Canada’s voice for biotechnology / Le porte-parole canadien de la biotechnologie
CANADA COMPETES— DESTINATION FOR BIOTECH INVESTMENT AND TALENT
PM 43136012
LE CANADA EN CONCURRENCE À TITRE DE DESTINATION POUR LES INVESTISSEMENTS ET LES TALENTS EN BIOTECH BioVectra Inc. announces a $144.6 million expansion project / BioVectra Inc. annonce un projet d’expansion de 144,6 M$ » page 24
A Progressive View on Developing Canada’s Leadership Expertise / Une vision moderne de la mise en place d’une expertise en gestion au Canada » page 72
Spring / Printemps biotech.ca
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CONTENTS / TABLE DES MATIÈRES 30
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO by Andrew Casey, BIOTECanada
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MESSAGE DU PRÉSIDENT ET CHEF DE LA DIRECTION par Andrew Casey, BIOTECanada
DEPARTMENTS / SECTIONS 12 FEDERAL PERSPECTIVE / LE POINT DE VUE FÉDÉRAL Starting with One: The Singular Strength of Canada’s Biotech Industry Un point de départ : La force singulière de l’industrie canadienne de la biotechnologie by Ian McKay, CEO of Invest in Canada/ par Ian McKay, président-directeur général d’Investir au Canada
18 POLICY / POLITIQUES Canada’s Bioeconomy Strategy: Leveraging our Strengths for a Sustainable Future Stratégie de la bioéconomie du Canada : Tirer parti de nos forces pour un avenir durable by/par Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
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24 NEWS / NOUVELLES
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BioVectra Inc. announces a $144.6 million expansion project, including a $37.5 million contribution through the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund BioVectra Inc. annonce un projet d’expansion de 144,6 M$, dont une contribution de 37,5 M$ du Fonds stratégique pour l’innovation du gouvernement du Canada 24 Ipsen to Acquire Clementia Pharmaceuticals to Significantly Boost Rare Disease Portfolio Ipsen sur le point d’acquérir Clementia Pharmaceuticals, afin de dynamiser fortement son portefeuille d’actifs en matière de maladies rares
24
30 PARTNERSHIPS / PARTERNARIATS Your Silicon Valley Connection Votre lien avec la Silicon Valley by/par Richard Ayllon & Po On Yeung— CELS
38 Takeda Canada: A Specialty Biopharma Powerhouse Takeda Canada : Un chef de file spécialisé du secteur biopharmaceutique
biotech.ca
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DEPARTMENTS / SECTIONS
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48 ECOSYSTEM / ÉCOSYSTÈME
spring / printemps 2019
Triphase Accelerator Establishes Foundation for Canadian Therapeutics Unicorn
Published for/Publié pour :
Triphase Accelerator sur le point de donner naissance à une véritable « licorne » dans le secteur canadien des traitements novateurs
1, rue Nicholas St., Suite/bureau 600 Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7 Tel: 613-230-5585 Fax: 613-563-8850 www.biotech.ca
by Rafi Hofstein, Co-founder and Director, Triphase Accelerator Corporation; President & CEO, MaRS Innovation/par Rafi Hofstein, cofondateur et directeur de Triphase Accelerator Corporation et président et chef de la direction de MaRS Innovation
TRANSLATION/TRADUCTION : Sophie Campbell
54 VACCINE NEWS / DU NOUVEAU, CÔTÉ VACCINS National Immunization Poster Contest for Grade 6 Students Concours national d’affiches sur l’immunisation, pour les élèves en 6e année by Immunize Canada CANADIAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION/par Immunisation Canada ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DE SANTÉ PUBLIQUE
60 LEGAL MATTERS / QUESTIONS DE DROIT BIOTECanada Trends Les tendances 2019 dans le secteur canadien des biotechs by/par Melanie Baird, Joseph Garcia, Christopher Jones, Mark Mohamed, Cheryl Satin, Andrew Skodyn, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
EDITOR IN CHIEF/RÉDACTRICE EN CHEF : Nadine Lunt
66 INDUSTRIAL BIOTECH / BIOTECHNOLOGIE INDUSTRIELLE Roadmap To Building Up The Carbontech Industry Une feuille de route pour le secteur des technologies de revalorisation du carbone by Evan Price, President and Chief Executive Officer, CO2 Solutions/ par Evan Price, Président et Chef de la direction, CO2 Solutions
72 KNOWLEDGE / CONNAISSANCE Bridging the Gap from Groundbreaking Research to Life Changing Business(es) Un pont entre la recherche de pointe et ces entreprises qui transforment nos vies by Gordon C. McCauley, President & CEO, CDRD/par Gordon C. McCauley, Président et chef de la direction, CDRD
ON THE COVER / EN COUVERTURE Canada’s voice for biotechnology / Le porte-parole canadien de la biotechnologie
CANADA COMPETES—DESTINATION FOR BIOTECH INVESTMENT AND TALENT
PM 43136012
LE CANADA EN CONCURRENCE À TITRE DE DESTINATION POUR LES INVESTISSEMENTS ET LES TALENTS EN BIOTECH
6
BioVectra Inc. announces a $144.6 million expansion project / BioVectra Inc. annonce un projet d’expansion de 144,6 M$ » page 24
A Progressive View on Developing Canada’s Leadership Expertise / Une vision moderne de la mise en place d’une expertise en gestion au Canada » page 72
Spring / Printemps biotech.ca
To capitalize on the country’s strengths and drive innovation forward, it is imperative the role played by all elements of the ecosystem, including universities, scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, partners, and end-users of the technology, are recognized and supported. The Canadian biotechnology industry is well-positioned to take advantage of the global challenge and is delivering very significant economic and social benefits to this country.
spring / printemps 2019
Afin que l’on puisse tirer partie des atouts du pays et stimuler l’innovation, il est impératif de reconnaître le rôle que joue chacun des acteurs de l’écosystème, dont les universités, les scientifiques, les entrepreneurs, les investisseurs, les divers partenaires et les utilisateurs ultimes des technologies. L’industrie canadienne de la biotechnologie est en bonne position pour tirer avantage de la situation mondiale qui se profile et elle offre à ce pays de très importants bienfaits socio-économiques.
BIOTECanada
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Better Health, Brighter Future Takeda Canada delivers better health for Canadians through leading innovations. We are focused on living up to our promise to bring Better Health and a Brighter Future to patients by translating science into highly-innovative medicines. Takeda is delivering better health for Canadians through leading innovations in gastroenterology, oncology, neuroscience, and rare diseases. To find out more about Takeda and our commitment to Canadians, visit www.takeda.com/en-ca.
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Ag-West Bio is funded by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO by Andrew Casey, BIOTECanada
THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2019 GOT OFF TO A VERY STRONG START as two Canadian-based early stage stars, Clementia and Triphase, each announced separate $1B+ deals involving multinational pharmas, Ipsen and Celgene. The buzz from these deals was apparent at BIOTECanada’s annual Investor Summit in early March, with US and Canadian investors alike reflecting a positive outlook for the industry. Combined, this serves to underscore that Canada is home to great science and increasingly home to companies that are able to translate great science into biotech innovation for the global marketplace. The early momentum of 2019 certainly validates the importance of delivering on the goals identified in the Health and Biosciences Economic Strategy Table (HBEST) report which was delivered in the latter part of 2018. Importantly, the HBEST identified a number of key objectives for government and industry to work towards, namely: double the number of early stage companies from 900 to 1800; double the number of ‘high value’ companies from 40 to 80; and scale up a number of those companies to become globally commercial anchor companies. Clearly these are audacious stretch targets for the sector, but if the goal is to ultimately establish one or more foundational companies in Canada then a certain level of audacity is required. An important first step towards establishing a foundational company will be to grow the pool of early stage companies, which greatly improves the odds that one or more will ultimately become commercial entities. Importantly, by growing the number of
early stage companies, Canada’s competitive position as a destination for both talent and investment will correspondingly be enhanced. Growing the overall pool of early stage companies requires a healthy and vibrant ecosystem, which, as the Clementia and Triphase deals illustrate, includes the active investment and partnership presence of multinational pharma companies. While other parts of the ecosystem are thriving, there are some significant headwinds in Canada for multinational pharmaceutical companies. Indeed, efforts by governments focused on addressing rising healthcare costs through a siloed approach to drive down drug prices is putting Canada out of step with other jurisdictions around the world. While these efforts may deliver some short-term spending relief for governments, the longer-term impact a penny-wise, pound-foolish approach will have on access to therapies and investment should be cause for concern for all policymakers. The Clementia and Triphase deals stand as great examples of what those inside Canada’s biotech sector have known for some time: Canada has the ideas, science and entrepreneurship to become a world leader in the discovery and commercialization of innovation. The HBEST report identifies ambitious targets that, if realized, will globally position Canada as a biotech leader and, correspondingly, will deliver significant economic benefits for the country. Importantly, to move the HBEST goals from merely ambition to economic reality, Canada’s policy environment must also be globally competitive for it to attract investment,
“Growing the overall pool of early stage companies requires a healthy and vibrant ecosystem, which, as the Clementia and Triphase deals illustrate, includes the active investment and partnership presence of multinational pharma companies.”
partners and talent. To be sure, if Canada does get it right, recent billion dollar deals demonstrate that the economic and social benefits are significant and real. biotech.ca
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MESSAGE DU PRÉSIDENT ET CHEF DE LA DIRECTION par Andrew Casey, BIOTECanada
LE DÉMARRAGE DU PREMIER TRIMESTRE DE 2019 A ÉTÉ TRÈS VIGOUREUX, deux jeunes entreprises canadiennes vedettes, Clementia et Triphase, ayant chacune annoncé un contrat de plus d’un milliard avec une multinationale pharmaceutique, soit Ipsen et Celgene respectivement. Les réactions favorables qu’ont suscitées les ententes se sont manifestées au cours du sommet annuel des investisseurs, organisé au début de mars par BIOTECanada; les investisseurs américains et canadiens ont exprimé leur optimisme quant à la situation du secteur. Cela met en évidence le fait que le Canada est un site de recherches de grande qualité et qu’il accueille de plus en plus d’entreprises capables de transformer d’excellents travaux de recherche en des produits biotechnologiques novateurs, destinés au marché mondial. La conjoncture favorable du début de 2019 vient souligner l’importance d’atteindre les objectifs déterminés dans le rapport de la Table de stratégie économique sur les sciences biologiques et la santé, publié à la fin de 2018. Cette Table a en effet défini un certain nombre d’objectifs clés que doivent viser le gouvernement et le secteur, c’est-à-dire : faire passer le nombre de jeunes entreprises de recherche de 900 à 1 800; faire passer le nombre d’entreprises « de grande valeur » de 40 à 80; faire croître certaines de ces sociétés de sorte qu’elles deviennent des entreprises phares, actives à l’échelle mondiale. De toute évidence, il s’agit de cibles d’expansion audacieuses pour le secteur, mais si l’on veut vraiment qu’il y ait au Canada une ou plusieurs
grandes sociétés d’attache, alors l’audace est nécessaire. Une première étape, qui a son importance, en vue de l’établissement de telles entreprises phares consiste à augmenter le bassin de jeunes entreprises de recherche, ce qui améliorera grandement la possibilité qu’une ou plusieurs d’entre elles deviennent des entités commerciales. De plus, un nombre accru de jeunes entreprises de recherche donnera au Canada une image plus concurrentielle, et plus attrayante tant pour les personnes de talent que pour les investisseurs. Comme les ententes avec Clementia et Triphase le révèlent, l’évolution de ce bassin d’entreprises en développement repose sur un écosystème des plus dynamiques, stimulé par la présence, sur le plan des partenariats et des investissements, de grandes multinationales pharmaceutiques. Si certains secteurs de cet écosystème sont florissants, les multinationales pharmaceutiques se trouvent au Canada devant des obstacles considérables. Pour faire face à l’augmentation des frais de santé, le gouvernement a tenté de réduire le coût des médicaments par des actions de type « cloisonnées » qui ont placé le Canada en décalage par rapport aux autres pays du monde. Bien que ces mesures puissent avoir, à court terme, un effet d’allègement des dépenses, les effets à long terme de ces économies de bout de chandelle sur l’accès aux traitements et sur les investissements devraient plutôt inquiéter les décideurs. Pourtant, comme le soulignent les contrats de Clementia et Triphase (et les professionnels canadiens de la biotechnologie le savent depuis
longtemps) : le Canada dispose de tous les atouts scientifiques et commerciaux pour devenir un chef de file de la recherche et de la commercialisation de l’innovation. Le rapport de la Table de stratégie économique sur les sciences biologiques et la santé a défini des objectifs ambitieux qui, s’ils sont atteints, permettront au Canada de jouer un rôle central sur la scène mondiale en tant que leader de la biotechnologie et apporteront ainsi au pays d’immenses avantages économiques. Or, pour faire en sorte que le rapport de la Table devienne réalité et ne demeure pas une simple ambition, le Canada doit d’abord se doter d’un cadre réglementaire extrêmement concurrentiel et attirer les investissements, les partenaires et les talents. Ce qui est certain, et les récents contrats se chiffrant en milliards l’illustrent bien, c’est que les retombées économiques et sociales sont bien réelles lorsque le Canada s’y prend de la bonne façon. biotech.ca
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federal perspective le point de vue fédéral
Starting with One: The Singular Strength of Canada’s Biotech Industry Un point de départ : La force singulière de l’industrie canadienne de la biotechnologie by Ian McKay, CEO of Invest in Canada par Ian McKay, président-directeur général d’Investir au Canada
CANADA’S THRIVING (AND GROWING!) BIOTECH INDUSTRY IS AN ENGINE OF INNOVATION, a source of highly skilled talent, a hotbed of cutting-edge research and an increasingly preferred destination for global investment capital. As a burgeoning field, its super-sector is tremendous as new technologies continue to change the way we manufacture products. A COUNTRY INVESTED IN R&D Canada’s pharmaceutical manufacturing industry is an important economic driver, generating $10 billion in domestic production and employing almost 30,000 people. Canada’s long history of high-quality pharmaceutical manufacturing has attracted the world’s ten largest pharmaceutical companies, most with R&D and manufacturing operations in their Canadian facilities. Canadian companies spent close to $900 million in 2017, specifically on pharmaceutical R&D activities. Several pharmaceutical companies increasingly partnered on R&D, triggering additional investments in SMEs, venture funds and contract service providers. Canada is first among G7 countries as the most economical place to do business with respect to R&D for clinical trial administration and for biomedical research. Canada also ranks first in the G7 in terms of business costs to establish and operate manufacturing facilities for both medical devices and pharmaceuticals. BIOTECH IS BIG IN CANADA The biotech industry plays a critical role in our economy and Canada has among the highest number of biotechnology companies in the world. These companies encompass a broad range of scientific activities using live organisms to develop new methods of production and products in many sectors. From vaccines and new cancer treatments to greater crop yields and pollution prevention, biotechnology products make our lives safer, cleaner and better.
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spring / printemps 2019
LE SECTEUR CANADIEN DE LA BIOTECHNOLOGIE— FLORISSANT ET EN PLEINE CROISSANCE!—EST UN MOTEUR D’INNOVATION, une source de talents hautement qualifiés, un centre pour la recherche de pointe et, de plus en plus, une destination de choix pour les capitaux d’investissement internationaux. La biotechnologie est un domaine en plein essor, si bien que ce secteur offre d’énormes possibilités, à mesure que les nouvelles technologies changent les procédés de fabrication.
UN PAYS QUI INVESTIT EN R-D Au Canada, le secteur des produits pharmaceutiques est un important moteur économique, qui contribue pour 10 milliards de dollars à la production nationale et emploie près de 30 000 personnes. Depuis longtemps, notre pays fabrique des produits pharmaceutiques de grande qualité. C’est ainsi que 10 des plus grandes sociétés pharmaceutiques du monde ont des installations canadiennes, où la plupart font de la R-D et fabriquent des produits. En 2017, les entreprises canadiennes ont dépensé près de 900 millions de dollars dans la R-D pharmaceutique. De plus en plus, plusieurs sociétés pharmaceutiques créent des partenariats en R-D, ce qui engendre des investissements supplémentaires dans les PME, les fonds de capital-risque et les fournisseurs de services contractuels. Le Canada est LE pays du G7 où la poursuite d’activités de R-D coûte le moins cher. Cela vaut en particulier pour la réalisation d’essais cliniques et la recherche biomédicale. Il s’agit aussi du pays du G7 où la mise sur pied et l’exploitation d’installations de fabrication d’appareils médicaux et de produits pharmaceutiques coûtent le moins cher.
LA BIOTECHNOLOGIE EST UN SECTEUR IMPORTANT AU CANADA L’industrie de la biotechnologie joue un rôle crucial dans notre économie et le Canada compte le plus grand nombre d’entreprises de biotechnologie au monde. Ces entreprises poursuivent un large éventail d’activités
BIOTECanada
federal perspective le point de vue fédéral
Our life sciences sector is a leader in innovative research, investing almost $2 billion in R&D across various market segments. This includes brand-name pharmaceutical companies, generic drug firms, small- and medium-sized biopharmaceutical enterprises, contract service providers and medical device firms. TOP-TIER BIOTECH TALENT The size and strength of Canada’s biotech industry speaks to the talent that exists here. Canada already has the most educated workforce in the world and recently announced further support to access training programs that help Canadians meet the demands of a rapidly evolving labour market. Companies needing specialized skills that aren’t available through our home-grown talent can quickly bring in highly skilled international workers under the now-permanent Global Talent Stream. This ongoing commitment to talent development and innovation is working. Between 2003 and 2018, Canada brought in 99 investment projects from 80 foreign companies with operations in the pharmaceutical sector totalling $3.9 billion dollars. Today, Canada is providing even more support to growing small- and medium-sized firms as they scale up by expanding its Scientific Research and Experimental Development Program to businesses of all sizes, in all sectors, as well as modernizing and simplifying regulations around innovative medical products and clinical trials, among others. A THREE-PRONGED ECOSYSTEM OF OPPORTUNITY Home to three world-class clusters—in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver—our strong ecosystem makes Canada an ideal destination for global investments in life sciences. Canada is equipped with leading research universities, world‑class research hospitals, incubators and accelerators that support emerging leaders in AI, precision medicine, regenerative medicine, genomics and oncology. Canada is doubling down on innovation through its supercluster initiative, which pulls together technology clusters across the country into large collectives focused on ocean sciences, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, agriculture and digital technology. Agriculture, for example, has particular relevance to the biotech industry as it can increase the quality and yield of coveted Canadian crops such as canola, wheat and pulses that will, as global demand significantly increases in the coming years, make Canada an even more vital source for plant proteins. CANADA EMBRACES INNOVATION IN IP Canada has real strength in generating intellectual property and clinical development capabilities, as evidenced by the significant number of biopharmaceutical products—currently more than 400—in the pipeline. These products, reflecting the
scientifiques qui utilisent des organismes vivants pour mettre au point de nouvelles méthodes de production et de nouveaux produits dans de nombreux secteurs. Qu’il s’agisse de vaccins, de nouveaux traitements contre le cancer, d’un meilleur rendement des cultures ou de la prévention de la pollution, les produits biotechnologiques rendent notre vie plus sûre, plus saine et meilleure. Notre secteur des sciences de la vie est un chef de file de la recherche innovante, notamment par des investissements de près de 2 milliards de dollars en R-D dans différents segments de marché. Cela comprend les sociétés pharmaceutiques de marque, les fabricants de médicaments génériques, les petites et moyennes entreprises biopharmaceutiques, les fournisseurs de services contractuels et les fabricants de dispositifs médicaux.
UN TALENT BIOTECHNOLOGIQUE DE PREMIER PLAN La taille et la force de l’industrie canadienne de la biotechnologie témoignent du talent qui existe ici. Le Canada possède déjà la main-d’œuvre la plus scolarisée au monde et a récemment annoncé une aide supplémentaire à l’accès aux programmes de formation qui aident les Canadiens à répondre aux exigences d’un marché du travail en évolution rapide. Les entreprises qui ont besoin de compétences spécialisées que nos talents locaux ne peuvent pas offrir peuvent rapidement faire appel à des travailleurs internationaux hautement qualifiés dans le cadre du Volet des talents mondiaux, qui est maintenant permanent. Cet engagement continu envers le développement des talents et l’innovation porte ses fruits. Entre 2003 et 2018, le Canada a présenté 99 projets d’investissement de 80 sociétés étrangères exerçant des activités dans le secteur pharmaceutique, qui ont totalisé 3,9 milliards de dollars. Aujourd’hui, le Canada appuie encore davantage les petites et moyennes entreprises en croissance en élargissant son Programme de la recherche scientifique et du développement expérimental aux entreprises de toute taille et de tout secteur, ainsi qu’en modernisant et en simplifiant la réglementation sur les produits médicaux novateurs et les essais cliniques, entre autres.
UN TRIPLE ÉCOSYSTÈME DE POSSIBILITÉS Accueillant trois grappes de classe mondiale, à Toronto, à Montréal et à Vancouver, notre solide écosystème fait du Canada une destination idéale pour les investissements mondiaux dans les sciences de la vie. Le Canada est doté d’universités de recherche de pointe, d’hôpitaux de recherche de calibre mondial, d’incubateurs et d’accélérateurs qui appuient les nouveaux chefs de file en IA, en médecine de précision, en médecine régénératrice, en génomique et en oncologie. Et le Canada redouble d’innovation grâce à son initiative des supergrappes d’innovation, qui regroupe les grappes technologiques de tout le pays en de vastes collectifs axés sur les sciences océaniques, l’intelligence artificielle, la fabrication de pointe, l’agriculture et la technologie numérique. biotech.ca
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federal perspective le point de vue fédéral
work of both domestic and multinational firms focused on human health, give Canada its strong record of achievement. With a comprehensive Intellectual Property Strategy, Canada is also removing barriers to innovation and ensuring increased transparency in the industry. The strategy includes an independent body overseeing patent and trademark agents, maintaining professional and ethical standards, while providing quality advice to Canadian businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators to help them better understand, protect and access intellectual property.
“Invest in Canada is a national investment attraction agency with a clear mission: make Canada stronger by increasing global investment that boosts productivity, accesses new technologies, encourages innovation and, most importantly, creates jobs for Canadians.”
ONE COUNTRY, MANY BENEFITS Just as biotech is a strong, singular industry among many here, Canada itself reflects both the one and the many: multicultural, multilingual and connected to more countries through trade agreements than any other nation. Invest in Canada is a national investment attraction agency with a clear mission: make Canada stronger by increasing global investment that boosts productivity, accesses new technologies, encourages innovation and, most importantly, creates jobs for Canadians. Canada’s diverse talent, access to large and growing markets, sound banking systems, low business tax rate, and strong geographical and sectoral clusters offer a uniquely strong foundation for innovation, growth and success for Canadian and international companies alike. Canada’s value proposition is undeniable, compelling and clear. It is one that gets investors’ attention. One that will help them grow. One that will help them manage risk. And one that makes it easy to do both. I look forward to meeting many of you at this year’s BIO International Convention in Philadelphia. Please come to the Canada pavilion and let me tell you how excited we are to have you join this massive, growing and innovative Canadian industry. See you there! www.investcanada.ca
L’agriculture, par exemple, revêt une importance particulière pour l’industrie de la biotechnologie, car elle peut améliorer la qualité et le rendement de cultures canadiennes convoitées comme le canola, le blé et les légumineuses, ce qui fera du Canada une source encore plus essentielle de protéines végétales à mesure que la demande mondiale augmentera considérablement dans les prochaines années.
LE CANADA ADOPTE L’INNOVATION EN PI Le Canada dispose d’une véritable force dans le domaine de la propriété intellectuelle et des capacités de développement clinique, comme en témoigne le nombre important de produits biopharmaceutiques (actuellement plus de 400) en cours de développement. Ces produits, qui reflètent le travail d’entreprises nationales et multinationales axées sur la santé humaine, donnent au Canada son solide bilan de réalisations. Grâce à sa Stratégie en matière de propriété intellectuelle globale, le Canada élimine également les obstacles à l’innovation et assure une plus grande transparence dans l’industrie. La stratégie prévoit notamment un organisme indépendant qui supervise les agents de brevets et de marques de commerce, maintient des normes professionnelles et éthiques, tout en fournissant des conseils de qualité aux entreprises, aux entrepreneurs et aux innovateurs canadiens pour les aider à mieux comprendre et protéger propriété intellectuelle et à en améliorer l’accès.
UN PAYS AUX NOMBREUX ATOUTS Tout comme la biotechnologie, un secteur florissant parmi de nombreux autres, mais avec ses particularités, le Canada a lui-même une identité unique et multiple : il est multiculturel et multilingue, en plus d’être le pays ayant conclu le plus grand nombre d’accords commerciaux bilatéraux dans le monde. Investir au Canada est un organisme national d’attraction des investissements dont la mission est claire : rendre le Canada plus fort en augmentant les investissements internationaux qui stimulent la productivité, permettent d’accéder à de nouvelles technologies, encouragent l’innovation et, surtout, créent des emplois pour les Canadiens. La diversité des talents du Canada, l’accès à des marchés importants et en croissance, des systèmes bancaires sains, un faible taux d’imposition des sociétés et des grappes géographiques et sectorielles solides offrent aux entreprises canadiennes et internationales une assise solide et unique pour l’innovation, la croissance et le succès. La proposition de valeur du Canada est indéniable, convaincante et claire. Elle attire l’attention des investisseurs. Elle peut les aider à développer leurs activités et à gérer les risques, en plus de faciliter l’atteinte de ce double objectif. J’ai hâte de rencontrer bon nombre d’entre vous à BIO International Convention de cette année à Philadelphie. Venez au Pavillon du Canada et laissez-moi vous dire à quel point nous sommes heureux de vous accueillir dans cette industrie canadienne massive, innovatrice et en pleine croissance. Au plaisir de vous voir ! www.investircanada.ca biotech.ca
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policy politiques
Canada’s Bioeconomy Strategy: Leveraging our Strengths for a Sustainable Future Stratégie de la bioéconomie du Canada : Tirer parti de nos forces pour un avenir durable by Bioindustrial Innovation Canada par Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
CANADA’S BIOECONOMY STRATEGY: LEVERAGING OUR STRENGTHS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE was recently released. This reflects the views of more than 400 stakeholders—mainly industry—from across the country. Canada has been one of only a few countries without a dedicated bioeconomy strategy. The challenges confronting society—climate change, food supply, resource depletion— require attention, and the technologies and products of the bioeconomy are recognized as offering solutions. Hence the need for this strategy. The industry members of Canada’s bioeconomy include biomass producers and processors, and downstream production and manufacturing companies producing bioenergy, biofuels, biochemicals, biomaterials, and consumer products. In 2015, Canadian companies transformed over 21 million metric tonnes of agricultural and forestry biomass into bioproducts. These transformations created approximately $4.27 billion in revenues.1 Major corporations in Europe, the U.S., and Asia are adopting sustainability targets and moving to capitalize on the deployment of innovative solutions for the production of new and sustainable bio-based products. A number of Canada’s important trading partners are implementing carbon pricing regimes and regulatory systems to foster the development of markets for bio-based products. The caliber of the businesses and industry that participate in the development of the Canada’s Bioeconomy Strategy suggests that Canadian businesses, and the networks and associations that support them, are poised to address a renewed and strengthened industrial base, create valueadded jobs, and contribute to a carbon neutral future. Canada’s Bioeconomy Strategy captures the strong voice of industry and puts forward a number of specific recommendations to create this future. The report lays out recommendations that reinforce the foundational work of the Advisory Council on Economic 1
An Overview of the Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food System (2017) Report
1
apport vue d’ensemble du système agricole et agroalimentaire canadien 2017 R (2017)
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LA STRATÉGIE DE LA BIOÉCONOMIE DU CANADA : TIRER PARTI DE NOS FORCES POUR UN AVENIR DURABLE a récemment été publiée. Cette stratégie est le reflet de la vision de plus de 400 intervenants—la plupart provenant de l’industrie—de partout au pays. Le Canada a longtemps été un des seuls pays sans stratégie dédiée à la bioéconomie. Les défis auxquels fait face la société—changements climatiques, approvisionnement alimentaire, épuisement des ressources—exigent de l’attention et il est reconnu que les technologies et produits de la bioéconomie offrent des solutions. De là provient la nécessité de cette stratégie. Les membres de l’industrie de la bioéconomie canadienne comprennent les producteurs et transformateurs de la biomasse, de la production en aval et les entreprises de fabrication produisant de la bioénergie, des biocarburants, des produits biochimiques, des biomatériaux, et des produits de consommation. En 2015, les entreprises canadiennes ont transformé plus de 21 millions de tonnes métriques de biomasse agricole et forestière en bioproduits. Ces transformations ont créé environ 4,27 milliards de dollars en revenus.1 Des entreprises importantes en Europe, aux États-Unis et en Asie adoptent des cibles de durabilité et commencent à tirer profit du déploiement de solutions novatrices pour la production de nouveaux bioproduits durables. Plusieurs partenaires commerciaux du Canada mettent en place des régimes de fixation des prix du carbone et des systèmes réglementaires pour encourager le développement de marchés pour les produits biotechnologiques. Le calibre des entreprises et des partenaires industriels qui ont participé à l’élaboration de la Stratégie de la bioéconomie du Canada suggère que les entreprises ainsi que les réseaux et les associations qui les appuient sont prêts à répondre à une base industrielle renouvelée et renforcée, à créer des emplois à valeur ajoutée, et à contribuer à un avenir neutre en carbone. La Stratégie de la bioéconomie du Canada capture la voix forte de l’industrie et met de l’avant plusieurs recommandations précises pour créer cet avenir. Le rapport présente des recommandations dans quatre domaines prioritaires qui renforcent le travail de base du
Growth, the Economic Sector Strategy Tables, and Canada’s forestry ministers, among others. Action items are presented in four key priority areas: creating agile regulations and government policy; establishing biomass supply and stewardship; building strong companies and value chains; and building strong sustainable ecosystems. The action items are the critical next steps for industry and government towards implementing the strategy. The six takeaways from Canada’s Bioeconomy Strategy are: 1. Canadian policies and programs need to be relevant to the current and future state of advanced biotechnologies and bioproducts to enable the bioeconomy in Canada to flourish. 2. Canada needs to properly value its natural capital and ensure the full monetization of feedstocks to realize the optimum impact on the economy.
Conseil consultatif en matière de croissance économique, des Tables sectorielles de stratégies économiques, et des ministres canadiens de la foresterie, entre autres. Pour chacun de ces domaines prioritaires, des mesures sont présentées. Ces mesures représentent les prochaines étapes critiques pour l’industrie et le gouvernement afin de mettre en œuvre la Stratégie. Les six mesures de la Stratégie de la bioéconomie du Canada sont : 1. Les politiques et programmes canadiens doivent être pertinents à l’état actuel et futur des biotechnologies et des bioproduits pour permettre à la bioéconomie de prospérer. 2. Le Canada doit voir à sa juste valeur son capital naturel, particulièrement pour assurer la monétisation
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LIFE SCIENCES
ANALYTICAL TESTING SERVICES SGS offers a full suite of services for your Pharmaceutical/Biopharmaceutical and Medical Device needs. We will work with you, at any stage, from early development to submission to fully characterize your materials (Identity, Potency, Safety and Function) to establish product performance criteria and specifications. Testing services under development to full cGMP include: forced degradation, comparability, clinical, stability, “In Use” studies; commercial testing and Product Life Cycle Management. With over 40 years of experience as a local and global CRO contract partner, SGS will utilize our experts and significant analytical tools to provide integrated solutions from preclinical activities to phase I-IV trials, bioanalytical, development and full commercial support for excipients, small and large molecule therapies and containers.
CONTACT US Tel: +1 905 364 3757 ca.pharmaqc@sgs.com
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policy politiques
3. Build anchor companies in the bioeconomy by ensuring better access to capital, business services in the later stages of commercialization, and support for successful ecosystems and clusters. 4. Develop and implement new models to bring together firms from across the value chain—SMEs and MNEs— to leverage opportunities to break into international and domestic markets and to support the required testing and certification that is a precursor to adoption. 5. Realize the promise of biomass development and processing for rural economies by ensuring access to broadband, in-field processing, transportation infrastructure, and to develop the skills to adopt best practices and create new businesses. 6. Policies and regulations governing the key sectors of the bioeconomy—agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture—need to be coherent, and accountabilities need to be structured so as to permit more timely responses. The strategy is a call to action by governments, industry, and communities to build on Canada’s competitive advantages, including access to biomass, global leadership in forestry and agriculture, and competitive ecosystems. The strategy aims to keep producers on the path of improving productivity and best practices while providing a roadmap for the business environment and ecosystems to support and grow anchor firms, open new markets, and advance the innovative new technologies of the bioeconomy.
complète des sources afin de produire un impact économique optimal. 3. Bâtir des entreprises phares de la bioéconomie en assurant un meilleur accès au capital, aux services aux entreprises dans les stades avancés de commercialisation, et fournir un soutien pour assurer la prospérité des écosystèmes et des grappes. 4. Développer et mettre en œuvre de nouveaux modèles pour rassembler des entreprises de partout dans la chaîne de valeur—PME et multinationales—afin de tirer parti des possibilités de pénétrer les marchés internationaux et domestiques et appuyer la mise à l’essai et la certification précurseurs de l’adoption. 5. Réaliser les promesses du développement et de la transformation de la biomasse pour les économies rurales en assurant un accès au haut débit, à la transformation sur place, aux infrastructures de transformation, et aux habiletés d’adopter de meilleures pratiques et créer de nouvelles entreprises. 6. Les politiques et la réglementation gouvernant les secteurs clés de la bioéconomie—l’agriculture, la foresterie et l’aquaculture—doivent être cohérentes, et les systèmes de reddition de comptes doivent être structurés pour permettre des réponses en temps opportun.
BIOTECanada has contributed expertise and resources to the development of the strategy and supports the recommendations. BIOTECanada is joined in their efforts by the Forest Products Association of Canada and FPInnovations. The strategy was undertaken with the support of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and several provinces including Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. BIOTECanada’s industrial biotechnology group will continue to support the efforts of all its partners and will report periodically on the implementation of the strategy.
La Stratégie est un appel à l’action pour les gouvernements, l’industrie, et les communautés afin de bâtir sur l’avantage concurrentiel du Canada, y compris la biomasse, le leadership mondial en foresterie et en agriculture, et les écosystèmes concurrentiels. La Stratégie vise à garder les producteurs sur le chemin de l’amélioration de la productivité et des meilleures pratiques tout en offrant un guide pour l’environnement des affaires et des écosystèmes pour appuyer et assurer la croissance des entreprises phares, ouvrir de nouveaux marchés, et faire progresser les nouvelles technologies novatrices de la bioéconomie. BIOTECanada a offert son expertise et ses ressources pour le développement de la Stratégie et soutient les recommandations. BIOTECanada est soutenu dans ses efforts par l’Association des produits forestiers du Canada, et FPInnovations. La Stratégie a été élaborée avec l’appui d’Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada et plusieurs provinces, y compris l’Alberta, le Manitoba et l’Ontario. Le groupe de biotechnologie industrielle de BIOTECanada continuera à soutenir les efforts de tous ses partenaires et fera rapport périodiquement au sujet de la mise en œuvre de la Stratégie.
Canada’s Bioeconomy Strategy was produced by Bioindustrial
La Stratégie sur la bioéconomie du Canada a été produite par
Innovation Canada in partnership with a writing team: McLaughlin
Bioindustrial Innovation Canada, en partenariat avec une équipe
Consultants, Meaghan Seagrave (BioNB), Jennifer O’Donnell (BioNB),
de rédaction : McLaughlin Consultants, Meaghan Seagrave
and Anne Waddell.
(BioNB), Jennifer O’Donnell (BioNB) et Anne Waddell.
Canada’s Bioeconomy Strategy captures the strong voice of industry and puts forward a number of specific recommendations to create this future.
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Harnessing the
power
of antibodies to battle cancer
THE STATISTICS ARE AS FRIGHTENING AS THEY ARE DISHEARTENING—according to the Canadian Cancer Society, one in two Canadians will get cancer in their lifetime. And one of every four Canadians will eventually die from the disease. In part, experts say, cancer rates remain stubbornly high because we’re living longer. The older we are, the more likely we are to get cancer. Still, despite the grim numbers, survival rates for many cancers are improving. Women, for example, are now 13% less likely to die from cancer than they were 20 years ago. For more than a century, immunotherapy has been the go-to method for battling cancer. But the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation can be as devastating as they are numerous. And while chemotherapy has achieved positive results in many areas, oncologists could never be certain that they would always work. As a result, the medical profession is turning more and more to treatments that enlist the body’s own immune system in the fight against cancer. Central to those efforts are antibodies—proteins produced by our immune systems to attack foreign substances in the body. Antibodies circulate throughout the body, seeking and eventually binding to specific proteins called antigens. Once attached to an antigen, antibodies recruit other parts of the immune system to destroy those cells that contain the
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antigen. Effectively, the antigens stimulate our immune system to produce more antibodies. Little wonder that researchers are increasingly looking into the ability of antibodies to strengthen and restore the immune system’s inherent ability to fight cancer. In Canada, that research is being led by Immune Biosolutions, an innovative biotech company focused on the discovery and engineering of humanized chicken antibodies for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Based in Sherbrooke, Québec, Immune Biosolutions was founded in 2012 by three entrepreneurial scientists. In 2015, it took the bold step of initiating its own antibody pipeline, with a primary focus on cancer and gastrointestinal health. Since then, it has advanced four candidates to late stages of discovery. Essential to the company’s success, says co-founder and CEO Frédéric Leduc, is its proprietary platform for antibody discovery to generate polyclonal and recombinant antibodies with recognized, yet unexploited, therapeutic potential. “Our discovery platform provides a multidisciplinary workflow to create first-in-class antibody therapeutics against a variety of antigens,” says Leduc, “especially targeting difficult proteins such as GPCRs (G-protein-coupled receptors), ion channels, integrins and other membrane proteins.”
“Our discovery platform provides a multidisciplinary workflow to create first-in-class antibody therapeutics against a variety of antigens,” says Leduc, “especially targeting difficult proteins such as GPCRs (G-protein-coupled receptors), ion channels, integrins and other membrane proteins.”
Simply put, Immune Biosolutions is trying to determine if antibodies have the ability to strengthen or restore the immune system’s inherent ability to fight cancer. “More specifically, we are focused on discovering and engineering chicken antibodies to target particularly difficult proteins,” says Leduc. “We believe that chicken antibodies are an under-utilized source of new therapeutics and that they have the potential to improve the detection of some aggressive forms of cancer.” To circumvent historical bottlenecks, Immune Biosolutions has designed four families of technologies to discover antibodies against these high potential targets: • Smart antigens, such as rationally designed Spatial Peptides and DNA immunization that replicate the native 3D structure of targets • Chicken immune repertoire as a novel source of therapeutics • Selection technologies such as phage display technologies and B cell selection combined with next-generation sequencing and AI to select the best antibodies • Humanization technologies to engineer the best immunotherapy agents
“As a result of these technologies,” says Leduc, “our antibody discovery platform has enabled the discovery of functional humanized antibodies within 120 days.” The success of its platform—and of Immune Biosolutions—has not gone unnoticed. Opportunities for collaboration and partnerships with key industry leaders have increased in recent years, providing the support and resources the company requires to thrive. For example, in the summer of 2018, the company announced a research collaboration and licence agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc., one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Initially, says Leduc, the agreement will focus on discovering and identifying therapeutic antibodies for multiple targets. Also, typical of the company’s collaborative success, is a recent agreement with CQDM, a pharma-based consortium dedicated to funding the development of innovative tools and technologies that accelerate drug discovery. “Funding provided through this collaboration will support the demonstration of the in vivo efficacy and safety of the novel therapeutic chicken antibodies generated by our platform,” says Leduc. He is quick to acknowledge that the company owes much of its success to collaboration with other pharmaceutical partners and university labs. “Since our inception, we have produced over 350 commercial research antibodies and over a dozen ongoing therapeutic programs, and submitted several patents for our technologies,” he says. “That would not have been possible without the partnerships we’ve entered into during that time.” These are rewarding and exciting times for Immune Biosolutions, says Leduc. “We are working—and succeeding— in a promising new area, one we believe has the potential to dramatically transform and improve human health. It’s particularly gratifying to know that what we accomplish at Immune Biosolutions will one day benefit those who need our help the most.”
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news nouvelles
BioVectra Inc. announces a $144.6 million expansion project, including a $37.5 million contribution through the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund BioVectra Inc. annonce un projet d’expansion de 144,6 M$, dont une contribution de 37,5 M$ du Fonds stratégique pour l’innovation du gouvernement du Canada March 4, 2019 / 4 mars 2019
BIOVECTRA INC., AN ATLANTIC CANADIAN CONTRACT DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING ORGANIZATION (CDMO), announced a five-year, $144.6 million (CAD) expansion project to enhance its biopharmaceutical capabilities in both Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and Windsor, Nova Scotia. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited BioVectra in Charlottetown to announce a $37.5 million contribution from the Government of Canada through the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). The $37.5 million contribution represents the single largest SIF Project ever awarded in Atlantic Canada. “Thanks to innovations in life sciences, Canadians are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. Canadian companies like BioVectra are creating new jobs and establishing themselves as global leaders in producing lifesaving treatments for serious illnesses that affect millions of people around the world. Today, we are not only investing in an innovative Canadian business, but also in Canadians and the future prosperity of our country.” – The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada.
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BIOVECTRA INC., UN SOUS-TRAITANT DE DÉVELOPPEMENT ET DE FABRICATION (CDMO) des Maritimes, a annoncé un projet d’expansion de 144,6 M$ (CA) sur cinq ans en vue de l’augmentation de sa capacité en biopharmaceutique à la fois à Charlottetown, à l’Île-duPrince-Édouard, et à Windsor, en Nouvelle Écosse. Le premier ministre Justin Trudeau s’est rendu chez BioVectra pour annoncer la contribution de 37,5 M$ du gouvernement du Canada par l’intermédiaire de son Fonds stratégique pour l’innovation (FSI). Cette somme représente la plus grande contribution du FSI jamais accordée dans le Canada atlantique. « Grâce à l’innovation en sciences de la vie, les Canadiens vivent désormais plus longtemps que jamais et en meilleure santé. Des entreprises canadiennes comme BioVectra créent de nouveaux emplois et deviennent des chefs de file dans la production de traitements susceptibles de sauver des vies; ces traitements visent des maladies graves qui touchent des millions de personnes à travers le monde. Aujourd’hui, il s’agit pour nous d’investir non seulement dans une entreprise canadienne innovante, mais également dans
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More specifically, the project is intended to support BioVectra’s on-going Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) production capacity expansion in Charlottetown, as well as an expansion of its biologics capabilities in Windsor, including a mammalian cell culture facility.
“Thanks to innovations in life sciences, Canadians are living longer, healthier lives than ever before.” Over the project’s five-year lifespan, 150 high-skilled, full-time jobs are expected to be created on Prince Edward Island and in Nova Scotia. “We are pleased to announce plans to create 150 additional jobs, 110 to be located at our Windsor site and 40 in Charlottetown,” said BioVectra President Oliver Technow. “This is an extremely proud day for BioVectra, and we are deeply appreciative of the government’s support. Since 2015, we have invested approximately $25 million per year in expansions and technologies that have vastly enhanced our capabilities. Today’s announcement is a continuation of our commitment to growth right here in Atlantic Canada!” For more information about BioVectra, please visit www.biovectra.com.
la vie des Canadiens et la prospérité de notre pays dans l’avenir. » – Le très honorable Justin Trudeau, premier ministre du Canada Le projet a plus particulièrement pour objectifs de soutenir l’augmentation continue de la capacité de production des principes actifs de BioVectra à Charlottetown, ainsi que l’augmentation de ses capacités en matière de produits biologiques à Windsor, notamment par la mise en place d’installations de culture de cellules de mammifères. Au cours des cinq ans que doit durer le projet, on prévoit la création de 150 emplois hautement qualifiés à temps plein à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard et en Nouvelle-Écosse. « Nous avons l’immense plaisir d’annoncer des projets de création de 150 emplois supplémentaires, dont 110 à notre site de Windsor et 40 à Charlottetown », a déclaré le président de BioVectra, Oliver Technow. « C’est un grand jour, et l’on peut être fier de BioVectra. Nous sommes aussi très reconnaissants au gouvernement de son aide. Nous avons investi depuis 2015 environ 25 millions $ par année dans notre croissance et nos technologies, ce qui a considérablement augmenté nos capacités. L’annonce faite aujourd’hui va dans le sens de nos engagements vis-à-vis de la croissance ici, dans le Canada atantique. » Pour obtenir de plus amples renseignements à propos de BioVectra, veuillez consulter le site web www.biovectra.com [en anglais].
Ipsen to Acquire Clementia Pharmaceuticals to Significantly Boost Rare Disease Portfolio Ipsen sur le point d’acquérir Clementia Pharmaceuticals, afin de dynamiser fortement son portefeuille d’actifs en matière de maladies rares February 25, 2019 / 25 février 2019
IPSEN (EURONEXT: IPN; ADR: IPSEY) AND CLEMENTIA PHARMACEUTICALS (NASDAQ: CMTA) recently announced that they have entered into an agreement for Ipsen to acquire Clementia Pharmaceuticals, including its key late-stage clinical asset palovarotene, an investigational retinoic acid receptor gamma (RARγ) selective agonist, for the treatment of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), multiple osteochondromas (MO) and other diseases. The acquisition will proceed by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement pursuant to the Canada Business Corporations Act.
IPSEN (EURONEXT : IPN; ADR : IPSEY) ET CLEMENTIA PHARMACEUTICALS (NASDAQ : CMTA) ont récemment annoncé avoir conclu une entente en vue de l’acquisition de Clementia Pharmaceuticals et d’un important actif clinique de stade avancé, le palovarotene, un agoniste du récepteur gamma de l’acide rétinoïque (RARγ) destiné au traitement de la fibrodysplasie ossifiante progressive (FOP), des ostéochondromes multiples (OM) et d’autres maladies. L’acquisition se fera au moyen d’un plan d’arrangement approuvé par un tribunal, au titre de la Loi canadienne sur les sociétés par actions. biotech.ca
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Every day, we redefine what it means to be a biopharmaceutical company and a positive force in a dynamic health care system. The outcomes we help attain for patients — and the lengths we go to achieve them — reflect our company ideals, a commitment to our patients and the communities we serve. For us, it’s personal: by living up to our own potential, we are helping others live up to theirs.
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“We look forward to working closely with Clementia to successfully integrate two companies that share a similar patient-centric culture and the ambition to deliver new treatments to patients with unmet medical needs.”
Clementia’s late-stage drug candidate, palovarotene, has rare pediatric disease and breakthrough therapy designations for the treatment of an ultrarare bone disorder and a path to approval in 2020. This acquisition will transform Ipsen’s Rare Disease portfolio by leveraging Clementia’s expertise and Ipsen’s global commercial footprint to provide life-altering treatments to patients with unmet medical needs. Ipsen will acquire all outstanding shares of Clementia for a purchase price of US$25.00 per share in cash upfront plus a contingent value right (CVR) of US$6.00 per share related to the multiple osteochondromas indication for a total transaction value of up to US$1.31 billion. David Meek, Chief Executive Officer of Ipsen, commented that “the acquisition of Clementia Pharmaceuticals accelerates the ongoing transformation of Ipsen as we are successfully executing on our external innovation strategy to identify and acquire innovative medicines to serve patients with unmet medical needs. Through this transaction, we will gain scientific expertise, exceptional talent, and a cornerstone ultra-rare disease drug candidate with rare pediatric disease and breakthrough therapy designations, potential U.S. approval in 2020 and additional indications to follow. We look forward to working closely with Clementia to successfully integrate two companies that share a similar patient-centric culture and the ambition to deliver new treatments to patients with unmet medical needs.” Dr. Clarissa Desjardins, Chief Executive Officer of Clementia, commented, “I am proud of the entire Clementia team, whose tireless efforts have rapidly advanced palovarotene towards a planned NDA submission, and we are all grateful for the dedication of the patient community and our clinical trial investigators who have supported us along the way. Ipsen’s global commercial presence and capabilities will expedite our shared vision of bringing palovarotene to patients around the world as quickly as possible. We anticipate a smooth transition of our operations into the Ipsen organization that will continue Clementia’s vision of delivering palovarotene to patients worldwide.” For more information about Clementia, please visit https://clementiapharma.com.
Le candidat-médicament de stade avancé de Clementia, le palovarotene, a obtenu les désignations de traitement pour maladie pédiatrique rare et de traitement révolutionnaire visant le traitement d’une maladie osseuse extrêmement rare, ainsi que l’accès à une voie d’approbation rapide (approbation prévue en 2020). L’acquisition améliorera le portefeuille d’Ipsen en matière de traitements destinés aux maladies rares et permettra la mise à profit de l’expertise de Clementia et du poids commercial mondial d’Ipsen. Ainsi, de nouveaux traitements transformeront la vie de patients ayant des besoins médicaux non comblés. Ipsen fera l’acquisition de toutes les actions en circulation de Clementia au prix de 25 $ US par action sous forme de paiement initial, auxquels s’ajouteront des certificats de valeur garantie (CVG) de 6 $ US par action pour l’indication relative aux OM, la valeur totale de la transaction s’établissant à 1,31 G $ US. Le chef de la direction d’Ipsen, David Meek, précise : « L’acquisition de Clementia Pharmaceuticals accélère la transformation d’Ipsen, déjà en cours. Nous exécutons ainsi avec succès notre stratégie d’innovation externe. Celle-ci prévoyait en effet la recherche et l’acquisition de médicaments novateurs destinés aux patients ayant des besoins médicaux non comblés. Cette transaction nous permet d’obtenir une expertise scientifique, d’accueillir des talents exceptionnels et d’acquérir un candidat-médicament phare visant des maladies rares et possédant les désignations de traitement pour maladie pédiatrique rare et de traitement révolutionnaire, ainsi que d’espérer une approbation aux États-Unis en 2020, sans parler des nouvelles indications potentielles. Nous sommes impatients de travailler de près avec Clementia à l’intégration réussie de deux sociétés qui partagent une même culture axée sur le patient et l’ambition d’offrir de nouveaux traitements aux personnes ayant des besoins médicaux non comblés. » La chef de la direction de Clementia, Clarissa Desjardins, Ph. D., affirme : « Je suis fière de toute l’équipe de Clementia, dont les efforts infatigables ont rapidement amené le palovarotene à une présentation de nouveau médicament. Nous sommes reconnaissants au dévouement et au soutien constant que nous ont apportés la communauté des patients et les chercheurs ayant œuvré aux essais cliniques. Les capacités et la présence commerciale mondiale d’Ipsen permettront l’accomplissement d’une vision partagée, qui veut que nous offrions le plus rapidement possible le palovarotene aux patients des quatre coins de la planète. Nous nous attendons à ce que l’intégration de nos activités à l’organisation d’Ipsen se fasse dans les meilleures conditions et à ce que celle-ci continue de travailler à l’accomplissement de la vision de Clementia. » Pour obtenir de plus amples renseignements à propos de Clementia, veuillez consulter le site web : https://clementiapharma.com/?lang=fr.
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MISSISSAUGA WHERE LIFE SCIENCES COMPANIES FIND UNLIMITED SUCCESS
THERE’S A GOOD REASON MISSISSAUGA IS HOME TO SO MANY LIFE SCIENCES COMPANIES. In fact, there are several good reasons. Like a virtually unlimited supply of exceptional talent. The talent pool available to the life sciences industry in Mississauga has grown 25 per cent in recent years. And it will continue to grow, thanks to educational institutions like the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). Developed in consultation with the city’s life sciences sector, UTM’s biotech program focuses on those skills the industry requires. And it’s not alone. Some 32 universities and colleges—all within commuting distance—now offer more than 300 life sciencesrelated programs. There’s also lower business operating costs thanks in part to lower land costs, modern infrastructure, convenient proximity to partners, research and development, and, of course, easy access to the largest and busiest airport in Canada.
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Then there’s the unparalleled government support. Mississauga was the first Canadian municipality to develop a bold life sciences strategy, one focused on identifying priorities that would best support the growth and development of the cluster. That support remains strong and vital, with Mayor Bonnie Crombie and City Council fully engaged in, and committed to, the ongoing success of the city’s life sciences sector. In addition, the city has formed a Life Sciences Consortium to act as a collective voice for the community. Comprised of industry leaders, the consortium meets with the city’s Economic Development Office throughout the year to exchange and discuss ideas, strategies and solutions. Together, they’re identifying priorities to support the cluster’s continuing growth and development. Clearly, companies like what Mississauga offers. Over the past decade alone, the life sciences cluster has grown by 20 per cent. Today, more than 470 companies employ approximately
25,000 workers, an increase of nine per cent. In some areas, the growth has been simply astounding. For example, over the past five years, Mississauga’s medical device subsector employment has risen by more than 70 per cent. No other Canadian municipality can match that rate of growth. Typical of the incredible growth now being experienced by Mississauga’s life sciences cluster—and the success that comes with that growth—is Baylis Medical. Originally a small distributor of neurological devices, Baylis first established a presence in Mississauga in 1990s. Since then, the company has expanded its operations in the city’s life sciences cluster three times, most recently a year ago when it opened the Baylis Medical Innovation Centre. Today, Baylis is recognized internationally as a leading developer of medical devices used in cardiology and spinal procedures. The Baylis success story is also Mississauga’s success story. The company’s continuing expansion not only creates high-paying jobs, it reinforces the city’s growing reputation as an international innovation powerhouse.
A second company to appreciate all that Mississauga’s life sciences cluster has to offer is Teligent, one of the largest injectable generics companies in Canada. “Initially, they set up operations in Toronto,” says Jackie O’Connor, Mississauga’s Life Sciences Business Consultant. “However, they soon realized that we offered a number of significant advantages.” General Manager Mark Mantel says simply that Mississauga was the natural choice for Teligent. “Close proximity to our partners, research and development, testing, distribution and quick access to international travel are a plus,” he says. “Additionally, as we grow and hunt for talent to bench strength our team, Mississauga was a natural fit.” Mantel also singled out the city’s easily accessible traffic arteries and economical housing market. Add it all up and it’s easy to see why he now says: “Teligent could not be more pleased to have relocated to the area.” While naturally proud of its success in attracting worldclass companies to its life sciences cluster, Mississauga has no intention of resting on its laurels. “To the contrary,” says Bonnie Brown, Director of the Economic Development Office, “we continue to expand our outreach because we want every company to know what Mississauga has to offer.” As part of that effort, the office is enhancing its existing services to offer a more tailored life sciences concierge program. Recognizing that establishing a presence in a new market can be resource intensive, the office will provide specialized assistance in areas such as talent acquisition, incorporation and site location. “We believe this will allow life sciences companies to set up operations even more quickly and efficiently,” says Brown. At the same time, the city encourages and supports the expansion of existing companies in the cluster. Companies like GSK Canada, which recently invested $36 million to turn its Mississauga operation into a world class consumer health and prescription supply site. That investment enabled facility modifications, new equipment purchases, and enhanced manufacturing development capabilities. Pointing out that only Mississauga offers a life sciences strategy to attract new companies and grow existing businesses, Mayor Crombie said GSK’s expansion “means our strategy is working and companies like GSK have the confidence to invest in our city. In the future we want every company to share that confidence.” The City of Mississauga makes it clear: for new companies looking to enter the Canadian market, for multinationals eager to expand, or for homegrown success stories in search of the next level, the place to be—the place for unlimited success—is Mississauga. For more information, visit us at: www.thefutureisunlimited.ca/life-sciences Jackie O’Connor, Life Sciences Business Consultant Email: jackie.oconnor@mississauga.ca Phone: 905-615-3200 ext. 4406
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Your Silicon Valley Connection Votre lien avec la Silicon Valley by/par Richard Ayllon & Po On Yeung—CELS
ARE YOU LOOKING TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay Area? Let CELS help! Canadian Entrepreneurs in Life Science (CELS) is a non-profit, volunteer organization formed in 2017 to help Canadian life science entrepreneurs achieve success in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay Area. A local community of more than 200 accomplished and enthusiastic Canadian expatriates and supporters sought a way to leverage their knowledge and networks in one of the most progressive investment centers in the world. Ultimately, their goal was to see more global success stories proudly tagged “Made in Canada.” The organization is young and growing, seeking to engage and increase its membership with Canadian based members. The Bay Area remains an exciting and preeminent center to fund innovative life science technologies. For 2018, investment in California amounted to nearly $8 billion for life science and $4 billion for digital health, representing 47% and 63% of all USA investment activity, respectively. (sources: Silicon Valley Bank, California Life Sciences Association/PwC). Local Canadian expatriates and champions of Canada recognized, amidst the various local networking communities and foreign government agencies, that there was an abundance of resources for the entrepreneur community at large. While these groups provided valuable support, they were geared more specifically towards tech entrepreneurs and not fully sensitive to the demands of the life science regulatory environment and extended timelines. Several founding members of CELS, including Richard Ayllon, Joanne Fedeyko and Matt Pusaik, recognized a clear and exciting opportunity to launch a new not-for-profit organization with a mission to manage an effective Canadian life science community that nurtures connections and knowledge to advance innovations on the path to commercialization. Under the direction of a leadership team of eight directors, formed with accomplished life science professionals in the Bay Area and Canada, CELS’s strategy is defined on a platform of three Cs: Community, Connections and Capital.
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CHERCHEZ-VOUS À NOUER DES RELATIONS dans la Silicon Valley et la baie de San Francisco? … le CELS peut vous aider! On a fondé l’organisme sans but lucratif Canadian Entrepreneurs in Life Sciences (CELS) en 2017 pour soutenir les acteurs canadiens en sciences de la vie qui souhaitent nouer des relations dans la Silicon Valley et la région de la baie de San Francisco. L’organisme réunit plus de 200 dynamiques expatriés canadiens, dont l’objectif est de mettre en valeur leur savoir-faire et leur réseau dans l’un des centres d’investissement à la croissance parmi les plus importantes au monde. Au bout du compte, il s’agit de stimuler la réussite des plus beaux projets « 100 % canadiens ». Le développement du nouvel organisme passe par le recrutement de membres au Canada. Nous vous invitons à poursuivre votre lecture pour en apprendre davantage sur le CELS et son rôle dans la région de San Francisco. Il est entendu que la région demeure un haut lieu du financement d’actions innovantes en technologies des sciences de la vie. Les investissements en Californie pour l’année 2018 s’élèvent à près de 8 milliards de dollars en sciences de la vie et 4 milliards de dollars dans la santé numérique, soit respectivement 47 % et 63 % du total des investissements effectués aux États-Unis dans ces domaines. (Sources : Silicon Valley Bank, California Life Sciences Association/PwC). Les expatriés et défenseurs canadiens de la biotechnologie s’entendent pour dire que, parmi les différents réseaux locaux et organes gouvernementaux étrangers, les ressources ne manquent pas pour la communauté des entrepreneurs de tous horizons. Cependant, bien que ces groupes apportent un indéniable soutien dans de nombreux secteurs, ils axent leurs efforts plutôt sur les entreprises en technologies que sur les demandes liées au cadre réglementaire en sciences de la vie, aux longs échéanciers. Plusieurs membres fondateurs du CELS, tels Richard Ayllon, Joanne Fedeyko et Matt Pusaik, sont convaincus de la pertinence de lancer un nouvel organisme sans but lucratif dont la mission consiste à gérer une véritable communauté canadienne des sciences de la vie, qui stimule le réseautage et la connaissance afin de favoriser la commercialisation des innovations.
partnerships partenariats
Community: With over 200 Bay Area members and a growing number of Canada based members, CELS is building a rich pool of relevant professionals to feed an ecosystem for quality connections among its members. The community is supplemented through collaborations with local life science organizations.
Fort d’une équipe de huit directeurs formés auprès de professionnels chevronnés en sciences de la vie dans la région de San Francisco et au Canada, le CELS a conçu sa stratégie autour des trois « C » : communauté, contacts et capitaux.
Connections: CELS creates opportunities for members to connect and learn quality programming throughout the year. All events are produced to ensure the greatest access to our members regardless where they are located, be it “in-vivo” or virtual.
Communauté. Plus de 200 membres de la région de la baie de San Francisco, dont un nombre croissant de membres canadiens. Le CELS est en train de réunir un bassin de professionnels compétents pouvant fournir tout un écosystème de contacts et de relations à ses membres. Cette communauté peut aussi compter sur la synergie créée avec des organismes locaux en sciences de la vie.
Capital: While CELS is not a financial agent for members, through participation our members can increase their visibility and awareness amongst the local investment community where CELS nurtures and maintains relationships.
Contacts. Les membres du CELS peuvent bâtir leur réseau et développer leurs connaissances tout au long de l’année grâce à un programme de grande qualité. Les membres peuvent ainsi profiter de tous les événements, peu importe où ils se trouvent, en personne ou de façon virtuelle.
The programing that supports the strategic platform consists of three core areas to fulfill CELS’s mission and objectives:
Capitaux. Bien que le CELS ne soit pas un véritable agent financier, il peut mieux faire connaître les membres participants auprès de la communauté des investisseurs locaux avec laquelle il entretient des liens.
Forums Regularly scheduled meetings with quality speakers and networking opportunities. These will be complemented by various special events and programs to bring together the community to bolster contacts and knowledge. Member Database An evolving, comprehensive digital platform that seeks to efficiently connect CELS members. Cohort A custom mentoring program for CELS members that qualify through an application process. The program addresses specific local challenges or milestones.
“Canadian Entrepreneurs in Life Science (CELS) is a non-profit, volunteer organization formed in 2017 to help Canadian life science entrepreneurs achieve success in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay Area.” CELS Forum special events include collaborations with the Canadian Consulate - San Francisco including the Canada Meeting Center (J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference) and Dose of the Valley.
La plateforme stratégique du CELS s’appuie sur trois éléments de programme clés, qui contribuent à l’accomplissement de sa mission et à l’atteinte de ses objectifs : Des forums – Des rencontres sont organisées régulièrement avec des invités de marque et des occasions de réseautage. Différents événements spéciaux viennent compléter la programmation et favoriser les contacts et le partage de connaissances au sein de la communauté. Une base de données des membres – Une plateforme numérique en constante évolution permet aux membres du CELS de rester facilement en contact. Une cohorte – Il s’agit d’un programme de mentorat personnalisé pour lequel les membres du CELS peuvent se porter candidats. Le programme s’intéresse à des problématiques et à des défis locaux précis. Les événements spéciaux du CELS Forum comprennent des collaborations avec le consulat général du Canada à San Francisco, notamment le Canada Meeting Center (congrès J.P. Morgan Healthcare) et Dose of the Valley (48 Hours in the Valley). De plus, le CELS, en partenariat avec des entreprises locales et des organismes canadiens, permet régulièrement l’accès à des événements tels que les soirées de réseautage du C100 Canadians in Tech ou encore les conférences « Tech Talks » de Connections Silicon Valley et FemTech Collective.
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In addition, CELS partners with both local companies and Canadian organizations to facilitate regular events and connections, such as C100 Canadians in Tech meetups, Connections Silicon Valley and the FemTech Collective for “Tech Talks” to offer a variety of monthly in-person meetups, which create a range of opportunities for CELS members to build up their Bay Area network. When CELS members cannot be in the Bay Area on a regular basis, CELS produces Pan-Canadian events with multi-site video conferences or streaming video. In fall 2018, CELS teamed up with BIOTECanada, Teralys Capital, Deloitte, MaRS, Blakes, Spire Bioventures, Accel-Rx, Bio Alberta, LifeSciences BC and WSGR to host a virtual event with participants at sites in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal and San Francisco.
Les membres du CELS peuvent ainsi participer à de nombreuses présentations qui sont autant de possibilités d’enrichir leur réseau dans la région. Pour les membres qui ne sont pas toujours présents à San Francisco, le CELS organise des événements pancanadiens, tels que des vidéoconférences multisites ou des diffusions vidéo en temps réel. Le CELS s’est joint à l’automne 2018 à BIOTECanada, Teralys Capital, Deloitte, MaRS, Blakes, Spire Bioventures, Accel-Rx, Bio Alberta, LifeSciences BC et WSGR pour organiser un événement virtuel avec des participants réunis à la fois à Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Montréal et San Francisco. Le message véhiculé par l’événement est clair et net : rejoignez-nous dans la Silicon Valley et bâtissez dès maintenant votre réseau.
CELS Pan-Canadian 2018 Fall Video Conference at the Canadian Consulate in San Francisco
Vidéoconférence pancanadienne du CELS à l’automne 2018 au consulat général du Canada à San Francisco
(L-R: Iraina Miles – Canadian Trade Commissioner, Grace Wei – COO EnCellin, Terry Cowl – Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner, Richard Ayllon – CELS Managing Director, Elton Satusky – Partner WSGR, Po On Yeung – CELS Director and UBC Innovation, Steve Karp – Executive Director Innovation Services, California Life Sciences Institute)
(de g. à dr. : Iraina Miles—déléguée commerciale canadiennne, Grace Wei— directrice de l’exploitation de EnCellin, Terry Cowl—consul et délégué commercial principal, Richard Ayllon—directeur général du CELS, Elton Satusky—partenaire chez WSGR, Po On Yeung—directrice du CELS et responsable de l’innovation à UBC, Steve Karp—directeur général du service de l’innovation au California Life Science Institute)
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“The message throughout the event was loud and clear: come to Silicon Valley for business and start building your network now.” The message throughout the event was loud and clear: come to Silicon Valley for business and start building your network now. The emphasis on networking locally was further emphasized by James Taylor, CEO Precision Nanosystems, who said “to make connections, you need to make time over there. Being down in San Francisco is very easy and accessible - it’s like taking the bus!” Within the Cohort program, the 2018 cycle has concluded successfully and the 2019 Cohort companies will be announced at the end of April 2019. Congratulations to the 2018 CELS Cohort companies: • Cyclica Computational drug discovery company (Toronto) • Flosonics Medical device with smart sensor tracking for critically ill patients (Sudbury) • Think Tank Innovations Information communications technology for HCP (Calgary) CELS Cohort 2018 was operated as a pilot and received good feedback. According to Rena Tabata, CEO and Co-Founder of ShareSmart, “...completion of the program has left us better equipped to reach our revenue targets and with new people we can call on for expertise and support.” Recognizing that the community is most critical to CELS, it aims to develop the community beyond the Bay Area to connect with U.S. based Canadian life science professionals in major American hubs in all relevant hubs across the country. The CELS organization and its programming is funded through memberships (corporate and individual) and corporate sponsorships. As CELS increases its activities, raises awareness and delivers quality experiences, the organization seeks to grow its community on both sides of the border. Make the Bay Area part of your business strategy! Here’s how to get involved: 1. Sign up to be a member for individual member incentives 2. Attend or volunteer at one of the events 3. Mentor, and be part of their growing expert network Visit www.cels-sfo.com to sign up or email info@cels-sfo.com for any questions. See you soon in the Bay Area! CELS is excited to welcome you into the community.
Le président-directeur général de Precision Nanosystems, James Taylor, y est allé d’une déclaration dans le même sens sur le réseautage local : « Pour nouer des relations, vous devez passer du temps là-bas. C’est vraiment facile de se retrouver en plein cœur de San Francisco. Aussi simple que de prendre le bus! » Grâce au programme de cohorte, l’année 2018 fut un succès, et les entreprises qui feront partie de la cohorte 2019 seront annoncées à la fin d’avril 2019. Félicitations à toutes les entreprises de la cohorte 2018 du CELS! • Cyclica – une entreprise axée sur une approche computationnelle dans la création de médicaments (Toronto). • Flosonics – des dispositifs médicaux dotés de capteurs de pointe pour les patients gravement malades (Sudbury). • Think Tank Innovations – des technologies de l’information et de la communication pour les professionnels de la santé (Calgary). La cohorte 2018 du CELS a été mise en œuvre en tant que projet pilote, et le projet a suscité des commentaires positifs : « ... À l’issue du programme, nous sommes mieux outillés pour atteindre nos objectifs en matière de recettes et pouvons obtenir une expertise et un soutien appropriés grâce à de nouveaux collaborateurs. » Rena Tabata, présidente-directrice générale et cofondatrice de ShareSmart. Le CELS place la communauté des pairs au cœur des possibilités de développement, d’où ses actions pour favoriser les échanges au-delà de la région de la baie de San Francisco, avec des professionnels canadiens des sciences de la vie répartis dans les plus grands pôles américains d’activités, et ce, à travers tout le pays. Le financement du programme et des opérations du CELS provient de ses membres (entreprises ou personnes) et de commanditaires du secteur privé. Plus le CELS pourra accroître son activité, ainsi que faire connaître et soutenir ses membres, plus il pourra envisager de développer sa communauté de part et d’autre de la frontière. Votre stratégie d’affaires passe par la baie de San Francisco! Voici comment en faire une réalité : 1. Inscrivez-vous en tant que membre individuel pour participer aux événements. 2. Assistez à l’une des rencontres ou devenez bénévole pour l’une d’elles. 3. Devenez mentor : rejoignez notre équipe d’experts en constante croissance. Consultez le site web www.cels-sfo.com pour vous inscrire ou envoyez-nous un courriel si vous avez des questions : info@ cels-sfo.com. Au plaisir de vous croiser dans la baie de San Francisco! Le CELS est ravi de vous accueillir au sein de sa communauté.
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AstraZeneca: Pushing the Boundaries of Science
AstraZeneca : repousser les frontières de la science
WITH AN AMBITION TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF SCIENCE and advance understanding of the underlying biology of disease, AstraZeneca has built one of the strongest small molecule and biologics pipelines in the biopharmaceutical industry. At the heart of their work is a deep commitment to addressing unmet medical need and delivering life-changing medicines to patients. “It’s a very exciting time to be part of the biopharmaceutical sector,” said Dr. Jamie Freedman, President, AstraZeneca Canada. “The scientific innovation we are seeing, and helping to drive, is revolutionizing how certain diseases are diagnosed, treated and in some cases, cured. Precision medicine and breakthrough science including antibody-drug conjugates, immunotherapy and monoclonal antibodies are transforming how patients with chronic and fatal diseases are being treated around the world.”
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C’EST AVEC L’AMBITION DE REPOUSSER LES LIMITES DE LA SCIENCE et de faire progresser la compréhension des mécanismes biologiques qui sous-tendent la maladie qu’AstraZeneca a entrepris le développement de l’une des gammes de petites molécules et d’agents biologiques les plus prometteuses de l’industrie biopharmaceutique. Ses travaux sont fondamentalement motivés par une grande détermination à combler les lacunes thérapeutiques et à proposer aux patients des médicaments qui changent leur vie. « C’est une époque des plus palpitantes pour le secteur biopharmaceutique, souligne le Dr Jamie Freedman, président d’AstraZeneca Canada. L’innovation scientifique dont nous sommes témoins, et à laquelle nous contribuons, révolutionne la façon dont certaines maladies sont diagnostiquées, traitées et parfois même guéries. La médecine de précision et les percées scientifiques, notamment les conjugués anticorps-
“The scientific innovation we are seeing, and helping to drive, is revolutionizing how certain diseases are diagnosed, treated and in some cases, cured.”
médicament, l’immunothérapie et les anticorps monoclonaux, transforment la prise en charge des maladies chroniques ou mortelles partout dans le monde. » Fin prête à lancer plus de 20 nouveaux médicaments et nouvelles indications au cours des prochaines années, AstraZeneca se concentre sur l’innovation scientifique dans trois domaines thérapeutiques prioritaires : l’oncologie, les maladies cardiovasculaires, rénales et métaboliques et les maladies respiratoires. La médecine de précision et la génomique sont au cœur des activités de recherche d’AstraZeneca dans ces trois domaines et de ses initiatives de collaboration avec des partenaires universitaires de classe mondiale d’ici et d’ailleurs. « La médecine de précision fait partie intégrante de notre stratégie de recherche et de développement. Nous voulons contribuer à changer le paradigme de la prise en charge
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AstraZeneca: Investing in Canadian scientific excellence AstraZeneca Canada invested more than $102 million in Canadian health sciences research in 2018, focused in oncology, cardiovascular, renal & metabolism (CVRM), and respiratory disease. Key Canadian research investments and partnerships include: FORGE AHEAD A roughly $500K investment supporting FORGE AHEAD (TransFORmation of IndiGEnous PrimAry HEAlthcare Delivery), an innovative research program aimed at helping improve health outcomes and diabetes care for Canada’s First Nations communities
MONTREAL HEART INSTITUTE A global genomic research partnership with the Montreal Heart Institute which has the potential to transform the treatment of cardiovascular disease and diabetes using an individual’s genetic profile to guide prevention, diagnosis and treatment decisions
CANADIAN CANCER TRIALS GROUP (CCTG) A landmark clinical development agreement with the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) at Queen’s University, where they are leading Phase I-III global immuno-oncology clinical studies across a range of cancers including lung, head and neck, breast, and rare tumours NEOMED INSTITUTE A $35 million commitment working with the Quebec Government to establish the NEOMED Institute, a research facility dedicated to advancing leading-edge health sciences R&D in Quebec
AstraZeneca : investir dans l’excellence scientifique au Canada AstraZeneca Canada a consacré plus de 102 millions de dollars à la recherche en sciences de la santé au Canada en 2018, notamment dans les domaines de l’oncologie, des maladies cardiovasculaires, rénales et métaboliques et des maladies respiratoires. Parmi les principaux investissements et partenariats en recherche d’AstraZeneca au Canada, citons : FORGE AHEAD
INSTITUT NÉOMED
Un investissement d’environ 500 000 $ à l’appui de l’initiative FORGE AHEAD (TransFORmation of IndiGEnous PrimAry HEAlthcare Delivery), un programme de recherche novateur visant à améliorer les résultats en matière de santé et la prise en charge du diabète au sein des communautés des Premières Nations du Canada.
Un engagement de 35 millions de dollars dans le cadre d’une collaboration avec le gouvernement du Québec pour la mise sur pied de l’Institut NÉOMED, un organisme voué à la promotion de la recherche et du développement de pointe en sciences de la santé au Québec.
INSTITUT DE CARDIOLOGIE DE MONTRÉAL GROUPE CANADIEN DES ESSAIS SUR LE CANCER La conclusion d’une entente de développement clinique marquante avec le Groupe canadien des essais sur le cancer de l’Université Queen’s, qui dirige d’importantes études cliniques mondiales de phases I, II et III sur le traitement immuno-oncologique de différents types de cancer, dont le cancer du poumon, le cancer de la tête et du cou,le cancer du sein et certaines tumeurs rares.
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L’établissement d’un partenariat mondial de recherche en génomique avec l’Institut de cardiologie de Montréal, une initiative qui pourrait transformer la prise en charge des maladies cardiovasculaires et du diabète grâce à la définition d’un profil génétique personnalisé pour orienter la prévention, le diagnostic et les décisions thérapeutiques.
Poised to launch more than 20 new medicines and indications within the next few years, AstraZeneca is focused on driving innovative science in three core therapeutic areas: oncology, cardiovascular, renal & metabolism (CVRM), and respiratory disease. Precision medicine and genomics is fundamental to the way AstraZeneca scientists work across all three areas, and in collaboration with world-leading academic partners in Canada and globally. “Precision medicine is a central part of our research and development strategy. Our ambition is to help shift the treatment paradigm to not only help patients get access to the medicines that will benefit them the most based on their genomic profile, but equally important, help rule out those treatments that will have little benefit or lead to adverse effects.” The Canadian team is proudly playing a leading role in bringing these innovative medicines to life. “AstraZeneca Canada has been designated a key Global Clinical Trial Delivery site for AstraZeneca globally,” says Dr. Freedman. “Together, the Canadian Clinical team is leading more than 60 global and national clinical trials, some involving up to 30 countries, and playing a pivotal role in the development of many of AstraZeneca’s priority pipeline compounds in oncology, immuno-oncology and respiratory disease.” In addition to a rapidly expanding clinical footprint in Canada, AstraZeneca is engaged in a number of novel research partnerships with world-class researchers across the country. Tapping into the strong Canadian health sciences infrastructure, AstraZeneca Canada invested more than $102 million in Canadian R&D in 2018 alone, representing more than 10 per cent of its Canadian revenue. “We’re incredibly excited by what lies ahead, and proud to lead and support the research that will get us there,” says Dr. Freedman. “Every day, we are helping more patients live longer, healthier lives, and that is an incredibly powerful and gratifying purpose.”
de la maladie non seulement pour offrir aux patients l’accès aux médicaments qui conviennent le mieux à leur profil génomique, mais aussi, et cela est tout aussi important, pour exclure les traitements peu bénéfiques ou qui provoquent des effets indésirables. » L’équipe canadienne est fière de jouer un rôle de premier plan dans la mise au point de médicaments novateurs. « AstraZeneca Canada a été choisie pour faire partie des grands centres de réalisation des essais cliniques pour AstraZeneca à l’échelle mondiale, souligne le Dr Freedman. Ensemble, les membres de l’équipe canadienne de recherche clinique dirigent plus de 60 essais cliniques nationaux et internationaux auxquels participent parfois jusqu’à 30 pays, et jouent un rôle déterminant dans le développement de nombreux produits en oncologie, en immunooncologie et en santé respiratoire, les trois domaines thérapeutiques prioritaires d’AstraZeneca. » En plus d’élargir rapidement son empreinte clinique au Canada, AstraZeneca s’investit dans un certain nombre de partenariats de recherche novateurs avec des chercheurs de renommée mondiale partout au pays. Grâce à la solide infrastructure canadienne en sciences de la santé, AstraZeneca Canada a pu investir plus 102 millions de dollars dans la recherche et le développement au pays en 2018 seulement, ce qui représente plus de 10 pour cent de ses revenus canadiens. « Ce qui nous attend est prodigieusement motivant, et nous sommes fiers de diriger et de soutenir les activités de recherche qui nous mèneront vers l’avenir, souligne le Dr Freedman. Chaque jour, nous aidons davantage de patients à vivre plus longtemps et en meilleure santé; c’est là une raison d’être incroyablement puissante et valorisante. »
« L’innovation scientifique dont nous sommes témoins, et à laquelle nous contribuons, révolutionne la façon dont certaines maladies sont diagnostiquées, traitées et parfois même guéries. »
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Takeda Canada: A Specialty Biopharma Powerhouse Takeda Canada : Un chef de file spécialisé du secteur biopharmaceutique
FOLLOWING THE ACQUISITION OF SHIRE, TAKEDA EXPANDS INTO NEUROLOGY AND RARE DISEASES Canada has a new specialty biopharma powerhouse— Takeda Canada. Just one week into 2019, the global acquisition by Japan’s leading pharmaceutical company, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, of Shire Plc became official. For Takeda Canada Inc., the acquisition vaults it into a leading position in the provision of specialty biopharma therapies to Canadians, providing opportunity to reach more patients with an expanded therapeutic focus. Already a key player in specialty gastroenterology and an emerging player in oncology, Takeda now includes Shire’s significant portfolio in neurology and rare diseases. Takeda Canada’s goals are clear—to strive to be an industry leader in each of the therapeutic areas the company works in, serving the needs of Canadian patients. Leading the team is Takeda Canada General Manager Gamze Yüceland, who has headed Takeda Canada since June 2018 and was named leader of the new combined organization in January 2019. “Shire has had an important presence in Canada, particularly for Canadians facing the considerable challenges of dealing with neurological conditions and rare diseases,” said Yüceland. “Adding these important areas to Takeda’s established presence in gastroenterology and oncology makes us stronger. We see so much value in being able to draw from the vast pool of in-house expertise we now have at our fingertips.” Understandably, 2019 has been very busy for Yüceland, but she was busy long before the acquisition was finalized. She had previously been General Manager of Takeda in her home country, Turkey, before moving to take on the same position in the organization in Canada. Yüceland is known for thriving in situations that are challenging. Her most important task at hand is merging the two companies’ Canadian organizations into one. It involves everything from determining the long-term location of the company’s headquarters in Canada to configuring the business structure, merging human resources, policies and procedures. While it may seem like a lot of change, some key vital elements for the company will remain the same. 38
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À LA SUITE DE L’ACQUISITION DE SHIRE, TAKEDA ÉTEND SA PORTÉE À LA NEUROLOGIE ET AUX MALADIES RARES Le Canada peut compter sur un nouveau chef de file spécialisé du secteur biopharmaceutique : Takeda Canada. Une semaine seulement après le début de 2019, la principale entreprise pharmaceutique du Japon, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, a officiellement finalisé l’acquisition de Shire Plc à l’échelle mondiale. L’acquisition a permis à Takeda Canada inc. d’aider plus de patients canadiens et d’élargir son éventail de secteurs thérapeutiques, devenant ainsi un chef de file des traitements biopharmaceutiques spécialisés. Avant de compter sur l’important portefeuille de Shire axé sur la neurologie et les maladies rares, Takeda était déjà un joueur important en gastroentérologie spécialisée et un acteur émergent en oncologie. Les objectifs de Takeda Canada sont clairs : l’entreprise s’efforce d’être un chef de file dans chacun des secteurs thérapeutiques où elle exerce ses activités, et de répondre aux besoins des patients canadiens. Gamze Yüceland, directrice générale, dirige Takeda Canada depuis juin 2018 et a été nommée à la tête de la nouvelle organisation fusionnée en janvier 2019. « Shire a eu une présence importante au Canada, en particulier pour les Canadiens qui sont confrontés à des défis considérables résultant de troubles neurologiques et de maladies rares, a déclaré Mme Yüceland. Takeda a une présence bien établie en gastroentérologie et en oncologie, et l’ajout de ces importants secteurs nous rend plus forts. Pour nous, il est très important d’être en mesure de tirer parti du vaste bassin d’expertise interne que nous avons maintenant à portée de main. » Bien que l’année 2019 ait été bien remplie pour Mme Yüceland, la dirigeante était occupée bien avant la finalisation de l’acquisition. Avant de déménager au Canada et de devenir directrice générale de Takeda, elle occupait le même poste dans son pays d’origine, la Turquie. Mme Yüceland est reconnue pour sa capacité à s’épanouir dans des situations difficiles. Elle doit d’abord et avant tout fusionner les sections canadiennes des deux entreprises pour former une seule
partnerships partenariats
Takeda Canada GM, Gamze Yüceland Gamze Yüceland, directrice générale, dirige Takeda Canada
“Our 237-year-old Japanese heritage grounds us. As always, we put the patient at the centre of our activities and continue to be guided by our core values and empower our people to shine,” she said. “We continue to strive to be champions for the patients we serve, the preferred partner for our customers, and a magnet for the best talent in our industry in Canada.” “MADE IN CANADA” THERAPIES An interesting and perhaps unique aspect of the now-united company is that Takeda and Shire each bring to the new organization an important therapy with a significant “Made in Canada” research component. Both treatments help patients with inflammatory bowel disease, which has been labelled Canada’s “national disease” due to Canada having among the highest incidence and prevalence rates in the world.1 Among these treatments is the first gut-selective biologic to treat ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Researcher Dr. Andrew Lazarovits of London, Ontario, played a pivotal role in the treatment’s early discovery and development.2 When he passed away in 1999, his work was continued by others, resulting in international clinical trials sponsored by Takeda, which were led by Dr. Brian Feagan at the Robarts Research Institute in London, Ontario. In 2016, it received
organisation. Cela signifie notamment déterminer l’emplacement à long terme du siège social de l’entreprise au Canada, établir la structure de l’entreprise et fusionner les ressources humaines, les politiques et les procédures. Bien que le changement puisse sembler important, certains éléments clés de l’entreprise demeureront les mêmes. « Notre héritage japonais de plus de 235 ans assure notre intégrité. Comme toujours, nous plaçons le patient au centre de nos activités et continuons d’être guidés par nos valeurs et de permettre à notre personnel de briller, a précisé Mme Yüceland. Nous continuons de viser à défendre les patients que nous servons, à être le partenaire de choix de nos clients et à attirer les candidats les plus compétents de notre secteur au Canada. »
DES TRAITEMENTS « FABRIQUÉS AU CANADA » Un aspect intéressant, voire unique, de l’entreprise nouvellement fusionnée est que Takeda et Shire offrent toutes deux un traitement important comprenant un volet de recherche typiquement canadien. Ces deux traitements aident les patients touchés par les maladies inflammatoires de l’intestin (MII). L’étiquette de « maladie nationale » a été apposée aux MII, puisque le Canada affiche des taux d’incidence et de prévalence parmi les plus élevés au monde1. biotech.ca
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partnerships partenariats
the prestigious Prix Galien Innovative Product Award, which is also a tribute to the Canadian medical research community whose work led to its development. Now joining the Takeda portfolio from Shire is the first new treatment in nearly 40 years for short bowel syndrome, designed to promote repair and normal growth of the intestine and increase absorption of nutrients for this rare, but potentially fatal, gastrointestinal disorder that is often the result of Crohn’s disease, bowel injury or cancer treatment that requires surgical removal of a significant portion of the patient’s small intestine. It was developed by a team led by Dr. Daniel Drucker, senior investigator at the LunenfeldTanenbaum Research Institute in Toronto.3 “At Takeda, we have a strong heritage in the discovery of new medicines and we believe one of the ways we can improve quality of life for patients is through ongoing research. Globally, the company invests nearly 20 per cent of its revenues into research and development to continue to deliver innovation to patients,” said Yüceland. “We are also committed to ensuring we have good relationships and productive partnerships with the biopharmaceutical research community across Canada in all therapeutic areas where we have a presence.”
“At Takeda, we have a strong heritage in the discovery of new medicines and we believe one of the ways we can improve quality of life for patients is through ongoing research.” As one of the fastest-growing growing biopharma companies in Canada, success for Takeda Canada means having razor-sharp focus on bringing Canadians better health and a brighter future. Now with an expanded footprint in Canada the company is well-positioned to bring more innovative medicines to Canadians living with gastrointestinal illnesses, cancer, neurological conditions and rare diseases. 1
edia Planet, Digestive Wellness Supplement, Tackling the burden of ulcerative M colitis, March 2015, accessed March 2019, at: http://www.personalhealthnews.ca/ prevention-and-treatment/tackling-the-burden-of-ulcerative-colitis
2
eagan BG et al, Treatment of Active Crohn’s Disease With MLN0002, a Humanized F Antibody to the α4β7 Integrin, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2008; 6:12, 1370–1377, accessed March 2019, at: http://www.cghjournal.org/article/ S1542-3565%2808%2900617-4/abstract and Sher J, Approval being sought for new treatment for Crohn’s and colitis, The London Free Press, Aug. 21, 2013, accessed March 2019, at: http://www.lfpress.com/2013/08/21/approval-being-sought-for-newtreatment-for-crohns-and-colitis
3
unenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, “Drug discovered in L Canada now approved in Canada,” Dec. 4, 2015, accessed March 2019, at: http://research.lunenfeld.ca/rss/?page=2139
Parmi ces traitements, mentionnons le premier agent biologique sélectif de l’intestin utilisé pour traiter la colite ulcéreuse et la maladie de Crohn. Le Dr Andrew Lazarovits, un chercheur de London, en Ontario, a joué un rôle clé lors des premières étapes de découverte et de développement de ce traitement2. Après son décès en 1999, ses travaux ont été repris par d’autres et ont mené à des essais cliniques internationaux financés par Takeda et menés par le Dr Brian Feagan, du Robarts Research Institute, à London, en Ontario. En 2016, Takeda a reçu le prestigieux Prix Galien Canada Produit innovateur, également remis pour rendre hommage aux chercheurs canadiens ayant participé au développement du traitement. Le portefeuille de Takeda comprend maintenant le premier nouveau traitement contre le syndrome de l’intestin court en près de 40 ans, conçu pour favoriser la réparation et la croissance normale de l’intestin ainsi que l’absorption des nutriments. Ce trouble gastro-intestinal rare et potentiellement mortel découle souvent de la maladie de Crohn, de lésions intestinales ou de traitements contre le cancer, et nécessite une ablation chirurgicale d’une partie importante de l’intestin grêle. Le traitement a été mis au point par une équipe dirigée par le Dr Daniel Drucker, chercheur principal à l’Institut de recherche Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum de Toronto3. « Takeda présente de solides antécédents dans la découverte de nouveaux médicaments, et nous croyons que la recherche continue est une façon pour nous d’améliorer la qualité de vie des patients. À l’échelle mondiale, l’entreprise investit près de 20 % de ses revenus dans la recherche et le développement afin de continuer d’innover pour les patients, a indiqué Mme Yüceland. Nous nous engageons également à entretenir des relations solides et des partenariats productifs au sein de la communauté de recherche biopharmaceutique à l’échelle du Canada, et ce, dans tous les secteurs thérapeutiques où nous assurons une présence. » Étant l’une des entreprises pharmaceutiques connaissant la plus forte croissance au Canada, Takeda se doit de concentrer ses efforts en vue d’offrir une santé meilleure et un avenir prometteur aux Canadiens Une présence plus étendue au Canada permet à l’entreprise de fournir des médicaments novateurs aux Canadiens atteints de maladies gastro-intestinales, de cancer, de troubles neurologiques et de maladies rares. 1
edia Planet, Digestive Wellness Supplement, Tackling the burden of ulcerative M colitis, March 2015, accessed March 2019, at: http://www.personalhealthnews. ca/prevention-and-treatment/tackling-the-burden-of-ulcerative-colitis
2
Feagan BG et al, Treatment of Active Crohn’s Disease With MLN0002, a Humanized Antibody to the α4β7 Integrin, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2008; 6:12, 1370–1377, accessed March 2019, at: http://www. cghjournal.org/article/S1542-3565%2808%2900617-4/abstract and Sher J, Approval being sought for new treatment for Crohn’s and colitis, The London Free Press, Aug. 21, 2013, accessed March 2019, at: http://www.lfpress. com/2013/08/21/approval-being-sought-for-new-treatment-for-crohnsand-colitis
3
Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, “Drug discovered in Canada now approved in Canada,” Dec. 4, 2015, accessed March 2019, at: http://research.lunenfeld.ca/rss/?page=2139
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Dedicated to meeting the needs of Canadians in neuroscience SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1978, THE BIOGEN MISSION HAS BEEN CLEAR: to be pioneers in neuroscience. Biogen is one of the world’s first biotechnology companies and is the only major player exclusively focused on neuroscience, a disease area with a great unmet need for breakthrough treatment advances and discoveries. In Canada, neurological conditions have been estimated to affect 3.6 million Canadians living in the community and a further 170,000 Canadians who live in long-term care.1 Neurological conditions impact not only the individual living with the condition but also their families and caregivers, both informal and professional, thereby increasing the number of Canadians touched by these conditions. According to the most recent published Canadian data, the financial burden of neurological disorders across the care continuum is high. In fact, 35% of adults with a neurological condition reported that their family had experienced financial difficulties in the previous year, and one quarter of adults between the ages of 18-64 with a neurological condition (excluding migraines) were permanently unable to work.2 Biogen has been bringing innovations in treatments for neurological conditions to Canadians for the past 20 years and strives to continue to do so, with its strong pipeline of investigational therapies. A pioneer in multiple sclerosis (MS),
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Biogen has developed a number of therapies for people with MS, with indications including those that can help reduce the number of relapses, slow down the progression of physical disability and help improve walking. Biogen continues to innovate and advance its portfolio of therapies for Canadians with MS. Biogen’s commitment to patients living with neurological disorders is also evident in the company’s work in a rarer, less known condition of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic disease that affects the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, limiting an individual’s ability to walk, eat and ultimately breathe, and the number one genetic cause of death for infants.3 Biogen’s work led to the approval by Health Canada in June 2017,4 making it the first and only medicine available to treat the root cause of SMA. Since then, Biogen Canada has been working with provincial authorities to ensure patients have access to this life-changing medicine. The work Biogen does to break new ground that makes a difference in the lives of patients is ongoing. Potential new neuroscience treatments in the Biogen pipeline address serious medical challenges including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and further advances in the treatment of MS and of SMA.
“Biogen is one of the world’s first biotechnology companies and is the only major player exclusively focused on neuroscience, a disease area with a great unmet need for breakthrough treatment advances and discoveries.”
In Canada, Biogen’s vision is to be the leader in neuroscience by differentiating services and providing therapies that bring value to patients and healthcare partners. Biogen Canada has invested over 20% of its revenue each year into Canadian research and development partnerships over the last 10 years. These partnerships are critical to making Canada a research hub in neuroscience, including top Canadian research centres such as the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) at McGill University, the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, the University of Alberta and Brain Canada. Biogen supports these centres through grants, fellowships, data registries and various clinical studies. Making Canada a research hub for neuroscience research can only lead to improved health outcomes. Biogen Canada strives for the same goal. Most importantly, at Biogen, everyone cares deeply and works fearlessly in order to help make Canadians’ live longer and healthier lives. 1 T he National Population Health Study of Neurological Conditions, Mapping Connections, 2014 2 T he National Population Health Study of Neurological Conditions, Mapping Connections, 2014 3 CureSMA website www.curesma.org/about 4 https://health-products.canada.ca/noc-ac/info.do?lang=en&no=19476
Caring Deeply. Working Fearlessly. Changing Lives.™ We care deeply about making a difference. We work fearlessly. We do not give up even when challenged, pursuing innovation in all that we do. We are humbled by the opportunity to change lives. www.biogen.ca Biogen Canada is a member of BIOTECanada.
The Biotech City
A unique hub in North America
CREATED IN 2001, LAVAL’S BIOTECH CITY HAS GROWN INTO A MAJOR BIOPHARMACEUTICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES CENTRE. As it has for the better part of two decades, the Biotech City supports the creation and growth of companies focused on research and development. Today, Biotech City is home to more than 100 companies, directly employing more than 5,000 skilled workers. Commissioner Jean-Marc Juteau says the strength of Biotech City lies in the integration of all phases of the life sciences sector: discovery, development, manufacturing and commercialization. “It is no coincidence that everything is in place to ensure the continuing success of the sector,” he explains. “Certainly, the concentration of expertise contributes significantly to the success of the Biotech City. But equally important is the quality of the human resources available to companies in the Biotech City. This is due in
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large part to the proximity of internationally recognized universities and research centres.” The Biotech City ecosystem is exceptionally diversified, thanks to the presence of biopharmaceutical, contract research organization (CRO), medical device, information technology, and nutraceutical companies. Multinationals such as Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline, Servier, Bausch Health, and Roche Diagnostics also contribute to the success of the Biotech City. CROs are especially important to development in the pharmaceutical industry. And the 18 CROs in the Biotech City provide considerable support for development, preclinical and clinical research. They contribute to the discovery of molecules, toxicity testing, pharmacokinetics, etc. Some of the most notable CROs are Altasciences, Citoxlab, Corealis, Cirion, Biotrial and Neomed Labs.
THE BIOTECH CITY AT A GLANCE: • 5,000 people in more than 100 companies • The National Institute for Scientific Research (INRS) • The CQIB incubator • 12,000,000 sqf dedicated to science and high technology • 20 minutes from YUL airport • Served by the Montreal subway
AREAS OF EXPERTISE: • Biotechnology • Pharmaceutical • Contract Research Organization (CRO) • Health Technology • Nutraceutical www.citebiotech.com
“It is no coincidence that everything is in place to ensure the continuing success of the sector.”
Today, says Commissioner Juteau, Laval’s Biotech City is a national force for biotechnology and life sciences. “Since 2001, more than $4 billion in private funds has been invested for new construction, land purchase, equipment, research & development and training. As a result, an average of 275 new high-value jobs have been created in the hub every year.” While the Biotech City brings together a number of important companies, the National Institute for Scientific Research (INRS) is at the base of the bio-pharmaceutical development pyramid. M.Sc. and Ph.D. students and postdocs receive training in five programs in the fields of applied microbiology, experimental sciences of health, biology and virology and immunology. INRS also hosts the Doping Control Laboratory, recognized worldwide and accredited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In addition, the hub is home to the National Centre for Experimental Biology (CNBE), which specializes in exploratory studies in animals. Located in the heart of the Biotech City, the Quebec Centre for Innovation in Biotechnology (CQIB) is a world-renowned incubator of life sciences. Since its creation in 1995, 55 companies have been incubated, resulting in the creation of more than 1,000 jobs. The CQIB offers incubated companies pharmaceutical grade laboratories that meet GLP and GMP standards. The incubator also supports entrepreneurs in their business development. Startups are put in contact with consultants and financing groups to ensure their growth and to ensure that they can, eventually, stand on their own. Foreign startups are also welcome. But the Biotech City is not resting on its laurels. Plans are already under way for Phase II, the development of 1 million square feet of land within walking distance of the subway and downtown Laval. Officials hope Phase II will attract even more foreign companies and accommodate even more startups.
Top: INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier Middle: CQIB Incubator Bottom: Corealis Pharma
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HOW WE’RE CHANGING THE GAME Medicago's technologies represent a novel approach to vaccines, therapeutic proteins, and disease response.
Virus-Like Particles
Plant-based Manufacturing
Discovery Platform
Mimic the native structure of a virus but do not contain the genetic material.
This platform has many advantages, including fast lead time, scalability and versality.
Our unique screening platform accelerates the discovery of new recombinant proteins.
VOTED: BEST NEW VACCINE TECHNOLOGY/PLATFORM Our proprietary plant-based production platform, ProficiaÂŽ was named "Best New Vaccine Technology/platform" at the World Vaccine Congress 2019 in Washington, D.C.
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ABOUT MEDICAGO Medicago is a leading clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company using proprietary plant-based and virus-like particle (VLP) technologies to rapidly develop innovative vaccines and protein-based therapeutics for infectious diseases and emerging public health challenges.
Transient expression in plants
VIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES An exciting approach to vaccine development, virus-like particles (VLPs) mimic the native structure of a virus but do not contain the genetic material. This has the potential to make them non-infectious. In vitro data suggest that VLPs trigger multiple aspects of the immune response which could possibly result into long-lasting protection.
PLANT-BASED MANUFACTURING Plants are highly efficient at producing proteins of varying complexity, serving as mini-factories for our vaccines. Our plant-based production platform demonstrates agility, accuracy, and speed during production. Greenhouse based manufacturing can easily scale-up, in a fast manner, to meet urgent needs.
Medicago’s unique technologies and production capabilities could provide an important tool for global pandemic preparedness. • Our platform can deliver a vaccine in 5-6 weeks.
DISCOVERY PLATFORM To accelerate vaccine development, a high-throughput screening platform has been developed that enables the testing of more than 200 different expression approaches per week. This screening platform, named VLPExpressTM, has accelerated the discovery of a variety of product candidates and has enabled the production of a broad range of VLP-based vaccine candidates and antibodies.
CONTACT INFORMATION Jean-Luc Martre Vice President, Business Development & Marketing
Medicago inc. 1020 route de l’Eglise, suite 600 Québec, Canada G1V 3V9 medicago.com
T 418 658.9393
E info@medicago.com
MEDICAGO: A RAPID RESPONSE PLATFORM FOR PANDEMIC THREATS
• We would only need the genetic sequence to produce a vaccine that accurately matches the circulating strain according to our data. • Our data suggest that there may be little risk of strain mutation in plants.
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ecosystem écosystème
Triphase Accelerator Establishes Foundation for Canadian Therapeutics Unicorn Triphase Accelerator sur le point de donner naissance à une véritable « licorne » dans le secteur canadien des traitements novateurs by Rafi Hofstein, Co-founder and Director, Triphase Accelerator Corporation; President & CEO, MaRS Innovation par Rafi Hofstein, cofondateur et directeur de Triphase Accelerator Corporation et président et chef de la direction de MaRS Innovation
A SIGNIFICANT PARTNERSHIP WAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED AMONG FACIT, TRIPHASE, AND CELGENE for funding and development of the breakthrough targeting of WDR5 for leukemia therapy. The upfront payment by Celgene of US $40 million and option amount of up to US $940 million were among the highest ever paid in Canada for an oncology asset. Triphase was co-owned by MaRS Innovation, MaRS Discovery District, and FACIT, the oncology accelerator arm of the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research. All three co-founders share the same dream: to identify and successfully nurture a therapeutic drug, born and bred here in Toronto, and bring it to global success and global patient accessibility. In essence, that is what all developers of therapeutics strive for, and the development of a druggable molecule interrogating WDR5 has all the features necessary to have a real shot a making this dream come true. Dr. Ann MacLaren, Triphase Director of Translational Science explains that “the WDR5 project focusses on an experimental cancer drug that modifies how human genes are expressed in order to stop the growth of cancer in patients. This is part of an exciting new therapeutic field known as ‘epigenetics.’ The target of the experimental drug is a protein named after the WD repeat-containing protein 5— or ‘WDR5.’ WDR5 acts as a scaffold, tethering together large complexes of proteins that modify genes within cancer cells. Targeting WDR5 will allow us to switch off genes that are driving cancer development. This is a unique approach that has the potential to target multiple genes that are driving cancer in patients. Why is it so significant? Rising rates of cancer are reported not only in Canada but around the world—it is time to elevate the efforts of combating these high numbers.”
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UN IMPORTANT PARTENARIAT A RÉCEMMENT ÉTÉ ANNONCÉ ENTRE FACIT, TRIPHASE ET CELGENE pour le financement et le développement d’un traitement novateur de la leucémie par ciblage de la protéine WDR5. Le paiement initial de 40 M$ US effectué par Celgene et un montant d’option de 940 M$ US figurent parmi les plus élevés jamais versés au Canada pour un produit oncologique. L’organisation MaRS Innovation, le MaRS Discovery District et FACIT étaient les copropriétaires de Triphase, l’accélérateur de projets oncologiques de l’Institut ontarien de recherche sur le cancer (IORC). Les trois cofondateurs partagent le même rêve, celui de trouver et de mettre au point à Toronto un médicament, puis de le commercialiser à l’échelle internationale, afin que les patients du monde entier y aient accès. Au fond, tous les chercheurs en médecine ont ce même objectif ultime, et le travail sur une molécule à potentiel de médicament ciblant la protéine WDR5 nous fait croire à une réelle possibilité de réaliser ce rêve. Ann MacLaren, Ph. D., directrice de la recherche traductionnelle chez Triphase explique : « Le projet WDR5 est axé sur un médicament oncologique expérimental, qui modifierait la façon dont les gènes humains s’expriment, afin de stopper l’évolution du cancer chez les malades. Il entre dans un passionnant nouveau champ thérapeutique que l’on appelle l’épigénétique. Notre médicament expérimental cible la protéine WDR5 (ou WD repeatcontaining protein 5). La protéine WDR5 agit de façon structurante, formant une sorte d’échafaudage à partir d’ensembles complexes de protéines qui modifient les gènes dans les cellules cancéreuses. Atteindre la protéine WDR5 permettrait d’empêcher l’expression des gènes qui stimulent l’évolution du cancer. Notre approche unique consiste donc à cibler d’un seul geste de multiples gènes
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Rafi Hofstein, Co-founder and Director, Triphase Accelerator Corporation; President & CEO, MaRS Innovation
Dr. Ann MacLaren, Triphase Director of Translational Science Ann MacLaren, Ph. D., directrice de la recherche traductionnelle chez Triphase
Rafi Hofstein, cofondateur et directeur de Triphase Accelerator Corporation et président et chef de la direction de MaRS Innovation
“We are at a critical point now in which we have the opportunity to develop a unique ‘Made in Canada’ solution for early- to late-stage drug development via creative mechanisms involving public-private partnerships.” The hope for targeting WDR is that it will slow the progression of some of the most devastating cancers, such as various forms of leukemia. With significant financial and technological support from Celgene, Triphase has embarked on the interrogation of WDR5 and is developing a therapeutic for the treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), an aggressive cancer characterized into different groups that have unique gene changes.
responsables du cancer. En quoi est-ce une avancée considérable? L’incidence du cancer est élevée et continue d’augmenter, non seulement au Canada, mais partout dans le monde : le moment est venu d’intensifier les efforts de lutte contre ce fléau. » Par le ciblage de la protéine WDR5, on espère ralentir l’évolution de certains des cancers les plus ravageurs, tels que diverses formes de leucémie. Grâce à un considérable soutien financier et technologique de la part de Celgene, Triphase est désormais sur le chemin de l’étude de la protéine WDR5 et œuvre à mettre au point un traitement des leucémies myéloïdes aiguës (LMA), un groupe de cancers agressifs qui entraînent diverses modifications génétiques. L’engagement de Triphase à mettre au point un traitement transformationnel des LMA témoigne de la capacité du Canada d’accomplir efficacement ses objectifs. Tout a commencé avec le travail de recherche sur les attributs de la poche moléculaire responsable du maintien de la fonction de la protéine WDR5—recherche qui a été effectuée par des spécialistes en chimie thérapeutique de l’IORC (l’équipe de Rima Al-Awar, Ph. D., à Toronto), en collaboration avec des biologistes du Consortium de génomique structurelle (l’équipe d’Alec Edwards, Ph. D., à Toronto). Ce qui est extraordinaire dans ces efforts collaboratifs, c’est que chaque élément de la recherche a respecté les principes de base de
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The commitment of Triphase to the development of transformational treatment of AML is a testament to Canada’s capability to do it right and to do it efficiently. The asset has its beginning in the discovery work on the attributes of the molecular pocket responsible for maintaining the function of WDR5–research that was conducted by medicinal chemists at OICR (Dr. Rima Al-Awar’s team in Toronto) together with molecular biologists of Structural Genomics Consortium (Dr. Aled Edward’s team in Toronto). The beauty of this collaborative effort is that every part of the research preserved basic principles of open innovation. During that stage of the research, the teams elucidated the attributes of the WDR5 mode of action. Later on, and following elucidation of the mode of action, several scaffolds of molecules created the arsenal of druggable candidates. Triphase—as implicated in its name— will focus on three clinical development stages, namely late preclinical, phase I clinical, and phase II clinical. Along these guiding principles, the WDR5 program is currently at the late preclinical stage, and if all goes well will move into clinical development around mid-2020. A true unicorn has more than one asset under development. Enroute to becoming one, Triphase already has two other programs in the pipeline: Merizomib, a small molecule functioning as proteasome inhibitor (which was found under the ocean not too far from Halifax–obviously a Canadian citizen) which is being developed by Celgene for the treatment of brain tumors (GBM) and is currently in phase III clinical trials in Canada, the U.S., and Europe; and the second program, TRPH222, which is in phase I clinical trials in Canada and the U.S., focusing on lymphoma (DLBCL). According to Yung Wu, President and CEO of MaRS DD, “Triphase’s blockbuster deal proves that Canada’s unique advantage lies in our collaborative, inclusive hightech ecosystem. Just like it takes a community of entrepreneurs, engineers, and investors to build a billion-dollar company, this country’s first preclinical billion-dollar drug deal has come out of an open science approach that brought multiple players together to share knowledge and advance research. We need to nurture more of these collaborations if we are to leverage Canada’s impressive scientific research into products with global impact.” “Triphase has addressed a tremendous gap in Canada in the home-grown development and commercialization of new drugs, especially in the oncology space,” says Dr. Laszlo Radvanyi, President and Scientific Director of OICR. “Practically no clinical development of new oncology agents is taking place here, and Canadian patients continue to be one of the last to gain access to new life-saving drugs. This paradigm has continued for decades in Canada with Canadians not directly benefitting from the creative and innovative scientific discoveries made here due to the shuttling of our
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l’innovation ouverte. À l’étape de la recherche, les équipes ont réussi à comprendre les caractéristiques du mode d’action de la protéine WDR5. À la suite de ces découvertes, plusieurs « échafaudages » de molécules ont constitué un arsenal de candidats-médicaments. Triphase, comme l’indique son nom, axera ses efforts sur trois phases de développement clinique, c’est-à-dire les derniers essais précliniques, les essais cliniques de phase I et les essais cliniques de phase II. Dans le respect de ces principes directeurs, le programme WDR5 en est actuellement à l’étape des derniers essais précliniques; si tout se passe bien, il passera au développement clinique vers la mi-2020. Une véritable licorne œuvre toujours à la mise au point de plus d’un traitement. En bonne voie de devenir une telle entreprise, Triphase compte déjà deux autres programmes dans sa filière de recherche-développement : le marizomib, une petite molécule fonctionnant comme un inhibiteur du protéasome (découverte au fond de l’océan non loin de Halifax, de toute évidence une citoyenne canadienne), sur lequel travaille actuellement Celgene en vue d’un traitement des tumeurs cérébrales (glioblastomes multiformes) et qui en est actuellement aux essais cliniques de phase III au Canada, aux États-Unis et en Europe; le conjugué TRPH222, qui en est aux essais cliniques de phase I au Canada et aux États-Unis et qui vise le traitement des lymphomes (lymphomes diffus à grandes cellules B). Selon Yung Wu, président et chef de la direction du MaRS Discovery District : « Le supercontrat décroché par Triphase prouve que les avantages uniques du Canada résident dans son écosystème de technologies de pointe collaboratif et inclusif. Il faut une communauté d’entrepreneurs, de bâtisseurs et d’investisseurs pour mettre sur pied une société valant un milliard de dollars, et cette entente pharmaceutique, la première entente préclinique d’une valeur d’un milliard, ne fait pas exception à la règle. Elle est née d’une approche d’ouverture en matière de sciences qui a rassemblé de multiples acteurs et ainsi favorisé la mise en commun des connaissances et l’évolution de la recherche. Il nous faut entretenir davantage de collaborations de ce type si nous voulons faire des impressionnantes recherches canadiennes des produits ayant des répercussions à l’échelle mondiale. » « Triphase est venu combler une immense lacune en matière de développement et de commercialisation de nouveaux médicaments au pays, en particulier dans le domaine oncologique. À peu près aucun développement clinique de nouveaux agents oncologiques n’avait lieu ici, et les patients Canadiens sont toujours parmi les derniers à obtenir l’accès aux nouveaux médicaments salvateurs. Cette situation dure depuis des décennies : les Canadiens ne tirent pas directement avantage des découvertes scientifiques novatrices faites au pays, en raison du départ des programmes à l’extérieur de nos frontières. Nous en sommes à un stade critique, où nous avons la possibilité
ecosystem écosystème
Yung Wu, President and CEO of MaRS DD
Dr. Laszlo Radvanyi, President and Scientific director of OICR
Yung Wu, président et chef de la direction du MaRS Discovery District
Laszlo Radvanyi, Ph. D., le président et directeur scientifique de l’IORC
discoveries mostly out of the country. We are at a critical point now in which we have the opportunity to develop a unique ‘Made in Canada’ solution for early- to late-stage drug development via creative mechanisms involving public-private partnerships.” With three programs in various stages of clinical development, and with a concerted effort by the three partners to identify more assets to be adapted under the Triphase umbrella—a collaboration which is unique in the therapeutics-development landscape—we are at the cusp of creating a stronghold representing all the capabilities in Canada, and in Toronto in particular. It is important to note that our partners who are also members of MaRS Innovation (UHN/Princess Margaret Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Unity Health Toronto (formerly St. Michael’s Hospital) to mention a few) will continue to act as suppliers of assets that suit the needs of Triphase as an oncology research franchise. Finally, we would like to acknowledge the wider team— FACIT (Dr. David O’Neill), Triphase (Grant Gibson and Dr. Ilse Treurnicht), and Celgene—for their invaluable expertise in bringing an exciting asset and transformational technology to this promising transactional stage.
de concevoir une solution unique, “faite au Canada”, pour le développement précoce et avancé des médicaments, grâce à des mécanismes créatifs fondés sur des partenariats public-privé », explique Laszlo Radvanyi, Ph. D., le président et directeur scientifique de l’IORC. Grâce à trois programmes à divers stades du développement clinique et aux efforts concertés des trois partenaires dans la recherche de nouveaux candidats à adapter sous l’égide de Triphase—une collaboration unique dans le paysage du développement de traitements—nous sommes sur le point de créer un bastion rassemblant toutes les capacités pertinentes au Canada, à Toronto en particulier. Il est important de noter que nos partenaires, qui sont aussi membres de MaRS Innovation (UHN/Princess Margaret Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Unity Health Toronto [anciennement St. Michael’s Hospital], pour n’en nommer que quelques-uns), continueront d’agir comme fournisseurs de projets correspondant aux besoins de Triphase, en tant qu’entreprise de recherche en oncologie. Enfin, nous aimerions saluer la précieuse expertise de l’ensemble de l’équipe plus vaste—FACIT (David O’Neill, Ph. D.), Triphase (Grant Gibson et Ilse Treurnicht, Ph. D.) et Celgene –, grâce à laquelle un passionnant projet de technologie transformationnelle en est aujourd’hui à l’étape de cette transaction prometteuse.
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Regulators say
CANNABIS IS A DRUG. Tetra Bio-Pharma agrees
NEXT TO GW PHARMA, CANADA’S TETRA BIO-PHARMA safe and effective in the same rigorous way as for drugs IS THE ONLY COMPANY taking a pharmaceutical pathway destined for human use. This logic defines Tetra Bioto discovering and developing cannabinoid-derived products. Pharma’s business strategy. At last count there were more than 130 federally licensed Tetra recently announced that it will accelerate its clinical producers of recreational and medical cannabis. Contrast trial programs with twenty trial sites in Canada and the that with one biopharmaceutical company looking to take United States. Current medical indications in Tetra’s pipeline novel cannabinoid-derived molecules and turn them into target addressable markets of over $20 billion. prescription medications that would be covered by private Leading the charge is Tetra Bio-Pharma’s CEO and CSO and public drug plans. That company is Tetra Bio-Pharma. Dr. Guy Chamberland, and he is not a lightweight when it Tetra Bio-Pharma has become inextricably linked to all comes to his pharmaceutical pedigree. Dr. Chamberland things cannabis. The irony lies in the fact that they are not holds a BSc in agriculture from McGill University, an MSc in a cannabis company. They don’t grow it, sell it, cultivate it veterinary anatomy and physiology and a PhD in biomedical or promote it. What Tetra does is investigate hundreds of sciences (toxicology) from the University of Montreal. He cannabinoid molecules to see what derivatives can be spent more than two decades in drug development for the unleashed and turned into evidence-based medicines that North American pharmaceutical industry, particularly in address significant unmet medical needs in oncology, chronic regulatory affairs and the development and management of pain and ophthalmic. The company is already considered clinical research protocols and clinical studies for botanical a global biopharmaceutical leader in cannabinoid-based drug medicines. Since becoming CEO, Chamberland cherry-picked discovery and development, a reputation formed as a result senior industry heavyweights to strengthen the organization of accelerated regulatory achievements, clinical programs with portfolios in medical affairs and regulatory, licensing, and cost management, which is nothing less than remarkable investor relations, finance, clinical trial recruitment, by pharmaceutical industry standards. It’s first cannabinoidcommunications and sales and marketing. derived medicine could be launched in Q2-Q3 2020. If there is strength in numbers, Dr. Chamberland was Clinical trials conducted by Tetra have already led encouraged when the FDA announced it intended to treat to a significantly improved understanding of the safety, cannabis-derived compounds as they do any other FDApharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cannabinoidregulated products—meaning they will be subject to the same based drugs targeted for the treatment of pain. Zeroing authorities and requirements as FDA-regulated products. in on three therapeutic pillars—chronic pain, “The fact that what we do is perfectly in oncology and ophthalmic—Tetra hopes to sync with the FDA and other health improve pain treatment for millions of regulators speaks volumes about our patients as well as reward its shareholders. A instincts and our actions,” says report from the National Academy of Science Chamberland. “The FDA is sending a strong concluded that chronic pain is a condition for message that circumventing the process will which there is “conclusive or substantial have serious consequences. This might evidence” for cannabis’ effectiveness. stand in the way of those looking to make a Scientific evidence is the gatekeeper to quick return on investment, but it confirms medical cannabis becoming incorporated to me that Tetra chose the right path by into the Canadian healthcare system. Tetra following the established route for drug understands that without data, health approvals. Being ahead of the curve on the regulators will not approve, physicians will regulatory requirements means that we are not prescribe, and insurance companies will already well placed to produce the clinical not cover products that have not been proven data that regulators want.” Tetra Bio-Pharma’s CEO and CSO Dr. Guy Chamberland
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vaccine news du nouveau, côté vaccins
National Immunization Poster Contest for Grade 6 Students Concours national d’affiches sur l’immunisation, pour les élèves en 6e année by Immunize Canada CANADIAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION par Immunisation Canada ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DE SANTÉ PUBLIQUE
EVERY OTHER YEAR, IMMUNIZE CANADA ORGANIZES A UNIQUE NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION POSTER CONTEST for Grade 6 students in conjunction with the biennial Canadian Immunization Conference. “This exciting poster contest is open to all Grade 6 students in Canadian schools,” says Dr. Shelly McNeil, Chair of Immunize Canada. “The goal of the contest is to encourage students to understand the importance of immunization and its effects on the health and well-being of children, and to provide them with an opportunity to submit their original works of art reflecting their ideas on immunization for good health.” Hundreds of creative entries were received from schools across the country. Eleven winning posters—a national winner, a national runner-up, and one winner from each participating province/territory—were selected based on creativity, artistic quality, colourfulness, imagination, and a clear immunization message. The 2018 National Winner was Katrina Torre, a Grade 6 student at Holy Ghost School in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The 2018 National Runner-up was Frédérique Boeck, a Grade 6 student at École élémentaire publique Le Prélude in Orléans, Ontario. Immunize Canada gratefully acknowledges the donation of excellent prizes by BIOTECanada and the Canadian Paediatric Society. All the winning posters were displayed during the Canadian Immunization Conference in Ottawa in December 2018. The winning artwork will promote immunization during National Immunization Awareness Week from 20-27 April 2019, and is downloadable from Immunize Canada’s website at https://immunize.ca/niaw.
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TOUS LES DEUX ANS, IMMUNISATION CANADA ORGANISE UN CONCOURS NATIONAL D’AFFICHES SUR L’IMMUNISATION pour les élèves de 6e année conjointement avec la Conférence canadienne sur l’immunisation. « Ce concours passionnant est ouvert aux élèves de 6e année de toutes les écoles du Canada » dit Dre Shelly McNeil, présidente d’Immunisation Canada. « L’objectif du Concours national d’affiches sur l’immunisation est d’aider les élèves à reconnaître et à comprendre l’importance de la vaccination pour la santé et le bien-être des enfants. Ce concours est l’occasion pour les élèves du Canada de soumettre leurs œuvres d’art originaux qui illustrent leurs idées sur les bienfaits de la vaccination pour la santé. » Immunisation Canada a reçu des centaines de soumissions créatives des écoles de tout le pays, parmi lesquels on a sélectionné onze affiches—une première et une deuxième place à l’échelle nationale, et une affiche gagnante dans chaque province/territoire participante—d’après la créativité, les qualités artistiques et la vivacité des couleurs de l’œuvre, l’imagination de l’artiste et le message sur la vaccination. La première place à l’échelle nationale est attribuée à Katrina Torre, une élève en 6e année à l’école Holy Ghost à Winnipeg (Manitoba), et la deuxième place à Frédérique Boeck, une élève en 6e année à l’École élémentaire Le Prélude à Orléans (Ontario). Immunisation Canada reconnaît la générosité de BIOTECanada et de la Société canadienne de pédiatrie, qui ont contribué d’excellents prix. All the winning posters were displayed during the Canadian Immunization Conference in Ottawa in December 2018. The winning artwork will promote immunization during National Immunization Awareness Week from 20-27 April 2019, and is downloadable from Immunize Canada’s website at https://immunize.ca/niaw. Les affiches gagnantes ont été exposées durant la Conférence canadienne sur l’immunisation, qui a eu lieu à Ottawa (Ontario) en décembre 2018. Toutes les affiches gagnantes serviront à promouvoir la vaccination durant la Semaine nationale de promotion de la vaccination, du 20 au 27 avril 2019. Elles sont téléchargeables du site Web d’Immunisation Canada à https://immunize.ca/fr/snpv.
vaccine news du nouveau, côté vaccins
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Facility of the “Nuture”
by Tom J. Piombino, Vice President, IPS
Our historical dependencies on government regulation to solve In the architectural and engineering world of biopharmaceuticals, big problems is no longer realistic in a global economy. The nuture will we often refer to the design of a facility for the next generation of require personal investment in change that will have to take place manufacturing as the facility of the future (FoF). The idea of the FoF over years and not generations. The nuture is a new future; we need to began about 10 years ago, primarily focused on the manufacturing of be ready to pivot, both mentally and physically. antibody-based biologics. Many innovative facility and equipment How can your FoF planning overcome all this scientific and natural design strategies have been employed and positioned as the FoF in innovation? that time. Customers are looking for the attributes that have defined • Recognize that business continuity planning must be a leading FoF such as flexibility, predictability, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. initiative in your organization In trying to achieve these FoF requirements, the industry has • Balance your inward and outward view of the FoF facility design consciously taken an inward view and leveraged disruptive • Prepare for outward disruption and don’t wait for regulation to technologies, optimized formulations, closed systems and increased dictate the required changes automation to improve facility layout and process efficiencies. • Back check your FoF assumptions against the nuture’s As we continue to develop our ideas around the FoF, it is requirements appropriate that we ask ourselves if the future unfolding before us • Prepare to pivot now is what we thought it would be when we started on this journey a • Standardize when and wherever possible and leverage that to decade ago. Is it practical to continue to inwardly look forward when get to market faster peripheral topics and pressures are growing? Can the attributes and • LEED is a great start but don’t let it be a list of limitations that technologies that previously characterized the FoF stand up against block your imagination, aspirations and the needs of the nuture the demands of the new future or “nuture?” Our reality points to the fact that the next big disruption Current FoF Attributes Demands of the Nuture in the nuture will be outward facing, requiring a balance • State-of-the-art automation & data monitoring • Mobility between technology and business continuity. If we do not • Inspection friendly (vision without entry) • Urban & suburban site locations begin balancing this now, it will be difficult to prioritize • Good maintenance access & tracking • Migrating & displaced workforce nuture opportunities; opportunities that might require a • Predictable, reliable, and traceable • Public transit access to workforce focus on three monetized vertical markets - Human Health, • Standardized and Repeatable • Blockbuster business continuity measures Animal Health and Planet Health. • Latest equipment technology • Easy access to airports & distribution centers The challenges to nuture thinking are many. We find • Requiring less operators • Increase in site provisions for electric transportation many competing life innovations that create an • Globally compliant • Traceable waste & recycling streams (possible on-site systems) overwhelming sense of practical contradiction and moral • Energy efficient • Alternate chemical disinfectants & decontamination techniques conflict. Gene therapy has opened up an entirely new line • Reduced power dependencies (investment in renewable energy) • Cost-effective of therapeutic thinking that will necessitate change. We • Sustainable power infrastructure & sources from utility providers • Expandable are reading about, seeing and experiencing the impacts of • Higher investment in inventory and/or access to supplier inventory • Adaptable accelerating climate change. The Internet of Things (IoT) is • Continued growth of therapeutic innovation, failures, and successes • Flexibility providing massive amounts of data that need to be • Scalable harvested and will ultimately alter a century of behaviors and instinct. IPS provides technical consulting, architecture, engineering, project controls, construction management, and CGMP compliance / CQV services for technically complex pharmaceutical development and manufacturing facilities worldwide. Learn more about IPS at www.ipsdb.com.
IPS-Integrated Project Services, ULC 400 Applewood Crescent, Suite 202 Vaughan, ON L4K 0C3, Canada T: +1 888-366-7660
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IPS-Integrated Project Services, LLC (Headquarters) 721 Arbor Way, Suite 100 Blue Bell, PA 19403 USA T: +1 610-828-4090
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Harnessing RNAi: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals is conquering rare diseases one drug at a time
GOING FROM ZERO TO FIVE PRODUCTS IN FIVE YEARS is quite a feat, but Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. is aiming high for their entry into the Canadian market. “The company was founded on the creation of therapies called RNAi—RNA interference,” explains Jeff Miller, the general manager for Alnylam Canada. “Our mission is to develop therapies for patients with diseases that were previously untreatable.” Alnylam was one company that stuck with RNAi from the beginning. RNAi was first discovered in the 1990s, and in 2006, the Nobel Prize was awarded. The field exploded with enthusiasm, but biotech companies quickly hit a roadblock. “By around 2011, most companies had left the RNA world,” Miller explains. “But Alnylam stuck with it. The company persevered because we had a commitment to using this Nobel Prize winning technology to develop therapies for patients.”
Jeff Miller, General Manager, Alnylam Canada
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FIVE PRODUCTS IN FIVE YEARS Alnylam now has their first drug approved in Europe and the U.S., called Onpattro (Patisiran). It has been filed in Canada under priority review, and they are expecting a decision in summer 2019. Patisiran will be the first RNAi therapy to come to Canada. Patisiran treats a disease called hereditary or hATTR amyloidosis, in which the liver produces proteins that misfold, causing amyloid fibrils. These amyloid fibrils begin to deposit throughout the body, often in the peripheral nerves and in the heart causing polyneuropathy or cardiomyopathy, as well as autonomic issues in the gastrointestinal tract. It is hard to diagnose because awareness is low, and there were only symptomatic treatments in the past. “We hope through medical education efforts we are able to increase awareness and ultimately are able to help more patients get diagnosed sooner,” Miller says. “Our Patisiran phase three study, called APOLLO, showed unprecedented results in a disease where historically, the time from diagnosis to death was less than 5 years.” Alnylam hopes to quickly have two follow up products in Canada. The second drug is called Givosiran, which treats Acute Hepatic Porphyria (AHP), a disease that targets predominantly younger women, causing chronic, painful and disabling attacks. In April, Alnylam reported results from the Phase 3 ENVISION study. It is expected that Givosiran will be filed for approval in Canada in the early part of 2020. The third product in Phase 3 is called Lumasiran, which will treat Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 1 (PH1), a disease that primarily affects young children. PH1 is a disease in which excessive oxalate production results in the deposition of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys and urinary tract and can lead to the formation of painful and recurrent kidney stones and nephrocalcinosis. Beyond these three important medicines, Alnylam has another two medicines in Phase 3 clinical trials and a total of 10 clinical programs in development, focused on strategic therapeutic areas including Genetic Medicines, CardioMetabolic Disease, Hepatic Infectious Disease, and CNS/ Ocular Disease.
Steven Roblin, Medical Director, Alnylam Canada
Colleen Coxson, Head of Commercial Operations for Alnylam Canada
“Our mission is to develop therapies for patients with diseases that were previously untreatable.”
BUILDING A CANADIAN PRESENCE AND BEYOND “Having the opportunity to work for a company that is creating a completely new way to treat disease at the genetic level is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” says Steven Roblin, the Medical Director for Alnylam Canada. “It’s important for us to have a presence in Canada and be part of the Canadian community. Anything we can do to support Canadian patients is incredibly important.” Miller was the first employee in the Canadian operation. He located offices in Mississauga, and began to build his team throughout Canada. “I’ve worked in many countries over the course of my career; the really exciting part about this particular role, in addition to the science, is coming to Canada, hiring this amazing team, building visibility for Alnylam, and serving the many patients in need of our therapies,” Miller says. “It is our goal to go from no products to hopefully five products in just a few years—that is pretty exciting!” Globally, Alnylam is growing very quickly to serve patients in need. Currently, they have over 1,000 employees in 16 countries with a presence in the U.S. and Europe, and are rapidly expanding into Japan, Latin America, and the Middle East. “Our core values are what make Alnylam different,” says Colleen Coxson, Head of Commercial Operations for Alnylam Canada. “Commitment to our patients is number one for us. Commitment to our people is also important—we recognize how hard people work and we support them. We are exceptionally passionate about what we’re doing.” While Miller’s team at Alnylam is setting up their operations, they never lose sight of their ultimate goal— that patients are able to access their new and innovative treatments that could change lives for the better. “We aim to be as innovative in partnering as we have been in science,” says Miller. “We intend to deliver value to the Canadian health care system, and will be proactive with health care providers and payers to ensure that patients have access to our medicines. That is our motivation each and every day.”
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legal matters questions de droit
BIOTECanada Trends Les tendances 2019 dans le secteur canadien des biotechs by/par Melanie Baird, Joseph Garcia, Christopher Jones, Mark Mohamed, Cheryl Satin, Andrew Skodyn, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
CANADA’S STRENGTH IN THE BIOTECH AND LIFE SCIENCES SECTOR can be seen in the role that companies in different Canadian regions play in the growing global life sciences industry. With a national perspective, we explore current Canadian trends and changes taking place in the sector, focusing on three key areas: corporate/private mergers and acquisitions, financing, and IP litigation. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS Larger established companies in the biotech sector are re-focusing their portfolios on core therapeutic areas and looking to increase the depth and breadth of these core areas, presenting an opportunity for smaller biotech players to engage in more creative ways with these large companies through joint ventures, partnerships, and resource pooling. Smaller companies without the capital to acquire or grow new business units through traditional mergers and acquisitions (M&A) can nonetheless expand into new therapeutic areas through these strategic longerterm relationships. CONSOLIDATION OF START-UPS Start-ups and growth-stage companies are the primary drivers of next-generation technologies and will continue to be attractive targets for large, traditional pharma companies. However, owing to the differences in corporate culture between start-ups and established pharma firms, we expect to see increased consolidation amongst start-ups, rather than strictly seeing these companies be absorbed by larger companies.
LA FORCE DU CANADA DANS LE SECTEUR DE LA BIOTECHNOLOGIE ET DES SCIENCES de la vie est apparente dans le rôle que jouent les entreprises provenant des diverses régions canadiennes au sein de ce secteur en croissance à l’échelle internationale. Dans une perspective nationale, nous explorons dans cet article les tendances et les changements survenant actuellement dans trois domaines clés du secteur de la biotechnologie et des sciences de la vie au Canada, soit les fusions et acquisitions de sociétés ouvertes et fermées, le financement et les litiges en matière de propriété intellectuelle (la « PI »).
PARTENARIATS STRATÉGIQUES Les grandes entreprises bien établies du secteur de la biotechnologie misent de nouveau sur les domaines thérapeutiques essentiels dans la composition de leurs portefeuilles. Elles cherchent non seulement à approfondir ces domaines, mais aussi à en élargir la portée. Cette tendance donne ainsi l’occasion aux petites entreprises biotechnologiques de faire preuve de créativité en s’associant avec ces grands acteurs de diverses façons, notamment au moyen de coentreprises, de partenariats et du partage de ressources. Les petites entreprises n’ayant pas le capital nécessaire pour réaliser des acquisitions ou pour développer de nouvelles unités commerciales par l’intermédiaire de fusions et acquisitions traditionnelles peuvent néanmoins accroître leurs activités dans de nouveaux domaines thérapeutiques grâce à de telles relations stratégiques à plus long terme.
CONSOLIDATION D’ENTREPRISES EN DÉMARRAGE CROSS-INDUSTRY COLLABORATION High tech companies with no previous connection to the life sciences, such as Google and Microsoft, have invested heavily in the biotech sector in recent years and we expect this trend to continue. As new technologies in the life sciences move into the digital space through the incorporation of artificial intelligence and machine learning, cross-industry collaborations are becoming increasingly important to remain competitive in the biotech sector.
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Les entreprises en démarrage et en croissance constituent le moteur principal de la prochaine génération de technologies, et continueront ainsi d’être des cibles attrayantes pour les grandes sociétés pharmaceutiques bien établies. Cependant, les différences en matière de culture d’entreprise entre ces dernières et les entreprises en démarrage laissent croire que les opérations de regroupement de jeunes entreprises se multiplieront, par opposition à l’absorption des nouveaux acteurs par de plus grandes sociétés.
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GLOBAL ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY REMAINS For biotech finance and M&A, globally and in Canada, 2018 started by continuing the positive momentum of recent years. However, as the year closed out tension over international trade issues adversely impacted this trend. Global biotech M&A was slower in the fourth quarter of 2018 than in any quarter over the past five years. As a sector, biotech continues to be disproportionately impacted in more challenging markets, as investors retreat. While most of the momentum lost from 2018’s fourth quarter has been recovered so far in 2019, global economic volatility remains a concern.
COLLABORATION INTERSECTORIELLE Des sociétés technologiques n’ayant précédemment aucun lien avec les sciences de la vie, telles que Google et Microsoft, ont fortement investi dans le secteur de la biotechnologie ces dernières années. Les nouvelles technologies des sciences de la vie s’étant introduites dans l’espace numérique grâce à l’intelligence artificielle et à l’apprentissage automatique, cette tendance collaborative devrait se poursuivre. La collaboration intersectorielle deviendra ainsi un atout de plus en plus précieux pour faire concurrence dans le secteur biotechnologique.
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VENTURE FUNDING CONTINUES POSITIVE MOMENTUM Overall, venture funding in Canada continues to show positive signs, consistent with 2018 and the prior year. In 2018, the distribution of venture funding across industry sectors remained consistent with historic trends, with the Canadian Venture Capital Association (CVCA) 1 reporting that life sciences companies received 17 per cent of overall funding in over 100 transactions. Two of the 11 largest disclosed later-stage venture investments in Canadian companies were in life sciences—Milestone Pharmaceuticals and Pediapharma. There were also a number of successful public offerings—including by Vancouver’s Zymeworks and Montreal’s Clementia Pharmaceuticals, with the latter being acquired by Ipsen in early 2019 for just over US $1 billion. MULTIPLE FACTORS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO SUPPORT OF SECTOR FINANCING A number of significant factors are likely to continue support of investment in Canadian life sciences companies. Large industry players are expected to continue to make significant strategic investments and acquisitions as they seek leadership positions in the next generation of therapies. At the same time, AI, machine learning, the internet-of-things, and other tech developments are revolutionizing the sector and rapidly becoming an integral aspect of life sciences companies. This convergence of technologies is evidenced by the fact that six of the world’s ten largest tech companies have diversified into life sciences and healthcare. This trend, coupled with Canada’s global leadership in AI and other technologies, will inevitably create new opportunities as it introduces new financial and strategic investors to Canadian biotech companies.
“Larger established companies in the biotech sector are re-focusing their portfolios on core therapeutic areas and looking to increase the depth and breadth of these core areas, presenting an opportunity for smaller biotech players to engage in more creative ways with these large companies through joint ventures, partnerships, and resource pooling.”
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INCERTITUDE ÉCONOMIQUE MONDIALE À l’échelle internationale comme au Canada, l’année 2018 s’est amorcée sur la même lancée positive des années précédentes au chapitre du financement et des fusions et acquisitions dans le secteur biotechnologique. Cependant, les tensions liées au commerce international ont eu une incidence négative sur cet élan à la fin de l’année. À l’échelle internationale, les fusions et acquisitions au quatrième trimestre de 2018 dans ce secteur ont connu le ralentissement le plus prononcé des cinq dernières années. Le secteur biotechnologique continue d’être touché de manière disproportionnée dans les marchés plus difficiles, car les investisseurs s’en retirent. Bien que l’élan perdu au cours du quatrième trimestre de 2018 ait déjà été rattrapé en grande partie en 2019, la volatilité de l’économie mondiale demeure une source de préoccupation.
LE FINANCEMENT PAR CAPITAL DE RISQUE POURSUIT SUR SA LANCÉE Comme ce fut le cas en 2017 et en 2018, le financement par capital de risque au Canada continue de montrer, dans l’ensemble, des signes positifs. En 2018, la répartition du financement par capital de risque entre les secteurs ne divergeait pas des tendances antérieures : selon l’Association canadienne du capital de risque et d’investissement , 17 % du financement total attribué dans le cadre de plus de 100 opérations a été octroyé à des sociétés du secteur des sciences de la vie. De plus, deux des 11 plus gros investissements divulgués de capital-risque effectués auprès d’entreprises canadiennes parvenues à un stade de développement plus avancé visaient Milestone Pharmaceutiques et Pediapharma, des sociétés canadiennes du secteur des sciences de la vie. Un certain nombre d’appels publics à l’épargne ont également été réalisés, notamment ceux de Zymeworks, de Vancouver, et de la montréalaise Clementia Pharmaceutiques, cette dernière ayant été acquise par Ipsen au début de 2019 pour un peu plus de 1 G$ US.
DIVERS FACTEURS À L’APPUI DU FINANCEMENT DU SECTEUR Un certain nombre de facteurs importants continueront sans doute de favoriser les investissements effectués auprès des sociétés canadiennes du secteur des sciences de la vie. Les grands acteurs du secteur devraient continuer à effectuer des acquisitions et des investissements stratégiques importants afin de se positionner en tant que chefs de file de la prochaine génération de thérapies. Parallèlement, le secteur des sciences de la vie se voit profondément transformé par divers développements technologiques, notamment l’intelligence artificielle, l’apprentissage automatique et l’Internet des objets. Ces développements deviennent rapidement une partie intégrante des entreprises du secteur. À titre d’exemple de cette convergence technologique, six des dix plus grandes entreprises
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technologiques du monde ont diversifié leurs activités en investissant dans les sciences de la vie et les soins de santé. Cette tendance, conjuguée au leadership du Canada à l’échelle mondiale dans le domaine de l’intelligence artificielle et d’autres technologies, générera inévitablement de nouvelles occasions en réunissant de nouveaux investisseurs financiers et stratégiques et des sociétés biotechnologiques canadiennes.
LES GRANDES SOCIÉTÉS PHARMACEUTIQUES CONTINUENT DE DOMINER LA PI ET LES LITIGES EN MATIÈRE DE PI
BIG PHARMA CONTINUES TO DOMINATE IP AND IP LITIGATION Large, multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies continue to be the most active participants in the patent prosecution and especially the patent litigation areas. Established companies like Allergan, Bayer, Celgene, and Roche/Genentech were among the most active in enforcing their patent rights. On the generic and biosimilar sides, smaller companies and new market entrants are being seen, many from outside Canada. In addition, some larger companies such as Amgen and Pfizer are active on both the innovator and biosimilar sides of pharmaceutical litigation. We expect this trend to continue, as biosimilars and other specialty drugs with high barriers of entry are often protected by patents, but remain lucrative opportunities for international companies to bring their products to market in Canada. GOVERNMENT LITIGATION EVER PRESENT Litigation involving pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and various governments and governmental agencies was very active in 2018. Cases involving (i) the scope and role of the PMPRB, (ii) listing decisions by provincial formularies, and (iii) decisions by Health Canada relating to submissions and administrative issues all saw judgments, appeals, or hearings during the past year. With new rules relating to Certificates of Supplementary Protection, a new set of Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations, proposed amendments to the regulations governing the PMPRB and new issues arising out of biosimilar entrants, this kind of litigation is expected to continue to be active into the future. Given these and other current trends, there is certainly a lot of excitement and plenty to look forward to in the biotech/ life sciences sector in 2019 and the years to come.
Les multinationales pharmaceutiques et biotechnologiques continuent d’être les participants les plus actifs au chapitre des poursuites de demandes de brevets, et notamment des litiges en matière de brevets. Des sociétés établies, telles que Allergan, Bayer, Celgene et Roche/Genentech, ont été parmi les plus actives à défendre leurs droits de brevet. Du côté des produits génériques et des biosimilaires, des petites entreprises et de nouveaux entrants, dont plusieurs provenant de l’extérieur du Canada, sont présents sur le marché. De plus grandes entreprises, telles que Amgen et Pfizer, sont actives au chapitre des litiges dans le domaine pharmaceutique, et ce, tant du côté des fabricants innovateurs que des biosimilaires. Cette tendance devrait se maintenir. Bien que les biosimilaires et autres médicaments spécialisés présentant d’importantes barrières à l’entrée soient souvent protégés par des brevets, ils constituent toutefois des occasions lucratives pour les entreprises internationales souhaitant commercialiser leurs produits au Canada.
LITIGES AUXQUELS LE GOUVERNEMENT EST PARTIE L’année 2018 a connu un taux d’activité élevé au chapitre des litiges mettant aux prises des sociétés pharmaceutiques et biotechnologiques, des gouvernements et des organismes gouvernementaux. Au cours de la dernière année, des jugements ont été rendus, des décisions ont été portées en appel, et des audiences ont lieu dans le cadre d’affaires portant sur i) la portée et le rôle du Conseil d’examen du prix des médicaments brevetés (le « CEPMB »), ii) des décisions relatives à l’ajout de médicaments aux formulaires provinciaux, et iii) des décisions de Santé Canada concernant des soumissions et des questions administratives. Il y a lieu de s’attendre à ce que de tels litiges continuent d’avoir lieu à l’avenir, notamment en raison de la mise à jour du Règlement sur les certificats de protection supplémentaire, du nouveau Règlement sur les médicaments brevetés (avis de conformité), des modifications proposées au règlement régissant le CEPMB, et de nouvelles questions soulevées par des entrants biosimilaires. À la lumière de ces tendances et d’autres tendances actuelles, le secteur des biotechnologies et des sciences de la vie continuera sans doute de susciter beaucoup d’intérêt en 2019 et dans les années à venir. biotech.ca
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Novartis leads the promising future of cell and gene therapy Novartis has moved into new frontiers to reimagine medicine by rapidly becoming a pioneer and leader in a whole new exciting realm of medicine that holds vast promise for the future—cell and gene therapy.
What’s exciting about cell and gene therapies is that they are designed to halt a disease in its tracks or reverse its progress. Characterized as one-time treatments, cell and gene therapies essentially tackle the disease head on. They are the embodiment of personalized therapy and are grounded in careful research that builds on decades of scientific progress. With cell therapy, cells are cultivated or modified outside the body before being injected into the patient, where they become a “living drug.” With gene therapy, genes are replaced, inactivated or introduced into cells—either outside or inside the body—to treat a disease. It’s science and technological advance at its best. 2018 marked a significant milestone for Novartis with the Health Canada approval of the first ever chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy. It represented a paradigm-changing step forward in the treatment of the most common childhood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and in adults with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Even the way it works is pioneering. The patient’s own T cells are harvested and reprogrammed to recognize and attack the cancer cells. The arrival of this therapy was momentous because of the critical unmet need for Canadian patients who are very sick and out of treatment options.
In addition to working collaboratively with the healthcare system to deliver this innovative therapy to patients, Novartis is doing its part to upskill centers to ensure optimal and safe administration. Novartis is leading the way with a consistent history of collaborating and investing to drive forward the research and development of cell and gene therapies. The company continues to bring its expertise, scale and commitment to test new therapies for a variety of conditions. Another disease area Novartis is focused on transforming patient care in is ophthalmology. The company has invested in a gene therapy designed to restore sight in children and adults with a rare, progressive genetic condition that leads to total blindness. Additionally, through the acquisition of AveXis, Novartis is advancing gene therapy, making progress in rare and often fatal neurodegenerative conditions including spinal muscular atrophy, Rhett’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. Novartis has made one of the largest investments in cell and gene therapy in the industry and is building on the momentum of recent approvals from health authorities with more than a dozen projects in clinical development and additional research underway. It’s amazing to be part of something so innovative. We are making history in the way that cell and gene therapies are transforming diseases. While we don’t know what the future holds, we are seeing excellent results. The first pediatric patient treated with CAR-T therapy is now seven years cancer-free. Cell and gene therapy is pivotal for Novartis, but we also see tremendous value in continuing to invest in conventional drug discovery and development programs. When it comes to R&D, we see the whole picture. This is how we do things at Novartis because of our commitment to reimagine medicine. - Daniel Hébert, Country Medical Head Oncology, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
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Roadmap to Building Up the Carbontech Industry Une feuille de route pour le secteur des technologies de revalorisation du carbone by Evan Price, President and Chief Executive Officer, CO2 Solutions par Evan Price, Président et Chef de la direction, CO2 Solutions
THE POTENTIAL OF THE CARBONTECH INDUSTRY, which encompasses the capture of CO2 from a stream of industrial gas and its subsequent utilization or sequestration, is huge by anybody’s measure. Consider that the International Energy Agency, supported by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), estimates that to effectively address climate change up to 4 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions per year will have to be captured by CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration) technologies before 2040, an ambitious goal when compared to the mere 30 million tonnes, or less than 1% of the target, that are captured today. Only sustained efforts starting right now will prepare carbontech providers for the massive demand for CO2 capture that heavy industry can already foretell through early signals of these new and very tangible environmental and economic realities. This roadmap is our approach to meeting that challenge. Our first objective as a company is to be a profitable business entity. This short-term objective ensures our long-term viability. It may come as a surprise to many, but there is an existing global market of over $3 billion for 80 million tonnes of CO2 per annum. These volumes go towards first-generation CO2 utilization technologies, from enhanced oil recovery to soft drinks, and the market price can be as high as $1,000 per tonne-CO2. These markets are actively seeking low-cost and environmentally friendly CO2 separation technologies. That’s how we obtained our first commercial agreement to cost effectively deliver CO2 from its capture site at a pulp mill, to supply a greenhouse. That’s also how we will obtain many more such contracts across all the industries that we address, namely power, oil and gas, cement, chemicals, metals, and pulp and paper. Nothing looks more like a CO2 molecule than another CO2 molecule. This is a commodity business and it demands low cost. Fortunately, in the case of CO2 Solutions technology, independent third parties confirmed as far back as three years ago that the cost of our technology at large-scale (<1000 tonnes per day, or tpd) would be below $30 per tonne, a claim no other CO2 capture company has made before or since. As encouraging as our achievements are to date in keeping costs low, we continue making improvements to our
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LE SECTEUR DES TECHNOLOGIES DE REVALORISATION DU CARBONE , qui permettent la capture du CO2 à partir d’un circuit de gaz industriels, puis son utilisation ou sa séquestration, recèle sans contredit un potentiel énorme. Songez que selon l’Agence internationale de l’énergie, appuyée par le Groupe d’experts intergouvernemental sur l’évolution du climat (GIEC) de l’ONU, pour lutter efficacement contre les changements climatiques, les procédés de capture, de stockage et d’utilisation du carbone devront contribuer à la récupération de quatre milliards de tonnes d’émissions de CO2 chaque année d’ici 2040, un objectif ambitieux si l’on en juge par les quelque 30 millions de tonnes, c’est-à-dire moins de 1 % de la cible, que l’on récupère aujourd’hui. C’est uniquement au prix d’efforts hâtifs que les fournisseurs des technologies du carbone seront prêts pour la demande considérable en capture du CO2 à laquelle l’industrie lourde s’attend déjà, étant donné la future situation environnementale et économique que certains signaux annoncent de façon très concrète. La présente feuille de route constitue notre réponse à cet immense défi. Notre premier objectif en tant qu’entreprise est bien sûr d’être une entité commerciale rentable. L’atteinte de cet objectif à brève échéance garantit notre viabilité à long terme. Certains seront peut-être surpris de l’apprendre : il existe un marché mondial de plus de trois milliards de dollars pour la récupération de 80 millions de tonnes de CO2 par année. Ces volumes sont associés aux technologies d’utilisation du CO2 de première génération, de la récupération du pétrole à la production de boissons gazeuses, et le prix courant peut atteindre 1 000 $ par tonne de CO2. Au sein de ces marchés, on recherche activement des technologies abordables et écologiques de séparation du CO2. C’est ainsi que nous avons conclu notre première entente commerciale de livraison de CO2, à partir de la capture à l’usine de papier jusqu’à l’approvisionnement à la serre. C’est aussi grâce à cette demande que nous obtiendrons de nombreux autres contrats du même type auprès de nos secteurs de prédilection, c’est-à-dire les secteurs énergétique, pétrolier et gazier, du ciment, des produits chimiques, des métaux, ainsi que des pâtes et papiers.
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technology. The use of the carbonic anhydrase enzyme to selectively separate CO2 from gas mixtures is relatively novel compared to amine technologies which were first patented in the 1930s. There are consequently multiple avenues to enhance and further cost reduce our enzymatic technology. Innovative technology in a laboratory is cute. When it’s 20 meters high in an industrial environment, it’s real. Over the past five years, CO2 Solutions has approached scale-up methodically from 0.5 to 30 tpd with many interim stages. Each step validated the earlier one and further confirmed our promising capex and opex cost estimates at larger scales. Through these scale-up steps and the continuous operation of our 10 tpd capture unit in Montreal-East (QC) and our 30 tpd unit in Saint-Félicien (QC), we are demonstrating that the technology works as predicted at affordable cost.
“Consider that the International Energy Agency, supported by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), estimates that to effectively address climate change up to 4 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions per year will have to be captured by CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration) technologies before 2040, an ambitious goal when compared to the mere 30 million tonnes, or less than 1% of the target, that are captured today.” To a casual observer, the small consideration given in cleantech circles as to the environmental footprint of proposed technologies is nothing short of baffling. Where is the logic in addressing an environmental issue created by an odourless, colourless, and non-toxic molecule (= CO2) by large-scale implementation of absorbent or adsorbent processes based on a toxic chemical (= amines) created decades ago, outside of the sensitive environmental context of today? That’s why we mandated an independent body to perform a life cycle assessment (LCA) of our enzymatic technology and made the (yes, favourable) results public.
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Rien ne ressemble davantage à une molécule de CO2 qu’une autre molécule de CO2. Celle-ci est une matière première, et on cherche à l’obtenir au moindre coût. Heureusement, dans le cas de CO2 Solutions, des tiers indépendants ont confirmé il y a déjà trois ans que le prix de notre technologie à grande échelle (< 1000 tonnes par jour) serait en deçà de 30 $/tonne, une offre qu’aucune entreprise de capture de CO2 n’a pu égaler à ce jour. Aussi encourageantes que soient nos réalisations pour ce qui est de la faiblesse des coûts, nous continuons d’améliorer notre technologie. L’utilisation d’une enzyme, l’anhydrase carbonique, pour séparer de façon sélective le CO2 des mélanges gazeux est assez nouvelle par rapport aux technologies des amines, brevetées dès les années 1930. Il reste donc de multiples avenues à explorer pour améliorer et réduire encore le coût de notre technologie enzymatique. En laboratoire, les innovations sont enthousiasmantes. Lorsqu’elles font 20 mètres de haut dans un milieu industriel, elles sont véritablement impressionnantes. Au cours des cinq dernières années, CO2 Solutions a évolué de manière progressive et méthodique, passant de 0,5 tonne à 30 tonnes par jour, sans parler des nombreuses étapes intermédiaires, dont chacune a validé la précédente et confirmé pour la plus grande échelle les dépenses d’établissement et d’exploitation prometteuses que nous avions évaluées. Grâce à cette progression, au fonctionnement continu de nos installations de capture de Montréal-Est (QC) d’une capacité de 10 tonnes par jour et à celui de nos installations de Saint-Félicien (QC) d’une capacité de 30 tonnes par jour, nous faisons la preuve que notre technologie fonctionne comme prévu, à faible coût. Le peu de considération accordé, dans les milieux des technologies propres, à l’empreinte environnementale des technologies proposées, apparaîtra à quiconque comme inexplicable. Est-il logique de tenter de régler le problème environnemental que cause une molécule inodore, incolore et non toxique (le CO2) par la mise en œuvre de procédés d’absorption ou d’adsorption s’appuyant sur des produits chimiques toxiques (les amines) créés il y a des décennies, sans tenir compte de la fragile situation environnementale actuelle? Non. C’est pourquoi nous avons confié à un organisme indépendant la mission d’effectuer une analyse du cycle de vie (ACV) de notre technologie enzymatique et d’en rendre les résultats (effectivement positifs) publics. Nous avons aussi encouragé les autres entreprises qui proposent des technologies de capture du CO2 à faire de même. À ce jour, personne n’a répondu à l’appel. Pour transformer le marché, il nous faut des partenaires. Nous collaborons donc avec des sociétés telles que Hatch Ltd., BBA et Seneca, qui nous aident à mettre sur pied de nouvelles installations rapidement et de manière rentable. De plus, nos partenariats se sont considérablement étoffés grâce à notre projet de capture et de réutilisation du CO2 (CRC), Valorisation Carbone Québec (VCQ). Nous avons rassemblé une douzaine de partenaires des quatre coins du monde et
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“We are moving from an era when CO2 is a waste to one where it will be a resource.”
We also encouraged others offering CO2 capture technologies to do the same. So far, it appears there are no takers. To breach this market, one needs partners. That is why we are working with firms such as Hatch Ltd., BBA, and Seneca, which allow us to deploy units on a timely and cost-effective basis. Further, our partnerships have expanded dramatically through our CCU project, Valorisation Carbone Québec (VCQ). We have assembled a dozen partners from around the world to create a unique CCU ecosystem of technology providers, industrial companies, service providers, government, and universities. The VCQ project will run until 2022, and, over this period, we expect to demonstrate, alongside our enzymatic capture process, multiple technologies to utilize CO2 and generate value-added projects. As several esteemed corporate visitors have told us there is simply no other CCU project in the world that approaches the scope of VCQ. Finally, all our actions require constant communication within the industry and beyond. It is imperative that all parties involved be aware of the solutions at hand. For governments, this enables the enactment of stronger regulations which is essential for any new and upcoming industry. For heavy industry, these solutions are what they have been seeking in order to maintain their competitiveness and respond favourably to the increasing demands of their customers for products with smaller carbon footprints. For the broader public concerned about climate change, it is critical for them to know that their real environmental concerns are being addressed intelligently with innovative solutions. These three groups, industry-government-public, all have major and interdependent roles to play in the emerging and growing carbontech industry. Bringing about a paradigm shift regarding how we as global citizens treat our carbon dioxide emissions, both in terms of capture and utilization, is a task of such herculean proportions that it will take decades to fully realize. We are moving from an era when CO2 is a waste to one where it will be a resource. The size of the challenge explains why, at CO2 Solutions, we are taking the long-term view and investing resources beyond our core CO2 capture technology into projects such as VCQ. At the same time, we recognize the commercial opportunities that will allow CO2 Solutions to grow into a robust business entity in the short-term. The future is now, and we are proud to play a leadership role in delivering the promise of the carbontech industry.
avons créé un écosystème unique de CRC, qui comprend des fournisseurs de technologies, des entreprises industrielles, des prestataires de services, des gouvernements et des universités. À travers le projet VCQ, qui durera jusqu’en 2022, nous entendons mettre en valeur, en plus de notre procédé de capture enzymatique, de multiples technologies d’utilisation du CO2, sources de projets à valeur ajoutée. Plusieurs prestigieux dirigeants d’entreprise nous l’ont dit : il n’y a tout simplement aucun autre projet de CRC au monde dont l’envergure est comparable à celle de VCQ. Enfin, chacune de nos actions exige une communication constante avec les acteurs de l’industrie et des secteurs connexes. Il est essentiel que les parties prenantes aient conscience des solutions à leur portée. Les gouvernements peuvent s’appuyer sur notre projet pour adopter une réglementation rigoureuse, nécessaire au sein de tout secteur émergent. L’industrie lourde, elle, pourra employer nos solutions pour demeurer concurrentielle et mieux réagir à la demande croissante en matière de produits à faible empreinte carbone. Quant à la population en général, qui se préoccupe des changements climatiques, elle doit pouvoir compter sur le fait que l’on tente de résoudre la situation environnementale par des solutions intelligentes et novatrices. Ces trois groupes (gouvernements, industrie, population) ont tous un rôle majeur à jouer au sein du secteur des technologies du carbone en pleine croissance, et ces rôles sont intimement liés. Mettre en œuvre un changement d’attitude profond quant à la manière dont chacun de nous, citoyens du monde, traitons nos émissions de dioxyde de carbone, c’est-à-dire leur capture et leur utilisation, est une tâche si herculéenne qu’elle exigera de nous plusieurs décennies. D’une époque où le CO2 est considéré comme un déchet, nous sommes en train de passer à une ère où on le considérera comme une ressource. L’ampleur du défi est la raison pour laquelle, chez CO2 Solutions, nous faisons des projets à long terme et investissons nos ressources non seulement dans notre principale technologie de capture du CO2, mais aussi dans des projets tels que VCQ. Parallèlement, nous tenons également compte des possibilités commerciales qui permettront à CO2 Solutions de devenir à brève échéance une solide entreprise. L’avenir, nous y sommes déjà! C’est avec fierté que nous sommes parmi les premiers à remplir les promesses que recèle le secteur des technologies du carbone.
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On the Cutting Edge of Healthcare Innovation
TECHNOLOGY CONTINUES TO CHANGE OUR DEFINITION OF COMMUNITY and how we interact with the world around us. Yet in the world of health care, patients are still expected to pick up a phone to call. The industry has a way to go to catch up, and Bayshore HealthCare is one company that is leading the way in creating easy access to services. Bayshore HealthCare is one of Canada’s largest providers of home and community health care services. The Bayshore brand extends across four business divisions: Bayshore Home Health (medical and non-medical home care and staffing services), Bayshore Home Care Solutions (home care services for government care programs), Bayshore Specialty Rx (pharmacy, infusion and pharmaceutical patient support services), and Bayshore Therapy & Rehab (physiotherapy and rehabilitation services). Bayshore HealthCare has offices in every province and provides local support within those communities. “Local leadership is critical in the health space,” says Shelley Burnett, National Director of Digital Health and Innovation. “Health is a local service; it’s not something that is done by a mystery group far away. Being able to see people when they need to be seen and where they need to be seen is really key to our success.” Bayshore is leading the way in enhancing the patient experience with a number of new programs. ASSURED LIVING Bayshore HealthCare has partnered with Best Buy on a new program called Assured Living. “This program is focussed on how seniors can stay safe and secure in their own home,” Burnett explains. “Seniors want to remain in their own home for as long as possible.” The program includes a package of connected devices, installation, an app and ongoing support from Best Buy’s trusted Geek Squad. It works by using entry and exit sensors and motion detectors in the home that connect to an app that the client, or their family members, can access. It offers a passive monitoring service for family to ensure their loved one is following their regular patterns of activity while allowing them the privacy of living in their own home. If something out of the norm happens, like leaving the front
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door open for an extended period of time, the family members are notified and can call to see if something is wrong. This program is currently available in the Greater Toronto Area and Vancouver, and is slated to be rolled out nationally. CARECHART@HOME CAREpath, a division of Bayshore, launched CAREchart@ home, an after-hours symptom service in October 2018. CAREchart@home offers innovative, telephonic, symptom management support for oncology patients in Ontario. The program is administered by specialized oncology nurses, using evidence-based guidelines incorporated into an electronic platform. The platform sends real time reports back to the treatment centre and has the capabilities for bi-directional integration with hospital EMRs—ensuring continuity of care for patients. “The feedback we hear from oncology patients and participating hospitals has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Sherry Hnatyshyn-Webster, Managing Director of CAREpath and CAREchart@home program founder. “We have been able to fill a gap in the system, preventing many unnecessary emergency room visits and empowering patients to understand and manage their symptoms at home.” This program is currently offered at 30 cancer centres in Ontario and will expand to over 70 in the next few months. “We collaborate with the cancer centres to provide individualized implementation to ensure the patient experience is seamless,” explains Hnatyshyn-Webster. “CAREchart@home will continue to stay on the forefront as technology and treatment options change, providing efficient, evidenced-based, timely and caring support for oncology patients and their families.” VIRTUAL PHYSICIAN VISITS Bayshore has recently launched a virtual physician visit program in Thunder Bay, Ontario. They had noticed that Thunder Bay had an unusually high waitlist to see a rheumatologist for arthritis, as many specialty physicians are only available in major urban centres. Through this program, patients in Thunder Bay can visit the local Bayshore clinic to
“This program is focussed on how seniors can stay safe and secure in their own home. Seniors want to remain in their own home for as long as possible.”
see a nurse trained for this program. The nurse will complete an initial assessment, and then then connect with the rheumatologist via video conferencing. Through technology, the rheumatologist can listen to the patient’s heartbeat and even examine the joints. “They actually say they can see the joints using the video technology better than they can in person,” Burnett laughs. “This program allowed us to leverage the background the company has in the nursing sector,” explains Karl Frank, Divisional Director of Bayshore Specialty Rx. “It was an underserviced area with 2,000 people on the waitlist to see a rheumatologist. The program provides better access to a specialist without having to travel hours from home.” MYBAYSHORECARE MyBayshoreCare is a free online communication hub, currently being piloted in the Barrie, Ontario area. It offers patients and their families the ability to view an online calendar of scheduled home visits, to request additional care or services, to see photos and information about their care team, to notify the care team of changes or concerns, as well as view invoices and make a payment online. With over 13,500 employees, 100 offices, 13 pharmacies and 70 infusion clinics, Bayshore HealthCare provides accessible health care in local communities across Canada.
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knowledge connaissance
Bridging the Gap from Groundbreaking Research to Life Changing Business(es) Un pont entre la recherche de pointe et ces entreprises qui transforment nos vies by Gordon C. McCauley, President & CEO, CDRD par Gordon C. McCauley, Président et chef de la direction, CDRD
THE CANADIAN LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY WILL RECEIVE A NEW INJECTION OF STRONG LEADERSHIP ENABLING CANADA TO GAIN ITS PLACE AS A WORLD LEADER IN THIS SECTOR. The CDRD Academy’s Executive Institute, supported by Pfizer Canada, is graduating its first cohort of 14 life sciences C-suite executives who have spent the past ten months enhancing their business acumen and sharpening their skills in the CDRD Academy’s unique new leadership development program. Each executive entered the Institute with a variety of personal and professional leadership goals, but they are all graduating with enhanced abilities to scale their companies into global anchors, and help Canadian life sciences lead the world. “CDRD is working with partners to close the gap between innovation, business, and talented life science executives— helping these proven professionals realize their immense potential to lead their teams towards an international market. Canada needs more life science business leaders and the CDRD Executive Institute is one giant leap in fulfilling our mission of training the scientific and business talent needed to drive Canadian scale-up companies to become leading global anchors for Canada,” says Gordon C. McCauley, President and CEO of CDRD. Through the Innovation and Skills Plan, the government of Canada has clearly stated that making Canada a global innovation leader is a priority. CDRD Academy’s Executive Institute takes this goal very seriously. WHY CANADA SHOULD NOT BE CONTENT WITH BEING A NATION OF START-UPS Leading academic research is the absolute foundation of life sciences innovation. And Canada is start-up nation, leading the world in both start-ups and university-based start-ups. But according to McCauley, start-ups need to be fostered and cultivated to become truly successful globally relevant businesses. Great research needs even greater business strategies to succeed. Needless to say, it is people that drive, foster, and define the strategies for business. The Executive Institute is taking these companies to a new level with their life science-specific leadership skills development.
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UN NOUVEAU VENT DE TALENTS EN GESTION SOUFFLERA SUR L’INDUSTRIE CANADIENNE DES SCIENCES DE LA VIE ET PERMETTRA AU PAYS DE DEVENIR UNE FIGURE DE PROUE DU SECTEUR. L’Institut des sciences de la vie pour cadres supérieurs de l’Académie CDRD, avec le soutien de Pfizer Canada, verra bientôt une première cohorte de 14 cadres supérieurs terminer son programme. Ceux-ci auront passé les dix derniers mois à aiguiser leur sens des affaires et à parfaire leurs compétences grâce au programme de perfectionnement en leadership unique de l’Académie CDRD. Chacun de ces cadres est entré à l’Institut avec ses objectifs personnels et professionnels en matière de leadership. Chacun d’eux est aujourd’hui armé pour faire de sa société une entreprise phare et pour aider le Canada à jouer un rôle de chef de file mondial. « Le CDRD s’est adjoint des partenaires pour combler le fossé entre les organisations innovantes, le monde des affaires et les cadres en sciences de la vie les plus talentueux. Il aide ces professionnels d’expérience à exploiter leur plein potentiel et à amener leur équipe au niveau du marché international. Le Canada a besoin de plus de ces chefs d’entreprise, et l’Institut des sciences de la vie pour cadres supérieurs du CDRD permet de faire un pas de géant en matièere de formation des experts scientifiques et stratégiques, pour que les entreprises canadiennes fassent briller notre pays sur la scène internationale », explique le président et chef de la direction du CDRD, Gordon C. McCauley. Dans son Plan pour l’innovation et les compétences, le gouvernement du Canada affirme haut et fort son intention de faire du pays un chef de file mondial sur le plan de l’innovation. L’Institut des sciences de la vie pour cadres supérieurs de l’Académie CDRD prend cet objectif très à cœur.
LES RAISONS POUR LESQUELLES LE CANADA NE DEVRAIT PAS SE CONTENTER D’ÊTRE UN PAYS DE JEUNES POUSSES Les recherches universitaires de pointe constituent le fondement de toute innovation en sciences de la vie, et le Canada peut se targuer d’être une nation de jeunes entreprises, tant dans le monde des affaires que dans le domaine de la recherche universitaire. Cependant, selon
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“The opportunity being provided by CDRD in terms of building up the back bench of the next generation of leaders in the biotech sector is something that we need here in Canada.” – Stephanie Michaud, President and CEO, BioCanRx, Ottawa « Nous avions vraiment besoin, ici, au Canada, de la possibilité qu’offre le CDRD sur le plan de la formation de la prochaine génération de dirigeants en biotechnologie. » – Stéphanie Michaud, présidente et chef de la direction, BioCanRx, Ottawa
“Canada needs anchor companies. We have made a considerable investment in health research, and the worldclass research conducted at our academic institutions is recognized globally as leading work on pretty much every metric. Yet we don’t have a fully sustainable life sciences industrial sector in this country, and we won’t until we have anchor companies. Canada is in fact the only advanced pharmaceutical market in the world without a global research-based anchor company. That is why we are investing our time into continuing to build the Executive Institute,” McCauley explains, “because those global businesses will need global executives.” A PROGRESSIVE VIEW ON DEVELOPING CANADA’S LEADERSHIP EXPERTISE Canada is lacking the critical mass of C-level talent with global experience. Without this leadership, the life sciences companies and the long-term sustainability of the Canadian life sciences ecosystem will not realize our collective growth goals (such as those put forward this fall by the Health and Biosciences Economic Strategy Table). Unlike clusters such as Boston or the Bay Area, Canada does not have the luxury of pulling C-level talent from companies that have already succeeded internationally. The Executive Institute is developing Canadian executive talent—a trailblazing strategy the Institute was created to implement. This program will make a huge difference. Successfully scaling Canadian life sciences companies and growing them into strong multi-product anchors requires leaders to think in more complex and strategic ways. A sustainable industry requires focused, ongoing executive development. These are essential elements of the Executive Institute program.
“For me, leadership is a continual learning process and the Executive Institue program provided an excellent opportunity to increase my skills as a leader for the future.” – Naveed Aziz, Chief Administrative and Scientific Officer, CGEN, Canada’s Genomic Enterprise, Toronto « Pour moi, le leadership est un processus d’apprentissage permanent, et le programme de l’Institut pour cadres supérieurs a constitué pour moi une excellente occasion d’améliorer mes compétences en tant que dirigeant d’avenir. » – Naveed Aziz, dircteur général et conseiller scientifique en chef, CGEN, Canada’s Genomic Enterprise, Toronto
Gordon McCauley, on doit aider les jeunes entreprises à devenir des sociétés réellement fructueuses et mondialement reconnues. Pour connaître le succès, les recherches de grande qualité doivent être appuyées par des stratégies commerciales de qualité plus grande encore. Il va sans dire que ce sont des personnes qui définissent, mettent en œuvre et dirigent les stratégies des entreprises. L’Institut des sciences de la vie pour cadres supérieurs permet aux sociétés d’accéder à un stade supérieur de perfectionnement en leadership propre aux sciences de la vie. « Le Canada a besoin d’entreprises phares. Nous avons investi des sommes considérables dans la recherche en santé, et le travail de recherche de niveau mondial mené dans nos établissements universitaires est partout reconnu comme un travail de premier plan à tous points de vue. Néanmoins, nous ne disposons pas au pays d’un secteur des sciences de la santé “complet”, et ce ne sera pas le cas tant que de grandes entreprises phares ne croîtront pas chez nous. En fait, le Canada est le seul marché pharmaceutique évolué sur la planète à ne pas avoir sur place sa grande société de réputation mondiale basée sur la recherche. C’est la raison pour laquelle nous consacrons du temps à renforcer l’Institut des sciences de la vie pour cadres supérieurs; nos entreprises de calibre international auront besoin de dirigeants du même calibre. »
UNE VISION MODERNE DE LA MISE EN PLACE D’UNE EXPERTISE EN GESTION AU CANADA Il manque au Canada la masse critique nécessaire de hauts dirigeants ayant une expérience à l’échelle mondiale. En l’absence d’une telle expertise, nous risquons de ne pas atteindre les objectifs en matière de croissance des entreprises des sciences de la vie et de viabilité à long terme
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“These participants are exceptional individuals working with revolutionary research. They have more than 15 years of management experience and leadership responsibility in the top three tiers of a company. This is not a start-up program.”
“CDRD is working with partners to close the gap between innovation, business, and talented life science executives—helping these proven professionals realize their immense potential to lead their teams towards an international market. Canada needs more life science business leaders and the CDRD Executive Institute is one giant leap in fulfilling our mission of training the scientific and business talent needed to drive Canadian scaleup companies to become leading global anchors for Canada.”
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« Les participants sont des professionnels d’exception, associés à des recherches révolutionnaires. Ils ont plus de 15 ans d’expérience en gestion et des responsabilités de direction à l’un des trois échelons supérieurs de leur entreprise. Il ne s’agit pas d’un programme pour jeunes entrepreneurs »
de l’écosystème canadien des sciences de la vie (par exemple les objectifs mis de l’avant l’automne dernier au cours de la Table sur les sciences biologiques et la santé). Contrairement aux grands pôles que sont les régions de Boston et de la baie de San Francisco, le Canada n’a pas le loisir de recruter les hauts dirigeants issus d’entreprises qui ont connu la réussite à l’international. L’Institut pour les cadres supérieurs contribue au perfectionnement de cadres de talent au Canada—selon une stratégie pionnière qui est la mission première de l’Institut. Notre programme changera considérablement la donne. Pour faire croître favorablement les entreprises canadiennes en sciences de la vie et en faire de puissants agents de changement offrant de multiples produits, les dirigeants doivent avoir une vision stratégique plus élaborée. Il faut à une industrie que l’on veut durable un perfectionnement continu et ciblé des dirigeants. Ce sont là les fondements essentiels du programme de l’Institut pour les cadres supérieurs.
« IL NE S’AGIT PAS D’UN PROGRAMME POUR JEUNES ENTREPRENEURS » Il existe à travers le pays d’excellents programmes pour les nouveaux entrepreneurs. Gordon McCauley est quant à lui très clair quant aux personnes d’expérience admises à l’institut. « Les participants sont des professionnels d’exception, associés à des recherches révolutionnaires. Ils ont au moins 15 ans d’expérience en gestion et des responsabilités de direction à l’un des trois échelons supérieurs de leur entreprise. Il ne s’agit pas d’un programme pour jeunes entrepreneurs », conclut-il.
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“The Executive Institute program combines proven best practices with targeted industry topics and uses a blend of in-depth assessments, workshops simulations, challenging assignments and executive coaching, the training is comprehensive and highly relevant.”
“THIS IS NOT A START-UP PROGRAM.” There are excellent start-up programs across the country. McCauley is very clear, however, about the experienced talent accepted into the Executive Institute. “These participants are exceptional individuals working with revolutionary research. They have 15 years of management experience—some even more—and leadership responsibility in the top three tiers of a company. This is not a start-up program,” he added. Given the focus and interdependence of the program and its participants, it is only open to a maximum of 20 senior career life sciences professionals per year. These leaders develop together the tools they need to lead future anchor companies and build connections throughout the biotechnology industry globally. As the program combines proven best practices with targeted industry topics and uses a blend of in-depth assessments, workshops simulations, challenging assignments and executive coaching, the training is comprehensive and highly relevant. Delivered in partnership with the world-leading Centre for Creative Leadership (CCL), the estimated market value of the program is $18,000 per participant, but is offered completely free of charge thanks to the support by Pfizer Canada who is working with CDRD to promote growth of the Canadian biotech sphere in a very tangible way. TAKING DIVERSITY TO THE NEXT LEVEL Although Canada does well in achieving gender diversity in terms of overall representation in the industry, the number of women and other underrepresented groups declines precipitously as we go up the ladder: only 20 per cent at management level, 15 per cent at the C-level and 10 per cent at board level. The Executive Institute is joining thoughtful
« Le programme de l’Institut pour cadres supérieurs porte sur des pratiques éprouvées et des sujets d’actualité au sein du secteur; il consiste en un ensemble d’évaluations approfondies, d’ateliers, de simulations, de travaux pratiques stimulants et de mentorat; il est complet et extrêmement ciblé. »
Étant donné les objectifs du programme et des participants, ainsi que les liens forts que l’on souhaite tisser entre eux, seulement 20 professionnels de haut niveau œuvrant en sciences de la vie sont admis à l’Institut chaque année. Ces dirigeants élaborent ensemble les outils dont ils ont besoin pour mettre en place les entreprises qui seront des agents de changement et nouer des relations à travers toute la communauté mondiale des biotechnologies. Le programme porte sur des pratiques éprouvées et des sujets d’actualité au sein du secteur; il consiste en un ensemble d’évaluations approfondies, d’ateliers, de simulations, de travaux pratiques stimulants et de mentorat; il est complet et extrêmement ciblé. Offert en collaboration avec la grande organisation mondiale qu’est le Centre for Creative Leadership (CCL), le programme a une valeur de marché que l’on évalue à 18 000 $/participant. Toutefois, grâce au soutien de Pfizer Canada, qui s’associe au CDRD pour encourager la croissance du milieu canadien des biotechs de façon concrète, il est entièrement gratuit.
UNE NOUVELLE ÉTAPE EN MATIÈRE DE DIVERSITÉ Bien que le Canada connaisse de bons résultats en matière de diversité des sexes dans l’ensemble de l’industrie, le nombre de femmes et d’autres groupes sous-représentés diminue de façon marquée aux échelons plus élevés. Ils ne sont en effet que 20 % au niveau des cadres, 15 % au niveau des cadres supérieurs et 10 % au niveau des conseils d’administration. L’Institut pour les cadres supérieurs emboîte le pas à des gouvernements et à des organismes de réglementation qui ont à cœur ces questions et s’engage à des changements qui auront un effet sur la diversité de la représentation sexuelle à l’échelle nationale. Grâce à l’intégration de cet engagement
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The first cohort of the CDRD Academy Executive Institute. Bottom row from left to right: Jefferson Tea, Stephanie Michaud, Nataša Jovic, Naveed Aziz, Carol Stiff, Deanna Dryhurst. Top row from left to right: Frédéric Leduc, Carolyn Nalder, Chris Sinclair, Kimberly Stephens, Andrew Knowles, Alexander Graves, Frederic Ors.
La première cohorte de l’Institut pour cadres supérieurs de l’Académie CDRD. Rangée de devant, de gauche à droite : Jefferson Tea, Stéphanie Michaud, Nataša Jovic, Naveed Aziz, Carol Stiff, Deanna Dryhurst. Rangée de derrière, de gauche à droite : Frédéric Leduc, Carolyn Nalder, Chris Sinclair, Kimberly Stephens, Andrew Knowles, Alexander Graves, Frederic Ors.
governments and regulators in a commitment to change that will affect gender diversity on a national level. By incorporating this commitment into the core values of the program, and guaranteeing gender balance amongst participants, these executives will set out into the world and do business based on these values. The Executive Institute is set on creating a future where diversity is no longer something we need to plan for, it will be what we plan with.
aux principales valeurs du programme et à la garantie d’un équilibre hommes-femmes parmi les participants, nous espérons que les hauts dirigeants qui auront suivi le programme mèneront ensuite leurs affaires dans le monde en tenant compte de ces valeurs. L’Institut travaille à créer un avenir où l’on ne sera plus à planifier la diversité, mais où la diversité sera à la base de la planification.
DES VUES SUR L’AVENIR SETTING SIGHTS ON THE FUTURE The first cohort of the Executive Institute is graduating in May. Applications for the second cohort are now open with the sessions starting in September (visit www.cdrd.ca for details). The Executive Institute and its graduates are an essential part of realizing CDRD’s vision: Canadian Life Sciences Leading the World.
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La première cohorte de l’Institut des sciences de la vie pour cadres supérieurs terminera le programme en mai. Les demandes d’admission sont désormais possibles en vue de la session de septembre. (Pour plus de détails, veuillez consulter le site www.cdrd.ca.) L’Institut pour cadres supérieurs et ses diplômés sont au cœur de l’accomplissement de la vision du CDRD : Le secteur canadien des sciences de la vie, chef de file mondial.
Can saliva from a shrew help improve healthcare?
Only one way to find out: Biotech the heck out of it. Can spit from a shrew help treat cancer? Yes. This is one great example of a biotech solution. From stem cell treatments to vaccines preventing illness, from manufacturing bioplastics to growing a sustainable food supply, Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biotech industry is changing the world. More solutions at biotech.ca
Canadian biotech. The science of amazing.
A safer, simpler path to commercialization in Canada
DELIVERING NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES to any market can be a complex and risky process. That’s because commercialization—no matter the nature of the industry— entails an extraordinarily broad range of functions, from production, distribution and marketing to sales and customer support. The process is even more complex—and as a result, a lot riskier—for biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Even those pharmaceutical companies familiar with Canada’s complex health care system are often surprised by the length of time it requires—and the hoops they have to go through— to eventually get their product to market. As a result, a growing number of international pharmaceutical manufacturers are turning to the experts
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at Accelera Canada to assist them in determining the best strategy for launch in Canada and to assist in the tactical management. And they’re delighted that they did. Simply put, says Founding Partner Michael Cloutier, Accelera Canada as a collective group has an unparalleled understanding of the Canadian market. “Using that knowledge, we’re able to simplify the entire process for our clients,” he says, “and by simplifying the process, we can increase efficiency and significantly reduce the risk.” Simplifying what can so often be an intimidating exercise is the core offering of the Accelera Canada team, a diverse collection of talented experts, each with decades of experience and a unique skill set. Together, they consistently provide what clients want and need—a turn-key solution to the
commercialization challenge. Or as one senior member of the team describes it, a one-stop shop. Together they offer commercialization strategies, market insights and analytics, stakeholder relations and advocacy, pricing, market access and scientific affairs, and general management services. They also partner to offer regulatory affairs, medical programs and distribution, patient services, and government relations. No matter the therapeutic area, the company’s over-all approach to commercialization never wavers. They understand that the launch of a new drug product is an exciting time for any pharmaceutical company. While their clients are obviously passionate about what they do and what they’ve accomplished, Accelera Canada mirrors that passion and feeling of excitement by being equally committed to getting their product to patients. “In terms of markets, the United States is clearly number one, followed by Europe,” says Cloutier. “After that comes the rest of the world. And at the moment, ‘the rest of the world’ includes Canada. The reason the Canadian market is sometimes neglected or under-resourced is because there are misconceptions and confusion about Canada’s unique mix of public and private health care.” But there is no doubt, he insists, that Canada can be highly profitable. The challenge is ensuring a clear market assessment is done first to guide appropriate strategies for regulatory filing, pricing and market access, working effectively within the Canadian stakeholder environment and creating the optimal plan and launch rollout.
“Yes, the Canadian landscape can be complex,” he says. “And, yes, it is often misunderstood. But the bottom line is Canada is a sophisticated market in terms of healthcare professionals and patient advocacy. And consumption rates are consistently high. Really, we are an ideal choice for commercializing pharmaceutical and biotech products.” For Cloutier, the drive to make the Canadian market more attractive to pharmaceuticals is personal, as well as professional. He founded Accelera Canada three years ago because he saw first-hand the suffering that can result when access to valuable drugs is delayed or denied. “I was the head of a firm specializing in pharmaceuticals for children,” he says. “Unfortunately, children have long been viewed as therapeutic orphans. In other words, few drugs are developed specifically for use in children and adolescents. Sadly, they often need such drugs the most. It was disheartening and frustrating to see children suffer, often needlessly.” It drives home a point that many Canadians fail to realize, says Cloutier. “Innovation is expensive. It’s vital, it’s important and it requires an investment of resources.” By creating a secure and simplified path to commercialization in this country, the team at Accelera Canada is doing its part to accelerate the availability and accessibility of new medicines, while reducing the risk to international pharmaceutical companies. And, in turn, this creative approach to bringing forward innovation ultimately benefits the health of all Canadians.
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A NATURAL ADVANTAGE DEEP IN THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN, ONE OF THE MOST PREVALENT LIFE FORMS CONTAINING OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS CAN BE FOUND. The Norwegians dubbed these tiny creatures krill, meaning small fish. However, krill are not fish at all, but are crustaceans forming an important aspect of the trophic level food chain. Krill primarily feed on phytoplankton and zooplankton, making them an essential food source for larger organisms such as whales, penguins, seals, squid, and, of course, fish. For this reason, some would consider krill the fountainhead of omega-3 fatty acids. Acasti, a biopharmaceutical innovator focused on the research and development of prescription drugs using omega-3 fatty acids, recognized the importance of krill to potentially address major lipids associated with cardiovascular disease. The company’s lead, krill-derived product is a naturally sourced omega-3 phospholipid, which is currently in a Phase 3 program for the treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia, a condition characterized by abnormally high levels of triglycerides in the bloodstream (over 500 mg/dL). This innovative treatment hopes to unlock the power of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to lower triglycerides and improve patient outcomes by leveraging the perfect balance of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which occur in nature. EPA and DHA are well known to be beneficial for humans, and may promote healthy heart, brain and visual function, while reducing inflammation and blood triglycerides. Omega-3 fatty acids have extensive clinical evidence in lowering triglycerides in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.
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The EPA and DHA contained in Acasti’s product are delivered as free fatty acids or bound to phospholipid esters, allowing these PUFAs to reach the small intestine where they undergo rapid absorption and transform into complex fat molecules that are required for transport in the bloodstream. Acasti believes that EPA and DHA are more efficiently transported by phospholipids sourced from krill oil than the EPA and DHA contained in fish oil that are transported either by triglycerides (as in dietary supplements) or as ethyl esters in other prescription omega-3 drugs, which must then undergo additional digestion before they are ready for transport in the bloodstream. Clinically, phospholipids may not only improve the absorption, distribution, and metabolism of omega-3s, but they may also decrease the synthesis of LDL cholesterol in the liver, impede or block cholesterol absorption, and stimulate lipid secretion from bile. Unlike fish oils, the bioavailability of Acasti’s product is not meaningfully dependent on the consumption of a fatty meal prior to drug administration. This enables patients with hypertriglyceridemia to remain on track with their often recommended low-fat diet. And for many patients trying to keep their high triglycerides low, this may present a natural advantage.
MEMBERS GOING TO BIO / LES MEMBRES QUI SERONT AU CONGRÈS BIO | Directory as of May 10 / répertoire en date du 10 mai 2019
MEMBER DIRECTORY / RÉPERTOIRE DES MEMBRES BIOTECANADA MEMBERSHIP COMMUNITY Representing more than 200 member companies nationwide, the Canadian biotechnology ecosystem is one of Canada’s great success stories. Stretching from coast-to-coast, the ecosystem is built upon clusters located in every province. Each cluster is comprised of a network of early stage companies, research institutes, hospitals, investors and post-secondary institutions with Canada’s capacity for strong science and research grounding each.
COMPANY
LA COMMUNAUTÉ DES MEMBRES DE BIOTECANADA Comptant plus de 200 sociétés membres à l’échelle du pays, l’écosystème des biotechnologies fait partie des grandes réussites du Canada. S’étendant d’un océan à l’autre, il s’appuie sur de grands pôles dans chacune des provinces. Ces pôles, constitués de jeunes entreprises, d’établissements de recherche, d’hôpitaux, d’investisseurs et d’établissements d’enseignement post-secondaire, forment un réseau tirant parti des solides capacités du Canada en sciences et en recherche.
AREA OF FOCUS
DOMAINE D’ACTIVITÉ
LOCATION
COMMERCIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY / SOCIÉTÉ DE BIOTECHNOLOGIE COMMERCIALE
AbbVie Canada
Biopharmaceuticals
Alexion Pharma Canada
Oncology & autoimmune disorders Oncologie et troubles auto-immuns
Vaughan ON
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Canada ULC
RNAi therapeutics
Thérapeutiques RNAi
Mississauga ON
Amgen Canada Inc.
Biopharmaceuticals
Produits biopharmaceutiques
Mississauga ON
AstraZeneca Canada Inc.
Biopharmaceuticals
Produits biopharmaceutiques
Mississauga ON
Bayer Inc.
Pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals and biotech
Produits pharmaceutiques, produits chimiques agricoles et biotechs
Mississauga ON
Biogen Canada Inc.
Neurodegenerative, hematologic and autoimmune
Troubles neurodégénératifs, hématologiques et auto-immuns
Mississauga ON
Bio-K Plus International Inc.
Probiotics
Probiotiques
Laval QC
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc
Enzyme replacement therapies
Enzymothérapies de remplacement
Novato CA
Celgene
Cancer and inflammatory disorders
Troubles oncologiques et inflammatoires
Mississauga ON
Correvio Pharma Corp.
Cardiology
Cardiologie
Vancouver BC
Eisai Limited
Biopharmaceuticals
Produits biopharmaceutiques
Mississauga ON
Eli Lilly Canada Inc.
Biopharmaceuticals
Produits biopharmaceutiques
Toronto ON
Ferring Canada
Urology, Gastroenterology and Reproductive Health
Système de distribution intracellulaire Toronto ON à base de peptides
Genentech
Blood diseases & hematology
Troubles sanguins et hématologie
South San Francisco CA
Gilead Sciences Canada Inc.
Biopharmaceuticals
Produits biopharmaceutiques
Mississauga ON
Grifols
Blood plasma based products
Produits à base de plasma sanguin
Mississauga ON
Hoffmann-La Roche Limited
Biopharmaceuticals
Produits biopharmaceutiques
Mississauga ON
Horizon Pharma
Arthritis, pain and inflammatory diseases
Arthrite, douleurs et maladies inflammatoires
Vaughan ON
Produits biopharmaceutiques
biotech.ca
Saint-Laurent QC
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COMPANY
AREA OF FOCUS
DOMAINE D’ACTIVITÉ
LOCATION
Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Canada Inc. neuromuscular disorders
Oncology, endocrinology and
Oncologie, endocrinologie et troubles neuromusculaires
Mississauga ON
Janssen Inc.
Biopharmaceuticals
Produits biopharmaceutiques
Toronto ON
Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Sleep and hematology/oncology
Sommeil et hématologie/oncologie
Oakville ON
Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
Biopharmaceuticals
Produits biopharmaceutiques
Mississauga ON
Merck Canada Inc.
Biopharmaceuticals
Produits biopharmaceutiques
Vancouver BC
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Canada
Biopharmaceuticals
Produits biopharmaceutiques
Toronto ON
MSPrebiotics Inc.
Prebiotics
Prébiotiques
Carberry MB
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
Biopharmaceuticals
Produits biopharmaceutiques
Dorval QC
Novo Nordisk Canada Inc.
Diabetes and other disorders
Diabète et autres troubles
Mississauga ON
Pfizer Canada Inc.
Biopharmaceuticals
Produits biopharmaceutiques
Kirkland QC
Sanofi Canada
Biopharmaceuticals
Produits biopharmaceutiques
Laval QC
Seqirus
Influenza vaccines
Vaccins contre la grippe
Kirkland QC
Servier Canada
Cardiovascular therapeutics
Thérapies cardiovasculaires
Laval QC
Shire Pharma Canada ULC
Rare diseases
Maladies rares
Toronto ON
Sobi Canada Inc.
Rare diseases
Maladies rares
Oakville ON
Taiho Pharma Canada
Oncology
Oncologie
Oakville ON
Takeda Canada Inc.
Gastrointestinal health, myeloma, and diabetes
Santé gastro-intestinale, myélomes et diabète
Oakville ON
Teva Canada Innovation
Biopharmaceuticals
Produits biopharmaceutiques
Montreal QC
UCB Canada Inc.
Neurology and immunology
Neurologie et immunologie
Oakville ON
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical
Rare genetic diseases
Maladies génétiques rares
Novato CA
Valeant Canada LP
Biopharmaceuticals
Produits biopharmaceutiques
Laval QC
Valneva Canada Inc.
Vaccines
Vaccins
Kirkland QC
VBI Vaccines Inc.
Infectious disease & immuno-oncology
Maladies infectieuses et immuno-oncologie
Ottawa ON
EARLY STAGE BIOTECHNOLOGY/ JEUNE SOCIÉTÉ DE BIOTECHNOLOGIE
82
Acasti Pharma Inc.
Cardiometabolic disorders
Désordres cardiométaboliques
Laval QC
Acuitas Therapeutics
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnologie
Vancouver BC
Adapsyn Bioscience Inc.
Harnessing AI with genomic data for drug discovery
Découverte de médicaments utilisant l'intelligence artificielle
Hamilton ON
Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Neurology
Neurologie
Vancouver BC
Alethia Biotherapeutics
Monoclonal antibodies
Anticorps monoclonaux
Montreal QC
Alpha Cancer Technologies Inc.
Oncology and auto-immune disorders
Oncologie et troubles auto-immuns
Toronto ON
Antibe Therapeutics
Pain & inflammation drug platform
Plateforme de médicaments contre la douleur et l'inflammation
Toronto ON
spring / printemps 2019
BIOTECanada
COMPANY
AREA OF FOCUS
DOMAINE D’ACTIVITÉ
LOCATION
Appili Therapeutics
Infectious disease
Maladies infectieuses
Halifax NS
Aqua Bounty Canada Inc.
Sustainable biotech salmon
Saumon transgénique d’aquaculture durable
St. John's NL
Aquinox Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Pain & inflammation
Douleur et inflammation
Vancouver BC
Aspect Biosystems
Bioprinting & tissue engineering
Bio-impression et ingénierie tissulaire
Vancouver BC
Augurex Life Sciences Corp.
Biomarker blood tests
Tests sanguins de biomarqueurs
Vancouver BC
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Renal & autoimmune diseases
Maladies rénales et auto-immunes
Victoria BC
Avir Pharma Inc.
In-licencing & co-developing therapeutics
Acquisition de licences et codéveloppement de traitements
Blainville QC
BELLUS Health Inc.
Respiratory disorders
Troubles respiratoires
Laval QC
Ceapro Inc.
Biological ingredient extraction
Extraction d’ingrédients biologiques
Edmonton AB
Chelation Partners Incorporated
Antibiotic efficacy
Efficacité des antibiotiques
Halifax NS
Chinook Therapeutics
Peer-to-peer bioinformatics platform
Plateforme bioinformatique pair à pair
Vancouver BC
Clementia, an Ipsen Company
Rare bone disorders
Troubles osseux rares
Montreal QC
CO2 Solutions Inc.
CO2 mitigation from refinery processes
Atténuation du CO2 issu des procédés de raffinage
Quebec QC
Contextual Genomics Inc.
Cancer genomics
Génomique du cancer
Vancouver BC
Corbin Therapeutics Inc.
Neuroinflammation
Neuroinflammation
Montreal QC
Cyclenium Pharma Inc.
Macrocycle technology
Technologie de macrocycles
Montreal QC
DelMar Pharmaceuticals
Oncology
Oncologie
Vancouver BC
Domain Therapeutics
CNS diseases and cancer
Troubles du SNC et cancer
Montreal QC
Edesa Biotech
Dermatology
Dermatologie
Markham ON
enGene Inc.
Oral gene therapies
Thérapies géniques orales
Montreal QC
Epigene Therapeutics
Epigenetic inhibitors for targeted cancer treatment
Inhibiteurs épigénétiques pour le traitement ciblé du cancer
Montreal QC
ESSA Pharma Inc., Canada
Oncology
Oncologie
Vancouver BC
Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Drug delivery for pain and osteoarthritis
Libération de médicaments de soulagement de la douleur et de l’arthrose
Victoria BC
Exzell Pharma
Specialty healthcare products
Produits de santé spécialisés
Toronto ON
Fibrocor Therapeutics
Therapeutics for fibrotic diseases
Thérapeutique pour les maladies fibrotiques
Toronto ON
Forbius
Protein engineering & rare diseases
Ingénierie des protéines et maladies rares
Montreal QC
Fortuna Fix
CNS therapeutics and regenerative medicine
Thérapeutique du SNC et médecine régénérative
Laval QC
GenePOC Inc.
Infectious disease diagnostics
Diagnostics des maladies infectieuses
Quebec QC
Glycovax Pharma
Nanotechnology targeting cancer & rare diseases
Nanotechnologie ciblant le cancer et les maladies rares
Montreal QC
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COMPANY
AREA OF FOCUS
DOMAINE D’ACTIVITÉ
LOCATION
Highland Therapeutics
Drug delivery technology
Technologie de libération de médicaments
Toronto ON
Immune Biosolutions
Immunotherapy
Immunothérapie
Sherbrooke QC
Immunovaccine Inc.
Immuno-oncology & infectious disease
Immuno-oncologie et maladies infectieuses
Halifax NS
ImStar Therapeutics Inc.
Neurodegenerative conditions
Troubles neurodégénératifs
Vancouver BC
Inagene Diagnostics Inc.
DNA test for personalized pain management
Test ADN pour la gestion personnalisée de la douleur
Toronto ON
Innovative Targeting Solutions Inc.
Protein engineering platform
Plateforme d’ingénierie des protéines
Vancouver BC
Inversago Pharma
Endocrinology & rare diseases
Endocrinologie et maladies rares
Montreal QC
KalGene Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Alzheimer's therapeutics
Traitement de la maladie d’Alzheimer
Kingston ON
Kane Biotech Inc.
Biofilms & infectious disease
Biofilms et maladies infectieuses
Winnipeg MB
Ketogen Inc.
Anti-epileptic therapeutics
Traitements anticonvulsivants
Toronto ON
KMT Hepatech Inc.
in vivo hepatology research model
Modèle de recherche en hépatologie in vivo
Edmonton AB
Laurent Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Cystic fibrosis therapeutics
Traitements de la fibrose kystique
Montreal QC
MangoGen Pharma
Gene delivery for wound healing
Insertion de gènes de cicatrisation
Laval QC
Mannin Research
Vascular therapeutics
Thérapie vasculaire
Toronto ON
MedGenesis Therapeutix Inc.
Neurology
Neurologie
Victoria BC
Medicago Inc.
Vaccines & antibodies
Vaccins et anticorps
Quebec QC
Medicenna Therapeutics Inc.
Immuno-oncology
Immuno-oncologie
Toronto ON
Medicure Inc.
Cardiovascular therapeutics
Traitements cardiovasculaires
Winnipeg MB
Mediphage Bioceuticals
Personalized genetic medicines
Médicaments génétiques personnalisés
Vancouver BC
Med-Life Discoveries
Prevention of diseases with plasmalogen replacement
Prévention des maladies avec remplacement du plasmalogène
Saskatoon SK
Medunik Canada
Orphan drugs for rare diseases
Médicaments orphelins pour maladies rares
Blainville QC
Milestone Pharmaceuticals
Cardiovascular therapeutics
Traitements cardiovasculaires
Montreal QC
Mirexus Biotechnologies Inc.
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnologie
Guelph ON
Mperia Therapeutics Inc.
Immunotherapies for inflammation
Traitement immunitaire de l’inflammation
Montreal QC
MSI Methylation Sciences Inc.
CNS disorders
Troubles du SNC
Burnaby BC
MyX Therapeutics
Enabling mucosal delivery platform technology
Technologie de plate-forme d'administration muqueuse
Montreal QC
Neurodyn Life Sciences Inc.
Neurological diseases
Maladies neurologiques
Charlottetown PE
Nobelex Biotech Inc.
Development of novel antibiotics to treat infection
Mise au point de nouveaux antibiotiques
Toronto ON
Novelogics Biotechnology Inc.
Oncology
Oncologie
Vancouver BC
spring / printemps 2019
BIOTECanada
COMPANY
AREA OF FOCUS
DOMAINE D’ACTIVITÉ
LOCATION
Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc.
Tree fruits with advantageous properties
Fruits de verger aux propriétés avantageuses
Summerland BC
Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
Immuno-oncology
Immuno-oncologie
Calgary AB
Parvus Therapeutics Inc.
Nanomedicines for auto-immune diseases
Nanomédicaments pour maladies auto-immunes
Calgary AB
PBR Laboratories Inc.
CRO
ORC
Edmonton AB
Phoenix Molecular Designs
Therapeutics for breast cancer
Traitement du cancer du sein
Richmond BC
PlantForm Corporation
Development platform for antibodies and protein drugs
Plateforme de développement d’anticorps et de protéinesmédicaments
Toronto ON
Precision NanoSystems Inc.
Nanomedicine
Nanonédecine
Vancouver BC
Prevtec Microbia Inc.
Vaccines for bacterial diseases in livestock
Vaccins contre les maladies bactériennes du bétail
Montreal QC
ProMIS Neurosciences
Neurodegenerative diseases
Maladies neurodégénératives
Toronto ON
Qu Biologics
Cancer and immune-related chronic disease
Cancer et maladies immunitaires chroniques
Vancouver BC
Renaissance Bioscience Corp.
Biotech yeast for food & beverage
Levures biotechnologiques pour aliments et boissons
Vancouver BC
Repare Therapeutics
Precision oncology
Oncologie de précision
St. Laurent QC
Resverlogix
Epigenetic therapeutics
Traitements épigénétiques
Calgary AB
Satellos Bioscience Inc.
Stem cell research
La recherche en cellule souche
Burlington ON
Searchlight Pharmaceuticals
Specialty healthcare products
Produits de santé spécialisés
Toronto ON
SemaThera Inc.
Therapeutic for diabetic macular edema (DME)
Traitement de l’œdème maculaire diabétique (ŒMD)
Montreal QC
Sequence Bio
Genomics & personalized medicine
Génomique et médecine personnalisée St. John's NL
Sernova Corporation
Drug delivery technology
Technologie de libération de médicaments
London ON
Sesen Bio
Oncology
Oncologie
Winnipeg MB
Sierra Oncology
Oncology
Oncologie
Vancouver BC
SignalChem Lifesciences Corporation
Drug discovery & companion diagnostics
Développement de médicaments et diagnostics compagnons
Richmond BC
Sirona Biochem
Fluorination chemistry for therapeutics & cosme
Chimie médicinale et cosmétique du fluor
Vancouver BC
Soricimed Biopharma Inc.
Oncology
Oncologie
Moncton NB
Temple Therapeutics B.V.
Post-surgery adhesions
Adhérences post-opératoires
Geleen
Tieös Pharmaceuticals
Anti-Cancer Metabolic Therapies
Thérapies métaboliques anticancéreuses
Richmond Hill ON
Trillium Therapeutics Inc.
Immuno-oncology
Immuno-oncologie
Mississauga ON
Triphase Accelerator Corp.
Oncology
Oncologie
Toronto ON
Turnstone Biologics Inc.
Immuno-oncology
Immuno-oncologie
Ottawa ON
Vasomune Therapeutics
Vascular conditions
Troubles vasculaires
Toronto ON
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COMPANY
AREA OF FOCUS
DOMAINE D’ACTIVITÉ
LOCATION
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Cystic fibrosis therapeutics
Traitements de la fibrose kystique
Toronto ON
viDA Therapeutics Inc.
Auto-immune and chronic inflammatory diseases
Maladies inflammatoires chroniques et auto-immunes
Vancouver BC
Virogin Biotech Ltd.
Innovative immuno-oncolytic therapies
Thérapies immuno-oncolytiques
Vancouver BC
Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc
Non-opioid analgesics for cancer-related pain
Analgésiques non opioïdes pour les douleurs liées au cancer
Vancouver BC
Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Neurological disorders
Troubles neurologiques
Burnaby BC
Zenith Epigenetics Ltd.
Epigenetic therapeutics for cancer
Traitement épigénétique du cancer
Calgary AB
Zucara Therapeutics Inc.
Diabetes
Diabète
Toronto ON
Zymeworks Inc
Therapeutic protein engineering with modelling platform
Ingénierie des protéines-médicaments par plateforme de modélisation
Vancouver BC
INDUSTRY ORGANIZATION/ ORGANISATION SECTORIELLE
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Accel-Rx Health Sciences
Business accelerator
Accélérateur d’entreprise
Vancouver BC
Agricultural Institute of Canada
Research institution
Établissement de recherche
Ottawa ON
Ag-West Bio Inc.
Regional industry association
Association sectorielle régionale
Saskatoon SK
AusBiotech Ltd.
National industry association
Association sectorielle nationale de biotechnologie
South Yarra VIC
BioAlberta
Regional industry association
Association sectorielle régionale
Edmonton AB
Bioenterprise Corporation
Business accelerator
Accélérateur d’entreprise
Guelph ON
Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Business accelerator
Accélérateur d’entreprise
Sarnia ON
BioNB
Regional industry association
Association sectorielle régionale
Fredericton NB
BioNova
Regional industry association
Association sectorielle régionale
Halifax NS
BIOQuébec
Regional industry association
Association sectorielle régionale
Bromont QC
Bioscience Association Manitoba
Regional industry association
Association sectorielle régionale
Winnipeg MB
BioTalent Canada
Human resources for bio-economy
Ressources humaines pour la bio-économie
Ottawa ON
Biotechnology Innovation Organization
National biotech industry association
Association sectorielle nationale de biotechnologie
Washington DC
Canada's Venture Capital and Private Equity Association
National industry association
Association sectorielle nationale
Toronto ON
Canadian Seed Trade Association
National industry association
Association sectorielle nationale
Ottawa ON
Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD)
Advancing therapeutic discoveries
Développement de nouveaux traitements
Vancouver BC
CQDM
Drug discovery research consortium
Consortium de recherchedéveloppement de médicaments
Montreal QC
Genome Canada
Genomics research & solutions
Recherche de solutions génomiques
Ottawa ON
Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer-Commercialization of Research (IRICoR)
Immunology & cancer research and commercialization
Recherche et commercialisation en immunologie et oncologie
Montreal QC
spring / printemps 2019
BIOTECanada
COMPANY
AREA OF FOCUS
DOMAINE D’ACTIVITÉ
LOCATION
Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization
National biotech industry association
Association sectorielle nationale de biotechnologie
Seongnam-Si Gyeonggi-Do
Life Sciences Ontario (LSO)
Regional industry association
Association sectorielle régionale
Toronto ON
LifeSciences British Columbia
Regional industry association
Association sectorielle régionale
Vancouver BC
MaRS Discovery District
Providing access to space, capital, and leadership
Offre d’accès à des locaux, des capitaux et un leadership éclairé
Toronto ON
MEDEC
Medical device industry association
Association sectorielle nationale de dispositif médical
Toronto ON
National Research Council Canada
Organisation gouvernementale Government research & technology de promotion de la recherche et organization des technologies
Ottawa ON
NEOMED Institute
Research institution
Établissement de recherche
Saint-Laurent QC
New Zealand Biotech
National biotech industry association
Association sectorielle nationale de biotechnologie
Wellington
Newfoundland and Labrador Association Of Technology Industries (NATI)
Regional industry association
Association sectorielle régionale
St. John's NL
Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization
Regional industry association
Association sectorielle régionale
Toronto ON
Prince Edward Island BioAlliance
Regional industry association
Association sectorielle régionale
Charlottetown PE
Research Canada
Alliance for health discovery
Alliance pour la recherche en santé
Ottawa ON
TEC Edmonton
Business accelerator
Accélérateur d’entreprise
Edmonton AB
University of Alberta—Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research institution
Établissement de recherche
Edmonton AB
University of Guelph
Research institution
Établissement de recherche
Guelph ON
University of Waterloo
Research institution
Établissement de recherche
Waterloo ON
VIDO-InterVac
Vaccine & infectious disease research
Recherche sur les maladies infectieuses et les vaccins
Saskatoon SK
INDUSTRY SUPPORT/ SOUTIEN AU SECTEUR
3Sixty Public Affairs Inc.
Government relations & policy consulting
Relations gouvernementales et conseil stratégique
Ottawa ON
A&C American Chemicals Ltd.
cGMP manufacturer of APIs, excipients, buffers, & more
fabricant BPF des excipients, des IPAs, des tampons, et plus
Montreal QC
Accelera Canada
Commercialization consulting
Conseil en commercialisation
Burlington ON
Bayshore Specialty Rx
Home & community healthcare services
Services de santé à domicile et communautaires
Mississauga ON
Biodextris
CRO—vaccines & biologics
ORC—vaccins et produits biologiques
Laval QC
Biopharm Management Inc.
Leadership for biotech startups
Leadership éclairé auprès de jeunes entreprises de biotechnologie
Toronto ON
BioVectra Inc.
CDMO
CDMO
Charlottetown PE
Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP
Legal services
Services juridiques
Vancouver BC
Blanchard Law Office
Legal services
Services juridiques
Ottawa ON
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88
COMPANY
AREA OF FOCUS
DOMAINE D’ACTIVITÉ
LOCATION
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Legal services
Services juridiques
Ottawa ON
Caprion Biosciences Inc.
CRO
ORC
Montreal QC
Deloitte
Professional services
Services professionnels
Edmonton AB
DLA Piper (Canada) LLP
Legal services
Services juridiques
Toronto ON
Farris Vaughan Wills & Murphy LLP
Legal services
Services juridiques
Vancouver BC
Fasken Martineau Dumoulin LLP
Legal services
Services juridiques
Toronto ON
Global Public Affairs
Government relations & public affairs consulting
Relations gouvernementales et conseil en affaires publiques
Ottawa ON
Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
Legal services
Services juridiques
Ottawa ON
imc North America
Patient engagement, advocacy & consulting
Participation des patients, lobbying et conseil
Toronto ON
InnovoXL Inc.
Biotech commercialization
Commercialisation des biotechnologies
Winnipeg MB
InSymbiosis Inc.
Outsourcing strategy & management
Stratégie et gestion en matière d’externalisation
Montreal QC
Intrinsik Corp.
Scientific & regulatory consulting
Conseil scientifique et réglementaire
Mississauga ON
Johnson & Johnson—JLABS
Life sciences incubator
Incubateur en sciences de la vie
Toronto ON
McKesson Canada
Global supply chain healthcare services
Services de santé, chaîne logistique mondiale
Saint-Laurent QC
MORSE Consulting Inc.
Reimbursement strategy consulting
Conseil en stratégie de remboursement
Toronto ON
MRM Proteomics Inc.
Protein quantitation and characterization
Analyse quantitative et caractérisation des protéines
Montreal QC
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Legal services
Services juridiques
Toronto ON
Novateur Ventures Inc.
Drug development & device consulting
Conseil en développement de médicaments et de ispositifs médicaux
North Vancouver BC
Pangaea Group
Pharma industry consulting
Conseil auprès du secteur pharmaceutique
Oakville ON
PDCI Market Access Inc.
Market access consulting
Conseil en matière d’accès au marché
Ottawa ON
POS Bio-Sciences
CMO
OMC
Saskatoon SK
Quality & Compliance Services Inc.
GMP compliance consulting
Conseil en matière de respect des BPF
Mississauga ON
Shadow Lake Group
Consulting for mergers/ acquisitions, licencing, & strategy
Conseil en fusions-acquisitions, licences et stratégies
Aurora ON
Smart & Biggar/ Fetherstonhaugh & Co.
Legal services
Services juridiques
Ottawa ON
Sound Insurance Services Inc.
Insurance
Assurances
Toronto ON
SPharm Inc.
Regulatory & product development consulting
Conseil en matière de réglementation et de développement de produits
Val-d'Or QC
VWR, Part of Avantor
Global laboratory supplier
Fournisseur de laboratoire mondial
Mississauga ON
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Legal services
Services juridiques
San Diego CA
spring / printemps 2019
BIOTECanada
COMPANY
AREA OF FOCUS
DOMAINE D’ACTIVITÉ
LOCATION
AmorChem
Biotechnology venture capital fund
Fonds de capital de risque en biotechnologie
Westmount QC
Amplitude Ventures
Venture fund for life sciences
Fonds de capital de risque pour les sciences de la vie
Montreal QC
Bloom Burton & Co.
Healthcare investment
Investissement en santé
Toronto ON
CTI Life Sciences Fund
Venture fund for life sciences
Fonds de capital de risque pour les sciences de la vie
Montreal QC
Fonds de Solidarité FTQ
Capital fund
Fonds de capital et d’emprunt
Montréal QC
Genesys Capital
Venture capital
Capital de risque
Toronto ON
Lumira Capital Corp.
Venture capital
Capital de risque
Toronto ON
Royal Bank of Canada
Banking & capital markets
Banques et marchés de capitaux
Vancouver BC
Teralys Capital inc.
Venture capital
Capital de risque
Montreal QC
Versant Ventures Canada Ltd.
Venture capital
Capital de risque
Vancouver BC
INVESTOR / INVESTISSEUR
LEADING THE FIGHT ON DIABETES AND OBESITY partnering for innovation Novo Nordisk Canada in partnership with the University Hospital Foundation and the Government of Alberta is proud to announce the winners of the Novo Nordisk Alberta Diabetes Fund (NOVAD).
NOVAD CO M P E T I T I ON W IN N E R S Dr. Diana Mager Dr. Denise Campbell-Scherer Dr. Padma Kaul
LEARN MORE AT www.novadfund.ca
biotech.ca
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ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY / RÉPERTOIRE DES ANNONCEURS ACASTI PHARMA INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
CITY OF MISSISSAUGA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
ACCELEAR CANADA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
FONDS DE SOLIDARITE FTQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
AG WEST BIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
HORIZON PHARMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
IMMUNE BIOSOLUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
ALNYLAM PHARMACEUTICALS INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
INNOVATIVE MEDICINES CANADA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
ASTRAZENECA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
INVEST IN CANADA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
ATLANTIC CANADA BIOINDUSTRIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
IPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
BAYSHORE HEALTHCARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
MEDICAGO INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
BIOGEN INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
MCKESSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
BIOQUÉBEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
NOVARTIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
BIOTECANADA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
NOVO NORDISK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
BIOTECH CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
SENECA COLLEGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
CANADIAN PHARMACEUTICAL DISTRIBUTION NETWORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
SGS LIFE SCIENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Collaboration to Commercialization
TAKEDA CANADA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 TETRA BIO-PHARMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Atlantic Canada features over 200 bio-based companies and 50 research organizations working in a collaborative environment. Atlantic Canada provides a wealth of natural resources and research excellence in human, animal, and fish health and nutrition. We are home to established global companies, innovative start-ups, business incubators, National Centres of Excellence and Canada’s Ocean Supercluster.
Visit us at Booth 2427 in the Exhibitor Hall at BIO 2019!
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spring / printemps 2019
BIOTECanada
Biotech is part of Canada’s DNA 80 global companies chose Canada for 99 pharmaceutical investment projects totalling $3.9 billion between 2003 and 2018. #MakingCanadaStronger
La biotechnologie fait partie de l’ADN du Canada Entre 2003 et 2018, 80 entreprises mondiales ont choisi le Canada pour 99 projets d’investissements pharmaceutiques totalisant 3,9 milliards de dollars. #BâtissonsUnCanadaPlusFort
@Invest_Canada @Invest_Canada @Investir_Canada @Investir_Canada
Invest Invest in Canada in Canada InvestirInvestir au Canada au Canada
@invcanada @invcanada #InvestinCanada #InvestinCanada InvestCanada.ca InvestCanada.ca @invcanada @invcanada #InvestirauCanada #InvestirauCanada investircanada.ca investircanada.ca
OUR LIFE SCIENCES TEAM
NOTRE ÉQUIPE SCIENCES DE LA VIE
A CAPITAL FUND IN LIFE SCIENCES
UN FONDS CAPITAL EN SCIENCES DE LA VIE
With investments of over $1.5 billion in life sciences, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ plays a leading role in this sector in Québec. It is the financial partner of several key industry players, including Clementia Pharmaceuticals, CTI Life Sciences Fund, DalCor, enGene, Lumira Capital, Repare Therapeutics, Versant Ventures and Zymeworks.
Avec des investissements de plus de 1,5 milliard de dollars en sciences de la vie, le Fonds de solidarité FTQ joue un rôle de premier plan dans ce secteur au Québec. Il est le partenaire financier de plusieurs acteurs clés de l’industrie dont Clementia Pharmaceutiques, DalCor, enGene, Fonds CTI Sciences de la vie, Lumira Capital, Repare Thérapeutique, Versant Ventures et Zymeworks.
If you are looking for a partner that understands your challenges and supports you through all cycles of your business, we are ready to prosper with you.
fondsftq.com/lifesciences
Si vous êtes à la recherche d’un partenaire qui comprend vos défis et vous accompagne dans tous les cycles de votre entreprise, nous sommes prêts à prospérer avec vous.
fondsftq.com/sciencesdelavie