Friday | April 9, 2021
CEO MESSAGE
April weather is improving in the lower mainland, and with it comes some good news in terms of the life sciences community’s contribution to the fight against COVID-19. While there have been some concerns about the roll out of vaccines nationally, in B.C. we are seeing a relatively quick deployment as we go into Phase 3: this University of Saskatchewan tracker shows clearly how we are doing in real time. B.C. has partnered with pharmacies to deploy the AstraZeneca vaccine to those 55 – 65 in the lower mainland, in addition to the 70+ cohort who can register for the Moderna/Pfizer vaccine in the Sea to Sky corridor and Sunshine Coast and 79+ in the remainder of the province. And the new Get Vaccinated online portal is up and running, replacing the phone-based system.
It is worth reminding us all of the role our life sciences community has had in this important work. There is much to be said for the long years of dedication of our sector, investing, researching, testing and generally innovating which allowed companies like Starfish, AbCellera (which just published peer-reviewed data demonstrating Bamlanivimab's benefits against SARS-CoV-2), Aequus Pharmaceuticals and others to contribute to the world-wide fight against COVID-19. As we pass the one-year mark of this pandemic, I encourage us all to take a moment to reflect on our sector’s innovation and leadership – two qualities that we need now more than ever to help us get to some definition of a finish line.

I also know that life continues outside of COVID-19 – and that includes all the amazing work our sector does in research areas such as cancer. April is Daffodil month and the Cancer Society as well as the entire research community continues to work hard to find life-extending and saving solutions and supporting those living with cancer.

Yesterday was World Health Day, celebrating the many successes we’ve had globally in areas like mental health and material and child care. Access to life-saving bio science solutions are responsible for many of these improved outcomes.

Member News
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. has released additional efficacy data from the AURA-LV and AURORA 1 pivotal trials of LUPKYNIS (voclosporin) in lupus nephritis (LN).

Congratulations to Axolotl Biosciences, who claimed the top Judge’s Pick Award during the FASTPITCH competition held at the 2021 Life Science Innovation Northwest Conference.

AbCellera has released their full year 2020 business results, noting that their revenue is up a full 1,908% over the previous year.

REACH BC has announced they are now part of BC AHSN. Originally a BC SUPPORT Unit demonstration project supported by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, the online platform has signed on more than 2,300 volunteers & 360 researchers in just 1 year. 
 
Stay safe everyone and try and enjoy the good weather!

Wendy
Platinum Sponsors
Chinook Therapeutics Announces Update on Non-Renal Legacy Programs from Aduro Biotech Merge
VANCOUVER, British Columbia and SEATTLE, April 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Chinook Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: KDNY), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of precision medicines for kidney diseases, today announced a transaction with Van Herk Investments, a leading European life science investor, to create and fund a new company called Sairopa, with a pipeline focused on research and development of non-renal monoclonal antibodies generated through Aduro Biotech’s B-Select platform. READ MORE
Axolotl Biosciences wins the Judge’s Choice Prize at the FASTPITCH Competition held at 2021 Life Science Innovation Northwest Conference
Axolotl Biosciences – a spin-off company from the University of Victoria claimed the top Judge’s Pick Award during the FASTPITCH competition held at the 2021 Life Science Innovation Northwest Conference. READ MORE
Chinook Therapeutics Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 2 AFFINITY Basket Study of Atrasentan in Proteinuric Glomerular Diseases
SEATTLE, April 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Chinook Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: KDNY), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of precision medicines for kidney diseases, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in the AFFINITY Study, a phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of atrasentan, a potent and selective inhibitor of the endothelin A receptor, in patients with proteinuric glomerular disease who are at risk of progressive loss of renal function. READ MORE
Aurinia Presents Data Demonstrating LUPKYNIS™ (voclosporin) Efficacy Across Lupus Nephritis Biopsy Classes at National Kidney Foundation 2021 Spring Clinical Meetings
VICTORIA, British Columbia & ROCKVILLE, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: AUPH / TSX: AUP) (Aurinia or the Company) today presented additional efficacy data from the AURA-LV and AURORA 1 pivotal trials of LUPKYNIS™ (voclosporin) in lupus nephritis (LN). The data were shared at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) 2021 Spring Clinical Meetings by Anca D. Askanase, M.D., M.P.H., Founder and Director of Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s Lupus Center and the Director of Rheumatology Clinical Trials. READ MORE
LSBC SECTOR NEWS
Techcouver features ABOzymes Biomedical as Startup of the Week
Did you know that someone needs a blood transfusion every two seconds in the US and Canada? ABOzymes Biomedical’s proprietary technology aims to make matching blood donors to recipients seamless as their tech is able to convert A-type blood to O-type blood—or universal blood. READ MORE
Sonic Incytes Hosts Redefining the Standard of Care for Assessing Liver Health Webinar
Join Sonic Incytes for a live educational webinar, featuring co-inventors Dr. Tim Salcudean and Dr. Robert Rohling, to learn about Velacur, a breakthrough technology that quantitatively measures both liver fibrosis and steatosis – two important markers of liver disease. REGISTER TODAY
Gold Sponsors
ScopeSys’ assays are focused on two areas related to the development of new biological therapeutics: single-molecule measurement of oligonucleotide binding kinetics to RNA and DNA targets, and nanoparticle analytics for drug delivery applications. Their technology offers the ability to track multiple molecules to sequence the mechanism of complex reactions, as well as the ability to measure both size and loading of individual nanoparticles to characterize drug uptake and release over time.



Ondine Biomedical Inc. is developing non-antibiotic therapies for the treatment of a wide variety of complex bacterial, fungal and viral infections. The Company is focused on developing and commercializing innovative products using its patented light-activated platform technology, Photodynamic disinfection (PDD).








Silver Sponsors
PERSPECTIVES ON GLOBAL HEALTHCARE INNOVATION
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
LSBC JOB BOARD
Bronze Sponsors
Posting 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: Sue Callaghan - talent@lifesciencesbc.ca