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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.

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Life Sciences BC News, March 7, 2024


Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, and we'd like to begin by acknowledging the many women who make up BC's life sciences sector and their many accomplishments. In the spirit of the day, women’s health research funding also comes to mind. On Friday March 1, our CEO Wendy Hurlburt and our Manager of Marketing and Communications Rosabel Bong attended the BC Women’s Health Foundation Illuminations Luncheon. Congratulations to the foundation for raising over half a million dollars for women’s health research.  

We heard an inspiring keynote from Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser, medical doctor, Olympic Gold Medalist, and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. A fireside chat with Dr. Gina Ogilvie, Dr. Gillian Hanley, and Dr. Wendy Norman opened the conversation on the problem of underfunding in women’s health research, while highlighting that some of the progress being made is encouraging. Thank you to the adMare Bioinnovations team for hosting Rosabel and to the BC Women's Health Foundation for hosting Wendy.   

On Tuesday March 5, we hosted our virtual Blakes Speaking Series: Navigating Life Sciences M&A: Thought Leader Insights. Our panel of experts included Nigel Sheail and Dr. Alicia Levey of Versant Ventures, Sean MacGregor of J.P. Morgan, Siobhan Pomeroy of Gilead Sciences, and Steven McKoen of Blakes, who shared invaluable insights, with the conversation moderated by Joseph Garcia, partner at Blakes. 

We are seeing a shift in the life sciences M&A landscape, as more companies are looking to this as a strategic option over public exit. Key highlights from the morning's discussion were current trends including scarcity of late-stage commercial opportunities moving pharmaceutical companies towards earlier stage bets, and the value of ensuring organizations have the right teams and advisors in place to navigate an often-complex process. Watch the full event here. 

Member Highlights 


STEMCELL Technologies, Canada’s largest biotechnology company marked a significant milestone with its second acquisition this year! It has acquired all assets of SQZ Biotechnologies Company, a Massachusetts-based biotech known for its game-changing method of introducing therapeutic cargo into cells by squeezing them (mechanoporation) rather than using electricity (electroporation). Read more.


Other exciting M&A activity is TRIUMF Innovations’s spin-off ARTMS Inc., a radioisotope production technology firm was acquired by TelixRead more.  


Gilead announced a collaboration with Merus to discover novel dual tumor-associated antigens (TAA) targeting trispecific antibodies. Read more.

 

This week, Amgen Canada announced multiple formulary listings for their osteoporosis medicine EVENTITY, and the first biosimilar to STELARA, WEZLANA is now available for Canadian patients in all indications.


GlycoNet also announced identification of a new biomarker for scleroderma. Read more.

 

Chair of the board of directors of Innovative Medicines Canada and president and CEO of Roche Canada Pharma, Brigitte Nolet* is featured in the Globe & Mail in an article on how to empower women leaders in Canada’s pharma sector. She talks about what is needed for change, “First, we need to make sure we have clear goals. In 2009, Roche’s executives were 13 per cent female. A few years ago, we set a goal of 50 per cent by the end of 2022, and we ended 2023 very close to this target.” Read more.


*NOTE: We apologize the original version of this newsletter incorrectly referenced Brigitte Nolet’s title.


Industry Highlights


The Government of Canada is providing $20 million over five years to improve health outcomes of children living with rare diseases. Read more.  

 

The Government of Canada also introduced legislation for the first phase of national universal pharmacare in Canada. Read more.  

 

The Honourable Mark Holland, Canada's Minister of Health, and Honourable John Main, Nunavut's Minister of Health, announced two bilateral agreements to invest a total of more than $35.6 million to improve health care access and services in Nunavut. Read more.  

Kudos

Kudos goes to Dr. Anthony Fejes, HTuO Biosciences co-founder and CEO for being awarded most promising pitch at the Angel Forum Vancouver Western Angel Invest Summit! Read more.

Congratulations to Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO of the Fraser Health Authority for being named a Women of Influence+ Top 25 Women of Influence. Read more.

People on the Move


AstraZeneca announced the appointment of Gaby Bourbara as president, effective March 1, 2024. Read more. 

Applications Open

Zcube - Zambon Research Venture announces Open Accelerator, the international acceleration program. This year, the program will focus on the femtech sector and invites startups aimed at improving women's health and well-being to apply. Applications open on Friday, March 8, 2024, and will remain open until June 16. Learn more.  

 

With women still underrepresented in the tech industry, RBCx is looking to empower women in tech by expanding its Mentor Meetups program. The organization is committed to paving the path for a more inclusive and diverse tech ecosystem through the program. Learn more.  

 

Applications are open for the CELS Valley Ready Program Spring 2024 cohort. Gain exposure to the dynamic Bay Area ecosystem! The program includes workshops with Silicon Valley business leaders and investors, as well as registration to the Canada in the Valley Showcase. Only 8-10 companies are accepted. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with the program beginning on March 15. Learn more.  


The annual Johnson & Johnson JLABS Investor & Partnering Day will take place in New York City, and applications are now open for qualified, promising, early-stage biotech startups seeking pre-seed, seed, or series A funding in the next 12 to 18 months. Please apply by March 22. Learn more. 

  

The Merck Canada Indigenous Student Scholarship is a bursary of $5,000 CAD for Indigenous students who want to pursue an undergraduate degree in the field of their choice. Up to eight scholarships will be available. Learn more.  


Gowling WLG is excited to announce the second year of their scholarship program, which is made possible with the support of Bayer Inc. The program aims to provide financial support to a new generation of life sciences leaders in the legal field. Learn more.  


Looking to expand your technical skills for life sciences jobs? Starting May 27, BCIT is offering a practical laboratory training course in animal cell culture as a condensed two-week micro credential. Learn more. 


adMare BioInnovations has opened applications for the BioInnovation Scientist Program: Foundations. This eight-week virtual, cohort-based program provides early-career scientists with an overview of the full therapeutics discovery and development process. Applications are due March 20. Learn more. 

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

Applications

Upcoming LSBC events and programs at-a-glance

March 15 – The Cascadia region, encompassing parts of the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Western Canada, offers significant opportunities for innovative and high-tech companies to thrive.


Join us to hear from the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, David L. Cohen, and a panel of special guests, about the opportunities for Cascadia cross-border collaboration in technology, life sciences, and other leading sectors.

Learn more & register 

April 4 - Our upcoming McCarthy Spotlight Speaking Series is titled "AI Advancing Life Science Innovation."


This second event in the series will feature speakers at the cutting edge of AI, discussing how this powerful tool can be applied to augment human creativity to further innovation.  

Learn more & register

Until next week,

The LSBC team

PLATINUM SPONSORS

UBC Medicine Community Members Honoured with 2024 AFMC Awards

Two members of UBC’s faculty of medicine community have been honoured with 2024 Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) Awards for their leadership, excellence and achievements in academic medicine...READ MORE

Gilead and Merus Announce Collaboration to Discover Novel Antibody-Based Trispecific T-Cell Engagers

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced a research collaboration, option and license agreement to discover novel dual tumor-associated antigens targeting trispecific antibodies. Gilead and Merus agreed to collaborate on the use of Merus’ proprietary Triclonics® platform...READ MORE

Gilead and Merck Announce Phase 2 Data Showing an Investigational Oral Once-Weekly Combination Regimen of Islatravir and Lenacapavir Maintained Viral Suppression at Week 24

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced results from the Phase 2 clinical study evaluating a potential long-acting oral combination treatment option for virologically suppressed people with HIV...READ MORE

Telix to Acquire ARTMS, Inc. and its Advanced Isotope Production Platform

Telix announces it has entered into an agreement to acquire radioisotope production technology firm ARTMS Inc., its advanced cyclotron-based isotope production platform, manufacturing plant and stockpile of ultra-pure rare metals required for consumable target production...READ MORE

Merck Canada Launches Indigenous Student Scholarship

As part of our commitment to embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into their business, Merck Canada is continually exploring ways to give back to the communities they serve. As such, Merck is pleased to announce the new Merck Canada Indigenous Student Scholarship...READ MORE

Nine Drug Formularies in Canada List EVENITY® for Reimbursement for the Treatment of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women at High Risk of Fracture

Amgen Canada announced that EVENITY has been listed for reimbursement on nine of Canada’s public formularies. With this announcement most postmenopausal women in Canada will be able to access this biologic treatment...READ MORE

Lexaria to Begin Diabetes and Weight Loss Animal Study WEIGHT-A24-1

Lexaria Bioscience Corp., a global innovator in drug delivery platforms announces details of an 8-week animal study WEIGHT-A24-1 to examine diabetes and weight loss effects of DehydraTECH-processed glucagon-like peptide 1 drugs and DehydraTECH-processed cannabidiol, alone and in combination...READ MORE

Gilead’s Innovative HIV Treatment Research Pipeline Aims to Address Unmet Needs and Advance Public Health

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced the presentation of key data highlighting the breadth of its innovative HIV treatment research pipeline. The latest results explore clinical outcomes from a study evaluating an investigational combination regimen...READ MORE

New Real-World Data Further Support the Use of Veklury® (Remdesivir) for People Hospitalized With COVID-19

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced new data from three real-world retrospective studies being presented at the 31st Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections...READ MORE

BIOTECanada Statement on Federal Announcement of Pharmacare Legislation-Bill C-64

BIOTECanada is concerned Bill C-64, An Act Respecting Pharmacare is a piecemeal and uncoordinated approach to addressing gaps in healthcare coverage which risks disrupting the current balance of public and private programs for drugs...READ MORE

Gaby Bourbara Appointed President Of AstraZeneca Canada

AstraZeneca Canada Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Gaby Bourbara as President, effective March 1, 2024. In this role, Mr. Bourbara, will lead the company’s 1,650 employees in their efforts to push the boundaries of science and deliver life-changing medicines for Canadian patients...READ MORE

WEZLANA™ (Ustekinumab), a Biosimilar to STELARA®, Now Available in Canada for Certain Chronic Inflammatory Diseases

Amgen Canada announced that WEZLANA and WEZLANA I.V., a biosimilar to STELARA, is now available in Canada. WEZLANA is the first biosimilar to STELARA to be approved by Health Canada for all indications. WEZLANA is indicated for adult and pediatric plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis...READ MORE

7% Weight Loss in Animals Supports Lexaria’s Next 8-week Animal Study

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. informs that its wholly-owned and patented DehydraTECH-CBD formulation, when administered to rodents in an 8-week study (DIAB-A22-1), resulted in weight loss of 7% and a reduction of 19.9% (p<0.05) in blood glucose...READ MORE

Lexaria Announces FDA Clearance for its Planned U.S. Phase 1b Hypertension Clinical Trial

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. announces that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has confirmed effectiveness as of February 28, 2024 of the Company’s investigational new drug application thereby cleared for Lexaria to conduct its planned U.S. Phase 1b hypertension clinical trial...READ MORE

GlycoNet Investigators Identify a Cancer-associated Sugar as a New Biomarker for Scleroderma

GlycoNet investigators have discovered a new biomarker for scleroderma that could be used to predict who is at risk of severe disease progression, and potentially provide clues towards developing future treatments...READ MORE

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., a neurology-focused biopharmaceutical company, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023 and provided a corporate update...READ MORE

Innovative Medicines Canada Statement on Proposed Pharmacare Legislation

Innovative Medicines Canada is concerned with the federal government’s intent in Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare, to incrementally implement a universal, single-payer pharmacare system in Canada...READ MORE

Aurinia Receives Exemptive Relief from Canadian Securities Regulators for Share Repurchase Program

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that Canadian securities regulators have granted exemptive relief for the Company’s share repurchase program, authorizing the Company to purchase up to 15 percent of its issued and outstanding shares in any 12-month period for up to 36 months...READ MORE

STEMCELL Technologies Announces Successful Asset Purchase Agreement with SQZ Biotechnologies Company

STEMCELL Technologies is pleased to announce the acquisition of substantially all assets of SQZ Biotechnologies Company, a Massachusetts-based biotech known for its game-changing method of introducing a variety of therapeutic cargo into cells by squeezing them rather than using electricity...READ MORE

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Amgen British Columbia’s scientists are at the forefront of research in immunology, biochemistry, cellular, molecular and structural biology, striving to discover pioneering medical treatments to support Amgen’s mission to serve patients. As one of the only global biopharmaceutical companies with a discovery research presence in Canada, Amgen BC’s research leverages new scientific breakthroughs for patient care, helping patients in their fight against cancer, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and other serious illnesses.


Amgen’s Canadian research facility in Burnaby, British Columbia, plays an important role in contributing to the company’s legacy as a global leader in the discovery of early stage protein-based therapeutic candidates. Complementing our research capabilities, Amgen BC has invested heavily in expanding its on-site Data and Technology expertise, which has played a pivotal role in enhancing Amgen’s data analysis, digital technology and computational modelling capabilities across the Research and Development Spectrum. LEARN MORE.

LSBC INDUSTRY NEWS

Government of Canada Signs Two Bilateral Agreements with Nunavut for Better Health Care, Closer to Home

The Honourable Mark Holland, Canada’s Minister of Health, and the Honourable John Main, Nunavut’s Minister of Health, announced two bilateral agreements to invest a total of more than $35.6 million to improve health care access and services in Nunavut...READ MORE

Government of Canada Introduces Legislation for First Phase of National Universal Pharmacare

The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, introduced Bill C-64 which proposes the foundational principles for first phase of national universal pharmacare in Canada and describes the Government of Canada’s intent to work with provinces and territories to provide universal, single-payer coverage for a number of contraception and diabetes medications...READ MORE

Government of Canada Invests $20 Million to Improve Health Outcomes of Children Living with Rare Diseases

The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced the Government of Canada is providing $20 million over five years to Dr. Thierry Lacaze-Masmonteil and the Maternal Infant Child and Youth Research Network team, to create RareKids-CAN: Pediatric Rare Disease Clinical Trials and Treatment Network...READ MORE

GOLD SPONSORS

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

Machine Learning Engineer I

The Machine Learning Engineer I will focus on developing and applying machine learning approaches to support Gandeeva’s structure guided biologics design and drug discovery programs. This role involves developing innovative computational methods and evaluating/applying established methods towards the invention of novel medicines...LEARN MORE

Business Development Intern

The Business Development Intern will work within Eupraxia’s business development team to support various ongoing activities related to the company’s partnering and commercial activities, with an emphasis on market research, writing and document preparation, and administration support...LEARN MORE

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

SILVER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS

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LSBC Membership Discounts on Job Postings

 

As an LSBC member, your first five job postings EARN a free repost on BioTalent Canada's The Petri Dish. After your first five posts, you will also receive 25 per cent off all job postings on The Petri Dish. Want more info? Contact talent@lifesciencesbc.ca.

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