Archive for 2021

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.