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From left to right: Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif, Director, MHI Research Institute, Dr. Jacques Turgeon, Director, CHUM Research Centre, Mr. Cyril Schiever, President and Managing Director, Merck Canada, Dr. Vassilios Papadopoulos, Executive Director, RI-MUHC and Mr. Martin LeBlanc, Vice-Chairman of the Board, Montréal InVivo. (CNW Group/MERCK)
Merck Canada announces it will invest $12.5 million to fund research at three university-affiliated and hospital-based research centres.
The three centres that will receive funding are: • the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC); • the CHUM Research Centre (CRCHUM); • and the Montréal Heart Institute Research Centre (MHI).
“Merck is dedicated to supporting Québec’s life sciences community, and we are proud to work in collaboration with the industry, government and academia,” said Cyril Schiever, president and managing director, Merck Canada. “We believe initiatives like investing in top research institutes that conduct innovative basic and translational research are one of the best ways to improve R&D productivity and stimulate innovation in Québec.”
“Montreal is a leader in the life sciences research sector in North America thanks to the presence of world-class research institutions such as those who will benefit from this announcement,” added Martin Leblanc, vice-chairman of the board, Montréal InVivo. “Partners like Merck Canada help ensure that future discoveries by local scientists will keep impacting the lives of patients not only in Québec, but around the world.”
The funding brings the total Merck investments to date in the province to approximately $60 million. In March, Merck announced a $35 million investment in the Merck Lumira Biosciences Fund, as its primary investor and only pharmaceutical industry partner. The fund, established by Merck in collaboration with Lumira Capital, Teralys Capital and other partners, provides investment capital to support early stage life science innovation in Québec. Prior to that Merck invested $6.8 million in AmorChem, a Québec life sciences venture capital fund, to increase the commercial potential of quality academic research carried out in Québec, and $5 million in the Québec Consortium for Drug Discovery (CQDM), which funds projects for the development of innovative tools and technologies that accelerate the drug discovery process.
To see this story online visit http://biotechnologyfocus.ca/?p=2874
A group of researchers at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) have discovered the internal clock of a nerve cell, used during embryonic development. The study, led by Dr. Frédéric Charron, was published in the scientific journal Neuron. The discovery of the internal clock was made in collaboration with Dr. Alyson Fournier’s laboratory at the Montreal Neurological Institute.
Clinical Trials & Patents
n Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (Belleville, ON) has discontinued its Phase 3 clinical trial with Urocidin™ in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The trial, a randomized, active-controlled, open-label, multi-centre study with a blinded endpoint assessment designed to compare Urocidin™ with mitomycin C in the intravesical treatment of patients with BCG recurrent or refractory nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer, was being run by the company’s global licensing partner, Endo Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Endo Health Solutions. The trial has not been recruiting at the expected rate and, after recent discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the current clinical trial design, Endo has decided to end the study before its scheduled completion. Endo and Bioniche are jointly considering potential next steps for the program.
n Allon Therapeutics Inc. (Vancouver, BC) announces that patient treatment has been completed in the multinational pivotal Phase 2/3 clinical trial that is evaluating the company’s lead product davunetide as a potential treatment for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rapidly progressing and fatal degenerative brain disease. Allon expects to disclose top line data from this pivotal study in the second half of December.
n Bayer Inc. (Toronto, ON) and the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI), a joint Institute of Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation and McMaster University, have initiated the COMPASS trial, the largest clinical study of the oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban to-date. COMPASS is a Phase 3 trial that will investigate the prevention of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and stroke in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) or peripheral artery disease (PAD). The COMPASS study will assess the potential of rivaroxaban to provide additional prevention of cardiovascular events to patients when added to an antiplatelet therapy, as well as investigating rivaroxaban and an antiplatelet as single treatments. The study will be conducted in collaboration with the PHRI and will enroll approximately 20,000 patients from more than 450 sites across more than 25 countries. In Canada, the study will enroll approximately 2,250 patients from more than 45 sites and will represent a significant investment in Canadian-led research over the next several years.
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Their findings could lead to the development of new tools for repairing and regenerating nerve cells following injuries to the central nervous system.
At Dr. Charron’s laboratory, researchers study neurons, looking at how the neurons navigate through a developing embryo to arrive at their correct destination.
“To properly form neural circuits, developing axons (long extensions of neurons that form nerves) follow external signals to reach the right targets,” says Dr. Frédéric Charron, director of the Molecular Biology of Neural Development Research Unit at the IRCM, in a release. “We discovered that nerve cells also have an internal clock, which changes their response to external signals as they develop over time.”
In the study, IRCM scientists examined the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) protein, which gives cells important information for the embryo to develop correctly. The Shh protein also plays a key role in the central nervous system’s development.
“It is known that axons follow the Shh signal during their development,” says Dr. Patricia Yam, research associate in Dr. Charron’s laboratory and first author of the study. “However, axons change their behaviour once they reach this protein, and this has been a mystery for the scientific community. We found that a nerve cell’s internal clock switches its response to external signals when it reaches the Shh protein, at which time it becomes repelled by the Shh signal rather than following it.”
“Our findings therefore showed that more than one system is involved in directing axon pathfinding during development,” says Dr. Yam. “Not only do nerve cells respond to external signals, but they also have an internal control system. This discovery is important because it offers new possibilities for developing techniques to regenerate and repair damaged nerve cells. Along with trying to modify external factors, we can now also consider modifying elements inside a cell in order to change its behaviour.”
Every year, injuries to the central nervous system affect thousands of Canadians and can lead to lifelong disabilities. Most often caused by an accident, stroke or disease, these injuries are very difficult to repair. New tools are therefore required to repair damage to the central nervous system, including techniques that could potentially regenerate nerve cells.
“The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is delighted to support research aimed at improving the lives of individuals with damage to the brain or spinal cord,” says Dr. Anthony Phillips, scientific director of CIHR’s Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction. ‘’Nerve cell repair and regeneration remains an important health challenge, and we believe that Dr. Charron’s research findings will contribute to the solution.”
The research project was funded by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Peter Lougheed Medical Research Foundation, the McGill Program in NeuroEngineering and the Fonds de recherche de Québec – Santé (FRQS).
To see this story online visit http://biotechnologyfocus.ca/?p=2748
RDC announces $1.6 million in R&D funding to 18 Newfoundland and Labrador companies
The Research & Development Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador (RDC) has announced investment support that will assist several provincial companies with research and development (R&D) projects in Newfoundland and Labrador’s priority sectors such as natural resources, ocean technology, aquaculture, advanced manufacturing and information communications technology. In all 18 business-led projects will receive more than $1.6 million in funding from the RDC.
“Newfoundland and Labrador’s support for R&D is assisting these businesses to conduct leading-edge research that’s attracting international attention,” said Research & Development Corporation Minister Keith Hutchings. “These companies are directly contributing to our economy, creating jobs and wealth, and further establishing Newfoundland and Labrador as a leader in R&D and innovation.”
“By making strategic investments in R&D projects and capabilities, the Research & Development Corporation is helping businesses pursue new ideas, innovative technologies and opportunities that enhance Newfoundland and Labrador’s competitive advantage,” added Glenn Janes, CEO of RDC. “Supporting business-led R&D is a priority area for RDC investment.”
The funding comes from two RDC programs designed to improve business-led R&D in Newfoundland and Labrador. Both RDC programs provide funding to support companies as they increase their R&D expenditures and develop leadingedge technologies. Programs details are available online at www.rdc.org.
To see this story online visit http://biotechnologyfocus.ca/?p=2705
RDC announced more than $1.6 million for 18 Newfoundland and Labrador-based companies doing innovative R&D including Blue Oceans Satellite Systems of St. John’s. Paul Anderson, the company’s president and CEO, spoke during the announcement. (CNW Group/Research & Development Corporation)
New research centre key to renewing biopharmaceutical research in Québec
AstraZeneca Canada and Pfizer Canada, two leaders in the country’s biopharmaceutical industry, are forming a partnership with the Québec government to create the NĒOMED Institute, a new kind of life sciences research centre. A total of $100 million will be invested to establish and support the research centre over the next five years.
The NĒOMED Institute will act as a catalyst in two ways: first, by creating a bridge between academic research and life sciences companies; second, by providing an environment that will create synergies between the main biotech industry players. The non-profit research hub will seek to bring together stakeholders in the research and development chain. More than 100 highly qualified employees are expected to be working there when it reaches full capacity.
According to the partners, the launch of the new biopharma research centre is a reflection of the changing face of R&D in the biopharmaceutical industry. The Institute will bring pharma and biotech companies, venture capitalists, and contract research organizations (CROs) all under the same roof for drug development and research. It will be located in a former AstraZeneca building in Technoparc Montréal.
“The cost of discovering new drugs keeps rising and pharmaceutical companies need to adapt,” said Max Fehlmann, the new president and CEO of the Neomed Institute. “The Neomed Institute, acting as a competitive actor in the drug development sector, will allow Québec’s scientists to make the bridge between academic innovations and commercial opportunities in a better way.”
AstraZeneca Canada is donating $35 million to the Institute. The investment includes land, the neuroscience basic research facility, and leading-edge laboratory equipment. It also includes the donation of intellectual property to three AstraZeneca pain molecules and projects, as well as $5 million to support the activities of the Institute.
Pfizer Canada is providing a financial contribution of approximately $3.5 million, and the Québec government is contributing $28 million towards the project.
“We are excited by Neomed because it exemplifies the type of partnership activity that is needed in our new R&D model,” said John Helou, president of Pfizer Canada Inc. “Neomed complements our long-time Canadian R&D investment strategy which has been focused on innovative partnerships.”
To see this story online visit http://biotechnologyfocus.ca/?p=2863
OICR and MaRS Innovation to fund development of nanotechnology-based cancer drug
Drs. Mark Ernsting (left) and Shyh-Dar Li, inventors of Cellax™ at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) Photo: Max Fehlmann, CEO of the NĒOMED Institute, in a Nov. 23 press conference. Photo courtesy: Jessika Duquette www.jessikaduquette.com.
The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) and MaRS Innovation announce that OICR will provide $1.5 million in funding over the next three years to further develop Cellax™, a nanoparticle drug that could offer an alternative to chemotherapy with fewer side effects.
“Cellax is promising because it provides a more targeted strategy for treating tumours, killing tumour cells while minimizing the effect on healthy tissue,” said Dr. Rima Alawar, director, OICR’s Medicinal Chemistry Platform. “OICR is proud to invest in a technology that has such potential to one day improve quality of life for cancer patients.”
Cellax, invented by Dr. Shyh-Dar Li and his research team in OICR’s Medicinal Chemistry Platform group, is a drug-polymer conjugate based on Dr. Li’s proprietary NanoCMC™ technology. These polymers self-assemble into defined nanoparticles and, when injected, selectively accumulate in tumours. Because of this property, the drug is released where it is most needed, increasing therapeutic benefits and reducing the side effects associated with conventional chemotherapy.
With the new funding, the Cellax team will conduct the pre-clinical manufacturing and toxicology studies necessary to bring Cellax to a clinical trial in cancer patients.
“Tumours are by nature more permeable to nano-sized molecules than normal tissue,” says Li. “We are developing Cellax to exploit this weakness. We hope to use the NanoCMC platform to deliver drugs that will build up only in tumours. This would spare patients the side effects associated with less targeted treatments, which damage healthy cells as well as tumours.”
OICR is supporting the Cellax project through its Intellectual Property Development and Commercialization (IPDC) Fund, which was established to bridge the gap in the commercialization process between public funding agencies and private investors. All IPDC candidate projects are rigorously reviewed by external subject-specific experts in business and technology.
“MaRS Innovation provided the Cellax project with early-stage funding along with business development and management through our high-touch, embedded model,” said Dr. Raphael Hofstein, president and CEO of MaRS Innovation. “MI continues to lead Cellax’s commercialization strategy. We believe Cellax meets a clear clinical need within the multibillion-dollar Taxane market, and we anticipate that Cellax will emerge as a significant new player.”
