude Ventures event, which took place on March 10th, and drew an international audience with representation from 54 companies. Investments in life sciences will support the sector’s incredible growth trajectory. While so many important discussions took place, key highlights included: remarks from Amplitude Ventures’ Dion Madsen on the value of innovation and investment, a great panel session exploring the intersection of biology and technology, and new innovations and research presented from 20 companies from across Western Canada, including SMEs from LSBC’s own Investor Readiness Program.
At LSBC, we love creating opportunities for life sciences organizations to connect and network. Our next event is our Showcase Series: Vancouver Island event, which provides an opportunity to learn more about the cutting-edge research and innovation being undertaken on Vancouver Island. For more information, visit the LSBC website.
This week, many people around the world celebrated International Women's Day, and we were thrilled to see so many women from our member organizations and the life sciences sector nominated for the YWCA Vancouver’s Women of Distinction Awards. Add to this, BioTalent Canada was honoured as a 2022 Best Workplace™ for Women. And kudos to both Selena Kim, a partner at Gowling WLG, for becoming the first Canadian named to the US-based National Association of Women Lawyers Rising List, and Urszula Wojtyra from Smart and Biggar for being recognized with a 2022 Readers’ Choice Award as a life sciences writer on JD Supra. I also want to take a moment to welcome Juvarya Veltkamp to InBC as the company’s new Chief of Strategy and Operations.
In honour of International Women’s Day, I had the privilege of participating on a Women in Bio and BIOQuébec webinar focused on the status of women on life sciences boards and solutions to help women move up the ladder. BioTalent Canada’s Close-up on the bio-economy report highlights that across Canada, 34% of life sciences employees are women – and how we have a tremendous opportunity to seek talent from under-represented groups. This sentiment rings true across many industries, and not simply because it’s the right thing to do. At the end of the day, it is diversity of thought that makes companies stronger, and there are studies that show leadership teams are much more effective when they are diverse.
Please join me in congratulating SFU President Emeritus Andrew Petter, CM, OBC, QC, who was presented with the Order of British Columbia in early March. I also wanted to congratulate Ohad Arazi for being appointed as President of Clarius Mobile Health.
BC reached a significant milestone yesterday, with Dr. Bonnie Henry’s announcement that as of Friday, March 11, 2022, B.C.’s indoor mask order is being repealed along with eased restrictions on long-term care visitors, faith gatherings and overnight camps for children and youth. In addition, it was announced that the BC Vaccine Card requiring proof of vaccination will be lifted on April 8.
Wendy and the LSBC Team
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Where were you 30 years ago? We’re celebrating 30 years of Life Sciences BC this year by celebrating 30 years of life sciences in BC. Please visit our survey and add your favourite memorable event from our vibrant life sciences sector.
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Numinus Adds Ayahuasca & San Pedro to Federal License for Psychedelic Research
Numinus Wellness Inc., a mental healthcare company advancing innovative treatments and safe, evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapies, is pleased to announce that it has received approval from Health Canada to study Ayahuasca and San Pedro at its licensed, state-of-the-art research facility, Numinus Bioscience ...READ MORE
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ESSA Pharma to Present Preclinical Data for its First Generation of Androgen Receptor N-Terminal Domain Degraders at the 2022 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting
ESSA Pharma Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for the treatment of prostate cancer, announced that it will present preclinical data for its first generation of androgen receptor (AR) N-terminal domain degraders at the 2022 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting. ..READ MORE
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New Paper from the de Boer Lab Develops “Oracle” to Predict Evolution of Regulatory DNA
The de Boer Lab, whose current research is focused on understanding the logic and evolution of gene regulation, has just published a paper in Nature that offers an exciting new computer model, an “Oracle,” which was able to query vastly more DNA sequences than is possible in traditional experiments. . ..READ MORE
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BioTalent Canada Named as a “Best Workplace for Women” for 2022
BioTalent Canada was honoured to mark International Women’s Day by being recognized as a 2022 Best Workplace™ for Women. The distinction comes after being named one of the 50 Best Workplaces in Canada, Best Workplaces in Ontario, and Best Workplaces for Mental Wellness the previous year. ..READ MORE
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InMed to Present at the 34th Annual Roth Conference
InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc., a leader in the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of rare cannabinoids, announced that Eric A. Adams, InMed’s President and Chief Executive Officer, will be presenting at the 34th Annual Roth Conference being held March 13-15, 2022 . ..READ MORE
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Horizon Therapeutics plc Announces FDA has Granted Priority Review of the Supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for the Concomitant use of KRYSTEXXA® (pegloticase injection) Plus Methotrexate for People Living with Uncontrolled Gout
Horizon Therapeutics plc announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted priority review of the supplemental Biologics License Application to expand the label for KRYSTEXXA plus methotrexate, an immunomodulator commonly prescribed by rheumatologists. ..READ MORE
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Izotropic Establishing Engineering and Development Facility in the USA
Izotropic Corporation, a Company commercializing a dedicated breast CT (computed tomography) imaging platform, IzoView, for the more accurate detection and diagnosis of breast cancers, announced it is bringing its medical device engineering and product development to its in-house facility located in Sacramento, CA. ..READ MORE
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Jardiance® (empagliflozin) Becomes the First and Only Approved Treatment in Europe for Adults with Symptomatic Chronic Heart Failure Regardless of Ejection Fraction
The European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Jardiance® (empagliflozin) as a treatment for adults with symptomatic chronic heart failure, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company have announced. The landmark approval makes Jardiance® the first and only approved treatment for all adults with symptomatic chronic heart failure, which includes patients across the full spectrum of LVEF, including both heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction. ..READ MORE
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Global Biotechnology Leader Amgen Breaks Ground on New Manufacturing Facility in North Carolina
Amgen announced the groundbreaking of its newest biomanufacturing facility, located in Holly Springs, North Carolina. The facility, expected to be operational by 2025, will support the growing demand for Amgen’s medicines that treat serious illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. ..READ MORE
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Medtronic Continuous Glucose Monitoring to be Reimbursed for Eligible People Living with Type 1 Diabetes in Ontario
Medtronic Canada ULC, a global leader in healthcare technology, applauded the Ontario government's announcement of a comprehensive reimbursement program for continuous glucose monitoring for eligible residents living with type 1 diabetes. ..READ MORE
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Improving Alberta’s Patient Care: Alberta Precision Laboratories and Roche Diagnostics Join Forces to Ensure Accurate Diagnosis and Time Saving through Provincial Integration and Standardization of Lab Equipment.
Roche Diagnostics, division of Hoffmann-La Roche Limited, and Alberta Precision Laboratories have joined forces to improve and deliver quality patient care in Alberta by integrating and standardizing the province’s lab equipment
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Climb to Fight Cancer
A group of cancer survivors, researchers and entrepreneurs looking to raise $1 million for cancer research is taking fundraising to new heights. Joined by Karuppiah Kannan, Global Program Leader in the Oncology Therapeutic Area Unit at Takeda, the team will trek more than 17,500 feet above sea level to the Mount Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas. ..READ MORE
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Moderna Global Strategy Sets Sights on 15 Priority Pathogens
Fueled by the success of its COVID-19 vaccine, Moderna is launching a global public health strategy that will advance the development of mRNA vaccines against various infectious diseases. The company set its sights on developing 15 vaccine programs that target “priority pathogens that protect global health.” ... READ MORE
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Period Reduced for Keeping Clinical Trial Records for Drugs and Natural Health Products
Health Canada is reducing the retention period for clinical trial records for drugs and natural health products from 25 years to 15 years under the Food and Drug Regulations and Natural Health Products Regulations. This change takes effect on February 11, 2022. We will be updating the policies, guidance documents and other documents accordingly... READ MORE
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Sanofi to Spend $1 Billion on Developing mRNA Vaccines in France
French drugmaker Sanofi plans to invest 935 million euros ($1.02 billion) over the next few years to develop messenger RNA vaccines in France, a push into the technology behind some of the most effective Covid-19 shots... READ MORE
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AbbVie Completes Acquisition of Syndesi Therapeutics, for Up To USD1 Billion
AbbVie completed the acquisition of Syndesi Therapeutics SA, a Belgium-based clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of novel therapeutics that modulate synaptic function to relieve the symptoms of cognitive impairment... READ MORE
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CASTL Moves to Establish Biopharma Manufacturing Training Facility in Charlottetown
CAST) will proceed with establishing its first biopharmaceutical manufacturing training facility in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Thanks to a contribution of $2,335,000 from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and $800,000 from the Province of Prince Edward Island... READ MORE
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Life Sciences BC Announces Presenting Companies Pitching at Invest in the West Presented by Amplitude Ventures
Life Sciences British Columbia announced the companies presenting at the first annual Invest in the West presented by Amplitude Ventures on March 10, 2022. This virtual conference showcases a broad range of investor-ready life sciences companies from the Western Canada healthcare innovation ecosystem... READ MORE
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PicoQuant Photonics North America is the subsidiary of PicoQuant GmbH, the leading supplier of pulsed diode lasers, photon counting instrumentation and time-resolved fluorescence microscopes and spectrometers. They are happy to support their North American customers.
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CORCYM is a new, independent, global medical-device company focused on the structural heart area. Their vision is to become the leading company dedicated to Heart Surgeons and their Patients by providing the best solutions to fight structural heart disease. Their mission is to help Heart Surgeons treat Patients better today and in the future.
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Manager, Partnerships & Membership
Life Sciences BC is seeking a Manager, Partnerships & Membership who plans and implements the principal sponsors, partners & members, and retention strategies, including researching and securing partnership opportunities.
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Manager, Marketing and Communications
Life Sciences BC is seeking a Manager, Marketing and Communications who will implement the marketing and communications strategies and plans for the organization, in support of Life Sciences BC’s overarching objectives.
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LSBC Job Board
Jobs posted to our Job Board automatically post out to all our social media accounts for wider sharing. Make sure you include your company name in the first line of your job ad for maximum exposure!
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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 EARNS a free repost on BioTalent Canada's The Petri Dish. After your first five reposts, you will also receive 25% off all job postings on The Petri Dish. Want more info? Contact Megan Pan -talent@lifesciencesbc.ca
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