Archive for 2021

BIOVECTRA today announced plans for the development of a state-of-the-art facility specializing in the production and manufacturing of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics – one of the first of its kind in Canada. This exciting new capability will result from a joint private-public investment made by BIOVECTRA and the federal and provincial governments who are contributing $39.8 million and $10 million respectively to the total project cost of $79.6 million in support of the BIOVECTRA mRNA Vaccine and Bio-manufacturing facility.

BIOVECTRA CEO Oliver Technow, was joined earlier today at the company’s Charlottetown headquarters by the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and the Honourable Dennis King, Premier of Prince Edward Island to announce support for this new domestic capability.

“BIOVECTRA is well poised to make the production of mRNA therapeutics in our country a reality. As a leading Canadian CDMO, with more than 50 years of expertise, we have a proven record of pushing the boundaries of our capabilities to meet our global customers’ challenges. This expansion is a significant yet natural evolution for us,” said Oliver Technow, CEO, BIOVECTRA.

“Vaccines save lives, and COVID-19 vaccines are helping us start getting back to normal. BIOVECTRA’s plan to establish a state-of-the-art vaccine facility here in Prince Edward Island, and upgrade their existing facilities in Nova Scotia, is a key move that supports our strategy to grow a strong, competitive domestic life sciences sector with cutting-edge biomanufacturing capabilities. This will make sure Canada is prepared for future pandemics and other health emergencies, strengthen our economy and create good jobs here in Atlantic Canada,” said the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

“BIOVECTRA is a true leader in bioscience, with strong relationships in the pharmaceutical industry, and we’re proud they call the East Coast home. A new state-of-the-art facility right here in Prince Edward Island means so many great things for our province. It means good jobs for Islanders, readiness for future health emergencies and an enhanced reputation for our province as a leader in bioscience research and innovation. Investing in this new facility is a step in the right direction as we move forward in strengthening our provincial economy and growing our sectors,” said the Honourable Dennis King, Premier of Prince Edward Island.

Project Recap:

• capability to develop and manufacture nucleic acids, recombinant proteins, and other therapeutics expressed via microbial fermentation
• production of up to 160 million doses of a mRNA vaccine per year
• capacity to prepare and package 70 million fill finish doses per year for commercial distribution
• creation of research partnerships and new development opportunities for professionals in the Life Sciences and bio-manufacturing sector, including the addition of 125 new positions in PEI and NS and up to 225 co-op terms.

Over the past several years, BIOVECTRA has expanded its business to develop and produce commercial scale biotherapeutics, at its accredited facility in Windsor, Nova Scotia.  It is one of five BIOVECTRA sites, located in Atlantic Canada. As part of this most recent investment, the Windsor site will also see an expansion to support the development and production of plasmid DNA, the key ingredient to manufacture mRNA therapeutics and vaccines. The PEI bio-manufacturing facility will include fill finish capabilities.

“At BIOVECTRA, we aim to be a global leader, bringing Canadian innovation to the center stage of biopharmaceutical manufacturing,” said Technow. “We understand our obligation to not just manufacture mRNA, pDNA, and provide an end-to-end manufacturing solution domestically, but to also demonstrate to the world that innovation and talent lives here in Atlantic Canada.”

Click here for more details on the BIOVECTRA mRNA Vaccine and Bio-manufacturing Facility

BIOVECTRA is proud to be selected as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2022 and considered amongst some of the country’s leading workplaces.

As one of four Atlantic Canadian companies selected, BIOVECTRA is a fast growing, forward-thinking, global pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) solving complex challenges to meet patient needs. From modest beginnings as a Startup company designed to give local science talent opportunities, BIOVECTRA has grown into a diverse workplace of more than 550 employees with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

Read full story here

Vancouver, BC and Charlottetown, PE (November 9th, 2021) – adMare BioInnovations and the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) are pleased to announce their new partnership to train industry-ready talent for Canada’s biopharmaceutical manufacturing sector.

Headquartered in Prince Edward Island, CASTL is a first-of-its-kind Canadian skills and training initiative established to increase talent for Canada’s bioeconomy. Specializing in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, CASTL has brought to Canada world-class technical training curriculum from the globally recognized National institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT). Working with industry, academia and government, CASTL will offer multiple applied learning streams and pathways for individuals to acquire hands-on technical training and theoretical knowledge.

Under this new collaboration, the adMare Academy will become the Lead National Partner for CASTL; and the two organizations will work together to facilitate the development, delivery, and growth of CASTL’s training programs across the country.

“Building talent is a key piece of the adMare mission,” said Gordon C. McCauley, President and CEO of adMare. “We know that the greatest competitive advantage and most valuable resource of the Canadian life sciences industry is our people. We also know however, that the enormous growth our industry is experiencing has created significant skills gaps – so we are very excited to partner with CASTL to help address these gaps to facilitate continued growth.”

Penny Walsh-McGuire, CASTL’s Executive Director added, “By working together under the auspices of the adMare Academy, we will accelerate the building and implementation of CASTL’s pre-eminent biopharma manufacturing training, and amplify our impact on the sector from coast to coast to coast.”

Private industry and public policy makers across the country are aggressively adding the biomanufacturing capacity that the pandemic showed is critical to Canadian self-reliance. With this partnership, adMare and CASTL will build the domestic talent to enable effective scale-up of biomanufacturing facilities. Together, CASTL and adMare are offering gold-standard training programs that provide the theoretical, hands-on, and professional competencies to ensure graduates are work-ready. These personnel will power the growth and success of Canada’s biomanufacturing and broader life sciences sectors.

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About adMare BioInnovations
With a wealth of scientific discovery, Canada is primed to be a global leader in life sciences. To make this a reality, adMare uses its scientific and commercial expertise, specialized infrastructure, and investment capital to build new companies, robust ecosystems and industry-ready talent – and re-invests its returns back into the Canadian industry to ensure it is sustained and thrives for the long-term. Our 25+ portfolio companies have attracted more than $1.4 billion of investment, have a combined value of over $3 billion, and employ more than 900 Canadians. The adMare Academy has trained more than 300 alumni – 95% of whom are employed in the life sciences industry.

About CASTL
The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) provides world-class technical training in life sciences specializing in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Established to address the future skills needs of the fast-growing bioscience sector, CASTL is a first-of-its-kind Canadian partnership among industry, academia, and government. As the exclusive Canadian provider of the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) licensed training programs, CASTL will offer multiple applied learning streams and pathways for individuals to acquire the industry informed hands-on technical training and theoretical knowledge, to have a successful career in Canada’s bioeconomy.

Contacts:

Barry Gee
Senior Director, Communications and External Affairs
adMare BioInnovations
604-619-4805
bgee@admarebio.com

Chelsey Rogerson
Director of Marketing and Communications
CASTL/Prince Edward Island BioAlliance
902-213-7351
chelsey@peibioalliance.com

VetHealth Global Pitch & Partner is a dynamic event showcasing the latest innovative and emerging animal health and nutrition companies! Join us from November 22 – 24 for interactive virtual pitch presentations, as well as a robust one-to-one partnering program that will allow attendees to connect and network with investors, early-stage companies, animal health and nutrition business executives and supply chain partners.

VetHealth Global Pitch & Partner was established to provide a platform for innovative early-stage companies to connect with key investors and strategic partners.

Register Now
View Program

Since 2007, VetHealth Global, North America’s premier animal health and nutrition industry conference has been recognized for its outstanding list of presenters, innovative emerging company sessions, professional business partnering programming, and top-rated networking events. The in-person conference that is held every two years, will be hosted in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, June 28-30, 2022.

For questions, please contact jennifer@peibioalliance.com.

Charlottetown, PE – The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) is pleased to announce the appointment of Patrick Daoust as Director of Technical Training, effective October 25, 2021.

CASTL provides world-class technical skills development and training in life sciences specializing in biopharmaceutical manufacturing for Canada.​ It is a first-of-its-kind partnership between academia, industry, and government to address the future skills needs of Canada’s fast-growing bioscience sector. CASTL is the exclusive provider of National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) licensed training programs in Canada. Based in Ireland, NIBRT develops and delivers state-of-the-art training and education programs for the world’s leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing companies and partner academic institutions.

As Director of Technical Training, Patrick will be responsible for leading and directing the various innovative training programs through CASTL’s exclusive partnership with NIBRT. He will also take a leadership role in CASTL’s training facility design, and management, engage with industry on training needs and lead training program implementation. Working with a team of trainers, Patrick will ensure that CASTL offers a best-in-class training experience to both academic and industry partners.

“We are thrilled to have Patrick join the CASTL team, bringing his extensive industry experience and knowledge as our lead on technical training,” said Penny Walsh-McGuire, Executive Director, CASTL. “This is an important step forward as CASTL further develops our national skills and training network for Canada’s biopharmaceutical manufacturing sector.”

A seasoned industry professional, Patrick has 20 years of experience in life sciences process development and manufacturing. He has led multidisciplinary teams in both manufacturing process development and production of clinical material. His technical experience covers Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) process development and clinical manufacturing for monoclonal antibodies, fusion proteins and all aspects of antibody drug conjugate development and manufacturing as well as process re-development for Phase 3/Commercial readiness. He has also overseen aseptic drug product fills for multiple clinical lots.

After acquiring expertise in the development of biosimilars, Patrick founded and ran a company dedicated to the development and out-licensing of cell lines and manufacturing processes for various biotherapeutics. He later provided consulting services and then managed various aspects of development and manufacturing for a successful biotech company. Most recently as the Director of Manufacturing at Immune Biosolutions, Patrick led the set-up and successful first production of a clinical lot of a novel antibody treatment for COVID-19. In these roles, Patrick was responsible for developing highly skilled teams by providing complex training to colleagues and employees to ensure success.

Patrick grew up in the Maritimes and completed a BSc in Biotechnology from Sherbrooke University as well as an MSc from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at University of Montreal.

New Brunswick-based Pivotal Health Sciences (Pivotal) is a biotechnology company with disruptive proprietary clean technologies for the extraction, encapsulation and formulation of bioactive compounds.

Operating out of Moncton, NB, Pivotal’s two patent pending technologies extract bioactives from any plant, fungi and marine source and selectively encapsulates compounds for the food, nutraceutical, cosmetics and agro-chemical sectors. Additionally, Pivotal’s sustainable green process technology will increase the effectiveness and absorption of high-value molecules for human and animal health without the addition of chemical emulsifiers, surfactants and carrier oils.

Pivotal is the latest company to join Emergence, a bioscience incubator that accelerates the growth of Atlantic Canadian startups and early-stage companies moving from ideation to commercialization. Emergence will be helping Pivotal to develop their North American regulatory and intellectual property strategy and assisting the experienced Pivotal team with protocol design for their future studies.

“The Emergence incubator, its mentors and the partner organizations that support member companies have been foundational to Pivotal’s rapid growth during our first year of operation,” said Craig Jackson, CEO, Pivotal Health Sciences. “Our organization is grateful for the opportunity to continue to receive guidance and support that will continue to accelerate our technology and products towards commercialization.”

As a client of Emergence, Pivotal will have access to business incubation services including mentorship and advisory services, team mentorship program as well as access to networks and resources.

For more information on Emergence, visit emergencebioincubator.com.

In celebration of bioscience, innovation and solutions, Premier Dennis King signs official declaration of Global Biotech Week in the province

Charlottetown, PE – As Canada celebrates Global Biotech Week, Prince Edward Island continues to make strides locally in bioscience and biotechnology innovation. A key component of the Island’s economy, the bioscience industry is among the fastest growing sectors in PEI. Now with 60 companies, seven research organizations, and employing 2,200 highly skilled individuals, the PEI BioAlliance has created an innovation ecosystem that has doubled its economic impact since 2016. In 2020, private sector companies added an unprecedented $100 million to business revenues, bringing the total to $365 million annually. Additionally in 2020, the sector invested $85 million on new equipment and facilities and attracted $60 million in private sector investment.

“Global Biotech Week is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the bioscience industry’s accomplishments and contributions to our province. Prince Edward Island’s thriving biotech sector has been a key economic driver in our province and was one of our most resilient sectors throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Premier Dennis King. “The tremendous growth that we have seen here on PEI is only the beginning as the sector embarks on an ambitious plan to continue to grow the cluster model locally and continue to be a leader nationally and globally in this space.”

Dedicated to celebrating science, innovation and solutions, this year’s Global Biotech Week will be held from Sept. 27 – Oct. 3, 2021. The purpose of Global Biotech Week is to raise awareness of the industry and its global potential among policymakers, policy influencers and the general public more broadly. On Sept. 27, Premier Dennis King signed an official declaration of the observance in PEI.

The PEI bioscience sector has been nationally and internationally recognized for the collaborative economic cluster model that has advanced and grown the sector. Coordinated by the PEI BioAlliance, the bioscience cluster includes bioscience companies, federal and provincial government partners, as well as research and development organizations such as the National Research Council, University of Prince Edward Island, the Atlantic Veterinary College, Holland College, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, and BioFoodTech. Through the Emergence Bioscience Business Incubator, the cluster has excelled in helping startups and early-stage companies move from research and technology development to commercial success.

Most recently, the PEI BioAlliance announced the launch of their 2021-25 Strategic Plan, that will guide the work and planning needed to achieve the PEI Cluster’s vision to be a leading force in Canada’s bio-revolution. BioAlliance goals for 2021-25 are to aggressively increase private sector revenue, employment, investment attraction, capital expenditures as well as spending on research and development, with the vision of cluster companies achieving $500 million in revenue by 2025 and $1 billion by 2030.

Oliver Technow, Board Chair of the PEI BioAlliance and CEO of BIOVECTRA, one of the leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations in North America, suggested that since COVID-19, Canada and the world is re-awakening to the importance of having the knowhow and infrastructure to be more self-reliant in manufacturing vital drugs and vaccines to protect population health.

“Governments, academic researchers, and private sector partners must work together to ensure all the elements are in place for success. Prince Edward Island has done an excellent job of implementing an ecosystem approach that has created significant competitive advantage for manufacturing businesses, and facilitated a ‘can do’ culture,” said Technow.

This rapid growth of the sector has meant finding innovative solutions to address constraints to future growth, including expanding and growing a skilled workforce, as well as increasing incubation, scale-up, and manufacturing infrastructure.

Launched in 2020, the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) provides world-class technical skills development and training in life sciences specializing in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. It is a unique partnership between industry and academic partners across Canada to address the significant future skills needs of the Canadian life sciences sector.

Additionally, to provide the necessary infrastructure for growth, the new Bioscience Manufacturing Incubator (BMI) is a 20,000 sq-ft facility comprised of six fully serviced, self-contained units to support pilot-scale manufacturing of bio-based products. Located in the BioCommons Research Park, this project is nearly complete, with industry tenants expected to move in this fall.

For more information on the PEI BioAlliance and the local bioscience cluster, visit peibioalliance.com.

Media Contact
Clara Deacon
Director of Communications and Marketing
PEI BioAlliance
C: 403.701.2815
E: clara@peibioalliance.com

Emergence is pleased to announce the appointment of Bernadette Fernandes as Lead Mentor, Market Access and Exporting, effective August 30, 2021.

In this role, Bernadette will be responsible for mentoring Emergence bioscience business incubator clients in going to market and developing their export readiness strategies. Operating out of New Brunswick, Bernadette will also support companies in the scale up and preparatory work required to develop international sales, as well as the implementation of successful marketing approaches to develop an international brand and to convert target audiences into customers.

Bernadette is a seasoned professional with extensive international experience in marketing, sales, business development, operations, human resources, risk management, and corporate leadership. As the CEO and founder of The Varanda Network, a ten-year-old economic development organization, Bernadette provides business services globally for start-ups, immigrant entrepreneurs, SMEs and multi-nationals across various sectors.

A dynamic, energetic and passionate leader, Bernadette has worked in the area of international market access since 2006, with a specific focus on exporting since 2013. Having worked closely alongside BioNB, government, industry partners, and most recently academia, Bernadette is familiar with the nuances of the innovation ecosystem that allows bioscience companies to grow and thrive.

Emergence is Atlantic Canada’s bioscience business incubator dedicated to assisting start-ups and growth-stage companies in efficiently bringing their products and services to market. Emergence provides companies with business incubation services including mentorship and advisory services, team mentorship program as well as access to networks and resources.

Please join us in welcoming Bernadette to the Emergence team.

Emergence client RPS Biologiques Inc. is pleased to announce that its latest Veterinary Health Product (VHP), Puralyze™, recently received two notification numbers from Health Canada’s Veterinary Drugs Directorate (VDD). Puralyze™ received approval in both liquid and powdered forms allowing this novel natural product to be marketed and sold in Canada.

As part of Global Biotech Week: Sept. 27 – Oct. 3, please join us for a Bio Networking Session, presented by Emergence. This session will be hosted in person and virtually and will feature a presentation by Keiretsu Forum Canada: Lessons from a thousand pitches – How to make the investment short list. This presentation will be followed by a short Q&A and networking.

Recently, Emergence became an official Network Partner of Keiretsu. Under this agreement, Keiretsu will provide access and support from their global investor network as well as a range of education and training opportunities to Emergence companies.

Speakers:

• Kevin Sterling: President – Toronto, Keiretsu Forum Canada
• Jason Cleaversmith: Executive Director, Incubation, PEI BioAlliance

RSVP: Register for the event
Date: Tuesday, September 28
Time: 10 – 11:30 a.m. ADT
In Person Location: Bedeque Ballroom, Delta Prince Edward

Emergence companies gain access to a range of education, training and investment capital opportunities

Charlottetown, PE – Emergence, Atlantic Canada’s bioscience business incubator and Keiretsu Forum Canada (Keiretsu) have entered into an agreement, making Emergence an official Network Partner of Keiretsu.

Under this agreement, Keiretsu will provide access and support from their global investor network as well as a range of education and training opportunities to both Emergence companies and the Emergence mentor team. Keiretsu will also provide Emergence companies with a potential source of investment capital, should they be accepted, while Emergence will provide Keiretsu with access to the latest high potential bioscience companies.

Emergence is Atlantic Canada’s bioscience business incubator dedicated to assisting start-ups and growth-stage companies in efficiently bringing their products and services to market. Emergence provides companies with business incubation services including mentorship and advisory services, team mentorship program as well as access to networks and resources. Emergence has more than 50 client companies from across the region in the incubator program and in 2019, these companies raised more than $200 million in capital.

“We are very pleased to partner with Keiretsu to offer this added benefit to both the companies in the incubator as well as our mentors,” said Jason Cleaversmith, Executive Director, Incubation and Infrastructure, PEI BioAlliance. “This partnership will elevate our service offering and continue to support bioscience companies in the region to thrive.”

Established in 2012, Keiretsu Forum brings together its investor members with the best investment opportunities in emerging companies from around the globe. Keiretsu Forum is the fastest growing, largest, and most active angel community in the world. It is the largest global investment network with over 50+ chapters and over 3,000 accredited private equity investors, venture capitalists, family offices and corporate/institutional investors.

“What makes Keiretsu Forum unique are partnerships such as these with the PEI-based Emergence Incubator,” said Ozan Isinak, President, Keiretsu Forum Canada. “This will clear the path for bioscience companies in Atlantic Canada to access a globally competitive early-stage eco-system while allowing our active investor base and our portfolio companies to diversify into new geographies. We look forward to building a deep relationship with the regional community.”

PEI companies will represent three out of the eight semi-finalists slots at the 2021 BioInnovation Challenge (BIC) pitch event. Hosted by BioNova, the BioInnovation Challenge is one of the longest-running business competitions in Atlantic Canada, celebrating and propelling the region’s next top innovators.

This year’s BIC will be held virtually during BioNova’s annual BioPort conference, Nov. 2-5, 2021. The finalists from PEI, who are also all Emergence clients, are: Au Naturel Solutions, Bactana Canada, and Remidose Aerosols. Two additional Emergence clients were also selected: Pivotal Health Sciences and Takaya Technology.

Both a pitch competition and business accelerator, BIC has supported the creation of over 70 new companies in the sector and distributed $465,000 in prize value since 2011. Last year’s eight BIC semi-finalists raised over $1 million in 2020, despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The eight semi-finalists will present their business ideas on November 3rd to an experienced panel of judges who represent industry and investment organizations knowledgeable about health and life sciences. Three finalists will then be selected to pitch in the finals on November 5th, with a winner to be announced that afternoon at the closing of BioPort. This year’s winner will be awarded a grand prize valued at $55,000, comprised of $25,000 in seed funding to develop their business idea and an advisory services package exceeding $30,000.

These eight semi-finalists were selected from a group of high-caliber applicants developing medical technologies, bioproducts, and natural health products with a shared focus on better health outcomes and environmental sustainability. Learn more about the entrepreneurs who will be pitching virtually on Nov. 3 during BioPort 2021:

Au Naturel Solutions Inc. — PEI (Emergence)
Simone Cormier, Founder
Specializes in the manufacturing of an all-natural materials breast prosthesis made of sustainable and environmentally-friendly materials and an innovative attaching system which does not require purchase of a specialty bra.

Bactana Canada Corp. — PEI (Emergence)
John Kallassy, CEO
Bactana Canada Corp. uses a microbiome discovery platform to develop innovative products through use of cutting-edge molecular and DNA sequencing methods to improve animal productivity and ultimately animal protein production. Their initial product is a patented feed additive for poultry and potentially swine.

Remidose Aerosols Inc. — PEI (Emergence)
Dr. Michael Mayne, President
Manufactures medical grade devices that deliver accurate dosing of purified cannabis oil. Their three primary products are an inhaler, an oral spray, and a topical aerosol device, each of which enable rapid onset of premium bioactive cannabinoids to avoid over consumption.

Pivotal Health Sciences Inc. — NB (Emergence)
Craig Jackson, CEO
Uses sustainable extraction and encapsulation technologies without the use of high energy or chemical additives to reduce the number of steps required to transform raw feedstock to high-value nano encapsulated bioactives.

Takaya Technology Inc. — NS (Emergence)
Erin MacKean, Co-founder & COO; Jennifer McFarland, Partner Development
Takaya Technology Inc. has developed a novel, medical grade N95 mask with advanced respirator seals to provide healthcare workers greater protection against COVID-19 and other airborne pathogens.

Axtion Independence Mobility Inc. — NS 
Tracey McGillivray, CEO; Liam Maaskant, CPO
Created a mobility device that combines a four-wheeled rollator walker with an elevating seat to prevent falls and enable independent recovery from a fall should one occur.

MycoFutures North Atlantic — NL 
Stephanie Lipp, Co-founder
MycoFutures North Atlantic is developing a highly-durable mycelium-based leather alternative using the root system of fungi. This product will reduce the environmental impact of apparel and footwear manufacturing.

Picketa Systems Inc. — NB 
Dominic Levesque, Co-founder & CTO
Picketa Systems Inc. created a soil and plant scanning technology and software platform to log and manage user data to optimize crop fertilization.

PEI BioAlliance partner Natural Products Canada (NPC) is pleased to announce a strategic partnership that will support its unique natural product innovation network of advice, connections, programs and investment to advance Canadian natural product innovation.

With $20 million in new support from the Government of Canada, NPC and its partners will help 500 Canadian companies developing natural products and technologies as diverse as nutrition supplements and feed ingredients to compostable packaging and environmental remediation.

Read full story.

On August 9, Island Abbey Foods, owners of the Honibe brand, hosted local, provincial and federal officials, members of the media, representatives from the business community and other invited guests for a milestone groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the expansion of their local Island Abbey Foods facility.

Read full story.

Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) programming will strengthen the national life sciences talent pipeline

Charlottetown, PE – The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences supports the Government of Canada’s announcement of a Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy. The strategy aims to grow a strong, competitive domestic life sciences sector, with cutting-edge biomanufacturing capabilities, while creating good jobs for Canadians, and to make sure Canada is prepared for pandemics and other health emergencies in the future.

“CASTL welcomes the commitment and investment from the federal government to help power a talent engine for Canada’s biomanufacturing industry,” said Penny Walsh-McGuire, Executive Director, CASTL. “Collaboration between industry academia and government stakeholders will be crucial for the development of our talent pipeline and for realizing the full potential of Canada’s biomanufacturing industry.”

The Government of Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy includes a commitment of $2.2 billion over seven years from Budget 2021 to continue growing a strong and competitive sector and to ensure Canada is prepared for future pandemics. The strategy consists of five pillars:

1. Strong and Coordinated Governance
2. Laying a Solid Foundation by Strengthening Research Systems and the Talent Pipeline
3. Growing Businesses by Doubling Down on Existing and Emerging Areas of Strength
4. Building Public Capacity
5. Enabling Innovation by Ensuring World Class Regulation

CASTL offers New Skilling, Reskilling and Upskilling programming for individuals to acquire the academic knowledge, and technical and professional skills to have a successful career in life sciences. CASTL is a Canadian centre-of-excellence dedicated to providing world-class training for bioscience talent creation specializing in biopharmaceutical processing. CASTL’s work will provide an ongoing, rich talent pool for biopharmaceutical manufacturing in Canada.

In support of developing a skills and talent pipeline for Canada, CASTL recently announced the signing of a commercial agreement with the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) in Ireland to be the exclusive provider of NIBRT licensed training programs in Canada. This formal partnership will support Canada’s need for skilled and trained individuals to continue the growth of the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry. CASTL will be NIBRT’s fifth global partner and received letters of support from adMare BioInnovations, BioTalent Canada, BIOTECanada and Innovative Medicines Canada, as part of this initiative.

“Through state-of-the-art training and education programs and by leveraging our national networks and partnerships with industry and academia, CASTL will support the economic demand for individuals who are work-read to enter, thrive and meet the needs of Canada’s biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry,” said Walsh-McGuire.

CASTL was developed by the PEI BioAlliance, with support from the Government of Canada, the Future Skills Centre, and the Government of Prince Edward Island. Current partners include Acadia University, BioTalent Canada, Holland College, National Research Council, PEI BioAlliance, Université de Moncton, University of Prince Edward Island, as well as numerous industry partners.

Government of Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy will support the growth of a strong, competitive sector

Charlottetown, PE – The Prince Edward Island BioAlliance welcomes the Government of Canada’s announcement of a Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy. This strategy includes a commitment of $2.2 billion over seven years from Budget 2021 to continue growing a strong and competitive sector and to ensure Canada is prepared for future pandemics.

“Establishing a Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy for Canada demonstrates the Government of Canada’s support for strengthening bioscience and biotechnology capacity,” said Oliver Technow, Chair, PEI BioAlliance Board of Directors, and CEO, BIOVECTRA. “This strategy will ensure Canada has the resources in place, including the knowhow and infrastructure, to be more self-reliant in manufacturing and vital drug development. The bioscience sector will be a major contributor to economic recovery and growth.”

In parallel to the federal strategy, the BioAlliance recently launched their 2021-25 Strategic Plan, that will guide the work and planning needed to achieve the PEI cluster’s vision to be a leading force in Canada’s bio-revolution. BioAlliance goals for 2021-25 are to aggressively increase private sector revenue, employment, investment attraction, capital expenditures as well as spending on research and development, including $500 million in revenue by 2025 and $1 billion by 2030. The federal government’s strategy will enable regional leaders like the BioAlliance, including industry and academic partners, to execute on key priorities to grow the PEI cluster.

One of the key imperatives of the Strategic Plan is to establish the PEI cluster as a national biomanufacturing centre of excellence. Over the past several years, BioAlliance public and private sector partners have made a series of strategic investments valued at over $200 million to take a leadership position in providing bioprocessing infrastructure, expertise, and services to Canadian and international businesses. These initiatives have included major investments in bioprocessing equipment and infrastructure, including construction of the first Bioscience Manufacturing Incubator in the region, expansion of manufacturing facilities and expertise, establishment of the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) and the expansion of Emergence, Atlantic Canada’s Bioscience Business Incubator.

The Government of Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy aims to grow a strong, competitive domestic life sciences sector, with cutting-edge biomanufacturing capabilities, while creating good jobs for Canadians, and to make sure Canada is prepared for pandemics and other health emergencies in the future. The strategy consists of five pillars:

1. Strong and Coordinated Governance
2. Laying a Solid Foundation by Strengthening Research Systems and the Talent Pipeline
3. Growing Businesses by Doubling Down on Existing and Emerging Areas of Strength
4. Building Public Capacity
5. Enabling Innovation by Ensuring World Class Regulation

“The PEI cluster has implemented an ecosystem approach, through the partnership of governments, academic researchers, and private sector partners, who by working together are able to achieve more,” said Rory Francis, CEO, PEI BioAlliance.

The PEI bioscience cluster is growing at a rate that outpaces any other industry in the province. Now with 60 companies, seven research organizations, and employing 2,200 highly skilled individuals, the PEI BioAlliance has created an innovation ecosystem that has doubled its economic impact since 2016. In 2019, private sector companies earned over $260 million in revenue, attracted $38 million in new investment, and spent more than $100 million on new equipment and facilities.

Emergence and MaRS are pleased to present Empowering Start-ups with World-Class Market Research, a webinar focused on learning more about MaRS’ market intelligence services and how they can help companies shape their growth strategies with world-class market research.

This webinar will feature a presentation by Poonam Patel and Richard Li, Market Research Analysts at MaRS, followed by a short Q&A. MaRS will cover a number of their service offerings that are supported through Emergence:

• Research Report Service: Curation of market research resources geared towards addressing knowledge gaps
• MaRS LeadGen: Accelerate a company’s go-to-market efforts by identifying targets and prospects in North America who align with their ideal customer profile
• Capital Insights: Access a tailored dataset that serves to inform and strengthen their fundraising strategy

Date: Tuesday, July 20
Time: 12 – 1 p.m. ADT

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Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences becomes National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training’s fifth global partner

Charlottetown, PE – The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) has signed a commercial agreement with the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) in Ireland to be the exclusive provider of NIBRT licensed training programs in Canada. This formal partnership will support Canada’s need for skilled and trained individuals to continue the growth of the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry. CASTL will be NIBRT’s fifth global partner.

CASTL delivers on the economic demand for individuals who are work-ready to enter, thrive and meet the needs of the Canadian bioscience industry. Since COVID-19, Canada and the world have re-awakened to the importance of having the needed skills, training and infrastructure to be more self-reliant in the manufacturing of vital drugs and vaccines to protect population health.

A global centre of excellence for training and research in bioprocessing, NIBRT develops state-of-the-art training and education programs for academic institutions and the world’s leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing companies. With world-class facilities in Ireland, NIBRT programs offers a unique combination of in-class and hands-on training, customized to meet the needs of industry. They also offer comprehensive digital training through their NIBRT Online Academy (NOA).

“We are thrilled to be the exclusive provider of NIBRT’s best-in-class training in Canada to support our growing bioscience industry,” said Penny Walsh-McGuire, Executive Director, CASTL. “CASTL is committed to implementing skills and training solutions for Canada that are relevant and responsive to the needs of industry across the country. NIBRT’s leading-edge programs and curriculum will help power a talent engine for Canada’s biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry.”

Remarking on the agreement, NIBRT CEO Darrin Morrissey commented, “Having worked with the PEI BioAlliance since 2019, we are delighted that they are joining the NIBRT Global Partnership Programme. The exciting plans for CASTL will help Canada address the shortage of a skilled workforce, which is a key bottleneck in global biopharma manufacturing. We are very much looking forward to helping CASTL support Canadian biopharma students and industry”.

CASTL will deliver NIBRT’s training designed specifically for the biopharmaceutical sector in Canada within CASTL’s three learning streams: New Skilling, Reskilling and Upskilling. As part of this partnership, CASTL will have access to NIBRT curriculum, collaborate on curriculum design, access new courses, and partner on the development of a new Canadian biopharmaceutical skills and training centre.

In addition to Canada, NIBRT has global partnerships with organizations in the US, Korea, China and Australia. NIBRT’s Global Partner Programme supports an international alliance of leading training and education organizations to help address the global shortage of a skilled biopharmaceutical manufacturing workforce.

Letters of support for this CASTL initiative provided by adMare BioInnovations, BioTalent Canada, BIOTECanada and Innovative Medicines Canada were important in demonstrating the national scope of the partnership with NIBRT. They reinforce the need for a national skills and training solution to support greater self-sufficiency for Canada regarding its capacity to manufacture biopharmaceuticals at home.

CASTL was developed by the PEI BioAlliance, with support from the Government of Canada, the Future Skills Centre, and the Government of Prince Edward Island. Current partners include Acadia University, BioTalent Canada, Holland College, National Research Council, PEI BioAlliance, Université de Moncton, University of Prince Edward Island, as well as numerous industry partners.

Charlottetown, PE – From June 10-11 and 14-18, Atlantic Canadian delegates virtually convened at BIO Digital 2021 alongside more than 6,000 conference participants for 7 days of programming, networking, and BIO One-on-One Partnering, connecting biotech innovators across the globe. Organized by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and typically held as an in-person convention, for the second year, the conference was hosted online with representatives from 16 Atlantic Canadian bioscience companies, who conducted more than 200 partnership meetings. This year’s conference inspired important discussion within its four themes: How Biotech Changed COVID, How COVID changed Biotech, Case Studies in Innovation and Bioeconomy in the Future.

At BIO Digital 2021, the Atlantic Canada Bio-Industries Alliance promoted the growing bioscience sectors of each of the four Atlantic provinces with the aim to increase export sales, get more technologies to market, attract further investments, hire talented employees, and showcase the achievements and capabilities of Atlantic Canada’s sector. Today, Atlantic Canada’s bioscience sector employs more than 3,000 workers and represents $655 million in revenue from upward of 200 companies and at least 50 research organizations.

One of the key highlights was the Coast-to-Coast Competition, a Canadian pitch event hosted by BIOTECanada which featured pre-commercial biotech and life sciences companies who presented to a panel of leaders from the healthcare investment & VC community. New Brunswick-based Soricimed Biopharma, a clinical stage company focused on the development and commercialization of first-in-class drugs for the targeted treatment of cancer, was one of the finalists that pitched in the competition.

“BIO Digital was a great opportunity to present Soricimed to the international biotech community and to initiate discussions with potential collaboration partners. The event was well-organized and also provided a chance for us to engage with a number of groups that could assist us with our planned clinical trials next year,” said Robert Bruce, CEO, Soricimed Biopharma. “It was a real pleasure to participate in the BIOTECanada Coast-to-Coast competition and we were very impressed with the quality of the other presenting companies. It’s incredible to see so much innovative development happening across Canada’s life sciences sector.”

Funding for the mission was provided by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the four Atlantic provincial governments through the Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy. The Atlantic Canadian mission was coordinated by the PEI BioAlliance, on behalf of the Atlantic Canada Bio-Industries Alliance. The Atlantic Canada Bio-Industries Alliance is an umbrella organization comprised of BioNB, BioNova, TechNL and the PEI BioAlliance.

The official delegates of the Atlantic Canadian mission at BIO Digital 2020 were:

• Alpha Cognition (PE)
• Appili (NS)
• Ardea Outcomes (NS)
• BioTrace IT (PE)
• BioVectra Inc. (PE)
• Clever Fruit (NS)
• DeCell (NS)
• Nota Bene Bio Matrix Inc. (NB)
• New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NB)
• PEI BioAlliance (PE)
• Picomole Inc. (NB)
• Sequence BIO (NL)
• Soricimed Biopharma (NB)
• Synapse (PE)
• The Center for Aquaculture Technologies (PE)
• Université de Moncton (NB)

Multinationals and foreign companies are casting their eyes towards Prince Edward Island, attracted to the talent, business environment and academic institutions that are supporting the growth of its innovative and adaptable bioscience sector.

With over 60 companies operating within the bioscience industry between the shores of PEI, the sector is one of the province’s key value propositions to international investors far and wide. Through this Spotlight with four leaders from within this growing industry, we present to the top competitive advantages that enable biosciences in PEI to thrive.

Read the full feature on The Future Economy, including interviews with representatives from the PEI bioscience sector:

• Growing Investments in PEI’s Bioscience Sector 
  Rory Francis, CEO, PEI BioAlliance
• PEI: The Value of a Small Province
  Dr. Russ Kerr, Research Fellow, Nautilus Biosciences CRODA
• The Right Networks for Business Growth in PEI
  Deborah Dullen, President, BioTraceIT
• PEI’s Wide Expertise in Bioscience
  Dr. Rabin Bissessur, Interim Associate VP Research and Dean of Graduate Studies, UPEI

New Brunswick-based Soricimed is a clinical stage company focused on the development and commercialization of first-in-class drugs for the targeted treatment of cancer.

Currently at the clinical stage, Soricimed was established following the discovery of a unique and proprietary family of anti-cancer peptides. They are now working on translating this discovery into novel therapies to deliver powerful treatment options for those living with often devastating conditions.

Professor Jack Stewart, a Founder and CSO of Soricimed, is the discoverer of the paralytic compound in the venom of the northern short-tailed shrew and was the first to purify, characterize and synthesize the material. It was found to be a unique bifunctional peptide (later named Soricidin) with multiple applications including a targeting platform for oncology, a biopesticide, in dermatology and a potential non-opioid pain treatment depending on the segment of peptide deployed.

Currently operating out of Moncton, NB, Soricimed is developing cancer drug candidates, including a clinical stage oncology drug: SOR-C13. This targeted anti-cancer peptide has been granted orphan drug status for the treatment of pancreatic and ovarian cancers by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Soricimed is the latest company to join Emergence, Atlantic Canada’s bioscience business incubator dedicated to assisting start-ups and growth-stage companies in efficiently bringing their products and services to market. Emergence will be helping Soricimed explore other uses of their novel peptides, including determining potential markets and regulatory requirements.

“As an innovative and discovery-based oncology company, we are keen to continue exploring the practical and market applications of our science,” said Robert Bruce, CEO, Soricimed. “We are proud to be a member of the Emergence Incubator and look forward to benefiting from their experience and expertise as we look ahead to an expanded product platform.”

As a client of Emergence, Soricimed will have access to business incubation services including mentorship and advisory services, team mentorship program as well as access to networks and resources.

For more information on Emergence, visit emergencebioincubator.com.

Read full story on EVAH’s website

EVAH Corp. today announced the signing of four contracts with Elanco Animal Health to acquire and develop technologies in animal health, including the Elanco facility in Prince Edward Island. EVAH is a biotechnology company specializing in the development of biologicals to help prevent bacterial diseases in food animals and microbiome solutions for growth performance.

The four contracts between EVAH and Elanco relate to four products in development (two feed additives and two vaccines) targeting three species: salmon, swine and poultry. EVAH intends to develop the products up to an advanced pre-commercial stage and consult with Elanco throughout the process. Terms of the deal remain confidential but do not involve an equity investment in EVAH from Elanco.

“EVAH is focusing on bringing sustainable development of animal health to a new level,” said Michel Fortin, CEO of EVAH. “Leveraging our lab-to-market innovation experience from previous entrepreneurial success, we are now sourcing, acquiring and in-licensing molecules and technologies to develop into valuable products, in order to satisfy major unmet needs in animal health. We proactively sought out Elanco and are very proud to conclude these agreements today.”

“Elanco’s current collaboration with EVAH originates from the long-standing relationship between the two groups and a belief that we can efficiently work together to drive the development of products to a pre-commercial stage,” said Scott Holmstrom, Vice President, Product Development and Innovation Regulatory. “This is in line with our approach to sustain innovation flow through external partnerships and collaboration and bring our portfolio of products to market,” he added.

EVAH’s management and scientific resources are teaming up again, having previously worked together at Prevtec Microbia. The Company has office and lab facilities in Québec (Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe and Laval) and Prince Edward Island.

The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) is partnering with STEAM PEI to develop experiential learning opportunities

Charlottetown, PE – The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) is pleased to announce their partnership with STEAM PEI, a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring young Islanders to pursue learning and careers in science, technology, engineering, art and math. CASTL and STEAM PEI are offering camps and workshops to provide K-12 students with experiential learning opportunities centered on bioscience and local bioscience companies.

CASTL and STEAM PEI share a common goal of fostering curiosity and building excitement for life sciences through hands-on learning, while also developing the talent to meet the future needs of Canada’s bioscience industry. Students will explore a wide range of bioscience topics in the programs including human health, biomechanics, biochemistry, climate change and sustainability, through engaging activities. These workshops strive to break down a barrier to a future career in bioscience by changing perspectives and encouraging students to build confidence in their math and lab skills.

“We are proud to be working with STEAM PEI to create programs that inspire curiosity and engage students in life sciences from an early age,” said Wendy McIsaac, Program Director, Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences. “STEAM workshops will give students a hands-on experience with bioscience while highlighting careers and opportunities that await them in the field.”

Workshops kicked off in high schools in PEI this month, with week-long camps to be offered to elementary school students throughout the province this summer, including a camp to be delivered in French. These programs are also supported by BioVectra, who have employees assisting in facilitating the workshops to help make connections between in-class learning and future career options in bioscience. The STEAM PEI instructors are typically senior year or recent graduates of STEM or teaching programs, as well as professional engineers and certified teachers.

“At STEAM PEI, we strive to reach all PEI students, especially girls, Indigenous students, and students from low socio-economic backgrounds who are traditionally under-represented in STEM fields,” said Amber Jadis, Program Manager, STEAM PEI. “We are excited about this opportunity to bring fun, hands-on bioscience learning to students across PEI with the support of CASTL.”

Founded in 2018, STEAM offers: after-school classes, week-long summer camps, day-long PD day camps, in-school workshops matched to specific curriculum outcomes, as well as other special events and birthday party entertainment.

CASTL was developed by the PEI BioAlliance, with support from the Government of Canada, the Future Skills Centre, and the Government of Prince Edward Island. Partners include Acadia University, BioTalent Canada, Holland College, National Research Council, PEI BioAlliance, Université de Moncton, University of Prince Edward Island, as well as numerous local and regional businesses.

For more information on the CASTL, visit castlcanada.ca.

Media Contact
Clara Deacon
Director of Communications and Marketing
PEI BioAlliance
C: 403.701.2815
E: clara@peibioalliance.com

About CASTL

The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) is a first-of-its-kind partnership between academia, industry, and government to address the future skills needs of the Canadian life sciences sector. CASTL delivers on the economic and sectoral demand for individuals who are work-ready to enter, thrive and meet the needs of the Canadian bioscience industry, a key pillar of our economy. CASTL offers multiple applied learning streams and pathways for individuals to acquire the academic knowledge, and technical and professional skills to have a successful career in life sciences.

www.castlcanada.ca

About STEAM PEI

Founded in 2018, STEAM PEI is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire young Islanders to pursue learning and careers in science, technology, engineering, art and math fields by fostering their curiosity and confidence through experiential learning opportunities. STEAM PEI offers engaging hands-on programs across PEI including camps, in-school workshops, after-school classes, birthday parties, special events, and team-building workshops.

www.steampei.com

On May 10, Island Studies Press announced the launch of a new book by Mo Duffy Cobb and Lori Mayne, The Chemistry of Innovation: Regis Duffy and the Story of DCL.

Regis Duffy was the first Board Chair of the PEI BioAlliance and was a critical leader in developing the bioscience sector and research capacity in PEI. The BioAlliance benefited early on by reflecting Duffy’s values of working beyond self-interest, focusing on the larger benefit, and investing in long-term success. Duffy was also key in establishing the self-reliance and sustainable prosperity of the sector that would ensure future generations of Islanders could find meaningful employment locally and newly developed PEI products would be sold around the world.

Read full release from Island Studies Press:

How did a farm boy from Prince Edward Island become a successful businessman, mentor, and community philanthropist? A new book by Mo Duffy Cobb and Lori Mayne tells the behind-the-scenes story of how Regis Duffy became a household name. The Chemistry of Innovation: Regis Duffy and the Story of DCL depicts the growing pains and leaps of faith of a community-minded business.

In 1970, Regis Duffy — then dean of science at UPEI — started a small chemical reagent company in a makeshift basement lab at Saint Dunstan’s University to create summer jobs for his students. Diagnostic Chemicals and its offspring, BioVectra, soon grew into global competitors in the diagnostic and pharmaceutical industry, employed hundreds of Islanders, and provided a model for entrepreneurship and economic development in Canada’s smallest province. The key to his success? As Regis once said, “Innovate or die; the alternative is not that appealing.”

The Chemistry of Innovation celebrates the vision, hard work, and people-centred approach that allowed DCL to grow from a start-up “stirring chemicals after church” into a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Ever the farmer, Regis planted the seed for a thriving biotech industry on Prince Edward Island.

Published by Island Studies Press at UPEI, The Chemistry of Innovation: Regis Duffy and the Story of DCL is now available for sale at The Bookmark, the UPEI Bookstore, Indigo, Coles, and online through the distributor, Nimbus Publishing. This book was the recipient of a SSHRC Exchange Publication Award from the Vice-President Academic and Research Office at the University of Prince Edward Island. The book also received support from the PEI BioAlliance, Sekisui, and the Office of the President at UPEI.

When renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Houfar Sekhavat was faced with his own hair loss, he tried several known treatments with disappointing results. He started researching solutions in an effort to find an effective option, which led him to Peter Ford, a pharmacist and owner of Ford’s Pharmacy in Moncton, New Brunswick. Using their collective expertise, this creative pair experimented with different formulations and together found a combination that worked, leading to the creation of Triple Hair.

New Brunswick-based Triple Hair is a clinical-stage Canadian biotechnology company specializing in the development of innovative treatments for alopecia. As much as 20% of people suffer from hair loss, clinically referred to as alopecia and despite the prevalence of the issue, the available solutions are limited. Triple Hair aims to change the market landscape, offering a product to patients that shows results.

After many years of research and trials, Triple Hair has succeeded in creating an effective product to stimulate hair growth, namely its TH07 prescription drug. . Triple Hair is the first company that will launch a triple combination therapy in Canada, and they are currently working through the regulatory steps to get their product to market including an FDA Phase 3 clinical trial.

Triple Hair is the latest company to join Emergence, Atlantic Canada’s bioscience business incubator dedicated to assisting start-ups and growth-stage companies in efficiently bringing their products and services to market.

“We are happy to join the Emergence Incubator which has proven itself with other young biotech companies like ours. We believe that Triple Hair will highly benefit from the resources the program offers,” said Jean-Philippe Gravel, President and CEO of Triple Hair. “The Emergence Incubator will help accelerate the development and commercialization of our innovative Therapy-07 prescription drug. No new and effective hair growth drugs have been developed in the last 20 years. We intend to change that and set a new standard in terms of hair growth results.”

As a client of Emergence, Triple Hair will have access to business incubation services including mentorship and advisory services, team mentorship program as well as access to networks and resources.

For more information on Emergence, visit emergencebioincubator.com.

The PEI BioAlliance is pleased to announce the appointment of Penny Walsh-McGuire as Executive Director of the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL), effective June 7, 2021. As Executive Director, Penny will be responsible for leading and developing CASTL as an essential and unique part of our local and national bioscience sector ecosystem.

CASTL is a first-of-its-kind partnership between academia, industry, and government to address the future skills needs of Canada’s fast-growing bioscience sector. CASTL offers multiple applied learning streams and pathways for individuals to acquire the academic knowledge, and technical and professional skills to have a successful career in life sciences.

“I have always been very impressed with Penny’s leadership, intuition, and relationship-building skills,” said Rory Francis, CEO, PEI BioAlliance. “We are thrilled that Penny will now lead the development of CASTL as an essential and unique part of our local and national bioscience sector ecosystem.”

Over the past fifteen years, Penny has held leadership roles, including CEO, Executive Director, and Chief Marketing Officer for several not-for-profit organizations. As CEO of the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce, she has led the organization’s operations and strategic initiatives on behalf of the Chamber’s more than 1,000 members. Through this work, she convened a group of 20 business organizations and industry associations in developing a private-sector-led economic development action plan through the PEI Partnership for Growth.

Penny is passionate about workforce development and has consistently advocated for programs and services to support the growth of PEI’s talent pipeline.

As a highly motivated business leader and communications professional, Penny led marketing and communications for the Confederation Centre of the Arts and the University of Prince Edward Island. As CEO of the Prince Edward Island 2014 celebrations, Penny led a multi-disciplinary team in the strategic development and implementation of a year-long program engaging private-sector, community organizations, and governments at all levels. Penny has most recently served as chair of the Holland College Board of Governors.

A graduate of the University of Prince Edward Island, she holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree in business and a diploma in Events and Conventions Management from Holland College.

For more information on CASTL, visit castlcanada.ca.

Applications open until June 1, 2021.

The Ocean Startup Project has launched its second Ocean Startup Challenge. Up from last year’s $350,000 in prize money, the 2021 edition of the competition will award up to $1.4 million to ocean innovators and entrepreneurs from rural, Indigenous and urban communities, across Canada and internationally. The PEI BioAlliance is one of six partners in the Ocean Startup Project.

The Challenge has three streams:

1) Idea – multiple early-stage teams will each receive up to $25K;
2) Growth – multiple early-stage companies, having made traction and achieved notable milestones, will each receive up to $100K; and
3) Oceanshot – up to one early-stage company tackling ambitious, uncharted problems that will lead to massive market opportunities will receive up to $200K prize.

Additionally, up to three special awards will be issued specifically for: Women Entrepreneurs; Indigenous Founders; and Impact (a startup dedicated to technology for ocean sustainability). Winners receive business support from Challenge sponsors, learning opportunities, access to industry expert mentors, and more.

Read more on the Ocean Startup Challenge website to learn more about eligibility and apply.

Hosted by the Ocean Startup Project, the Ocean Solutions Exchange is a virtual speaker series that brings together ocean industry experts who will discuss the challenges faced by various ocean sectors, highlight opportunities in the market, and share other insights into their respective fields. The PEI BioAlliance is one of six partners in the Ocean Startup Project.

The Ocean Solutions Exchange on Tuesday, April 27 at 1 p.m. is a free event that has a focus on Marine Bioresources. PEI BioAlliance CEO Rory Francis will be moderating an experienced lineup of panelists:

• Kira Salonius, CEO at Previwo (Norway)
• Randy Peach, Aquaculture Technical Services Account Manager, Zoetis (Canada)
• Beth Mason, CEO at Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy & Environment (Canada)
• Russell Kerr, Research Fellow at Nautilus Biosciences CRODA (UK)

After the panel discussion, you’ll have a chance to connect with speakers and other attendees during sector networking.

Register for the event.

Event Overview:

1:00 pm – Panel discussion
Our guest speakers will discuss big problems, trends and new technologies in Marine Bioresources.

2:00 pm – Interactive networking session
The interactive networking session will allow you to:

• Speak with panelists in individual rooms
• Choose when you want to change rooms and speak with another panelist

2:30 pm – Event concludes

Budget 2021 demonstrates the strategic importance of Canada’s bioscience sector in economic recovery

Charlottetown, PE – The Prince Edward Island BioAlliance welcomes the Government of Canada’s investment in biotechnology innovation as a key priority area set to drive economic recovery for Canada following the COVID-19 pandemic. Budget 2021 includes recommendations that will improve access to investment capital, as well as commitments to refinance key funding programs and build bio-manufacturing capacity. These investments will enable the BioAlliance, along with academic and industry partners, to execute on key priorities over the next few years to grow the PEI Cluster.

Budget 2021 also demonstrates the importance of investing in skills and training for future economic growth. Last year the PEI BioAlliance launched the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) with support from the Government of Canada and the Government of PEI, as a regional and national initiative to help address the future skills demand of the bioscience sector, particularly in biopharmaceutical and biologics manufacturing.

“This budget demonstrates the federal government’s awareness of the importance of the bioscience and biotechnology sector in addressing some of the biggest challenges of our time,” said Oliver Technow, Chair, PEI BioAlliance Board of Directors, and CEO, BioVectra. “From the current pandemic and other human health needs, to climate change and global food security, these investments in Canada’s biotech sector will allow Canadian companies to bring solutions to the global marketplace.”

Budget 2021 proposes targeted support for the life sciences and bio-manufacturing sector including:

• $1 billion on a cash basis over seven years, starting in 2021-22, of support through the Strategic Innovation Fund would be targeted toward promising domestic life sciences and bio-manufacturing firms.
• $50 million on a cash basis over five years, starting in 2021-22, to create a life sciences stream in the Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative, as part of a larger venture capital investment.
• $500 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, and $100 million per year ongoing, to expand the Industrial Research Assistance Program to support up to 2,500 additional innovative small and medium-sized firms.
• $500 million over four years, starting in 2021-22, for the Canada Foundation for Innovation to support the bioscience capital and infrastructure needs of post-secondary institutions and research hospitals.
• $250 million over four years, starting in 2021-22, for the federal research granting councils to create a new tri-council biomedical research fund.
• $67.2 million over seven years, starting in 2021-22, to Environment and Climate Change Canada. This standard creates new economic opportunities for Canada’s biofuel producers, including farmers and foresters, who are part of the diverse supply chain for low-carbon fuels.

Over the past decade, the PEI Cluster has established itself as a centre of excellence in bioprocessing and is seeing an abundance of opportunity to expand its role in this critical area.

“The BioAlliance has previously identified a shortage of wet labs and manufacturing facilities, as well as the lack of systematic approach to bio sector skills and training as key factors limiting the potential growth of the sector, both in the province and across Canada,” said Rory Francis, CEO, PEI BioAlliance. “This budget has certainly put the resources in place to address these issues and ensure the bio sector is a major contributor to recovery and growth.”

Republished from UPEI News:

A project to develop an early warning system for identifying complex gill disease on salmon farms, led by Dr. Mark Fast, professor of fish health and immunology, Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI, has received $4.7 million in funding through Genome Canada’s Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP).

The project is one of five applied research genome projects that received $8.6 million in federal funding and an additional $17.8 million in co-funding from provincial governments, businesses, and research partners across Canada. Partnering with Fast on the project are Cermaq Canada, Grieg Seafoods, Genome Atlantic, and Genome BC.

Salmon production in Canada is under increasing threats from infectious and non-infectious diseases such as complex gill disease. Over the last decade, gill health and associated disease have been a growing challenge in salmon farming operations in both the Pacific and North Atlantic. Complex gill disease is a multifactorial condition resulting from the interaction of environmental and husbandry conditions as well as infection by pathogens and parasites to create proliferative lesions, particularly during the summer and fall months.

The project will validate biomarkers of healthy and compromised gills of Atlantic salmon and use these to develop an early warning system for the development of gill disease on Atlantic salmon production sites across Canada. The resulting genomics-enabled tools for fish health will guide the management and intervention strategies for complex gill disease in Atlantic salmon.

Read full story on UPEI News.

Charlottetown, PE and Ahmedabad, India – Ingenuity BioSciences Pvt. Ltd – Veeda Clinical Research, one of India’s leading and largest independent contract research organization (CRO) companies, and Somru BioScience Inc., a leading Canadian-based biotechnology company based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, are proud to announce the establishment of an innovation-centric bioanalytical laboratory in Ahmedabad, India.

Veeda and Somru announced the launch of their premier global centre of excellence lab under the flagship of Ingenuity BioSciences Pvt. Ltd. The Board of Directors of both companies have made a strategic alliance to expand their specialized service offerings, complementing their well-established portfolio in clinical services and bioassay kit development. This collaborative joint venture aims to capture the growing market needs of the global biosimilars market projected to grow from USD 28 billion in 2020 to USD 103 billion in 2026, with a CAGR of 24.2%. Somru BioScience and Veeda Clinical Research will have an equal partnership in the new joint venture.

“I am delighted with the fruition of our partnership with Somru BioScience which combines the strengths of our organizations to reinforce our vision of becoming the preferred research partners for innovative biopharmaceutical companies globally. The joint venture will bring Somru’s global standard, integrated bioassay capabilities to service the rapidly growing biosimilars industry in the region and, combined with Veeda’s strong clinical research credentials, will provide complete clinical development solutions to our clients,” said Ajay Tandon, Managing Director, Veeda Clinical Research.

Ingenuity BioSciences will be established as a premier and agile bioanalytical laboratory. Somru BioScience’s proprietary automation platform and cloud based Aegryris™ bioanalytical and productivity software suite will be a potential game-changer in the innovation-based drug discovery industry.

“This relationship will allow us to leverage our extensive experience as a biosimilar solution provider in this fast-emerging Asian market,” said Mohammed Moin, CEO of Somru BioScience Inc. “We are very impressed with Veeda’s track record as an excellent clinical service provider in India and are excited to be working with them.”

Ingenuity BiosSciences aims to offer end-to-end and modular technical services, encompassing both pre-clinical and clinical domains. The Ingenuity BioSciences scientific team is comprised of talented scientists with in-depth and extensive knowledge of bioassay method development and sample analysis, clinical trial management, and global regulatory requirements. Business development and technical teams are enthusiastic and excited to collaborate and serve Indian and International clients across pan-Asia and European markets. Ingenuity BioSciences’ website will be soon available and provide detailed information on service offerings.

Ingenuity BioSciences will be led by Mohammed Moin, CEO of Somru BioScience and Dr. Ravi Krovidi, CEO of Ingenuity BioSciences Pvt Ltd. The location of Ingenuity BioSciences in Ahmedabad, India, gives its clients a unique advantage of sharing the years of trust, regulatory expertise and reputation established by the Veeda Clinical Research services ecosystem.

“We look forward to closely working with biosimilar and biotherapeutics companies. Our vision is to become a preferred CRO clinical partner in product development’s success journey from early inception to product launch. The Biosimilarization wave is gaining significant traction, with several important monoclonal antibodies going off patent. We are very excited to partner with Somru team,” said Dr. Ravi Krovidi, CEO of Ingenuity BioSciences Pvt Ltd.

About Somru BioScience Inc.
Somru BioScience Inc. is an innovative biotechnology company based out of Prince Edward Island, Canada. Somru has developed a portfolio of reagents, ELISA kits, innovative biosimilar comparability tools and a cloud based Aegryris™ software suite to enable companies to significantly reduce the cost and timeline for biosimilar development. Somru technologies reduce early development risk by identifying clinically meaningful differences prior to running expensive clinical trials. The company has customers throughout North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

somrubioscience.com

About Veeda Clinical Research
Veeda is a leading independent Clinical Research Organization in India conducting a diverse range of clinical studies including bioavailability and bioequivalence (BA/BE) studies, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, early to late phase clinical development and clinical endpoint studies for generic molecules, new chemical entities (NCE), and biopharmaceuticals. Veeda strives for excellence in quality and has been the partner of choice for many global pharmaceutical companies over the last 16 years. Veeda is reputed for its best-in-class scientific expertise, quality, and ethics. Veeda has an exemplary regulatory record of successfully completing USFDA, ANVISA, WHO, MHRA, AGES, ANSM, MCC, DCGI and NPRA audits to date.

veedacr.com

Looking to find a job in bioscience? There are a number of avenues through the PEI BioAlliance to stay up to date on the latest opportunities and also get connected with the right people.

Jobs in the bioscience sector can range from research scientists, lab technicians, quality control managers and chemical process engineers, to maintenance and production technicians, or even business administration roles including accounting, marketing, HR, and sales.

Here are five ways to support your pursuit in finding a job in the growing bioscience sector:

1. Send in your resume

The PEI BioAlliance keeps an online resume library which is shared with hiring managers in the PEI bioscience cluster. If you are currently seeking employment, upon graduation, or for the summer months, send your resume to vivian@peibioalliance.com. Resume should be in PDF format with the file name “Resume – Your Name – Education/Credentials” and the email subject line “Add my resume to the 2021 PEI Bioscience Cluster Library.”

2. Check out the job board

Updated as positions become available, the PEI BioAlliance website has a job postings page which consolidates all open positions across the cluster, including direct links to apply. The website also provides links to learn more about the companies that are hiring.

3. Sign up for email alerts

If you’d prefer to receive real-time alerts directly in your inbox, sign up for our email notifications, where you’ll receive ongoing updates on the latest opportunities in bioscience. Sign up today by filling out our form.

 4. Follow us on LinkedIn for our weekly job round-up

At the end of every week on the PEI BioAlliance LinkedIn, we post a summary of all of the new jobs that were made available the week prior. Follow us on LinkedIn, for these updates as well as all of the latest local news in the sector.

 5. Stay up to date on the latest news and company expansions

One way to increase your likelihood of getting a job in the sector is to learn about all of the latest news and company expansions. Follow the PEI BioAlliance on Twitter and read the Latest News section on our PEI BioAlliance website to stay up to speed on all news, events and networking opportunities.

Takaya Technology’s PPE innovation supports fight against COVID-19

It started with an idea, a purpose, and a cause.

At the onset of the global pandemic, there was an immediate need for additional personal protective equipment (PPE) to support in the fight against COVID-19. Health care workers required not only a large supply of PPE, but one that would meet regulatory requirements and help keep frontline workers safe.

Noticing challenges with the available equipment, the Takaya team set out to innovate and create a more effective solution. Using their solid mix of expertise alongside their wide professional network, Nova Scotia-based Takaya Technology Inc. was formed.

The challenge with wearing masks

 To protect themselves from job-related exposure risks, healthcare workers wear N95 masks which filter at least 95% of airborne particles. That said, in order to maintain this level of effectiveness, the N95 masks must fit the user’s face properly, creating an effective seal, to eliminate particles bypassing the filter material. 

The problem observed by Takaya, was that some traditional N95 respirators were ill-fitting, and the ones that did fit properly caused significant discomfort and facial bruising. Seeing this, Takaya created an innovative mask design to serve the medical community, and ultimately the general public.

Their solution focuses on creating a better fitting respirator, that requires less force than traditional models. Their product also creates added comfort and increased breathability, providing a fit that isn’t compromised by the daily demands of clinical life, or even something as simple as speaking or smiling.

“Simple acts of humanity, like smiling or expressions of comfort, that often provide much needed warmth and support to vulnerable patients, can compromise the seal of traditional respirators. In a more drastic measure, we are learning that in some cases surgeons are instructed not to move their heads for the duration of their surgeries, to ensure their mask stays in place,” said Andrew MacKean, CEO, Takaya Technology. “We aim to remove unnecessary worry that these basic actions could be a threat to the care provider’s personal safety, so that focus can return to the priority of patient care.” 

Takaya has filed a patent on its design and the team is focused on continuing to execute its commercialization strategy to bring the product to market.

“We had this idea that we knew would help people and address a critical challenge in this pandemic and in healthcare overall, but the key was knowing what to focus on and how to execute successfully,” said Erin MacKean, Chief Operating Officer, Takaya Technology. “Part of what has helped propel us forward so quickly is our ability to bring together the right people and access the appropriate financial, regulatory and commercialization expertise.”

That expertise is also available in-house at Takaya.

Chief Operating Officer Erin MacKean has a decade of experience commercializing medical devices, and a background in life sciences operations, marketing and product management. On the other hand, her brother, CEO Andrew MacKean is an entrepreneur with experience in finance, management consulting, operations, and product commercialization in regulated industries. Additionally, their sister Chief Medical Officer Dr. Susan Ripley, is an Acute Medicine Hospitalist and part of a group of attending physicians caring for COVID-19 patients, along with many other key contributors on the team who have helped drive the company forward.

“The medical device industry can be difficult to navigate as it is heavily regulated,” said Andrew. “At Takaya, we know that if you take the time to understand the best path, and assemble the right team, you can be successful.”

Takaya is the latest company to join Emergence, an Atlantic bioscience business incubator dedicated to assisting start-ups and growth-stage bioscience companies in efficiently bringing their products and services to market.

“We are very grateful to be working with the Emergence team as we move forward with Takaya’s plans for commercialization,” said Erin. “The team has been very responsive and supportive, and we look forward to working together to bring our product to market and make it available to serve medical communities around the world.”

For more information on Emergence, visit emergencebioincubator.com.

As a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic and with our intention to have an in-person conference, VetHealth Global, North America’s premier animal health and nutrition industry conference, has adjusted the original date and will now be hosted in Charlottetown, PEI from October 25 – 27, 2021. The preliminary conference program is available on the website.

VetHealth Global is a must-attend event for animal health and nutrition business executives, investors, and innovators. It has been recognized for its stellar list of presenters, innovative emerging company sessions, professional business partnering programming, and top-rated networking events.

Showcase your company

VetHealth Global is still seeking expressions of interest from early stage and emerging companies to present to strategic partners, investors, and collaborators during one of three showcase presentation sessions:

• Innovation Spotlight: Emerging companies with breakthrough technologies at the late pre-commercial, or early commercial phase, who are seeking investment or strategic partnerships (12 companies)
• New Products for Global Aquaculture: Health and nutrition products that address market opportunities in the rapidly expanding aquaculture industry (6 companies)
• Future Focus: High-potential start-ups and early stage companies with disruptive technologies aimed at unmet industry needs (6 companies)

Applications to present must be received by March 15, 2021. Short-listed applicants will be contacted for further assessment by the selection committee, before final decisions.

For questions, please contact jennifer@peibioalliance.com.

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster recent announcement a one-time Call for Proposals for projects under their new Ocean Supercluster Resilience Program.

Through the Ocean Supercluster Resilience Program (OSCR), the OSC will invest up to $15 million in ocean projects that create strong collaborations and focus on the growth of multiple Canadian innovation-based companies. The OSCR acts as a hybrid of the OSC’s core programs in Technology Leadership and Innovation Ecosystem and intends to tackle significant challenges in Canada’s ocean industries and build relationships in the ocean sector.

The Ocean Supercluster Resilience Call for Proposals is an opportunity for projects that can be completed in less than 30 months. It is a deadline-driven and competitive program that aims to generate a diverse set of project ideas that:

• Address challenges impeding the launch of ocean-focused offerings into new markets;
• Leverage digital innovation and business reform to improve customer value, global competitiveness, and connectivity across and between ocean sectors; and
• Advance the ocean innovation ecosystem by creating and strengthening relationships between Canada’s private and public sectors.

Successful OSCR projects will:

• Identify a compelling industry relevant challenge;
• Solicit required industry investment;
• Identify appropriate private and public sector partners;
• Deliver direct commercial benefits to the project consortium; and
• Make a positive impact on Canada’s ocean innovation ecosystem.

The application process is now open and begins with Expressions of Interest which must be submitted by February 19, 2021 at 4 p.m. Atlantic time to be considered. For complete details, visit the OSC website.