Archive for 2018

PEI’s Nautilus Biosciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of Croda International Plc (“Croda”), celebrated its official opening today as the new Centre of Innovation for Marine Biotechnology.

The ribbon-cutting event held at the Regis and Joan Duffy Research Centre at the University of Prince Edward Island, included senior representatives from Croda, as well as the President of UPEI, Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, Provincial Minister of Health and Wellness, Robert Mitchell, and members of PEI’s bioscience business and research community.

The acquisition of Nautilus in Q1 2018 and continued investment by Croda to establish the new Centre of Innovation for Marine Biotechnology in PEI will accelerate the company’s research and product development program to identify sustainable, natural sources of functional ingredients for a broad range of personal, health and crop care ingredients for its global customers.

“Croda is a company that values innovation and invests in new technologies to deliver value to our customers today and in the future,” said Sandra Breene, President, Personal Care, Croda International. “The acquisition of Nautilus is part of our journey to expand from being a manufacturer of speciality chemicals into an organisation that embraces biotechnology as the answer to many of our customers and the consumer needs for new actives in a truly sustainable way.”

The opening of the expanded Nautilus facility follows the investment by Croda in an automated high-throughput screening system that can dramatically increase the discovery of novel products derived from the marine microbe library. Currently Nautilus employs 12 scientists and technicians, including 4 PhD’s and 4 Holland College graduates.

Dr. Russ Kerr, Canada Research Chair in Marine Natural Products at UPEI, and founder of Nautilus Biosciences, has worked since 2007 to establish the Marine Microbial Library at UPEI, collecting marine samples from the oceans of Canada and around the world and developing techniques to assess their value as sources of sustainable chemistry. A six-year collaboration with Croda demonstrated to them the potential of marine natural products in providing new chemical entities.

“This is an exciting day for us,” said Dr. Russ Kerr, Research Fellow, Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc., part of the Croda group of Companies. “We’ve been very fortunate to build on a relationship with a multinational speciality chemical company that values growth through sustainable innovation –enhancing our ability to discover even more marine microbes as a potential source of commercial ingredients. We are very proud to be opening this Centre of Innovation in Marine Biotechnology in Prince Edward Island.”

Nautilus’s partnership with the University of Prince Edward Island, and support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, National Research Council, and the Government of Prince Edward Island has been key to the company’s success.

Nautilus has proven to be one of the successful spinouts from the University of Prince Edward Island, building the university’s reputation as a leading innovation centre in Atlantic Canada. Nautilus has exclusive access to the Marine Microbial Library which is based at the University.

“To see Dr. Kerr take a great idea, collaborate with other faculty and our students, and develop this idea into an entrepreneurial opportunity like Nautilus Biosciences is so wonderful, and what the University is here to support,” said Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island. “Through the hard work of many in our UPEI community — faculty, staff, and students — this partnership between Nautilus Biosciences and Croda has become reality. Many thanks to Croda for choosing our campus and Nautilus Biosciences as the location for its Centre of Innovation for Marine Biotechnology.”

The Nautilus Biosciences Croda Centre of Innovation for Marine Biotechnology is an outstanding addition to the PEI Bioscience Cluster and further expands Atlantic Canada’s expertise in ocean technologies. The R&D capabilities and infrastructure that Nautilus Biosciences has established through Croda’s support and investments are also a magnet attracting other businesses to the PEI Bioscience Cluster.

“Croda’s investment in Nautilus is a testament to the quality of the innovation ecosystem in PEI. Our business, research, and government partners work together to help academics and early stage companies commercialize their technologies and attract new investment,” said Rory Francis, Executive Director of the PEI BioAlliance. “This is how we continue to grow this sector and increase its contribution to our provincial economy.”

-30-

About Croda

Established in 1925, Croda is the name behind high performance ingredients and technologies in some of the world’s biggest and most successful brands: creating, making and selling speciality chemicals that are relied on by industries and consumers everywhere.

Croda has a network of over 4,200 passionate and committed employees, working together as one global team across manufacturing sites and offices in 36 countries. Croda Personal Care is dedicated to working with its customers to meet evolving consumer needs, whilst maintaining its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility through initiatives that include the use of certified sustainable palm oil and other renewable raw materials.

The company’s expertise in formulation development, claims substantiation, market analysis and regulatory support provides customers immediate access to essential services for successful product development. As a global business, Croda Personal Care offers a wide and diverse product portfolio including a full line of natural, botanical ingredients from its Crodarom division and a full range of skin care actives from its Sederma division.

About Nautilus Biosciences Croda

Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc. is a technology-rich marine biotechnology company based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Founded in 2007 by Dr. Russell Kerr, Nautilus focuses on using marine microbial biodiversity to discover novel actives and materials.

Croda recently acquired Nautilus – having worked closely together for the past six years developing specific applications for skin care and hair care, as well as crop care. Croda has established Nautilus Biosciences as Croda’s Global Centre of Innovation for Marine Biotechnology at Nautilus’ existing base at the University of Prince Edward Island. Nautilus Biosciences has exclusive global access to the Marine Microbial Library which is based at the University of Prince Edward Island.

About Prince Edward Island BioAlliance

The Prince Edward Island BioAlliance is the private sector-led partnership of businesses, research and academic institutions, and government agencies dedicated to building the province’s bioscience sector. Through a unique and successful cluster model, we have established the enabling conditions for business success.

Our focus is the research, development and commercialisation of bioactive-based products for human, animal, and fish health and nutrition. The Cluster includes over 50 bioscience companies and eight research institutions. Private sector revenues exceed $200 million, and the PEI bioscience sector employs 1700 people. Revenue sources include human, animal, and fish health and nutrition products including cosmetic ingredients, natural health products, feed additives, vaccines, diagnostics, and pharmaceuticals.

The BioAlliance is home to Emergence, Canada’s virtual bioscience business incubator, that provides mentorship and business development services to companies from across Canada and beyond. The PEI Bioscience Cluster is also home to Natural Products Canada, North America’s first business accelerator dedicated to the commercialisation of products and technologies based on natural product chemistry.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Russ Kerr, Research Fellow, Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc.,

part of the Croda Group of Companies

russell.kerr@croda.com

Phone: (902) 566-0565

Rose FitzPatrick, PEI BioAlliance

rose@peibioalliance.com

Phone: (902) 367- 4403

Mobile: (902) 393-0306

MORE COVERAGE FROM THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER HERE

Congratulations to PEI Entrepreneurs Mohammed Moin and Dihan Ahsan of Somru BioScience, winners of the 2018 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Health and Life Sciences. Congratulations also going out to John & Sue Rowe, Island Abbey Foods, finalists in the Sustainable Business Category.

Congratulations to PEI-based BioVectra, announced today as BIOTECanada’s Company of the Year through the 2018 Gold Leaf Awards, which annually highlight innovation and entrepreneurship within the Canadian biotechnology industry. Read more here.

CANADIAN BIOTECH INDUSTRY RECOGNIZES TOP PERFORMERS DURING GLOBAL BIOTECH WEEK

September 26, 2018 [OTTAWA] – BIOTECanada is pleased to announce the 2018 winners of the Gold Leaf Awards which annually highlight innovation and entrepreneurship within the Canadian biotechnology industry. This national celebration of the Canadian industry represents an outstanding collection of companies and individuals who have helped lead the industry throughout 2018.

“The remarkable individuals and companies we recognize through the Gold Leaf Awards are great examples of the core strengths of Canada’s biotech ecosystem including scientific excellence and passion,” commented Andrew Casey, President and CEO of BIOTECanada.

“Importantly, Canada’s global biotech success is founded in its ability to advance scientific innovation by leveraging a diverse and vibrant ecosystem comprised of individuals, companies and institutions located in every province across the country. It is this strength that establishes Canada’s biotech industry as a leader in developing the solutions that will help address the global social and economic opportunities emerging from population growth and a changing climate.”

2018 BIOTECanada Gold Leaf Winners:

• Aspect Biosystems Ltd. (Emerging Company of the Year)
• BioVectra Inc. (Company of the Year)
• CDRD – The Centre for Drug Research and Development (Ecosystem Builder)
• Dr. Wilf Keller, CEO Ag-West Bio (Industry Leadership)

“To be selected as BIOTECanada’s Emerging Company of the Year, among so many notable biotech companies across the country, is a true honour,” said Tamer Mohamed, Aspect’s President and CEO. “We are inspired by the profound impact regenerative medicine therapies can have on patients around the globe and our team is committed to realizing this impact from right here in Canada.”

“On behalf of BioVectra, it is an honour to win BIOTECanada’s 2018 Gold Leaf Award for Biotech Company of the Year,” said Oliver Technow, President of BioVectra. “Our team has accomplished a lot over the past year. Our new biologics facility is now online in Windsor, Nova Scotia, we are making tremendous progress on an expansion at our headquarters in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and we continue to build upon our capabilities, our development experience, and our technologies so that we can grow alongside our partners and help them advance their clinical programs efficiently. None of this would be possible without our highly dedicated and specialized employees.

This award is truly a testament to their hard work and tenacity!” “We are honoured that CDRD has been chosen to receive the BIOTECanada Gold Leaf Ecosystem Builder Award. This award is a testament to the tremendous dedication and hard work of each and every one of our team of 100+ scientists and business people; and the success they have achieved in commercializing innovation, attracting investment, supporting globally competitive Canadian companies; and helping generate long term, highly-skilled employment opportunities for Canadians – for moving us towards our Vision of being catalyst for Canada life sciences leading the world,” said Gordon C. McCauley, President and CEO of CDRD.

“It’s a great surprise and honour to receive the Gold Leaf Award from BioteCanada, an national entity that does the very important job coordinating and supporting biotech research. I’ve had the privilege of working with so many great people. It’s all about teamwork; I’ve been able to work with many excellent teams over the years. I look forward to continuing to contribute in any way I can.”

Global Biotech Week running September 24 – 30, 2018 brings together domestic and international biotechnology associations will experience hundreds of events across 20 countries. With thousands of participants each year, Global Biotech Week provides an opportunity to collaborate and showcase the impact biotechnology is having on economies celebrating science, innovation, and solutions. For more information Nadine Lunt 613-230-5585 x257

BIOTECanada says industry is very supportive of the Government of Canada Strategy Table’s proposed actions of accelerating innovation adoption, designing agile regulatory and procurement approaches, harnessing digital technology, developing, attracting talent and creating anchor firms in this country, stating that few countries are as well positioned as Canada to take advantage of biotech’s potential across agriculture and health sectors. Read more here. 

Economic Strategy Report on Health & Bioscience

Poised as a vital component of Canada’s push to develop more knowledge-intensive industries, Canada’s biotechnology sector is composed of many early-stage companies that are expecting significant growth in the future. The survey results underscore the reality that the search for talent and investment will continue as an important industry priority for the immediate period ahead. Read more here.

Melanie Wildman, Founder & CEO of PEI-based Nutracelle speaks during a “founders panel” session at the Founders and Mentors Mashup event in Charlottetown, hosted by the PEI BioAlliance and the Emergence Bioscience Business Incubator to kick off Global Biotechnology Week celebrations in PEI. Four emerging companies participated in the panel, moderated by Betsy Bascom, President & CEO of Global Connectworks Ltd. This session was part of a larger event that included a keynote presentation by Dr. Ken Rotondo, CEO of Mind Genomics who spoke about how his company uses machine learning to understand client mindsets to deliver personalized messaging within the healthcare industry. Guests also had the opportunity to hear from a panel of Emergence mentors on their insights into building a successful business. Read story published by The Guardian Newspaper here.

PEI Premier Wade MacLauchlan presents the official Declaration of Biotechnology Week 2018 to Dr. Russ Kerr, Chair of the PEI BioAlliance and Research Fellow, Nautilus Biosciences Croda during the kick-off to Global Biotechnology Week events in PEI. This is the twelve consecutive year that the province has formerly recognized Biotechnology Week in Prince Edward Island. Since 2006, the number of biotech companies in PEI has grown from less than a dozen to more than 55, and the number of employees working in PEI’s Bio Sector has more than tripled to over 1600.

The Prince Edward Island Bioscience Cluster will celebrate Global Biotechnology Week 2018 from September 24 – 30th, with activities focused on recognizing the many partners that work together to support the growth and development of bioscience-based businesses in the province.

Since 2006, the Province of Prince Edward Island has marked biotechnology week each year with an official declaration and by participating in industry activities. Since that time, the number of biotech companies in PEI has grown from a dozen to more than 55, with the number of employees more than tripling to over 1600.

Providing incubation and accelerator services to attract and support emerging companies is a priority for the BioAlliance. So too, is growing the industry’s local talent pool, attracting more high-quality business opportunities for PEI, and increasing national and international recognition of the province’s bioscience sector.

“We are expanding our networks within the global biotech sector, while continuing to build our capacity here in PEI,“ says Dr. Russ Kerr, Chair of the BioAlliance and Research Fellow, Nautilus Biosciences Croda.

“From hosting International events, attracting new businesses, and planning for key infrastructure, to operating the Emergence Business Incubator, we are working to build an outstanding ecosystem for bio-businesses. We really have a dedicated team of business, academic, research, and government partners working to build the bio-economy in Prince Edward Island,” said Dr. Kerr.

On September 24th, the BioAlliance, through its Emergence Business Incubator will host a founders and mentors mash-up event to inspire current and future entrepreneurs – highlighting four local companies who will share their lessons of technology development, raising capital, managing growth, and creating value within the biotech industry. Participants will also have a chance to hear insights from Emergence mentors. Keynote speaker Ken Rotondo, CEO of Mind Genomics, will discuss applying machine learning to deliver effective and personalized messaging to clients within the healthcare industry.

More information on this event can be found here. The Prince Edward Island BioAlliance is a member of Canadian BioAccord, led by national industry organization BIOTECanada, dedicated to the advancement of a globally competitive Canadian biotechnology ecosystem.

-30-

Biotech week backgrounder

Global Biotech Week serves to recognize industry’s past success and to highlight the significant opportunity Canadian biotechnology innovation presents for the Canadian economy in the context of the emerging bio-economy and the opportunities presented by global population growth and demographic shifts.

Canada was the first country to originate a national Biotech Week back in 2003. What began as a modest advocacy and awareness string of events involving provincial partners, grew into a national success story, gaining traction and snowballed into encouraging the European Union and Australia to establish their own annual week of events in 2016.

By joining in on the Global Biotech Week festivities, organizations and companies will be raising awareness of the industry and its global potential amongst policymakers, policy influencers, and the general public.

For more information, contact: Rose FitzPatrick rose@peibioalliance.com (902) 367-4403/ (902) 393-0306