CDRD is a proud sponsor of Life Sciences Ontario and the upcoming Networking Breakfast Forum on January 18th in Toronto.
Our President & CEO Gordon McCauley will be presenting along with other members in the Canadian life sciences ecosystem. More details here: lifesciencesontario.ca/events/eventsCalendar/JanBreakfast2018
CDRD has partnered with BIOTECanada to sponsor the annual kick-off breakfast to the Biotech Showcase on Monday January 8th! More details at: www.biotech.ca/event/biotech-showcase/
Biotech Showcase is an investor and networking conference devoted to providing private and public biotechnology and life sciences companies with an opportunity to present to, and meet with, investors and pharmaceutical executives in one place during the course of one of the industry’s largest annual healthcare investor conferences. Investors and biopharmaceutical executives from around the world gather in San Francisco during this bellwether week which sets the tone for the coming year.
In addition, join us and Michael Midmer, CEO of CDRD/MaRS Innovation spin-off company Zucara Therapeutics at the 2018 Biotech Showcase. Info at: ebdgroup.knect365.com/biotech-showcase/
– An analgesic effect demonstrated –
– No increase in body temperature nor change in heat pain perception –
Montreal, October 30, 2017 – The NEOMED Institute announced today that it will present a poster on the Phase II data for its lead program NEO6860 during the American College of Rheumatology’s Annual Meeting, the world’s premier rheumatology meeting.
The poster titled “Analgesic Potential of NEO6860, a Modality Selective TRPV1 Antagonist, in Osteoarthritis Knee Pain: Results of a Randomized, Controlled, Proof-of-Concept Trial” will be available for viewing for the duration of the meeting that will be held in San Diego, CA,USA, November 3-8, 2017 and will be posted on NEOMED’s website thereafter.
“We are excited by the outcome of this study,” said Dr Richard Leff who will present the data on behalf of NEOMED, “not only do we believe that we have likely demonstrated NEO6860 to have an analgesic effect in a controlled setting, but we have clearly shown that NEO6860 does not have the most concerning side effects that have led to other TRPV1 programs to have been discontinued in the past.”
“This is an important achievement,” adds Dr. Nathaniel Katz, CEO at Analgesic Solutions. “In the past decades, very few new molecules with new mechanisms of action have reached this point. NEO6860 may become the first effective and safe TRPV1 program to successfully reach the market and provide a much needed alternative to patients who continue to suffer from pain associated with osteoarthritis.”
About NEO6860
NEO6860, a new drug, under investigation for the treatment of osteoarthritic (OA) pain, shows potent antagonism of human TRPV1 when capsaicin is used as a stimulus in vitro, and has little or no effect against activation by low pH or heat. This profile, described as modality-selective TRPV1 antagonism, is predicted to relieve OA pain without the effects on body temperature or heat-pain threshold reported in the clinic with previous modality-nonselective TRPV1 antagonists.
About Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a musculoskeletal disorder involving degradation of joints, regularly associated with pain, which is the most debilitating symptom. OA of the knee is very common with approximately 250 million people with the condition globally. While pharmacotherapy is the cornerstone for the medical management of patients OA, there are significant limitations, in terms of efficacy as well as safety. Clinical effects of current drugs are small and limited to the first few weeks after start of treatment. In addition, there are significant risks associated with the use of current therapy, especially cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks. A potent compound acting through a different mechanism, on a new target, would be desirable to circumvent the pitfalls of existing therapies.
About NEOMED Institute
NEOMED Institute is a not‐for‐profit organization whose mission is to bridge the gap between basic research and the commercialization of new drugs by providing industrial expertise in drug discovery and development, combined with the creation of a vibrant and sustainable life science ecosystem. NEOMED operates two fully integrated research and development campuses in Montreal: one specializing in small molecule therapeutics, and the other specializing in the development of biologics and vaccines. Both facilities function as open‐access drug discovery hubs housing independent commercial businesses (30 independent companies employing more than 300 people) and providing a dynamic environment that stimulates collaboration, innovation, and creativity. NEOMED’s wholly-owned for-profit subsidiary, NEOMED-LABS, a Contract Research Organization (CRO) providing customized and high-throughput immune-monitoring for clinical vaccine development, is one of these tenants.
NEOMED is jointly funded by our pharmaceutical partners, the Ministère de l’Économie, de la Science et de l’Innovation du Québec, and the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) of Canada. For more information, please visit our website: www.neomed.ca
For more information, please contact:
NEOMED Institute
Donald Olds
President & CEO
7171 Frederick-Banting
Montreal, Quebec,Canada H4S 1Z9
514-367-1212 Ext. 206
dolds@neomed.ca
NEOMED’s 3 key partnering objectives:
• Identify licensing partners/financial partners for NEOMED’s therapeutic pipeline
• Identify promising in-licensing opportunities
• Showcase NEOMED Innovation Center’s expansion project
Montreal, October 25th, 2017 – The NEOMED Institute announced today that it will attend the 23rd Annual BioEurope Partnering Conference, Europe’s largest life science partnering conference that will be held in Berlin, Germany, November 6-8, 2017.
“BioEurope 2017 is a tremendous venue for NEOMED to showcase its programs to potential partners, as well as, to identify interesting and innovative new opportunities to replenish our pipeline,” said Donald Olds (President & CEO). “Both Daniel Böck (VP Business Development) and I will be participating in the event and remain available to meet with companies interested in connecting with NEOMED to discuss partnership structures around our current therapeutic pipeline assets as well as to review new potential in-licensing opportunities.”
In addition, Pierre-Yves Desbiens (Chief Operating Officer) will be attending to represent NEOMED’s Innovation Center and meet with companies interested in learning more about becoming a part of
Montreal’s largest life sciences ecosystem as well as getting access to our state-of-the-art facilities. “I am very excited to attend BioEurope 2017 and to meet with companies across the globe that are interested in learning more about the laboratories and services that we can offer to biotechnology and CRO companies interested in expanding their presence and activities in North America,” declared Mr. Desbiens.
About NEOMED Institute
NEOMED Institute is a not‐for‐profit organization whose mission is to bridge the gap between basic research and the commercialization of new drugs by providing industrial expertise in drug discovery and development, combined with the creation of a vibrant and sustainable life science ecosystem. NEOMED operates two fully integrated research and development campuses in Montreal: one specializing in small molecule therapeutics, and the other specializing in the development of biologics and vaccines. Both facilities function as open‐access drug discovery hubs housing independent commercial businesses (30 independent companies employing more than 300 people) and providing a dynamic environment that stimulates collaboration, innovation, and creativity. NEOMED’s wholly-owned for-profit subsidiary, NEOMED-LABS, a Contract Research Organization (CRO) providing customized and high-throughput immune-monitoring for clinical vaccine development, is one of these tenants. NEOMED is jointly funded by our pharmaceutical partners, the Ministère de l’Économie, de la Science et de l’Innovation du Québec, and the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) of Canada. For more information, please visit our website:
www.neomed.ca
For more information, please contact:
NEOMED Institute
Donald Olds
President & CEO
7171 Frederick-Banting
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
H4S 1Z9
dolds@neomed.ca
NEOMED Innovation Center
Pierre-Yves Desbiens,
Chief Operating Officer
7171 Frederick-Banting
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
H4S 1Z9
pydesbiens@neomed.ca
Vancouver, Canada – The Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD), Canada’s national drug development and commercialization engine, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Rachael Ritchie as Vice President, Strategy & Partnerships effective December 1, 2017.
Dr. Ritchie brings to CDRD a background that spans the University of British Columbia, Oxford and Harvard, and over 20 years of experience in life sciences R&D as a researcher, policy analyst, strategist, and leader. She has held multiple positions with the OECD in Paris, and Genome British Columbia in Vancouver including Director of International Partnerships and Director of Business Development.
As a developer and manager of large-scale, multi-partner, strategic partnerships, and interdisciplinary teams and projects, Dr. Ritchie will be responsible for the development and execution of CDRD’s corporate strategy, external R&D alliances, strategic scientific guidance for CDRD’s project portfolio, and will assume management responsibility for CDRD’s project search function.
CDRD Chair, Mr. Don Avison commented, “On behalf of the CDRD Board of Directors, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Ritchie. We are delighted to bring someone of Rachael’s broad background to the organization, and know she is going to be a tremendous asset in helping drive CDRD to its next level of success as a global bridge translating discoveries into innovative therapeutic products and improved health outcomes.”
Mr. Gordon C. McCauley, President and CEO of CDRD added, “Obviously, this role is a critical one in executing on both the project portfolio and partnership plans within CDRD’s strategy, and in ultimately realizing our vision of Canadian life sciences leading the world. Rachael will make a tremendous addition to the CDRD leadership team as we build on our partnerships across the country and around the world to identify and advance promising discoveries and transform them into validated investments.”
– 30 –
About The Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD)
CDRD is Canada’s national drug development and commercialization centre working in partnership with academia, industry, government and foundations. CDRD provides the specialized expertise and infrastructure to identify, validate and advance promising discoveries, and transform them into commercially viable investment opportunities for the private sector — and ultimately into new therapies for patients. Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence Program has recognized CDRD as a Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR). www.cdrd.ca
For additional information, please contact:
Julia White
Senior Manager, Communications
The Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD)
Direct: 604-827-1226
Email: jwhite@cdrd.ca
* Gordon C. McCauley, CDRD and Robert Livingston, Merck, made the joint announcement at the Canadian Science Policy Conference in Ottawa.
Ottawa, Canada – The Canadian scientific community gathered in Ottawa this week to engage in a national dialogue on science, technology and innovation policy at the annual Canadian Science Policy Conference. Just prior to the Keynote Address at this event by the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, Merck Canada Inc. and CDRD – The Centre for Drug Research and Development, announced the establishment of a new $1.5M Merck-CDRD Innovation Fund. This fund will go directly towards the advancement of projects of high therapeutic potential carried out at CDRD in collaboration with academic researchers.
As Canada’s national drug development and commercialization centre, CDRD has established Innovation Funds with leading industry and foundation partners. These funds support Canadian life sciences researchers, and enable the translation of discoveries into innovative therapeutic products and potentially improved health outcomes for patients. The Merck-CDRD Innovation Fund builds on the long-standing partnership between the two organizations that has now dedicated over $5M towards advancing cutting-edge science of our academic partners, including Merck’s support of the NeuroCDRD platform at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital at McGill University (MNI).
“This collaborative partnership further illustrates that Merck is committed to contributing to Canada’s flourishing life sciences sector, which represents an enormous opportunity for economic growth and health innovation,” said Jennifer Chan, Vice President, Policy and External Affairs, Merck Canada Inc. “We are committed to working collaboratively with governments, universities and other stakeholders to discover, develop and implement health solutions that improve patient outcomes in a manner that is consistent with the sustainability of our healthcare system.”
Gordon McCauley, President and CEO of CDRD added, “The Merck-CDRD Innovation fund is another example of the strong partnership my colleagues have built over many years with our global industry partners, and the critical part they play in the success of not only CDRD, but of Canada’s health sciences sector. It also speaks to the spirit of collaboration that exists in Canada. By working together, we can all be catalysts for Canadian life sciences leading the world.”
– 30 –
About Merck
For over a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and communities around the world – including cancer, cardio-metabolic diseases, emerging animal diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and infectious diseases including HIV and Ebola. For more information about our operations in Canada, visit www.merck.ca and connect with us on YouTube and Twitter @MerckCanada.
About The Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD)
CDRD is Canada’s national drug development and commercialization centre working in partnership with academia, industry, government and foundations. A global leader in bridging commercialization gaps to translate early-stage discoveries and technologies into new health innovations, CDRD provides the specialized expertise and infrastructure to identify, validate and advance promising discoveries, and transform them into commercially viable investment opportunities for the private sector — and ultimately into new health products for patients. Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence Program has recognized CDRD as a Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR). Find CDRD online at www.cdrd.ca and on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
For additional information, please contact:
Dominique Quirion
External Consultant
Merck Canada Inc.
514.428.3469
Julia White
Senior Manager, Communications
CDRD
604.827.1226
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