Richmond’s bioLytical Laboratories is receiving funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to develop a one-minute test for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Coronavirus disease. The new INSTI COVID-19 Antibody Test is being developed on bioLytical’s proprietary INSTI platform, a testing technology that detects antibodies within 1-minute […]
Eli Lilly Starts First Human Trials of AbCellera’s COVID-19 Treatment
AbCellera today announced that LY-CoV555, the lead antibody from the collaboration between AbCellera and Eli Lilly, has entered into human testing for the potential treatment of COVID-19. LY-CoV555 is developed from a fully human monoclonal antibody identified from the first blood sample obtained from a North American patient who recovered from COVID-19. Developed at record […]
Digital Health Startup Curatio Raises Series A Round Led By Rhino Ventures
Vancouver’s Curatio has raised a Series A round led by Vancouver’s Rhino Ventures with participation from Conexus Venture Capital Fund. The amount of funding has not been disclosed. Curatio is a digital health company that has developed the world’s first social health prescription to tackle loneliness and isolation. Used in over 85 countries and available […]
Salesforce Offers $10K Lifelines To 62 Businesses To Recover From Downturn
Small businesses are the heart of Canadian communities and the backbone of Canada’s economy. Canadians everywhere have been supporting their local businesses throughout COVID-19, from ordering take-out to buying gift cards. Civic-minded organizations with the resources and means are also pitching in. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has announced a new program called the Canadian […]
Sonic Incytes Closes $3.5 Million Round In Fight Against Liver Disease
Vancouver based Sonic Incytes has completing a seed financing round of over $3.5 million. Sonic Incytes is developing a breakthrough, point of care ultrasound solution for assessing and managing chronic liver disease – an emerging global health crisis, affecting one in four persons worldwide. Investors include Small World Group, Think Top Investments and Sunhope Venture […]
Peter Thiel And More Double Down On AbCellera’s COVID-19 Antibody Drugs
AbCellera has raised another round of financing, this time a US $105 million Series B round. The financing was led by OrbiMed and current investor DCVC Bio, with an investor syndicate that includes Viking Global Investors, Peter Thiel, Founders Fund, Eli Lilly and Company, University of Minnesota, and Presight Capital. Earlier this month the Government […]
‘League of Innovators’ Launches Platform for Youth to Discover Entrepreneurship
Vancouver’s League of Innovators (LOI) has launched a free learning and resource platform for youth and educators called Innovators Academy. The Innovators Academy is an online platform with free content on topics related to entrepreneurship and innovation organized into 12 modules filled with content, videos, and workbooks, and tackles topics such as social entrepreneurship, resilience, […]
Cosmic-Ray Muon Pioneer Relaunches As Ideon Technologies
Vancouver startup CRM Geotomography Technologies is getting ready to go to market and will do so under a new name and new leadership. The spin-off from TRIUMF–Canada’s national particle accelerator laboratory located at UBC–is now called Ideon Technologies and Gary Agnew has been named the new CEO. Agnew most recently led the global digital strategy […]
AbCellera Announces Multi-Year Antibody Discovery Collaboration with Eli Lilly
AbCellera has entered into a multi-year agreement with Eli Lilly on the discovery of antibodies for up to nine Lilly-selected therapeutic targets. Under the strategic research licensing agreement, Lilly will have the rights to develop and commercialize therapeutic products resulting from the collaboration. AbCellera and Lilly were in discussions about the agreement in early 2020 […]
CI Financial Completes Acquisition of Robo-Advisor WealthBar
CI Financial now owns 100% of Vancouver-born robo-visor WealthBar Financial Services. The Toronto-based global asset and wealth management company announced today it has increased its ownership of WealthBar to 100% by acquiring the remaining 25% minority interest. CI first acquired a majority stake in WealthBar in January of 2019. The transaction will eventually allow for […]