June 2024 Newsletter

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Fostering business and collaboration at BIO 2024

Earlier this month, our team attended BIO International Convention 2024, joining over 18,500 industry leaders from across the globe in fostering and creating opportunities for business collisions with the broader life sciences ecosystem.

From discovering the latest trends in AI/ML-driven technologies in healthcare to sharing opportunities for talent and capacity building, our team actively engaged in discussions aimed at strengthening the Canadian life sciences industry. Here are some of the events our team participated in:

Highlighting talent development

"Let's Talk People panel discussion at BIO 2024.
Andrew MacIsaac, our CEO, with Penny Walsh-McGuire, CEO at CASTL (left) and Cate Murray, CEO at Stem Cell Network (right).

Andrew MacIsaac, our CEO, was honoured to join BIOTECanada‘s panel discussion “Let’s Talk People,” alongside ecosystem partners from BioTalent Canada, CASTL and Stem Cell Network to share the vast opportunities for talent in bioscience and biomanufacturing.

Insights into the latest advancements in healthcare

Truong Ta, our VP of Commercialization & Partnerships, attended BioAlberta‘s panel discussion highlighting Alberta’s life sciences sector and its strengths in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Hon. Adriana LaGrange, Alberta’s Minister of Health, brought warm opening remarks, and panelists included Hon. Nate Glubish, Alberta’s Minister of Technology and Innovation, Peter Shen, Head of Digital and Automation at Siemens Health, Cory Janssen, CEO at AltaML, and Cam Linke, CEO at Amii, moderated by Kimberley Simmonds from Alberta Health.

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(From L-R) Robb Stoddard, CEO, BioAlberta, Hon. Nate Glubish, Hon. Adriana LaGrange, Peter Shen, Cam Linke, Cory Janssen and Kimberley Simmons.
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Truong Ta (far right) with (from L-R) Elizabeth Nanak, CEO at GlycoNet, Ryan Mercer, Director, Clinical Research Innovation at Alberta Innovates, Cam Linke, CEO at Amii, and Tim Murphy, Vice President, Health at Alberta Innovates.

Thank you to the Biotechnology Innovation Organization for hosting such an incredible event and to BioAlberta for leading the Alberta delegation! It was a pleasure to connect and explore opportunities with industry leaders in the life sciences ecosystem.

Empowering pharmaceutical excellence

Last week, API was proud to sponsor the 26th CSPS Annual Symposium, co-hosted by the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences and Canadian Chapter of the Controlled Release Society, for a week of discovery and learning to empower pharmaceutical excellence. Here’s a peek at the exciting series of events that took place during the 4-day conference:

Industry Day

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Truong Ta, our VP of Commercialization & Partnerships, shared his insights on the biggest trends in pharma and how trainees can prepare themselves for the industry during the Young Scientist Network Trainee Session. He was also the chair for a panel discussion focused on R&D Perspectives from Start-ups to MNEs.

In another session, Julianna Weber, our Director of Clinical & Regulatory Affairs, chaired a panel discussion that delved into the future of clinical trials.

Empowering AI in R&D

Various members of our Quantitative Solutions team, led by Patrick Mayo, VP of Quantitative Solutions, presented and shared their perspectives on the latest applications of AI in Pharmaceutical Sciences Research & Development. The session was chaired by Michael Gurguis, our Director of Clinical Pharmacology & Data.

Patrick Mayo at CSPS Symposium.

Last month, Pat, alongside Quantitative Systems Pharmacologist, Caroline Zhao, also delivered a presentation on how to move from preclinical to clinical AI/ML implementation in drug development at Upper Bound.

CSPS Awardee

Our CEO, Andrew MacIssac, presented a lecture as the CSPS Awardee of Leadership in Canadian Pharmaceutical Sciences and received this recognition at the Awards Presentation.

Andrew MacIsaac, CSPS Awardee of Leadership in Canadian Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Leading innovation in Alberta’s science parks

Last month, Tessa Vriend, our Director, Engagement & Brand, was honoured to participate as a panelist at the IASP North American Division Conference hosted by McMaster Innovation Park. During the panel session, “Businesses Growing in Clustered Communities,” Tessa had the opportunity to share the potential, challenges, and our journey in fostering the development and growth of clustered communities at the Edmonton Research Park.

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Tessa Vriend, our Director of Engagement & Brand (middle), alongside Carol Stewart, VP of Tech Parks at University of Arizona, and Anthony Rotunno, SVP, GM/Site Head at OmniaBio.

Edmonton region shortlisted for IASP World Conference

We’re proud to share that Edmonton has been shortlisted as one of the three host candidates for the 2026 International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) World Conference!

Earlier this year, we led a bid with Explore Edmonton, on behalf of the Edmonton Research Park to host the 2026 IASP World Conference. With the support of our ecosystem partners, we have been successfully selected as a host candidate.

IASP members will vote on their choice during the 2024 World Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. If chosen, we will have the great opportunity to showcase Edmonton’s vibrant innovation ecosystem, highlighting the Edmonton Research Park and its potential to offer much-needed technical capacity for researchers and entrepreneurs to build, grow, and scale their innovations.

We’re hiring!

Are you an IT guru with a knack for problem-solving? Or perhaps a visionary leader ready to take the helm in clinical operations? If yes, you’re in the right place!

Our team is searching for an exceptional Manager, Clinical Operations and an IT Systems Analyst who will play vital roles in optimizing our technical solutions and operational support for the life sciences ecosystem.

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I’m interested!

Events

FutureBotanica 2024

Explore the future of botanical drugs at FutureBotanica on June 19 in Toronto!

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Hosted by Canurta Therapeutics, FutureBotanica brings together leading voices from across the biotechnology and life sciences sectors to discuss new ideas and catalyze transformative advancements in botanical medicine.

Femi Morakinyo, our Regulatory Affairs Specialist, is participating as one of the speakers where he will share his expertise on product feasibility assessment, regulatory pathway optimization, and strategic planning.

Biomedical Engineering Research Day

Are you a life sciences student or researcher? Then this opportunity is for you!

Biomedical Engineering Research Day - June 26, 2024

On June 26, the Department of Biomedical Engineering at University of Alberta will be hosting its annual Biomedical Engineering Research Day offering access to a wide range of biomedical engineering research!

If you’re attending, our Regulatory Affairs Specialist Femi Morakinyo will be thrilled to connect with you!

Life Sciences & Innovation News

Voyageur Pharmaceuticals announced its first sales contract valued at USD$1.9 million

Last month, Voyageur Pharmaceuticals proudly announced that they secured a USD$1.9 million worth sales contract for their flagship product SmoothX 2% Barium Contrast.

According to the press release, the agreement was signed with a company that markets radiology products in Latin America, which allows them access to market and sales privileges in two countries for SmoothX 2%, a contrast medium designed for abdominal Computed Tomography (CT) diagnostic tests.

Recently, Voyageur also announced that they are collaborating with Rain Cage Carbon Inc. on the first commercial creation of a V@C60 endohedral fullerene, a novel compound that can enhance the precision and clarity of radiological scans.

ClarityDX Prostate test now accessible in other Canadian provinces

Nanostics Inc. recently announced that men can now provide their blood samples for its ClarityDX Prostate test at LifeLabs collections sites across British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.

ClarityDX Prostate is a blood-based diagnostic test that provides a risk score based on clinical and biological biomarkers to help patients and their physicians make an informed decision after an elevated PSA test result. Its launch was first announced during Life Sciences Week, accredited at their clinical lab in Edmonton, Alberta.