Leading Health and Life Sciences in Nova Scotia

Adaptiiv Wins $100K Health Challenge

Jun 21, 2020 | Adaptiiv, Alentic Microscience Inc., News

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Halifax-based Adaptiiv Medical Technologies has won the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s first Health Challenge pitch competition, bagging a $100,000 prize.

Announced in February and hosted by innovation hub Volta, the Health Challenges are a series of five events aimed at identifying technologies to help modernize Nova Scotia’s aging and understaffed healthcare system. Friday’s competition was focused exclusively on cancer-related innovations.

In addition to the cash prize, the NSHA has promised to consider adopting Adaptiiv’s technology for use in the provincial medical system.

“Through this challenge, we know that we have created this space that’s supportive or collaborative in nature,” said Dr. Gail Tomblin Murphy, who is the NSHA’s vice president of research, innovation and discovery, and chief nurse executive. She added that the display of innovation shows “that the support and strength to draw from our private partners is making a difference.”

Adaptiiv sells equipment and software for 3D printing specialized bolus devices – pieces of polymer placed on patients’ bodies to target radiation therapy during cancer treatment.

ENTREVESTOR: Adaptiiv Partners With Italy’s EZB

May 2, 2019 | Adaptiiv, News

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Adaptiiv Medical Technologies Inc., the Halifax company that uses 3D printing to improve cancer treatment, has further extended its international reach by partnering with Italian peer Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG, or EZB.

EZB specializes in products used in brachytherapy, which applies radioactive sources directly to or into tumors while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue. For the patient, this means shorter treatment periods, fewer side effects and a faster recovery.

The two companies announced Sunday they will test and align their systems to provide an integrated workflow for cancer centers to create 3D-printed brachytherapy applicators customized to each patient. They believe the collaboration will demonstrate that 3D printing can provide clinically viable solutions that improve treatment and patient care.

“This is a significant milestone for us,” said Adaptiiv CTO Alex Dunphy in the press release.“Collaborating with the team at EZB has allowed us to continue to make significant strides towards improving the standard of care using a patient-specific approach in brachytherapy. The successful alignment of our systems will demonstrate that 3D printing can be used to provide a clinically viable solution in brachytherapy treatment.”

First Patient Dosed in Phase 1 Clinical Trial Evaluating Neoepitopes Formulated in IMV’s DPX Delivery Platform in Ovarian Cancer Patients

Jan 17, 2019 | IMV Inc., Members, News

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January 17, 2019 at 7:05 AM EST

DARTMOUTH, Nova Scotia, Jan. 17, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IMV Inc. (Nasdaq: IMV; TSX: IMV), a clinical stage immuno-oncology corporation, today announced that the first patient has been treated in the Phase 1 trial evaluating neoepitopes formulated in the Company’s proprietary DPX delivery platform in patients with ovarian cancer. The study is part of the Company’s DPX-NEO program, which is an ongoing collaboration between UConn Health and IMV to develop neoepitope-based anti-cancer therapies.

“Expanding our DPX-based clinical immunotherapy program beyond DPX-Survivac is an important milestone for IMV, and we are pleased to be able to do so with this type of cutting-edge program in which the novel mechanism of action underscoring all DPX-based candidates plays a critical role,” said Frederic Ors, Chief Executive Officer at IMV. “We believe that the potential of neoepitope-based therapies could be a significant advance in the way physicians treat patients with ovarian cancer who today face a high unmet medical need. We look forward to working with UConn Healthto advance this program as IMV is committed to developing an immunotherapy option for women affected by this disease.”

Investigators will assess the safety and efficacy of using patient-specific neoepitopes discovered at UConn Health and formulated in IMV’s proprietary DPX-based delivery technology in women with ovarian cancer. Investigators plan to enroll up to 15 patients in the Phase 1 study. UConn Health is funding the trial with IMV providing materials and counsel.

Epitopes are the part of the biological molecule that is the target of an immune response. Neoepitopes are the mutated proteins produced by a patient’s own tumors. Neoepitope immunotherapies target these patient-specific proteins and have been referred to as ‘the next immunotherapy frontier.’ (1)

“The first immunization of the first ovarian cancer patient with our personalized, patient-specific neoepitopes developed at the University of Connecticut using our proprietary technology, formulated in IMV’s excellent immunomodulatory DPX delivery platform, is a major milestone for us,” said Study Investigator Pramod K Srivastava, PhD, MD, Director of the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
About the DPX-NEO Program

The DPX-NEO program is an ongoing collaboration evaluating the anti-cancer activity of proprietary patient-specific epitopes developed at UConn Health and formulated in IMV’s DPX-based novel immunotherapeutic delivery technology. IMV had previously announced the results from preclinical research in which researchers at UConn found that neoepitopes formulated in DPX-based formulations demonstrated superior immunogenic activity over comparators in mouse tumor models. In addition, IMV also previously announced a breakthrough in formulating multiple peptides in DPX formulations. The Company has patented the technology, which allows for both a larger number and a broader potential range of peptides into a single formulation as compared to standard formulation technologies.

About IMV

IMV Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to making immunotherapy more effective, more broadly applicable, and more widely available to people facing cancer and other serious diseases. IMV is pioneering a new class of immunotherapies based on the Company’s proprietary drug delivery platform. This patented technology leverages a novel mechanism of action that enables the programming of immune cells in vivo, which are aimed at generating powerful new synthetic therapeutic capabilities. IMV’s lead candidate, DPX-Survivac, is a T cell-activating immunotherapy that combines the utility of the platform with a target: survivin. IMV is currently assessing DPX-Survivac as a monotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer, as well as a combination therapy in multiple clinical studies with Incyte and Merck. Connect at www.imv-inc.com.

IMV Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information under applicable securities law. All information that addresses activities or developments that we expect to occur in the future is forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the date the statements are made. However, they should not be regarded as a representation that any of the plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this press release due to risks affecting the Corporation, including access to capital, the successful completion of clinical trials and receipt of all regulatory approvals. IMV Inc. assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements in this press release except as required by law. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our ability to access capital, the successful and timely completion of clinical trials, the receipt of all regulatory approvals and other risks detailed from time to time in our ongoing quarterly filings and annual information form Investors are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements and are encouraged to read IMV’s continuous disclosure documents, including its current annual information form, as well as its audited annual consolidated financial statements which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.

Contacts for IMV:
MEDIA 
Andrea Cohen, Sam Brown Inc.
T: (917) 209-7163 E: [email protected]
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Marc Jasmin, IMV Senior Director, Investor Relations
T: (902) 492-1819 E: [email protected]
Patti Bank, Managing Director, Westwicke Partners
O: (415) 513-1284
T: (415) 515-4572 E: [email protected]
REFERENCES
1 Neoepitope Vaccines, Next Immunotherapy Frontier Cancer Discovery Published Online First December 28, 2015; doi:10.1158/2159-8290.CD-NB2015-179
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Source: IMV Inc.

ENTREVESTOR: Adaptiiv Lands Clients in 7 Countries

Oct 26, 2018 | Adaptiiv, News

Read the original article here.  Halifax-based Adaptiiv has announced major new clients in Hong Kong and the U.S. as the young medical technology company expands its customer base to seven countries. The company – which uses 3D printing technology to improve radiation therapy in cancer treatment – said Monday it had signed a deal to sell its product to University of Hong Kong and work with the institution as a research partner. That announcement came days after Adaptiiv announced its 3D Bolus technology would be used by the U.S. Military at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.  Dubbed “The Nation’s Medical Center,” the Reed is the United States’ largest and most renowned joint military medical facility, providing services in over 100 clinics and specialties. “We have accomplished a lot in a short period of time and I am very proud of the team but I feel we are just getting started,” said CEO Peter Hickey in an email Sunday night. Just two years old, Adaptiiv has quickly found customers for its 3D Bolus product, which revolutionizes the use of a bolus in radiation therapy. A bolus is a piece of plastic placed over the cancerous area, assuming the tumours are close to or in the skin. The radiation hits the bolus, builds up and then is transferred into the tumour. There can be no air pockets between the bolus and the skin, which complicates matters given that every body is unique. Hospitals using the Adaptiiv product buy a system that includes 3D printers with special filaments, so boluses customized to each patient can be printed within seconds. They can be reused as the patient receives repeated radiation dosages. Or, if the patient’s body shape changes over the course of multiple treatments, the medical staff can print off another bolus quickly. In June, the company announced it had received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, allowing the product to be sold in the U.S. That opened the flood gates to more sales, and to announcements of new partnerships and projects. The company’s software is now used in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Israel, Ireland, England and now Hong Kong. The university in Hong Kong will use 3D Bolus in radiation therapy and its Department of Clinical Oncology will work with Adaptiiv to develop new applications. Meanwhile, Adaptiiv last week also released a new product called AccuCALC, which helps cancer centers to assess the business case for offering the 3D Bolus product. AccuCALC was developed by Churchill Consulting, which provides consulting and integrated system solutions to radiation therapy departments. Rules for billing insurers vary from state to state in the U.S., and facilities that offer radiation therapy can use AccuCALC to assess how and when they can charge for using the 3D Bolus product. “We have seen significant demand from our clients for information pertaining to 3D Bolus,” said Jordan Johnson, Churchill’s Director of Compliance. “Yet. as is common with many leading-edge technologies, our clients are unsure of whether they can bill for a new technology or its potential return on investment.  AccuCALC addresses that problem.”]]>

Citadel High student creates cancer detection software

Apr 23, 2018 | News, Sanofi

See original story here It would not be surprising to hear about someone who has made a significant impact in TED Talks and at national and international conferences, or even someone whose research and contributions to the scientific community has garnered them praise and meetings with the national Chief Science Advisor, Dr. Mona Nemer, Canadian Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan, Nobel Prize laureate Dr. Arthur B. McDonald and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. What is pretty extraordinary is that this person is only in Grade 10. Om Agarwal is already a highly sought-after speaker who has been featured by the CBC, CTV, Global TV, Canadian Geographic and Eastlink TV, to name just a few. The Citadel High student is involved in STEM, an interdisciplinary and applied learning approach based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics. STEM integrates the four subjects into a cohesive learning paradigm, based on real-world applications, and so far, Agarwal’s accomplishments are a great indication of how he is fairing in the program. Agarwal’s newest initiative landed him a spot in the Atlantic Sanofi Biogenius Canada (SBC) regional science competition at Dalhousie University on Monday, April 9. Eight of Atlantic Canada’s most brilliant high-school science students were chosen to compete in the prestigious event. Each was paired with a local mentor and given hands-on experience in a professional lab setting. The students then compiled their findings and presented their ground-breaking biotechnology projects at regional competitions. “I’ve been part of the science community for a while now and attending various science fairs, and at last year’s national science fair one of the ambassadors told me about this program [SBC] and how it is specifically geared around biotechnology,” says Agarwal, who adds this was his first time working on a biotechnology project. The idea for his project, Computerized Comprehension for a Curable Cancer, actually came to him after his own experience with a biopsy that was inconclusive. After speaking to his doctor about the results, Agarwal says he began wondering about the potential value of a software that could simply tell a patient if a tumour is cancerous or benign. According to Agarwal, “… the least invasive and most affordable diagnostic test currently available to detect pancreatic cancer is the Fine Needle Aspirate, which also has a very high rate of false-positives/false-negatives that makes it highly dangerous [since it can lead to a delay in an appropriate diagnosis].” Agarwal says his software, which he worked on for about six months, aims to change this. “If it is not accepted into the medical community, I plan to release it as a web application so that it can be used as a resource to provide a second opinion for a patient,” he adds. As it turns out, Agarwal’s project received third place in the SBC competition, which is pretty impressive by any standards. And while Agarwal is still a few years from graduating high school, he has already developed a number of software applications, such as his Automotive Collision Detection Network, an anti-bullying database application, an animal deterrent system and a greenhouse monitoring system to name just some. As for the future, Agarwal says, “… I hope that one of my projects will be turned into a company and that it can actually help people.” To learn more about Agarwal, visit his website: www.omagarwal.net. You can get more information on Sanofi Biogenius Canada at biogenius.ca.]]>