|
BC Biotech Presents the BC Biotechnology Awards to Five Prestigious Winners
May 4, 2006 BC Biotech was proud to host its 8th Annual BC Biotechnology Awards Ceremony at the Westin Bayshore on May 4th, 2006. This was the premier event of the year for British Columbia’s biotechnology community, drawing virtually all of our industry leaders who have helped make this region an international hotspot for biotechnology. BC Biotech was honoured to have the Honourable Colin Hansen, Minister of Economic Development and the Honourable Linda Reid, Minister of State for Early Childhood Development as guests for this years awards ceremony. The evening was full of energy and enlightening speeches were given from the award winners and industry leaders. The Honourable Colin Hansen spoke to the accomplishments that the biotechnology sector has made in the last year and specifically mentioned his trip to BIO 2006 in Chicago and how successful British Columbia's presence was this year. Dr. Ross MacGillvray Dr. MacGillivray has been active in the biotechnology sector, consulting for local and international biotech and pharmaceutical companies including Immuno AG (Vienna), Eli Lilly (Indianapolis), BioRexis (King of Prussia, PA) and INEX Pharmaceuticals (Vancouver). He is currently a rotating Chair for the University-Industry Grants Committee for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and has been the recipient of several additional awards, including the Ayerst Award of the Canadian Biochemistry Society, and a UBC Killam Research Prize, a UBC Killam Senior Fellowship and a UBC Killam Teaching Prize.
OGX-011, a second-generation antisense inhibitor of the cell survival protein, clusterin, was the first product developed by Dr. Gleave and his group at the Prostate Centre at Vancouver General Hospital, and is the lead drug candidate of OncoGenex Technologies, the Vancouver-based biotechnology company co-founded by Dr. Gleave. Via several pre-clinical models, OGX-011 has been shown to have potential treatment applications for prostate, breast, non-small cell lung, renal and bladder cancer and melanoma. Dr. Gleave’s scientific and clinical leadership resulted in OncoGenex advancing OGX-011 from a university discovery to completion of a Phase I clinical study in less than four years. OncoGenex now has three products in development -- all discovered and developed by Dr. Gleave and his colleagues at the Prostate Centre at Vancouver General Hospital, and all targeting different genes and types of cancer.
In his most recent venture, Mr. Glickman has led Victoria-based Aspreva to remarkable success; and through his unyielding commitment to the local biotechnology community, he has ensured that Aspreva’s success is realized and remains in British Columbia. In a short time, the company has translated a unique business model of indication partnering into a market capitalization of over $1 billion – making it one of British Columbia’s most valuable biotechnology companies. Mr. Glickman has also recruited top international biotech talent to Victoria, and this team has together transformed the company into one of the few profitable biotech companies in the world with expected revenues of over $200M US in 2006. Mr. Glickman’s leadership has also extended to the greater biotechnology community, acting as Chair and member of a number provincial and national organizations and committees, including the then BC Biotechnology Alliance and the Science Council of BC Biotechnology Steering Committee, the Canadian Genetic Diseases Network, the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund, the Federal Government’s National Biotechnology Advisory Committee, and the Provincial/Federal Biopharmaceutical Infrastructure Advisory Committee. Through this extensive involvement, he has contributed greatly to the development of the biotech industry across Canada, and helped shape public policy to ensure that all Canadians and people worldwide can benefit from the benefits of biotechnology.
In 2005 and early 2006, Neuromed Pharmaceuticals was a stand out not only in the British Columbia biotech industry, but in fact, gained international attention for the tremendous milestones the company achieved. Neuromed successfully completed a 145 subject Phase I safety study, and launched its lead program into Phase II clinical trials, added significant depth to its management team, completed a fourth round of private equity financing for US$25 million, and changed its name to reflect its evolution. Finally, and most notably, Neuromed announced one of the biggest pharmaceutical partnerships ever in Canada, with Merck & Co. Neuromed's achievements over the last year demonstrate its continuing ability to execute its strategy, and exemplify the attributes for the BC Biotech 2006 Life Sciences Company of the Year Award.
Dale Gann’s involvement with BC Biotech began approximately three years ago at the BIO 2003 International Conference in Washington DC, when he recognized the opportunity to improve British Columbia’s presence at the conference in comparison to our international competitors. As a result, Dale took on the role of Chair of the BC Biotech BIO Conference Steering Committee. Over the next three years, he would bring together numerous biotech community partners, until together, we developed a presence at the 2006 BIO Conference in Chicago that resulted in a presence on par with virtually any other region of the world, and which brought BC significant international profile. View pictures from the 2006 Awards The 8th Annual BC Biotechnology Awards are presented by:
BC Biotech is proud to be the lead organizer for the sanofi-aventis biotech challenge (SABC) in BC. The sanofi-aventis biotech challenge is a high-school competition held nationwide that brings together creative and curious young people interested in solving a problem using biotechnology. The competition offers a total of $10,000 shared between the winning students and their schools. This event will also feature presenters from the local scientific community, showcasing their careers and demonstrating the opportunities available in biotechnology.
The 1st place winners of the Regional SABC Competition, Philip Edgcumbe and Maxim Winther from Kitsilano Secondary School, competed in the National Competition on May 10th and placed 4th for their project Antioxidants to Reduce Free Radicals in Cellular Environment. BC Biotech would like to congratulate Philip and Maxim for their accomplishments. For more information on the sanofi-aventis biotech challenge visit the program website at www.biotechchallenge.ca Register Now For the 10th Annual BC Biotech Salmon BBQOne of our most popular annual events, the salmon barbeque offers members of our biotech community the chance to gather for an informal summer dinner and enjoy panoramic views of the Straight of Georgia and the mountains of Howe Sound. Date: Thursday, June 15, 2006 BC Biotech's Industry Roundtable held at McCarthy Tetrault on June 1st had 30 BC Biotech Members around the table to discuss ways in which companies can effectively compete for top international talent, the legal realities of dealing with the Canadian immigration system, and how the Provincial Nominee Program can be an effective and efficient mechanism to expedite the immigration process. Speakers included:
Click here to view Ian Mellor's presentation on the Provincial Nominee Program Renew your BC Biotech MembershipIt's that time of the year again to renew your BC Biotech membership for 2006-2007. Membership renewal forms have been sent to the primary contacts of each organization, and renewals can be made online.In order for your membership to remain active, we would appreciate that you renew your BC Biotech membership as soon as possible. If you have any questions about membership renewals, please contact our new Membership Services Coordinator, Sara Johnson at 604-602-5228.
BC Biotech was very successful in introducing a new organizational sponsorship program last year, and would like to take this opportunity to invite you to be a part of it. We are pleased to announce that in the first six months of this new program, we had 21 sponsors confirmed. Without the support of our sponsors, all of which have continued their commitment into 2006-2007, we could not have undertaken all our new programs and initiatives in this past year, including the development of the BC Biotech position paper, facilitating linkages between pharma and our industry, and developing a video promoting the benefits of investing in British Columbia. BC Biotech would like to thank all our sponsors for their ongoing support. Please view our 2006-2007 Sponsorship Program If you have any further questions about the program or would like more information, please contact Raman Bhullar at rbhullar@bcbiotech.ca or 604-602-5227. Apply to Present at BioPartnering North America 2007Now in it’s 5th year, BioPartnering North America (BPN) www.techvision.com/bpn is supported by leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology, financial, and service companies from around the world. This key partnering meeting, held in Vancouver, offer companies a focused business development experience that is consistently excellent, efficient, and cost-effective. To register online, visit www.techvision.com/bpn/registration . A hallmark of BPN is the Open House Presentations that features 56 biopharmaceutical and diagnostics companies that give interactive presentations in specially constructed booths. Presenting companies are available during a 2-hour period for informal discussions with business development executives. Presenting companies devise unique ways to showcase aspects of their businesses including: science and technology; partnering strategies; developmental programs; commercialization plans; product opportunities; and manufacturing capabilities. To apply for an Open House Company Presentation go to www.techvision.com/bpn/registration/presenter/ohapply . BPN showcases a number of young companies from various parts of the world in the Emerging Company presentations. Twenty companies founded in or after 2002 will offer 14-minute podium presentations in the main plenary hall. Each company will then be available for private discussions directly afterwards. To apply for and Emerging Company presentation go to www.techvision.com/bpn/registration/presenter/ecapply . If you have any questions about registering for BPN, please contact Saskia Baur at +1.831.464.4230 or by email at sbaur@techvision.com . For questions regarding company presentations, please contact Lila Taylor at +1.831.464.4230 or by e-mail at ltaylor@techvision.com |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Suite 900 - 1188 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, BC V6E 4A2 |