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Life Sciences BC News, June 27, 2024

Last week we hosted our final event before we break for events during the summer, our 2024 Summer Social. Thank you to our generous event partner Zymeworks for the stunning venue and incredible support, it was a wonderful time had by all!

We are excited to announce the winners of the 26th Annual Life Sciences BC Awards. Recognizing exceptional organizations and leaders who truly epitomize the drive and dedication of BC's life sciences sector. We look forward to celebrating with you all on September 10, secure your tickets while early bird pricing is available here.

The 2024 Life Sciences BC Award winners are:

 

Company & Organizational Awards

Company of the Year: Aspect Biosystems

Emerging Company of the Year: Augurex

Strategic Partner of the Year: The University of British Columbia – School of Biomedical Engineering

Deal of the Year: Chinook Therapeutics

 

Individual Awards

Dr. Don Rix Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Richard Glickman

Milton Wong Community Leadership Award: Joseph Garcia

Scientific Entrepreneurship Award: Dr. Robert Young

Genome BC Award for Scientific Excellence: Dr. Raymond Ng

 

Companies to Watch – Recognition Honour Roll*:

HEALWELL AI

Kapoose Creek Bio

Mesentech

Reverb Therapeutics

SeraGene Therapeutics

VoxCell BioInnovation

 

* This recognition is not an award but highlights outstanding companies to take note of and watch.

LSBC is also honoured to be recognized as a finalist this year for the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s Business Distinction Awards in the category of Non-profit of the Year. Congratulations to all the finalists who were announced. Read more.

Calling all BC-based companies from pre-seed to public! Tomorrow is the last day for applications to pitch at our 9th annual Invest in BC presented by Lumira Ventures. There is no cost to present for LSBC members. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your technology or innovation to an audience of over 60 investors and other key stakeholders. This two-day event on October 29 & 30 will give you access to BIO’s one-on-one partnering software, which is the first time this platform will be introduced at a Canadian event. Learn more and apply today.

As research is the basis of the innovations within our sector, Michael Smith Health Research BC (Health Research BC) has announced a provincial health authority research ethics board service. This initiative is a significant step in streamlining research processes, advancing sustainable economic development in the province, and solidifying BC’s reputation as a leader in high-quality and accountable research. Read more.

Quebec Bill 96, Act respecting the official and common language is a law that places French-language requirements in Quebec and restricts the use of other languages, including English. There are elements of this act that will come into force as of June 1, 2025. Medtech Canada carried out consultations and has presented industry recommendations in recent months. Companies and organizations operating in Quebec are recommended to read this legislation in full to understand any business impacts. Questions can also be directed to Medtech Canada’s VP Quebec, Olivier Bourbeau at obourbeau@medtechcanada.org.

Member Highlights 

Abdera Therapeutics announces that the FDA has granted Fast Track designation to ABD-147 for the treatment of patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer. Read more.


Genome BC announces groundbreaking work that could change the way we think about treating depression. New research is exploring ways for the BC healthcare system to tailor depression treatments based on genetics to the unique needs of each person, moving towards a more effective and patient-centred approach. Read more.

 

AbbVie acquires Celsius Therapeutics, adding to its portfolio Celsius’ CEL383, a potential first-in-class anti-Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 1 (TREM1) antibody for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Read more.

 

Sustained Therapeutics announces the first patient in its Phase 2/3 trial of ST-02, an innovative cancer medication targeting Upper Tract Urethral Carcinoma. Read more.

 

HEALWELL AI completes US$2 million strategic investment into an xAI investment vehicle as part of its capital allocation strategy. xAI is an artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk in 2023. With this investment, HEALWELL will have access to the closed xAI Developer Program with an opportunity to leverage xAI resources and expertise, including various large language models. Read more.

 

UBC Faculty of Medicine announces results of a study published in Nature Communications which promises to improve care for patients with endometrial cancer. Read more.


EY releases its 2024 Beyond Borders report on Biotechnology. The report finds US and European biotech companies are seeing early signs of a thaw in the financing and dealmaking environment. Change in fiscal policy by lowering the interest rates in the months ahead can accelerate this positive shift within the second half of the year. Read more.

Industry Highlights

Trade and Invest British Columbia open an office in Taiwan to serve as a vital support hub for businesses in the province. Read more.

 

The Surrey Board of Trade together with Western Community College is pleased to announce the official opening of the Surrey Technology and Skills Centre. Read more.

New LSBC Members

[Individual] Allison Rzen is an equity Partner with PFM Executive Search, a BC-owned and operated boutique executive search firm that has been a trusted partner of many of BC’s leading organizations since 1992. The firm has international candidate reach through its partnership with Panorama Global Search Partners. Allison joined the firm 25 years ago and has a generalist practice, with strengths in the life sciences, health care, academic and local government sectors. Learn More.

Kudos

BioTalent Canada is recognized as one of Canada’s 2024 Best Places to Work by HRD Canada. This honour reflects BioTalent’s commitment to fostering a workplace where team culture and employee satisfaction are top priorities. Read more. 

 

Congratulations to VoxCell BioInnovation and Asees Kaur, winners of the 2024 PITCH competition at the Collision Conference in Toronto. This is not the first time VoxCell has been recognized; in 2023 they were named one of Techcouver’s 10 Homegrown Startups to Watch and are on LSBC's Honour Roll this year. Read more.

 

UBC Faculty of Medicine announces the recipients of their 2024 Distinguished Achievement Award, recognizing faculty members with exceptional contributions to education, research or service. Read more.

 

Kudos to IQVIA, whose SmartSolve Enterprise Quality Management System (eQMS) won the 2024 MedTech Breakthrough Award for “Best Use of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare.” Their SmartSolve eQMS platform is designed specifically for life sciences customers to simplify the complexity of quality compliance. Read more.

 

AstraZeneca Canada and Plan International Canada selected 13 Inspiring Sustainability Trailblazers to join their 2024 Eureka Fellowship for Youth Changemakers in Canada. Trailblazers were chosen through a Canada-wide call for youth actively working to make the world a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient place. Read more.

 

Congratulations to Vertex Pharmaceuticals CEO Dr. Reshma Kelwalramani, named one of the Top CEOs of 2024 by Barron’s. Read more.

 

Three Simon Fraser University (SFU) chemists, Drs. Roger Linington, Steven Holdcroft, and Daniel Leznoff, were recognized nationally at the annual Chemical Institute of Canada conference. Read more.

People on the Move

United Therapeutics announced the election of Jan Malcolm to their Board of Directors. Jan is a leader in health policy, public health, and healthcare finance and delivery with lengthy experience in healthcare operations. She fills the former Board seat of Dr. Katherine Klein. Read more.

 

Cytiva strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Pierre-Alain Ruffieux as COO. Pierre-Alain previously served as CEO of Lonza and as the Head of Global Pharma Technical Operations at Roche. Read more.

 

Sheila Biggers recently stepped into the role of President and CEO at St. Paul’s Foundation. Sheila succeeds Dick Vollet, who led the foundation for 12 years. She joins St. Paul’s Foundation from JA British Columbia, where she has been President and CEO since 2017. Read more.

 

Molecular You welcomed Dr. Murdoc Khaleghi as their new Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Khaleghi brings extensive experience in healthtech and diagnostics to the role, having held leading roles in the launch of several successful companies, including WellnessFX, Healium, NeuroTrack, and ME Biosciences. Read more.

 

Dr. Mel Krajden was appointed to Genome British Columbia’s Board of Directors. Dr. Krajden is a Medical Microbiologist at the BC Centre for Disease Control and a professor at the University of British Columbia. Read more.

 

Biologics Manufacturing Centre announced that Doris Belzille has joined their team as Vice President of Finance and Corporate Service. Doris brings a wealth of experience in the finance and management of strategic projects to the role. Read more.

Applications Open

LSBC is accepting applications to pitch at our Invest in BC event. We are delighted to provide companies with a unique opportunity to showcase their groundbreaking projects and innovations, garner support, and secure vital investments to propel their growth trajectory. Apply by June 28, 2024. Learn more.

 

LSBC is accepting applications for our Investor Readiness Program (IRP). IRP pairs early-stage BC small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs-in-residence (EIRs) to support the SMEs to become investor-ready. Apply by July 31, 2024. Learn more.


We are currently producing our annual magazine with Business in Vancouver (BIV) that will be released at our Awards Gala on September 10. Find the Media Kit here.

The 4th Sweet BioPharma Day is taking place on October 9, 2024, in Sainte-Julie, Quebec! This invite-only event offers a platform for 16 promising startups and biotech organizations to present their latest innovations to leaders in the biopharmaceutical industry, providing a platform for strategic collaborations and partnerships. Apply by September 3, 2024. Learn more.


The Canadian Institutes of Health Research has opened applications for their Moving Upstream: Structural Determinants of Health Catalyst Grants. This funding opportunity aims to reduce health inequities by supporting multi-disciplinary research into the structural determinants of health. Applications are due by October 9, 2024. Learn more.


The Canadian Institutes of Health Research also launched the Healthy Cities Research Initiative grants under the Institute/Initiative Community Support Grants competition. The grants will be presented to research teams working to implement healthy urban policy. Apply by August 6, 2024. Learn more.

 

Apply now for Stem Cell Network’s new initiative, the Doctoral Research Awards in Social, Ethical, and Economic Implications for Regenerative Medicine. This opportunity is open to Canadian Ph.D. students who are working to address the complex challenges presented by the application of regenerative medicine technologies. Submit your applications by September 10, 2024. Learn more.


The Stem Cell Network has also partnered with weCANreg to deliver the Regulatory Literacy Course. Offered from September 9 through December 13, 2024, this program guides you through the process of translating cell therapies from discovery to early-phase clinical trials and beyond. Submit applications by July 4, 2024. Learn more.


Applications are open for UBC’s Venture Founder program. Teams (must have at least one UBC-affiliated member) will work with experienced entrepreneurs and experts from entrepreneurship@ubc’s Mentor Network to establish a strong foundation for their venture over 16 weeks of experiential workshops. Apply by July 5, 2024. Learn more.

 

The Fall Cohort of the Lumira Ventures Venture Innovation Program is open for applications! Ph.D., MD, or MBA students with a passion for life sciences innovation are invited to apply to join this 6-12 month immersive program and gain exposure to the life sciences venture capital and startup ecosystem. Applications are due by August 18, 2024. Learn more.

See our expanded list of current life sciences opportunities on our website.

Open Applications

Member Spotlight

Pfizer Canada is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies.


We strive to profoundly impact the health of Canadians through the discovery, development and delivery of medicines and vaccines. Our diverse portfolio offers a broad range of benefits and solutions to meet the needs of Canadians.


Pfizer’s innovative portfolio focuses on the discovery and development of new medicines and vaccines. By focusing on the best science and patient experience, Pfizer’s leadership and significant investments support faster delivery of breakthrough medicines that can fulfill unmet needs.


In addition to high quality biosimilars, Pfizer also offers a comprehensive portfolio of legacy and multisource medicines that deliver quality care and sustainable solutions to the Canadian healthcare system.


At Pfizer, we operate with integrity and abide by the most stringent code of ethics and compliance. We support the Canadian economy and are committed to giving back to the communities where we work and live.


Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that all Canadians have timely access to best-in-class treatments and quality health care. Learn more.

Until next week!

LSBC Team

Upcoming LSBC Events & Programs

September 10 - Join us on September 10, 2024, as we celebrate excellence in life sciences at the 26th Annual Life Sciences BC Awards, presented by Farris.


This distinguished occasion brings together British Columbia’s vibrant life sciences community to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our peers and recognize the tireless efforts of those who have devoted their careers to advancing health innovations.

Register

October 29 & 30 - Life Sciences BC is pleased to announce the 9th annual Invest in BC presented by Lumira Ventures conference.


This highly anticipated event serves as a premier gathering for healthcare innovators in British Columbia, connecting them with global investors. This year we’ve reimagined the conference, offering attendees a dynamic two-day program featuring 30+ company pitches from pre-seed to public.

Register

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LSBC Member News

United Therapeutics Corporation Announces Election of Jan Malcolm to Its Board of Directors

United Therapeutics, a public benefit corporation, announced the addition of former Minnesota Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm to its Board of Directors. Ms. Malcolm was elected by the company’s shareholders at its annual meeting held on June 26, 2024...Read more.

Trio of Simon Fraser University Canada Research Chairs Advance an Inclusive and Sustainable Future

Neuroscientist John McDonald, archaeological scientist Michael Richards and computational chemist Samira Siahrostami’s appointments were announced June 14 by the federal government...Read more.

Pierre-Alain Ruffieux joins Cytiva as Chief Operating Officer

Cytiva is strengthening its leadership team with one of the biotechnology industry’s most highly regarded and experienced leaders, Pierre-Alain Ruffieux, who will join as Chief Operating Officer...Read more.

AbbVie Acquires Celsius Therapeutics

AbbVie announced the acquisition of Celsius Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company pioneering new therapies for patients with inflammatory disease. Celsius’ lead investigational asset is CEL383, a potential first-in-class anti-TREM1 antibody that has completed a Phase 1 clinical study for the treatment of IBD...Read more.

AbbVie Provides U.S. Regulatory Update on ABBV-951

AbbVie announced it received a Complete Response Letter from the U.S. FDA for the New Drug Application for ABBV-951 for the treatment of motor fluctuations in adults with advanced Parkinson’s disease…Read more.

Abdera Therapeutics Announces FDA Fast Track Designation for ABD-147, a Next-Generation Precision Radiopharmaceutical Therapy, for the Treatment of Patients with Extensive-stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Abdera Therapeutics announced that the U.S. FDA has granted Fast Track designation to ABD-147 for the treatment of patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer who have progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy...Read more.

BC Study to Pave the Way for Tailored Treatment of Depression

A new research initiative in British Columbia is exploring ways for the BC healthcare system to tailor depression treatments to the unique needs of each person, moving towards a more patient-centred approach...Read more.

Genome BC Welcomes Dr. Mel Krajden to its Board of Directors, Announces New Board Leadership

Dr. Mel Krajden is a Medical Microbiologist researcher at the BC Centre for Disease Control. He is the former Medical Director of the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory and Medical Head of Hepatitis at BCCDC. He is also a professor in the UBC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine...Read more.

Three SFU Chemists Honoured at National Awards

Three Simon Fraser University chemists have been recognized nationally for their outstanding contributions to research and chemistry. SFU professors Roger Linington, Steven Holdcroft and Daniel Leznoff all received awards at this year’s Chemical Institute of Canada conference...Read more.

HEALWELL AI Announces Strategic Investment in xAI to Accelerate Development of Healthcare Focused Large Language Models That Benefit from xAI Developer Ecosystem

HEALWELL AI, a healthcare technology company focused on AI and data science for preventative care, is pleased to announce that it has completed a USD $2,000,000 strategic investment, indirectly through a T1P investment vehicle, in a financing round of X.AI…Read more.

Cytiva’s Latest Innovation Significantly Improves Filtration of High Concentration Biologics

Cytiva is addressing the distinct filtration needs of customers manufacturing high-concentration biologic drugs with its Supor Prime sterilizing grade filters, the latest addition to its extensive filtration portfolio...Read more.

Scientists Discover High-risk Form of Endometrial Cancer — and How to Test for It — Using AI

A discovery by researchers at the University of British Columbia promises to improve care for patients with endometrial cancer, the most common gynecologic malignancy...Read more.

NervGen Pharma To Advance NVG-300 Into Preclinical Proof-Of-Concept Stage

NervGen Pharma, a clinical-stage biotech company dedicated to developing innovative solutions for the treatment of nervous system damage, announced its plans for the development of a new drug candidate, NVG-300, with a focus on three initial indications: ischemic stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal cord injury...Read more.

IQVIA’s SmartSolve® eQMS Wins 2024 MedTech Breakthrough Award “Best Use of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare”

IQVIA, a leading global provider of AI-powered analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry, announced that the IQVIA SmartSolve Enterprise Quality Management System platform has been selected as the winner of the “Best Use of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare” award in the 8th Annual MedTech Breakthrough Awards...Read more.

Sustained Therapeutics Announces First Patient for Cancer Trial

The first patient has entered the Phase II/III trial of ST-02, Sustained Therapeutic’s innovative cancer medication targeting Upper Tract Urethral Carcinoma. A rare form of cancer, UTUC affects over 7,000 individuals annually across North America…Read more.

Positive Phase 2 and Mechanism-of-Action Data for BOLD-100 Presented at 2024 ‘Metals in Medicine’ Gordon Research Conference

Bold Therapeutics has been invited to speak at the 2024 ‘Metals in Medicine’ GRC. The conference program features a variety of global speakers and academic experts targeting recent advancements in the field of metallotherapeutics to treat infectious diseases and cancer…Read more.

AstraZeneca Canada and Plan International Canada Announce 13 Inspiring Sustainability Trailblazers Selected to Join the 2024 Eureka Fellowship for Youth Changemakers in Canada

AstraZeneca Canada and Plan International Canada announced the selected Fellows named to the 2024 Eureka Fellowship, an initiative to spotlight and amplify the impact of inspiring youth changemakers from across the country who are focused on tackling sustainability challenges…Read more.

Molecular You Welcomes Dr. Murdoc Khaleghi as Chief Medical Officer

Molecular You, a leading innovator in providing multi-biomarker testing and predictive health analytics, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Murdoc Khaleghi as Chief Medical Officer…Read more.

Johnson & Johnson Submits Application to U.S. FDA Seeking Approval of TREMFYA® (guselkumab) for the Treatment of Moderately to Severely Active Crohn’s Disease

Johnson & Johnson submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application to the U.S. FDA seeking approval of TREMFYA® for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active Crohn’s diseaseRead more.

Victoria’s VoxCell Wins Collision 2024 PITCH Startup Competition

Asees Kaur of Victoria’s VoxCell was declared the winner of the 2024 edition of PITCH in front of a full Centre Stage crowd today. PITCH is Collision’s startup competition that brings together the world’s leading early-stage startups to battle it out onstage…Read more.

Gold Sponsors

Associate Scientist, Predictive Biology (14 Month Contract)

In this vital role you will focus on the development of an in vitro platform composed of patient derived cell lines and organoids that will allow us to better predict efficacy and safety liabilities in our Biologic drugs. Specifically, this role will involve the development, optimization, and maintenance of patient derived organoids...Learn more

Laboratory Animal Technician – 1 Year Contract

In this vital role you will support animal-based studies, husbandry, and vivarium operations and also provide technical and lab support for in-vivo research. Come do your best work alongside other innovative, driven professionals in this meaningful role...Learn more

Corporate Relations Manager

Reporting to the Vice President, Corporate Development, this role is one of the main cross-functional points of contact for: industry and provincial government representatives, as well as Genome BC Research & Innovation Managers (in both Health and Agri-food & Natural Resources groups), to ensure effective and timely communication...Learn more

Senior Manager, Internal LNP Manufacturing

As the Sr. Manufacturing Manager, you will lead a team of manufacturing Scientists and Associates to manufacture, test and ship LNP drug products for multiple partner programs...Learn more

Manager, Events

Life Sciences BC has an immediate opening for a Manager, Events, who has a passion for special event management to provide exceptional member and client experiences. In this role, you will be an integral member of the team...Learn more

Accountant

Xenon is seeking an Accountant to support our Finance team across the different functions within the department. This is a great opportunity for an individual who enjoys working on a variety of tasks as key responsibilities for this position span across our accounts payable, finance, and general accounting...Learn more

Sr. Associate – Antibody Discovery and Screening (12-month contract)

Amgen is seeking a highly motivated, early career researcher to join Antibody Discovery and Screening Team. The incumbent will complement an innovative group with a strong track record of success in pioneering novel antibody-based therapeutics to treat grievous illnesses. The role is laboratory based...Learn more

Shipper/Receiver

The Shipper/Receiver performs a variety of shipping and receiving responsibilities. The main duties include the administrative and physical tasks involved in receiving and distributing incoming goods throughout the facility as well as shipping out various types of materials...Learn more

Clinical Trial Associate 1

The Clinical Trial Associate 1 will be an individual responsible for supporting Clinical Operations team members with project-specific support related to the conduct of clinical trials activities. The Clinical Trial Associate 1 will assist the clinical research teams in ensuring the most effective and efficient conduct of clinical research studies...Learn more

Research Associate II / Senior Research Associate – Antibody Generation

This role is a permanent, on-site opportunity located in Vancouver, British Columbia. As an accomplished scientist you’ll be a key member of a highly motivated team passionate about making an impact on human health. Your role will involve multiple responsibilities critical for the successful execution of new therapeutic programs...Learn more

Scientist/Sr. Scientist Experimental Immunology

This is a wet-lab focused position that involves the design and implementation of a new immunology-focused research program. The ideal candidate will have a deep foundational understanding of immunology with a background in immune ontogeny, virology, or vaccinology preferred...Learn more

Manager, Lab Operations

The Manager, Lab Operations will be responsible for managing the lab operations team, working with individuals and leadership in R&D to understand laboratory needs, securing and maintaining required Material Transfer Agreements, licenses and permits...Learn more

Associate Scientist, Preclinical Development

This is a full-time Associate Scientist role on the Preclinical Development team at Integrated Nanotherapeutics involving work across multiple laboratory sites and flexibility for some hybrid remote work. The successful candidate will contribute to our R&D programs in antigen-specific immune tolerance...Learn more

Post a Job on the LSBC Website

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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