API News
2022 Look Back
How is it already the end of the year? At API we took a moment to look back at 2022 and remember some of the highlights that made it memorable.
Building the Life Sciences Ecosystem
API builds partnerships to create opportunities for companies, and we are proud champions of the life sciences sector. This year some of our work to advocate for the life sciences sector and attract investment included:
- Taking part in the Government of Alberta’s Edmonton Metro Region Economic Recovery working group
- Joining the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and their Life Sciences Strategy Council
- Becoming a member of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce’s Health & Life Sciences Advisory Committee
- Partnering with Edmonton Global for the inaugural forward/slash summit, and chairing the Health and Life Sciences Working Group.
- Partnering with Startup TNT to launch the Life Sciences Investment Summit, which was the province’s largest investment summit focused on life sciences.
- Sharing the potential of life sciences in Alberta and Canada by participating in trade delegations to Ireland, Nashville, and San Francisco, and getting involved with the Wiser Mixer, Economic Developers of Alberta Conference and the ASTech Awards.
- Leading a monthly Health Innovators’ Meetup for entrepreneurs and innovators in the Edmonton region
Some API Client and Partner Milestones
- Pfizer, API and the University of Alberta launched the Pfizer Applied Clinical Pharmacology Program. This program aims to strengthen development and learning opportunities for students interested in the industry applications of pharmacokinetics, including advanced modeling, as well as the regulatory pathway of drugs.
- API completed clinical trial material production for a project that is looking at a new treatment to help stroke patients better recover from motor impairments. This project – the ‘Canadian Maraviroc Randomized Controlled Trial to Augment Rehabilitation Outcomes After Stroke’ (CAMAROS) study – is being led by Dr. Sean Dukelow of the University of Calgary.
- API partnered with scientists at the University of Waterloo who are creating unique structure-based solutions against a broad spectrum of coronavirus variants that will help to mitigate any future pandemic caused by coronaviruses. The team is developing potent small molecule drugs that can effectively target a protease enzyme that is a critical viral replication machinery in coronaviruses.
- A multi-year partnership between Canurta Inc., API and Dr. Neal M. Davies, BSc(Pharm), PhD., R.Ph.FCAHS at the University of Alberta is developing analytical methodology and a set of assays to validate the therapeutic potential of novel non cannabinoid hemp polyphenols.
- API partnered with research scientists from Dalhousie University and Mount Saint Vincent University in Nova Scotia to understand the antiviral mechanism of FDA-approved thiopurines drug named 6- thioguanine (6-TG). The researchers and API plan to use this information to develop novel chemical entities with greater specificity and potency that can be used for improved antiviral drug discovery against SARS-CoV-2 and RNA viruses.
- API partnered with University of Saskatchewan research scientist Dr. Anil Kumar to help find new antivirals effective against all prevalent and emerging variants of the Coronavirus. The team is developing a high-throughput drug screening platform to identify novel drugs and drug-targets that show a high potential to develop new antivirals.
Recognitions
- Our CEO Andrew MacIssac was awarded a 2022 Edifier Award, for his vision and work expanding the talent development, innovation and economic opportunities for Alberta and Canada’s life sciences industry.
- Nobel Laureate and member of API Scientific Advisory Committee, Dr. Michael Houghton, was recognized in the Alberta Bioindustry Hall of Fame for his exemplary work. Watch him discuss his work below.
- Brian Corrigan, Global Head of Clinical Pharmacology for Pfizer, and member of API’s Scientific Advisory Committee, received the University of Alberta’s distinguished alumni award for his work in clinical pharmacology.
- Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, Founding Director of Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology and one of API’s partners, received the CACMID 2022 John G. Fitzgerald Award, which recognizes Canadian microbiologists who have significantly advanced the field of medical microbiology through their contributions to clinical, academic, and educational pillars.
Events
API Partners with StartupTNT for the Life Sciences Investment Summit
We’re very proud to be the Presenting Partner of the Startup TNT Life Sciences Investment Summit again this year!
The Startup TNT Life Sciences Investment Summit is a unique platform created in partnership between Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation and Startup TNT to empower innovative ideas, invest in life sciences discoveries and build a community of life sciences start-ups and investors.
Our goal is to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for life sciences startups across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and to create a syndicate of qualified angel investors who will help build up those startups.
If you’re raising money in 2023 for your life sciences startup – you don’t want to miss this Summit! Over 60 companies have now raised over $8 million at Startup TNT Investment Summits – yours could be next!
Applications are now live and we invite all life sciences companies that are considering raising money in 2023 to join us.
Applications close on January 24th. Top 20 Pitch Night will be on January 31st and the Summit Finale will be on March 23rd.
Health Innovators’ Meetup: Clinical Trial Supports in Alberta For Your Innovations
Join us at the new year’s first HIH Meetup! Representatives from IMPACT, NACTRC, and Alberta Innovates will be speaking about supports that aid the transition into clinical trials.
The panel will discuss engagement with institutions to aid in your clinical trial, the steps taken, what is the best/most efficient way to approach the clinical trial cycle, pitfalls associated with this process, and more.
January 12, 2023 @ 4 pm.
You can learn more and register here.
And don’t forget to access the Health Innovation Hub’s fantastic resources, including the Talent Hub, a portal for anyone who is interested in working for a health startup, and sign up for their Bi-Weekly Digest!
Life Science & Innovation News
Alberta Innovates and Alberta Blue Cross Form a Strategic Partnership
Alberta Innovates and Alberta Blue Cross have formed a strategic partnership to connect people with innovative digital health solutions to support the prevention and management of chronic disease and mental health. This partnership enables select organizations offering Alberta Blue Cross benefit plans to find, deploy and implement digital health solutions for their employees.
Future Fields Joins United Nations Global Compact Initiative
Future Fields is the first Canadian recombinant protein manufacturer to join the United Nations Global Compact Initiative, a voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation, and disclosure of responsible business practices.