Leading Health and Life Sciences in Nova Scotia

BioVectra Inc. to open new facility in rural NS in December 2017

BioVectra Inc. to Open New Microbial Fermentation and Complex Chemistry Site in December 2017 $30 million investment increases BioVectra’s total manufacturing capacity by 40%   Windsor, Nova Scotia (May 18, 2017) – BioVectra Inc., a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) providing cGMP services to globally operated biotech and pharmaceutical companies, today announced that its fourth cGMP facility will be fully operational by December 2017. The late-stage to commercial-scale microbial fermentation and complex chemistry facility is located in Windsor, Nova Scotia, with proximity and service to Northeast USA development entities.   BioVectra’s $30 million investment has equipped the 50,000 square-foot facility with 40,000 liters (L) of fermentation capacity, downstream processing equipment and new pre-clinical fermentation and potent chemistry suites. “The investment strengthens our unique position in the very competitive global marketplace, enabling us to offer new and existing clients range of scale throughout the entire lifecycle of a product,” said Oliver Technow, BioVectra’s President.   The new facility is an investment in BioVectra’s core development and manufacturing competencies: microbial fermentation and complex chemistries. As an industry leader in microbial fermentation of both small and large molecules, the company provides scalable cGMP operations from 30 L to 17,000 L. BioVectra has the capability to handle the development and cGMP scale-up of high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), handling potent substances such as antibody-drug conjugate warheads, with occupational exposure limit (OEL) levels of < 20 ng/m3 (Safebridge Band 3 and 4).   The new facility increases BioVectra’s ability to partner with global pharmaceutical companies by offering dual-site risk mitigation. “This expansion helps BioVectra keep up with the growing demand for our products, while also meeting an underserved need for large-scale microbial fermentation in North America,” said Heather Delage, Vice President of Business Development. “In addition to the facility’s large-scale fermentation capability, the site also offers a complementary footprint for synthetic process development and laboratory-based activities.”   BioVectra’s three additional cGMP facilities and headquarters are located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. About BioVectra BioVectra is a CDMO that serves pharmaceutical and biotech companies with full-service cGMP outsourcing solutions for intermediates and APIs. An innovative and reliable partner with an impressive track record of long-term API supply and a strong quality history, BioVectra has over 45 years of experience specializing in:  

  BioVectra is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.   Media Contact Jordan MacGregor, Communications Manager [email protected] 902-566-9116 ext. 6376 www.biovectra.com]]>

ENTREVESTOR: DGI brings patients, data together

See original article here Halifax-based DGI Clinical takes a two-pronged approach to boosting health care: the group gives patients a voice and allows pharmaceutical companies to better understand their clinical trial data. DGI Clinical has developed systems that allow patients to state and communicate their health care priorities. Established in 2001 by Dalhousie-based Alzheimer’s expert Dr. Kenneth Rockwood, DGI has created patient-focused SymptomGuides. The Alzheimer’s and dementia SymptomGuide is available online. It allows sufferers to name the symptoms that most concern them. This information can be shared with family and health professionals. Both patients and caregivers can enter data and track symptoms. It’s important that patients state the symptoms that trouble them, said Chère Chapman, the company’s CEO. “Gone are the days when patients say, ‘Tell me what to do and I’ll do it,’” Chapman said. “The SymptomGuide allows patients to set goals for their treatment  One patient with dementia, for example, may wish to increase their social activity. Another may wish to decrease repetition of asking the same questions.” Chapman said between 4,000 and 5,000 people and their caregivers use the Alzheimer’s and dementia SymptomGuide. Other Symptom Guides have been created for clinical trials and clinic settings, including a recently developed hemophilia Symptom Guide. The company has also built bespoke Alzheimer’s and dementia tools for clinical trials and clinic use. “A company may want to develop a compound to reduce agitation. SymptomGuide will reveal how many of our users are concerned about agitation,” Chapman said. SymptomGuide can reveal details such as the disease stage or stages where agitation bothers patients, whether respondents are already diagnosed, and what therapies they may be on. DGI Clinical is now looking at working in the areas of HIV, cardiovascular disease and renal failure. “Our tools are applicable to chronic diseases, and our scientific team has already done a lot of research in these areas,” said Chapman. She said DGI Clinical’s tools allow pharmaceutical clients to fully understand their data. “The typical phase two drug trial looks at primary and secondary outcomes, including quality of life measures, but these are typically analyzed as if they are unrelated,” she said. “We allow pharmaceutical companies to see how the outcomes interact with each other to produce treatment effects.” She said that drug companies usually try to exclude frail people from drug trials, but people of different levels of frailty do get onto the trials. DGI offers a Frailty Index, which was developed at Dalhousie by Ken Rockwood and Arnold Mitnitski, both DGI scientists. It has been adapted for clinical trial data and provides pharmaceutical companies with greater information about the frailty of their clinical trial subjects. “The Frailty Index reveals the impact of the drug on frail people, resulting in more clinically meaningful information,” Chapman said. She said that deep analysis of data is especially useful when drug trial results are unclear. “It could be a $100-million decision to take a drug to the next level, so digging deeper into the data is worthwhile.” Chapman, a New Brunswick native with a background in health research and business management, had worked around the world before joining DGI a year ago, becoming CEO in December. She said the company is growing steadily, funding its own growth, and focusing on R&D and hiring staff. Halifax is an excellent base as the city’s universities produce great scientists. She said she is not aware of any direct competitors. “Our biggest issue is the education of potential clients,” she said. “We have to get people to change the ways they do things.” So far, the company has no Canadian clients. All clients are U.S. or European pharmaceutical companies or other groups with a health intervention to test. “We are not in a huge rush to grow,” Chapman said. “Science is complicated. It takes time for staff to understand all the science behind what we do, however bright they are.”]]>

5 tips from Partner International on Global Licensing Strategy

Going global? Partner International can help. Last month, BioNova hosted a Lunch & Learn with Partner International on global licensing strategy and global expansion plans tailored to the life sciences sector. Partner International is a leading international business development service provider in the life sciences sector, completing billions of dollars of transactions, over its 17 years of operation, while executing business development mandates in companies from big pharma to start up biotechs. They have clients all over the globe, including their first Chinese client they recently closed. They help life sciences companies with accelerating business development transactions and anything in the corporate development sector. Some common transactions in life sciences deals include licensing, partnering, collaborations, mergers, investment & distribution. Partner International can do it all.  

 The first step in going global is understanding where you are and where you want to go.
– Mark Regular, Executive Director of Business Development Here are 5 steps you’ll take with Partner International:  
  • Define objectives and criteria for potential partners
In the business development process, a crucial first step is defining specifically what you expect from your potential partners. This ensures your company can build a mutually beneficial relationship right from the start. Let Partner International’s 17 years of experience guide you.
  • Find the right person in a company and build those relationships
If your company continues to reach out to the same contact and continues to receive the same “Sorry, we’re not interested”, don’t give up! Mark and Joanne (Co-Founder and President) know who to contact and can get you that meeting.
  • Build a valuable IP portfolio
Your company needs to show why and how it’s unique. What makes your company’s product or service stand out? Where’s the data to back it up? Do you have any patents or copyrights?
  • Don’t underestimate the importance of interdependence
The business development process can be complicated and there are many factors to consider. From your suppliers to your governance, and from royalties to warranties, these roles are all connected.  
  •  Due diligence
Put in the work. This shows a willingness of both parties to collaborate and be professional. It can also be a predictor of the future relationship with the potential partner. Partner International knows a thing or two about partners!

Partner International will help you take over the globe, one deal at a time.

Contact info: Mark Regular Executive Director, Business Development [email protected] 902 421-3171]]>