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reports and analyses of the forces driving science and technology investment in Canada
editor: Mark Henderson How it looks to me.... by Mark Henderson FEATURE REPORTS | RESEARCH BRIEFS | PERSONALITIES How it looks to me.... by Mark Henderson, editor, RE$EARCH MONEY Another major health crisis could be just what the Health Protection Branch needs to gauge the success of its sweeping transformation. Nearly two years into a three-year renewal process, the division of Health Canada is undergoing change, learning from past mistakes and implementing new principles and capabilities (link to item). Led by Ian Shugart, the transition team is embedding the Precautionary Principle deep within a new culture being fostered at HPB, in the hopes that past crises like the tainted blood scandal and bovine growth hormone can be avoided or controlled. Five transition teams are hard at work on critical components of the branch's mandate, including new legislation to govern its activities and maximize impact. Shugart is under no illusions about the enormity of the task that still lies ahead, nor the fact that it's long overdue. That said, the mechanisms are being put in place to ensure that science continues to serve the public good in an era of accelerating change. Excellent science is imperative for HPB to fulfill its mission, and steps are being taken to ensure that it's delivered both from in-house and external sources -- whatever it takes to minimize public health risks. Canada is better equipped than most to protect the health of its citizens. By using science properly and providing sufficient resources, HPB should be able to look to win back the public confidence that's been sorely tested in recent years.
FEATURE REPORTS...
RESEARCH BRIEFS
VGI gets US$30M in equity from private investment house Visible Genetics Inc (VGI) has received a letter of intent for a US$30-million equity infusion from EM Warburg, Pincus & Co (EMWPC). The investment will leave VGI debt-free and with $27 million in cash following the completion of two related transactions. EMWPC manages $7 billion in private equity investing activities and has an additional $4.5 billion available for investment. The firm will gain a seat on VGI's board of directors....
BioChem divests non-core holdings to ABX Diagnostics BioChem Pharma Inc is selling the hematology operations of its diagnostics subsidiary, BioChem ImmunoSystems Inc to ABX Diagnostics Inc, Irvine CA, part of the Horibas Group of companies headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed and follow BioChem's recent decision to exit the diagnostic field to focus on therapeutics and vaccines (R$, June 16/99)....
Chromos completes second round of financing for $12 million Vancouver's Chromos Molecular Systems Inc has received a $12 million investment including $4 million from Sofinov to develop its artificial chromosomes for multiple applications, with a longer term objective of focusing on gene therapy applications for therapeutic targets developed internally. The second round of financing will assist Chromos in widening the market for satellite DNA-based artificial chromosomes which are used for the manufacture of proteins that are too large for existing technologies or require the expression of a number of genes for their manufacture....
Angiotech raises $16 million to accelerate development Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc, Vancouver, has raised $16.3 million through a public offering of 1.4 million shares to accelerate development of its progressive multiple sclerosis program. Preliminary results from a Phase I/II study show favourable trends in the drug's effect and will be followed this November by a Phase II study at seven Canadian centres....
PERSONALITIESDr Andrew Woodsworth has been appointed DG of the National Research Council's Institute for Information Technology. Woodsworth obtains a masters and PhD in physics from Queen's Univ and joined the NRC in 1975 developing real-time control and data acquisition systems for radio telescopes. He was responsible for bringing the first national Internet to Canada (CA*net) and headed the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre, one of three global sites holding data from the Hubble Space Telescope. More recently, Woodsworth was Canadian project director for the Gemini Telescopes project. The appointment is effective July 19.... Dr Jack Miller has been appointed associate VP research and dean of graduate studies at Brock Univ. Miller has enjoyed a long career at Brock as a teacher, administrator and researcher with the department of chemistry. He received a PhD in organic chemistry from both McGill Univ and the Univ of Cambridge where he was an overseas postdoctoral fellow for the National Research Council. At Brock, Miller is charged with developing new graduate and professional programs.... John Caldwell has announced his resignation as president and CEO of CAE Inc, effective August 31. The 10-year veteran of the diversified Toronto-based high tech firm is leaving to pursue other opportunities and his replacement will be announced next month. CAE stock prices have languished in recent months, despite strong sales and profitability.... Dr Robert Kerrich has been awarded the Royal Society of Canada's Willet G Miller Medal for his contributions to Canadian geoscience. Kerrich provided the first clear evidence that the earth's oceanic and continental crust avalanched 3,000 km to the earth's core and returned as volcanoes to the surface. He has just completed a $1 million research project to detect trace elements of mineral resources in rocks for a consortium of 14 Canadian mining companies. The award is made every two years.... Gerald McDole has been appointed president and CEO of AstraZeneca's Canadian pharmaceutical operations. Formerly president and CEO of Astra Pharma Inc, McDole holds positions in several health-related organizations, including board membership with Canada's Research-based Pharmaceutical Companies (PMAC). He obtained a MSc from the Univ of Manitoba, a certificate of business management from Simon Fraser Univ, and a business administration diploma from the Univ of Toronto. Astra AB and Zeneca PLC merged last month in the latest in a wave of consolidations moving through the global pharmaceutical industry.... Jeffrey Bacha has been promoted to VP corporate development at Inflazyme Pharmaceuticals Ltd, a Richmond BC-based developer of drugs to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases. Bacha joined the firm less than one year ago as director of strategic affairs and international relations. He holds a BSc in biophysics from the Univ of California in San Diego and an MBA from Emory Univ.... Richard Daly has been appointed president and CEO of Visible Genetics Inc (VGI), succeeding founder Dr John Stevens who remains board chairman. The change in leadership reflects VGI's transition from an R&D-driven organization to one in which sales and marketing are taking precedence. Daly holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and has more than 20 years of health care management experience. Previous companies which he has served include Clinical Partners (president and CEO) and Baxter Canada (president).... Dr Kathryn Hannah has been appointed chair of the board of directors for HEALNet, a Network of Centres of Excellence focused on the improved use of research evidence in health decision-making. Hannah is VP Sierra Systems Consultants Inc and specializes in information integration in health care environments. She also holds an adjunct professor's position in the Univ of Calgary's faculty of medicine....
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