ALLON THERAPEUTICS INC.
July 2011
Allon Therapeutics Inc. is focused on bringing to market innovative central nervous system therapies. Allon’s lead drug davunetide, is proceeding in a pivotal clinical trial in an orphan indication, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), under an SPA with the FDA. This pivotal trial is based upon statistically significant human efficacy demonstrated in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease), cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia, and positive biomarker data.
Amongst other successes in 2010, Allon received Orphan drug designation for davunetide in the United States (FDA) and the European Union, the world’s two largest pharmaceutical markets. Allon believes their next trial will not just provide data for a potential approval in PSP, but will also define the opportunity in other tau-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s and several types of frontotemporal dementia.
CENTRE FOR DRUG RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
June 2011
The Centre for Drug Research and Development is an independent, non-profit organization with a focus on bridging the gap between academic discoveries in the health sciences and the development of new medicines to treat human disease. CDRD provides drug-development expertise and facilities to enable researchers across Canada to develop promising drug candidates. Our organization draws on and develops discoveries made by scientists working in academic research and health institutions. Scientific and technical expertise guided by commercial insight allows our team to assess the chances that a discovery will result in a successful drug. We provide a collaborative framework through which drug development can become sustainable, cost-effective, and advantageous to society.
CDRD’s vision is to transform the culture of scientific innovation and commercialization impacting human health. Its mission is to be a global leader in translating academic discoveries into new medicine; to bridge the commercialization gap between drug discovery and private investment by creating partnerships between academia, industry and government that mobilize scientific excellence and enable a robust biopharmaceutical sector; and to provide the next generation of uniquely-trained highly qualified personnel to drive the development of the medicines of tomorrow
GENOMEBC
May 2011
Genome British Columbia is a non-profit research organization that invests in and manages large-scale genomics and proteomics research projects and enabling technologies focused on areas of strategic importance such as human health, forestry, fisheries, bioenergy, mining, agriculture and the environment.
Our research projects have attracted over 100 major international co-funders and partner organizations, including many multinational corporations, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, worldwide charitable foundations and top-tier research institutions. Such investments have helped us build internationally recognized enabling technologies; recruit, train and retain high quality personnel; and deliver socio-economic benefits to BC, Canada and other parts of the world.
Our major investors are the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada through Genome Canada and Western Economic Diversification Canada. This funding is complemented by other private and public investments.
STEMCELL TECHNOLOGIES INC
April 2011
STEMCELL Technologies Inc is a privately-owned biotechnology company that develops specialty cell culture media, cell separation products and ancillary reagents for life science research. Driven by science and a passion for quality, STEMCELL delivers over 1000 products to more than 70 countries worldwide.
STEMCELL grew out of the Media Preparation Service of the Terry Fox Laboratory for Hematology/Oncology Research at the British Columbia Cancer Agency. The Media Preparation Service was originally created in 1981 to provide high quality, cost effective tissue culture media for cancer researchers. In 1993, to allow it to grow, the Media Preparation Service was spun off as a private company, STEMCELL Technologies Inc. Since this time, STEMCELL has been dedicated to providing standardized reagents and tools for all areas of stem cell research, and has extended this expertise to many other sectors of life science. In 2008, STEMCELL achieved ISO 13485:2003 certification for its research, manufacturing and shipping facilities in Vancouver, BC, Canada, in Tukwila, WA, USA and in Grenoble, France. This certification attests that STEMCELL fully complies with the requirements for quality management systems for medical devices in the design, manufacturing and distribution of In Vitro Diagnostic products, Research Use Only products, reagents and laboratory equipment.
In addition to rigorously pre-screened reagents and thorough quality control processes, STEMCELL knows that a number of other factors contribute to achieving consistent results, such as training and access to timely and effective technical support. Our knowledgeable technical support team and staff scientists provide educational programs and training courses and are always available to discuss any questions researchers may have. STEMCELL Technologies is committed to further stem cell and life science research and supports many local and national initiatives. Learn more about their products and initiatives here.
TECHNOLOGY VISION GROUP
February 2011
Since 1992, Technology Vision Group (TVG) has been connecting innovators and leaders in the life science industry across the US, Canada, China, Europe, Australia, Latin America, India, and Asia. TVG enables a global network that supports life science companies as they build new relationships, enter new markets, and create new products. Their 19-year track record (1992-2010) of success is founded on deep industry knowledge, integrity in business, and a powerful network of valuable relationships. TVG continues to expand their network into new markets in Latin America, China, and India — fulfilling their vision to be “Your Global Life Science Network™”.
TVG conferences are focused on facilitating business development, providing an open and vibrant format that allows delegates to pre-book meetings and share agendas before the event date. Delegates move quickly from one meeting to the next — getting business done efficiently. Thought-leader panels address critical topics and provide “open-mic” opportunities for all delegates to voice their opinions or question the panelists. TGV’s goal is to optimize your time and increase your return by providing every opportunity for you to participate and have a valuable experience.
TVG provides life science professionals with the connections, the venues, and the access they need to succeed in a global life science world. One of the ways they achieve this is through their BioPartnering conference series, of which there are five each year around the globe. BioPartnering North America (BPN) is going on its 9th year and will be taking place here in Vancouver from February 27th to March 1st. With an annual attendance of 900 delegates from 500 different companies, it is the ideal venue for furthering business development and creating life-long connections.
This year, TVG and SBN have partnered up to allow you, as SBN member, to flavour BioPartnering North America when you register to SBN’s 7th Annual Biotech Expo & Conference. Students who come to SBN’s event will have the chance to arrive as early as 2:00pm, and enjoy the closing afternoon of BPN. This is an unprecedented opportunity to interact with members of the life sciences industry from all over the world. Find out the exact list of participants confirmed for BPN 2011 here. You won’t want to miss out on this unique event!
KPMG LLP
January 2011 Profile
KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm, is the Canadian member firm of KPMG International. KPMG International’s member firms have 140,000 professionals, including more than 7,900 partners, in 146 countries. We are one of the first professional services firms to structure itself globally along industry lines of business.
Through our Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals industry focus, we have deep knowledge of our clients’ businesses and, together with a keen and fully informed perspective on the issues they face, have increasingly become the business adviser of choice to many Canadian and international companies. We work with most of the largest public and private biotechnology companies in the Greater Vancouver Area and have the experience and capability of delivering services to industry players who have come to value our independence and depth of knowledge.
Our relationship with the biotechnology & pharmaceuticals industry is marked by a total commitment to serving companies of all sizes, including leading global public clients and smaller private companies, which translates into am insightful understanding of the industry’s complex challenges including financing the development of core technology, dealing with collaborative and licensing arrangements with larger multinational pharmaceutical companies, regulatory challenges presented by the FDA and other regulatory bodies and financial reporting/governance requirements in a global community.
Active industry participation helps keep KPMG’s professionals fully attuned to the needs of our clients in this sector. Our Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals professionals participate in leading conferences and events, chairing roundtable discussions, presenting on industry issues and developments, introducing technical papers, and holding technical sessions. Locally, KPMG is an annual sponsor of BioFinance, the biotech industry’s leading investor conference; we are also the founding sponsor of the Student Biotech Network and are active participants in LifeSciences British Columbia events and the Forum On Financing Biotechs.
NATURAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING RESEARCH COUNCIL
December 2010 Profile
Did you know that NSERC has invested $146.7 million in research in British Columbia in 2009-10? About 20% of this investment has directly benefited the life sciences industry, both al the level of basic research as well as to support projects between universities and the industry.
A big portion of this investment comes in the shape of a wide array of scholarships and fellowships. This year in BC alone, NSERC has awarded 1393 students and fellows. Undergraduate students can apply for the Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA), if wanting to pursue an internship within academia, as well as the Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards for those interested in exploring opportunities within the industry.
For graduate students, NSERC offers a number of different scholarships that vary in their scope and eligibility criteria. Like for undergrads, these may be applied to academic or industrial research. An interesting award is the Summer Program in Japan or Taiwan which allows graduate students to carry out eight weeks of research in one of these two countries.
Finally, NSERC has also partnered up with a number of organizations, most notably MITACS, to increase the number of awards available. We highly encourage all our members to go through the NSERC website and explore all their programs.
UBC VP RESEARCH OFFICE
November 2010 Profile
Under the leadership of Dr. John Hepburn, the VP Research Office (VPRO) is in charge of overseeing research activities and grants for the University of British Columbia. Their mandate is to promote research collaborations within UBC as well as with other local and international research institutions. According to their latest published data, during the academic year of 2008/2009 UBC’s VPRO awarded a total of $475,285,174.25 in research funding.
Additionally, the VPRO has a number of programs to keep undergraduate and graduate students well informed about research opportunities. Their website includes great links to resources such as grant applications, research tools, and job opportunities. One of their upcoming initiatives called “Tour of the Month” falls under the umbrella of their Undergraduate Research Opportunities (URO) program. As the name suggests, this service will consist of touring undergraduate students through some of the most exciting labs within the university so that they can experience first hand what a career in academia is like. The first tour of this series will be taking place at The Brain Research Center on November 10th from 1-2pm. The event is free, but registration is required as there are limited spots. If you are interested, register by e-mailing uro.tours[at]gmail.com.
If you want to be kept up to date on the latest news and advances made by UBC researchers as well as other programs initiated by the VPRO, you should sign up to receive the online version of their magazine, Frontier: A Journal of Research and Discovery, which is published once a month.
CENTRIFUGE MEDIA LAB
October 2010 Profile
Centrifuge Media Lab is a strategic communications company specializing in fields of health, medicine and science. Inspired by our client’s work, we partner with them to create clear, compelling communications that connect them to their audiences. By leveraging all of today’s technologies, from interactive websites and social media, to 3D modelling and animation, we translate the work our clients do into content that stimulates, educates and catalyzes change.
We currently provide the following products and services to organizations across the globe:
- Marketing Communications Strategy
- Corporate Branding
- Copy Writing
- Graphic & Print Design
- Interactive Website Design & Development
- Multimedia Design & Development
- 3D Modelling & Animation
- Internet Marketing
To learn more about using interactive technologies to explain science, visit www.centrifugemedialab.com
GOWLINGS LAFLEUR HENDERSON LLP.
September 2010 Profile
As one of Canada’s largest law firms, Gowlings knows what it takes to create, enhance and protect real business value. With more than 700 business-savvy legal professionals active in key global industries, Gowlings provides its clients with pragmatic commercial advice.
Gowlings has been a trusted business partner to many of Canada’s largest organizations for over a century, and has built a solid reputation for delivering creative, effective and valuable solutions to complex business matters.
More than 150 Gowlings professionals are dedicated to life sciences. From start to finish, Gowlings can guide biotech companies of all sizes and at any stage of development in the human health, agriculture and industrial sectors from idea to commercialized product. Gowlings strategically protects intellectual property, navigates regulatory approval and product pricing issues, and expertly manages class action and intellectual property litigation proceedings.
Gowlings represents several major universities and research institutions across Canada and many notable organizations including:
• Bayer
• Bioniche Life Sciences
• BIOTECanada
• Bristol-Myers Squibb
• Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D)
• Eli Lilly
• GlaxoSmithKline
• Hoffmann-La Roche Limited
• Iogen Corporation
• Johnson & Johnson
• Medicago Inc.
• Merck & Co
• Novartis
• Pfizer
• Sanofi Pasteur
• Takeda Pharmaceuticals
