Welcome to this week’s Biolinks, one of LSBC’s forums to highlight life sciences innovations and updates. To kick things off, LSBC’s Director, Partnerships & Events, Ryan Butt, had the opportunity to attend the Bloom Burton & Co. Health Care Investor Conference in Toronto. Over 1,100 attendees were at the two-day conference, featuring 66 company pitches and insightful panels. Of special note, the conference rang the bell to open the TSX on the morning of Tuesday, May 2! We want to extend a special congratulations to our members in attendance, who presented to investors from across Canada and the world. Our presence was recognized with Brian Bloom, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Bloom Burton & Co., giving the Vancouver healthcare and biotech sectors a shout-out for being a dynamic and successful community.
On the topic of conferences and events, I’m excited to be participating as a panelist in next week’s TEC Vancouver “Virtual+” Conference on May 13-14, which will highlight how health care technology can help address key issues that Emergency Departments, acute and community care, and urban and rural settings face today. Keynote speakers include Dr. Andrea MacNeill of Planetary Healthcare Lab, Dr. Philip Haywood from OECD, and Dr. Helia Mohammadi, Chief Data Scientist and Healthcare Lead at Microsoft.
There are also a number of notable achievements to highlight. A warm congratulations to all our members included on the 2022 Best Workplaces in Canada list. There has never been a better time to work in the life sciences sector, and the opportunities are only continuing to grow. Congratulations also to Mesintel Therapeutics for being named the winner of the Fast Pitch Showdown as part of the Life Science Innovation Northwest conference. And kudos to Fatima Israel, Chief Marketing Officer of EY Canada and Kelly Martin, Chief Financial Officer of LifeLabs, for being named to Report on Business’ list of 2022 Best Executives! We’d also like to highlight Neil Fraser, who was recently named recipient of the 2022 CCHL Distinguished Leadership Award.
Speaking of recognitions, we are proud to share that our 24th annual LSBC Awards presented by FARRIS are now open for nominations! We are excited to celebrate our sector’s many achievements amongst peers, family and friends on September 22, 2022, and we invite you to nominate a company or individual before June 1st.
Investment and interest in our province’s life sciences sector remains strong. Zucara Therapeutics secured additional funding from GlycoNet and Mitacs for the development of ZT-01, to treat insulin-induced hypoglycemia in people with Type 2 Diabetes. This added funding is important as ZT-01 has the potential to become the first therapeutic to prevent hypoglycemic episodes before they occur in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes.
In closing, we can’t wait to see you at our Showcase Series: Surrey for this virtual event highlighting cutting-edge research and innovation.
Wendy and the LSBC team
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Avantor® Announces Investment in Manufacturing and Distribution Hub in Singapore to Serve Rapidly Growing Asia Pacific Biopharma Industry
Avantor, Inc., a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the life sciences, advanced technologies and applied materials industries, announced it will create a new manufacturing and distribution hub in Singapore by integrating its existing distribution facility with new manufacturing operations. The new hub, which brings Avantor solutions closer to regional customers and strengthens global supply chain capabilities, will be fully operational early next year... READ MORE
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Algernon Pharmaceuticals Announces Last Patient Treated in Phase 2 Study of IPF and Chronic Cough
Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical stage pharmaceutical development company is pleased to announce that the last patient has completed the treatment period in its Phase 2 proof of concept study of NP-120 (“Ifenprodil”) for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and chronic cough. The Company is projecting that topline data will be available in July 2022... READ MORE
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GSK Announces Dr Vishal Sikka to Join the Board as Non-Executive Director
GlaxoSmithKline plc has announced that Dr Vishal Sikka, founder and CEO of Vianai Systems, will join the Board of the Company as a Non-Executive Director. He will join the Board with effect from the Haleon demerger. Vishal has a distinguished background in technology and particularly in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, which is central to GSK’s approach to R&D... READ MORE
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Burnaby’s Kardium Closing in on Commercialization
September often means Labour Day barbecues, back-to-school shopping for the kids and final visits to restaurant patios before the heat lamps come out for fall.But in 2020, Kevin Chaplin spent half that month quarantining in his basement after a business trip to Germany, where his B.C. medical device company was deploying its flagship product for the first time since getting the nod from European Union (EU) regulators... READ MORE
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AbCellera and Empirico Expand Strategic Multi-Target Antibody Discovery Collaboration
AbCelleraand Empirico Inc. announced that they have expanded their strategic multi-target discovery collaboration, which leverages Empirico’s Precision Insights PlatformTMto discover genetically validated drug targets and AbCellera’s technology to identify lead candidate antibodies against those targets. Following the rapid progress of their first collaborative program, which identified a lead candidate against an undisclosed G protein-coupled receptor target in less than 12 months, the companies have expanded their partnership to include seven targets... READ MORE
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Zucara Therapeutics Secures Additional Funding from GlycoNet and Mitacs for the Development of ZT-01
Zucara Therapeutics Inc., a diabetes life sciences company developing the first once-daily therapeutic to prevent insulin-induced hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels), announced that it has received second grants from each of GlycoNet and Mitacs to support the development of ZT-01 for the treatment of insulin-induced hypoglycemia in people with Type 2 diabetes... READ MORE
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Aon and Paypal to Expand Access to Insurance for Small Businesses
Aon plc and PayPal Holdings, Inc. announced an initiative to help millions of PayPal’s small business customers in the U.S. access insurance simply and quickly. The unique digital insurance program will enable PayPal’s small business customers in the U.S. to shop for, purchase and manage insurance coverage through Aon’s CoverWallet solution on the PayPal Commerce Platform, online and in minutes. Customers can also obtain personalized advice and guidance from Aon’s licensed insurance advisors... READ MORE
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Horizon Therapeutics plc Receives European Commission (EC) Approval of UPLIZNA® (inebilizumab) for the Treatment of Adults with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD)
Horizon Therapeutics plc announced the European Commission approval of UPLIZNA® (inebilizumab) as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder who are anti-aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G seropositive (AQP4-IgG+), following the positive opinion adopted by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency on 11th November, 2021... READ MORE
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RINVOQ® (upadacitinib) Approved by U.S. FDA as an Oral Treatment for Adults with Active Ankylosing Spondylitis
AbbVie announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved RINVOQ® (upadacitinib; 15 mg, once daily) for the treatment of adults with active ankylosing spondylitis who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more tumor necrosis factor blockers.1... READ MORE
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BioTalent Canada Ranks in the Top 20 of “Best Workplaces in Canada for 2022”
For the second consecutive year, BioTalent Canada has been honoured with the recognition of being named one of the Best Workplaces™ in Canada – this year, ranking #20 out of 50 for organizations with under 50 employees This honour comes on the heels of being awarded Best Workplaces for Women in 2022... READ MORE
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LifeLabs’ Chief Financial Officer, Kelly Martin, wins 2022 Report on Business Best Executive Award
We are thrilled to announce that Kelly Martin, LifeLabs’ Chief Financial Officer, has been awarded a 2022 Report on Business Best Executive Award. The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Best Executive Awards is an annual celebration of excellence among executive leaders at the SVP, EVP and C-suite (or equivalent) levels represented in five functional categories: Finance, HR, Operations, Sales and Marketing, and Technology... READ MORE
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Engineers at UBC Get Under the Skin of Ionic Skin
In the quest to build smart skin that mimics the sensing capabilities of natural skin, ionic skins have shown significant advantages. They’re made of flexible, biocompatible hydrogels that use ions to carry an electrical charge. In contrast to smart skins made of plastics and metals, the hydrogels have the softness of natural skin. This offers a more natural feel to the prosthetic arm or robot hand they are mounted on, and makes them comfortable to wear... READ MORE
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InMed Expands Patent Portfolio with Novel Cannabinoid Analogs and Advances Collaboration Agreement with Leading Cannabinoid Research Expert
InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc., a leader in the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of rare cannabinoids, is pleased to announce the publication of a patent application in North America for several cannabinoid analogs. This patent application has broad claims directed to their molecular structure, uses and methods of manufacturing... READ MORE
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Prime Minister Trudeau, Premier Legault Visit Campus to Welcome Moderna to the Greater Montreal Area
On the morning of Friday, April 29, 2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Quebec Premier François Legault joined Principal Suzanne Fortier in the lobby of the Bellini Building on McGill’s downtown campus. The trio had gathered to make a historic announcement: U.S.-based COVID-19 vaccine developer Moderna will build a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. ..READ MORE
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CHAMPAGNE: Rebuilding Canada’s Biomanufacturing Sector
A pandemic can certainly change things. Just over two years ago, Canada was importing nearly all of its vaccines and therapeutic drugs. ..READ MORE
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Canada Announces New Innovation Agency — and it’s not Modelled on DARPA
The Canadian government has announced that it will invest Can$1 billion (about US$780 million) over the next five years to create a funding agency focused on innovation in science and technology. The unit will buck a trend of countries trying to replicate the renowned US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; instead, it will be modelled on innovation agencies in Finland and Israel. But some critics say that this strategy might not be a good fit for Canada, which is seeking to improve its poor track record of innovation. ..READ MORE
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Eyam Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics is a private company focused on the research and development of next generation vaccine technologies. Eyam's Jennerator Platform uses machine learning to design vaccines that are safer, faster to develop, and use advanced targeting techniques for longer lasting protection.
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Phyton Biotech is a leader in sustainable specialty fermentation solutions. Phyton Biotech is known globally for excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and cutting-edge technological solutions. They offer comprehensive product/process development and commercial manufacturing services for high-value phytochemicals using their award-winning and environmentally responsible PCF® platform.
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Computational Scientist
We are seeking an experienced Computational Scientist who will apply computational methods to obtain structural models from cryo-EM data including docking and molecular model building guided by structural biology data, to support Gandeeva Drug Discovery Programs.
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Scientist, Pharmaceutical Sciences (18 month contract)
Genevant has an opportunity for a highly motivated and skilled Scientist to join our Pharmaceutical Sciences team for an 18-month maternity leave coverage. The Scientist will have a key role in developing stable formulations of mRNA lipid nanoparticle products for evaluation in preclinical studies and clinical trials.
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Senior Research Scientist
We are seeking highly motivated team players that enjoy the fast pace, self-learning and highly regulated environment of a CRO.
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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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