On today’s show, we go one-on- one with Borden ladner Gervais’ Jeff Graham to discuss his article in our latest issue of Biotechnology Focus Magazine, Genetic Discrimination: Creating a New Canadian Law, plus we look at the week that was and the top stories on the Canadian biotech scene.

Hello this is Shawn Lawrence, senior writer for Biotechnology Focus, and your host for Biotechnology Focus Podcast.

We start today’s show with our weekly rundown of the top stories in Canadian biotech this week, and our first story takes us to Vancouver, BC, with AbCellera Biologics Inc., a biotechnology company specializing in the rapid discovery of monoclonal antibodies from natural immune cells, successfully completing its antibody discovery partnership with Kodiak Sciences. Through this collaboration, AbCellera applied its antibody discovery platform to perform ultra-deep screening of immunized animals and identified hundreds of antibodies against an undisclosed target. Multiplexed single cell binding assays were used to enrich for antibodies with high affinity and desired properties, resulting in the generation of multiple lead antibody families with picomolar affinity and potent blocking activity. Dr. Victor Perlroth, chairman and CEO of Kodiak Sciences said that AbCellera has outperformed Kodiaks expectations while adding that AbCellera’s technology platform leverages the many benefits of in vivo selection and maturation while avoiding the inefficiency of traditional hybridoma approaches. In all, AbCellera screened over one million antibody-producing single cells with its platform and delivered relevant antibody sequences covering a diverse functional and sequence space. Under the terms of the agreement, Kodiak has now executed its option to advance selected candidates for clinical development with AbCellera eligible to receive downstream payments. Other financial terms were not disclosed.

Retaining and growing talent is a challenge for many Canadian biotech and life science companies, and there is a real need for new programs that are able help train and develop Canadian talent and help them become qualified workers with industry experience. In response to this need, Toronto-based Clinical immuno-oncology company Trillium Therapeutics says it is launching an industry postdoctoral fellowship program that will help young research scientists make the transition from their academic training to rewarding careers in the biopharma industry.

In a press release Dr. Niclas Stiernholm, president and CEO of Trillium Therapeutics stated that as part of Trillium’s commitment to help grow the Canadian biotechnology industry, Trillium wants to provide an environment in which bright scientific minds will be challenged and nurtured.   “We believe this will help drive the development of tomorrow’s innovative cancer therapies,” he said. “We take great pride in establishing an official industry-sponsored postdoctoral fellowship program here in Canada, enabling outstanding Ph.D. graduates to prepare for a career in the biopharmaceutical industry,” he added. Under the program, Trillium will annually accept up to four postdoctoral fellows for an initial one-year term, with the possibility of an extension for an additional one or two years based on project needs. Through the program,pPostdoctoral fellows will be paired with mentors in a state-of- the-art laboratory environment, conducting independent research that is commercial and translational in nature.

The postdoctoral projects will be focused on cutting-edge research in immunology or oncology research, with the goal of elucidating disease biology or the mechanism of action of a novel drug candidate or target. Individuals will work independently but as part of cross-functional teams made up of scientists and research associates. Additional information on the program can be found at: http://trilliumtherapeutics.com/Contact/Careers/IndustryPostdoc

The University of Saskatchewan marked the official launch of its unique Plant Phenotyping and Imaging Research Centre (P2IRC) with an international symposium and demonstration of new drone technology to be used in novel crop development approaches. The creation of the P2IRC stems from a $37.2-million award over seven years from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) for the research program “Designing Crops for Global Food Security”—one of only five CFREF grants awarded across Canada last year in the inaugural competition. The new centre will not only enhance the U of S biosciences cluster—but also capitalize on one of the largest clusters of food-related researchers in the world.” The P2IRC is led by Maurice Moloney, executive-director of the university’s Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS), who has been building a multi-disciplinary team of researchers from across the U of S campus and from other Canadian universities and centres. “By 2022, we hope to create a unique global resource for plant breeders seeking to develop new crop varieties at unprecedented speed and scale,” Moloney said. “The new science we are developing at the P2IRC will elevate Canada’s position as a global powerhouse in agricultural research and lead to commercial spin-offs involving field and aerial sensors, satellite imaging, robotics, and big data analytics.” He noted the P2IRC is unique in that it combines plant genomics with crop phenotyping (the identification of useful traits), high-performance computing, and digital imaging technology, as well as undertakes research to address societal and developing world impacts. Research projects in four theme areas have undergone rigorous international peer review involving an eight-member International Scientific Advisory Committee that includes experts from Australia, Germany, France, and the U.K., several of whom are participating in the symposium. The new centre also involves partnerships with four Canadian universities, three international institutes, and more than 15 private and public organizations, including the National Research Council and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The P2IRC is currently recruiting graduate students, technicians, software developers, and researchers. Over the seven years, 60 graduate students and 35 post-doctoral

fellows will be trained at P2IRC, and four or five new faculty positions will be created.

It was a banner week at 13 postsecondary institutions across Canada , as Kirsty Duncan, Canada’s announced that the federal government will invest $900 million towards their research efforts through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. Among the biggest recipients are the Université de Montréal, McGill University, Polytechnique Montréal, and HEC Montréal who together received $213 million to be split between three projects related to research in artificial intelligence, brain health, and medical technologies. According to a release, Polytechnique Montréal will use its hospital’s infrastructure to shape future medical technologies for complex diseases, while McGill’s Healthy Brains for Healthy Lives project will establish a central hub to work on projects to improve brain health in Canada. Two of the other more larger grant recipients included Dalhousie University, which is getting $93 million for its Safe and Sustainable Development of the Ocean Frontier to develop Canada’s oceans, and the University of Waterloo which is receiving $72 million for Transform Quantum Technologies, an initiative for advancing its work in developing quantum technologies. Additionly, the University of Saskatchewen is receiving $77.84 million for World Water Futures: Solutions to Water Threats in an Era of Global Change, while the University of Guelph is receiving approximately $76.6 million for Food from Thought: Agricultural Systems for a Healthy Planet. Rounding out the list is the University of Alberta, getting $75 million for the Future Energy Systems Research Institute, the University of Calgary getting $75 million for the Global Research Initiative in Sustainable Low Carbon Unconventional Resources, Western University getting $66 million for BrainsCAN: Brain health for life, $63.744 million to Queen’s University for the Canadian Particle Astrophysics Research Centre, $49.2 million going to Laurentian Universtiy for Metal Earth and York University receiving $33.3 million for Vision: Science to Applications (VISTA).

An interesting side note, the Canada First Research Excellence Fund was actually established by the Harper Conservatives in the 2014 budget to help support research on big ideas and big themes. The funding is allocated on a competitive basis with researchers applying to an arms-length selection board.

Borden Ladner Gervais (Canada’s largest law firm) released their annual Life Signs report earlier this year, which looks at legal trends in the Canadian Life Sciences sector.  The report includes contributed articles from multi-disciplinary BLG  professionals  and as well from Canada's national  and regional life sciences associations. Jeff Graham, BLG’s National Life Sciences

Group Leader, is here with us today to discuss genetic discrimination and Canadian law, just one of areas explored in this report