It has been an exciting week of announcements for the BC Life Sciences sector. As Covid has shifted our world in the most extreme way, it has showcased the critical importance Life Sciences plays while also positively impacting the economy through job creation. This week, Precision Nanosystems (PNI) announced they will be building a new $50 million biomanufacturing facility, partially enabled by a $25 million contribution by the federal government. Congrats to the PNI team! Both Dr. James Taylor, CEO of PNI and myself, were interviewed for the attached article which talks about PNI’s plans and the critical need for more lab space in B.C. The article, “Vancouver company gets federal money to start vaccine productions” can be viewed here . Business in Vancouver covered the story as well, “How Vancouver’s Precision Nanosystems plans to produce 240m vaccine doses every year”, click here for the story.

Also very encouraging, was the headline in the Global and Mail, “RBC taps into biotech surge, investing in new Lumira fund”. Lumira, a sponsor of LifeSciences BC’s Annual Investor Summit, has been a long-time champion of our ecosystem in B.C. and we are pleased to see that large institutional investors will now play a greater and more invested role in the life science sector.

The 6^th Annual LifeSciences BC Access to Innovation is coming up on February 24-25, 2021, and we are very excited on how the conference is coming together. We have confirmation that The Honorable John Horgan, Premier of B.C., will be a virtual featured guest speaker, as will The Hon. Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. Among the many other esteemed speakers will be Dr. Carl Hansen, CEO, AbCellera; Dr. Ali Tehrani, President and CEO Zymeworks; Michael Martin, CBO, Aurinia Pharmaceuticals; Greg D’Avignon, President and CEO, BC Business Council; Dr. Simon Pimstone, Executive Chair, Board of Directors, Xenon Pharmaceuticals; Mary Ackenhusen, Senior Executive-in-Residence for Innovation, Ministry of Health and many more. Please join us for an exciting two days of lively and informative content. You can purchase your tickets here.

As always, please stay in touch with your news! 

Royal Bank of Canada is backing the country's largest life sciences venture capital fund in two decades, making it on of the few Bay Street institutions to invest in the surging domestic sector. READ MORE

Ottawa, February 02, 2021 – Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) issued the following statement regarding the announcement by the European Commission regarding an authorisation mechanism that may restrict or delay the export of COVID-19 vaccines to non-member states. READ MORE

February 2, 2021 – Vancouver BC. Precision NanoSystems, Inc. (PNI), a global leader in technologies and solutions for development of genetic medicines, announced today that it has received a contribution of CAD $25.1 million through the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). READ MORE

OTTAWA – A leading COVID-19 vaccine will be produced in Canada this summer under a deal to be announced Tuesday, the National Post has learned. The government is expected to announce that Novavax will produce its COVID-19 vaccine at a still under construction facility in Montreal. READ MORE

AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine shows a hint that it may reduce transmission of the virus and offers strong protection for three months on just a single dose, researchers said Wednesday in an encouraging turn in the campaign to suppress the outbreak. READ MORE

The pharmaceutical company worker stood at the top of a stairwell, holding a tiny glass vial in their hand. They held the vial out, peering at the ground three storeys below and dropped the vial. On purpose. "It bounced incredibly," says Rob Schaut, scientific director of Corning Pharmaceutical Technologies. READ MORE

What’s driving innovation in life science and healthcare? SVB is committed to serving the ecosystem by providing industry-leading reports featuring proprietary analysis and targeted outlooks to help companies and investors achieve their goals. Twice a year we publish deep-dive analyses describing fundraising, investment, M&A and IPO activity of private, venture-backed biopharma, medical device and diagnostic/tools companies. Our deep relationships with top life science and healthcare entrepreneurs and investors inform our insights and give us a vantage point unlike any other bank. To find out more about Silicon Valley Bank click here

The Student Work Placement Program is now accepting applications for healthcare placements. Canada’s healthcare industry has a growing need to produce job-ready healthcare workers. There are 1,500 open spots available in 2020-21. WEBSITE

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: Sue Callaghan - talent@lifesciencesbc.ca