|
|
COVID-19 Vaccines
Last week the Public Health Agency of Canada announced than 670,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered last week alone across the country, meaning almost 4 million doses have been administered across Canada as of Sunday, and almost 630,000 people have been fully vaccinated.
This week marks the largest number of vaccine doses due to arrive in Canada to date. For the foreseeable future, Pfizer-BioNTech is expected to continue providing weekly shipments of at least a million doses. Canada is also receiving 1.5 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot before the end of the month from the US.
Life Sciences in the Community
The annual Life Science Innovation Northwest event is scheduled to be held virtually on March 30–31. This is the largest life sciences conference in the US Pacific Northwest and will focus on topics such as Biotechnology, COVID-19, Cell therapies, Drug discovery, Immunology, Intelligent Science & Discovery, Investment, Medical Devices, Neuroscience, Oncology, Telehealth, and others. Complimentary tickets are available through the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle and Global Affairs Canada.
Congratulations to our members who made it onto the Ready to Rocket list. This list, created by Rocket Builders, is an annual list celebrating BC’s Leading Growth Tech companies. These companies are identified as Emerging Rockets (companies poised for growth) or Ready-to-Rocket (companies already scaling revenue) in several categories: Agri-food, ICT, CleanTech, Digital Health, and Life Sciences. Our members who were listed included:
Some other notable announcements include:
Karimah Es Sabar, Chair of the Health and Biosciences Economic Strategy Table, Member of the Industry Strategy Council and Chief Executive Officer & Partner at Quark Venture LP, published an op ed on the health and biosciences sector, emphasizing it will be a sector that can help with post-pandemic recovery.
iCo Therapeutics Inc. announced it was entering into a business combination with Satellos Bioscience, making Satellos a wholly-owned subsidiary of iCo. The parties expect to complete combine iCo and Satellos to create a new entity, Satellos Bioscience Inc.
SignalChem announced a collaboration with Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, to evaluate a therapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Are you our Next Manager of Marketing and Communications?
LifeSciencesBC is looking for a communications professional with 8+ years' experience in communications and marketing roles. Experience in technical or scientific sectors would be an asset, as well as experience with a member-based organization or not-for-profit. Apply to join our team here. Deadline to apply is April 9, 2021. Please share in your networks.
It’s been a challenging year for us all, but our life sciences community continues to have exciting developments. We love to share news from our members. Please keep sending it to us at communications@lifesciences.ca.
|
|
|
|
iCo Therapeutics Inc. Agrees to a Business Combination with Satellos Bioscience Inc. |
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – March 22, 2021) – iCo Therapeutics Inc. (TSXV: ICO) (OTCQB: ICOTF) (“iCo”) and Satellos Bioscience Inc. (“Satellos”), a private Canadian corporation, together are pleased to announce the execution of a definitive agreement, dated March 21, 2021 (the “Arrangement Agreement”), providing for the business combination of iCo and Satellos by way of a plan of arrangement (the “Arrangement“) in accordance with Section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act (the “CBCA”). READ MORE
|
|
|
|
SignalChem Enters a Clinical Trial Collaboration with Merck to Evaluate the Effect of SLC-391 in Combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer |
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – March 23, 2021. SignalChem Lifesciences, a clinical-stage company developing novel targeted therapies for oncology, announces a collaboration with Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, through a subsidiary, to evaluate the combination of SLC-391, a selective AXL inhibitor developed by SignalChem, with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). READ MORE
|
|
|
|
Thrive Health wins 2020 Doctors of BC Award |
Thrive Health was established with the goal of improving health care delivery in Canada and worldwide, Thrive Health recently partnered with the BC government to develop the COVID-19 Support App and Self-Assessment Tool, empowering British Columbians with accurate information, health support, self-assessment functionality, and statistics on a single platform. The platform has provided more than 10 million COVID-19 risk assessments to date, and more than 1 million people are active users. READ MORE
|
|
|
|
entrepreneurship@UBC Launches Human Health Venture Studio |
The University incubator and accelerator has launched the Human Health Venture (H²V) Studio to leverage UBC’s deep pool of research by transforming human health innovations to impact through venture creation. The studio launch marks the program’s own evolution as an academic incubator/accelerator, creating specialized verticals to work with innovators across industries. READ MORE
|
|
|
|
Newest lupus drug in 60 years discovered in Canada, approved in USA |
People living with lupus will soon have access to a breakthrough treatment discovered by an Albertan life sciences entrepreneur, who is creating a more globally competitive drug commercialization industry in Canada. READ MORE
|
|
|
|
New training program to help fill bioscience job vacancies on P.E.I. |
A new program has been launched to help people get jobs in P.E.I.'s bioscience sector. The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) will be holding a series of training sessions it calls "re-skilling," as it supports individuals who are looking to make a change and start a new career in the sector. READ MORE
|
|
|
|
Vancouver Startup Week is back for its 8th consecutive year this May |
Vancouver Startup Week is a celebration that builds momentum and fosters connections among entrepreneurs, investors, leaders and friends within the Greater Vancouver startup community. It has become a globally recognized brand supported by great companies, civic leaders, educators, business pioneers and more. Events are not organized by one central body, but instead by dozens of community partners which in turn are supported by the non-profit Vancouver Startup Society. READ MORE
|
|
 |
eSenso Biotech is a R&D–oriented scientific entrepreneur, focusing on the application of bio-sensing technology into the field of testing and monitoring public health related biomarkers, aiming to transform and commercialize science and technology into social and economic values.
|
|
|
|
Being one of the few privately owned CRO with capabilities in bioanalytical, in vivo and in vitro DMPK and xenograft animal models in Western Canada, BRI’s uncompromising study protocols, stringent quality control measures, and relevant study design allows them to build trusted and long lasting partnerships with their highly valued clients.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
