Contract research organization Pegasus Biotech Inc. is the latest bioscience company to join Emergence, Canada’s Bioscience Business Incubator. Founded in 2019, Pegasus Biotech is currently developing vaccines and biotherapeutics for the human and animal health sector and joins a cohort of 58 clients currently in the incubator program. 

Pegasus Biotech is an agile biotech company that focuses on providing high quality vaccine and biotherapeutic development services to the human and animal health sector. They are also developing accurate and reliable analytical testing methods for the human and animal health industry.

Based in Charlottetown, PEI, their team is comprised of three senior scientists with a combined 50+ years of experience in the biotechnology industry and more than 30 years of management experience. Pegasus Biotech’s areas of expertise include cell culture/fermentation and purification process development, analytical assay development, human and veterinary biologic product development and regulatory submission, point-of-care and clinical diagnostic instrument and assay development, GLP/GMP lab quality standards and HSE. 

“Our hope is that by leveraging the assistance offered by Emergence, that Pegasus can accelerate its journey to becoming a top-tier biotechnology CRO,” said Dan Wilson, Director of Operations, Pegasus Biotech.

Emergence is a business incubator dedicated to assisting start-ups and growth-stage bioscience companies in efficiently bringing their products and services to market. As part of the Emergence program, Pegasus Biotech will have access to business incubation services including: 

Mentorship and advisory services: Emergence companies receive long-term expert advice from mentors, selected for their relevant experience, as well as services to fill in specific gaps in the company’s critical path.

Team Mentorship Program: The Critical Path Team Mentorship Program matches companies with skilled volunteer mentors to provide practical, day-to-day professional advice and business coaching. 

Access to networks and resources: Emergence companies have access to networks including funding agencies, regulatory bodies, future talent, public organizations, service providers, investors, potential partners, and bioscience cluster companies.

For more information on Emergence, visit emergencebioincubator.com. 

Emergence client BioTraceIT is a company that has developed a platform for detecting and monitoring pain in people and animals.

The company’s hardware device uses skin sensors to detect biosignals related to disease and pain. Software produced by the company gathers, receives, processes, transmits, and displays the data. The use of IT Analytics helps to understand what treatments are most effective and what groups of people or animals will benefit from a particular treatment.

Manufacturing of the devices is done in Ontario, and the research and development and technical support teams are located on PEI. Six people work on PEI now, and they are planning to add more employees on the Island in the near future.

“We are just starting our sales, which means if all goes well we will go from a small start-up to a much bigger company,” says Deborah Dullen, President and CEO of BioTraceIT™.

Read full story on BioTraceIT in the Employment Journey.

For breast cancer survivor Simonne Cormier, her road to recovery led to an innovative idea that would have a lasting impact.

Diagnosed suddenly in 2016, she faced two significant challenges relating to her post-treatment circumstance: finding a breast prothesis made from natural materials and finding an appropriate means of attaching and securing the prothesis.

“After having had surgery, chemo and radiation, it was recommended to find a breast prosthesis that was made from all-natural materials, as your sensitive skin is breathing whatever material it is in contact with,” she said. “I searched specialty stores far and wide across Canada and the online marketplace. Unfortunately for me and any other patients, that product did not exist.”

That is, until now. In 2019, Simonne founded Au Naturel Solutions, a company specializing in the manufacturing of an all-natural breast prosthesis with an attachment system. In contrast to the existing synthetic polyester or silicone options, Au Naturel’s product is made from animal and plant-based fibers.

“Part of the problem with existing products, was the need to constantly adjust and re-adjust throughout the day. With the innovative attaching system, the prosthesis remains securely in place and the prosthesis itself can be adapted to fit the negative space from surgery, making it easier to align the shape and size of the other breast.”

Au Naturel Solutions is the latest company to join Emergence, Canada’s Bioscience Business Incubator run by the PEI BioAlliance, and serving 58 client companies in the Atlantic Region and across Canada. Simonne also received a $25,000 grant in 2019 from Innovation PEI’s Ignition Fund and is an active member of the Startup Zone.

“Emergence is working with Simonne to put the product into full production in 2021 and to develop a sales and marketing plan to make the product available across Canada, and wherever there is a need,” said Mark Redmond, Director, Incubation Services for Emergence.

Simonne’s innovative product includes a prosthesis comprised of a molded breast form with fiber fill to be placed within a bra cup to correct asymmetry, as well as an innovative system to keep the prosthesis securely in place. The all-natural materials were selected for their hypoallergenic and biodegradable properties, breathability, moisture wicking and durability.

“I chose this route to give others the option of an all-natural alternative, if that’s what they want. This exercise is about making people feel good, being comfortable and building confidence in themselves.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, dedicated to education and making a difference in the lives of those affected by the disease. With more than 26,000 Canadians diagnosed every year, it is the most common form of cancer.

“Imagine going through surgery, not knowing to what extent the removal of tissue will be. This happens to many individuals undergoing surgery following a breast cancer diagnosis. I want to give back to that community and aid in the healing of individuals who need a prosthesis for whatever reason.”

For more information on Au Naturel Solutions, contact Simonne at scormier@aunaturelsolutions.com.

Emergence client AffinityImmuno Inc. has been named as one of eight semi-finalists to compete in the 10^th annual BioInnovation Challenge (BIC), BioNova’s regional health and life sciences business competition, which will be held virtually on November 3^rd and 4^th during BioPort 2020.

BIC is one of the longest running business competitions in the region with over 50 companies having gone through the program since 2011. Many of the companies coming out of the program have gone on to raise millions to grow and scale. ABK BioMedical, the first place winner of BIC 2011, raised a record-setting $30M USD venture capital round in 2019.

Semi-finalists will receive significant training to be positioned for business growth, including sessions with expert pitch training coach Linda Plano, who has over ten years of experience mentoring entrepreneurs with start-ups in life sciences. This year’s winner will receive $25,000 in funding to develop their business idea as well as a package of support services and mentoring valued at more than $30,000.

Learn more about the eight (8) semi-finalists who will be pitching virtually on November 3^rdduring BioPort 2020:

AffinityImmuno Inc. – PEI
Jonathan Zuccolo, Founder
AffinityImmuno Inc. has developed a novel serum test to meet the challenge of monitoring development of immunity to the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The virus neutralization test monitors vaccine responses, population spread of a virus, and length of immune response.

3D BioFibR – NS
Kevin Sullivan, CEO
3D BioFibR technology is a platform technology capable of creating a variety of high value biofibres. Its
collagen fibres have properties resembling the human body. In the lab, this material can be used to create a highly consistent scaffold for 3D tissue culture. In medicine, this material can be doped with antimicrobial agents and drugs to promote wound healing, producing a bandage that can seal a wound.

Clever Fruit Products – NS
Liam Tayler, President
Clever Fruit Products has developed proprietary fermentation technologies which create a product that improves the bioavailability of fruit polyphenols. The company is seeking to maximize the nutritional potential of Nova Scotian wild blueberry, and aid in people’s access to their many health benefits.

eNable Analytics – NB
Alex Roberts
eNable Analytics is a data-centric machine learning company that has developed an innovative platform that turns assistive devices (canes, walkers, and rollators) into remote monitoring tools. Combined with innovative machine learning-based analyses, they provide regular and proactive insights about the physical and behavioural health of users.

Greenlight Analytical – NS
Dr. James Wylde, President & CEO
Greenlight Analytical will be advancing their chemical analyzer, initially designed for safety and quality control of cannabis crops, to extend its capability to detect toxins in illicit narcotics. The portability and ease-of-use will allow the instrument to be used by first responders to identify the presence of toxins, such as fentanyl, in a medical emergency (overdose) and allow them to take appropriate safety measures to avoid contamination or exposure.

Parados Cerebral Solutions – NB
Pascal McCarthy, CEO
Parados is developing a mouth guard with sensors that will allow athletes to know whether they have sustained a head injury that is likely to lead to a concussion. Over time, an artificial intelligence system will be able to offer insights into the cumulative effects athletes face when they suffer repeated brain injuries.

Swiftsure Innovations – NF
Deanne McCarthy (RN), CEO & Founder
The Complete Care Endotracheal Tube (CCET), patent pending, is a novel endotracheal tube that will revolutionize oral care for mechanically ventilated patients. CCET is the first medical device that allows for large volume nasal and oral irrigation of patients on life support without risk of aspiration or tissue injury, while simultaneously limiting the production of aerosols.

Symbi Medical – NS
Cameron Sehl, CEO & Co-founder
Symbi is a cloud-based remote patient monitoring system for GI care. Symbi creates personalized care plans for each patient to follow in-between appointments and uses text messaging to monitor patients throughout each stage of their care and identify those who are at higher risk of health complications.

BIC 2020 is presented by BioNova in partnership with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, BioNB, Emergence, Gallagher Insurance, Cox & Palmer, Jennifer Cameron PR, and Bereskin & Parr.

BIC 2020 will take place over two days in November. The eight (8) semi-finalists will present to a panel of judges and the conference audience during BioPort’s virtual conference, on November 3^rd. The top three presenters will then pitch virtually the following morning.  The winner will be announced at the close of BioPort 2020 on the afternoon of November 4^th.