Leading Health and Life Sciences in Nova Scotia

Truro's GoodLeaf Farms launches vertically farmed microgreens at select Atlantic Superstore locations

New indoor vertical farming technology from Nova Scotia promises fresher, local produce year-round, going from seed to plate in just over a week. Truro NS/Toronto ON (July 31, 2017) – GoodLeaf Farms (GoodLeaf) of Truro, Nova Scotia is pleased to announce its locally-grown microgreen products will be available year-round in select Atlantic Superstores stores across the Maritimes – even during the harshest winter months. Using technology created by its parent company TruLeaf Sustainable Agriculture Ltd., GoodLeaf is pioneering a new, indoor, vertical farming system that uses LED lights and reclaimed rainwater to grow ultra-fresh produce in as little as one week, without the use of pesticides. Built with the highest degree of sustainability in mind, the process uses up to 90% less water than traditional farming methods and can be harvested, packaged and available for sale on store shelves within a day. “We know our customers are looking for exceptional produce, grown locally wherever possible, which is why we are such huge supporters of local and regional suppliers,” said Mark Boudreau, Director, Corporate Affairs, Loblaw Companies Ltd. “Having fresh local vegetables year round in the Maritimes would have been impossible a decade ago. We’re excited about today’s launch, and proud of our role working with TruLeaf over the past few years to bring this innovative farming technology to our Atlantic Superstore customers.” GoodLeaf Farms has been embraced by local wholesalers and restaurants who were drawn to the incomparable quality, consistency and freshness of GoodLeaf products. Today’s announcement at Atlantic Superstore, however, marks the first consumer launch with Loblaw in the Maritimes. “We are thrilled to be bringing a new era of freshness to Atlantic Canadian consumers,” said Gregg Curwin, President & CEO, GoodLeaf Farms. “We grow our produce in tightly-controlled environments to the very highest standards in the industry. It’s a difference you can truly taste – our products are bursting with flavour and nutrition. And by dramatically reducing the time and energy needed to grow produce, it really is a new way to eat responsibly.” About GoodLeaf GoodLeaf Farms is the exclusive Canadian licensee of the TruLeaf Smart Plant System® – a revolutionary indoor farming system that enables it to grow fresh produce year-round, even in the harshest winter months. As a pioneer in indoor, vertical farming, GoodLeaf has become a favourite among restaurants and wholesalers who have grown to depend on GoodLeaf for fast, fresh and local produce that meets the highest standards for quality and taste. For more information on GoodLeaf Farms, please visit www.goodleaffarms.com. For more information, please contact: GoodLeaf Farms Greg Veinott, Manager of Research and Commercialisation Ph: 902-843-5160 Email: [email protected] Loblaw Companies Ltd. Mark Boudreau Ph: (902) 802-8687 Email: [email protected]]]>

BioVectra Inc. to open new facility in rural NS in December 2017

BioVectra Inc. to Open New Microbial Fermentation and Complex Chemistry Site in December 2017 $30 million investment increases BioVectra’s total manufacturing capacity by 40%   Windsor, Nova Scotia (May 18, 2017) – BioVectra Inc., a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) providing cGMP services to globally operated biotech and pharmaceutical companies, today announced that its fourth cGMP facility will be fully operational by December 2017. The late-stage to commercial-scale microbial fermentation and complex chemistry facility is located in Windsor, Nova Scotia, with proximity and service to Northeast USA development entities.   BioVectra’s $30 million investment has equipped the 50,000 square-foot facility with 40,000 liters (L) of fermentation capacity, downstream processing equipment and new pre-clinical fermentation and potent chemistry suites. “The investment strengthens our unique position in the very competitive global marketplace, enabling us to offer new and existing clients range of scale throughout the entire lifecycle of a product,” said Oliver Technow, BioVectra’s President.   The new facility is an investment in BioVectra’s core development and manufacturing competencies: microbial fermentation and complex chemistries. As an industry leader in microbial fermentation of both small and large molecules, the company provides scalable cGMP operations from 30 L to 17,000 L. BioVectra has the capability to handle the development and cGMP scale-up of high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), handling potent substances such as antibody-drug conjugate warheads, with occupational exposure limit (OEL) levels of < 20 ng/m3 (Safebridge Band 3 and 4).   The new facility increases BioVectra’s ability to partner with global pharmaceutical companies by offering dual-site risk mitigation. “This expansion helps BioVectra keep up with the growing demand for our products, while also meeting an underserved need for large-scale microbial fermentation in North America,” said Heather Delage, Vice President of Business Development. “In addition to the facility’s large-scale fermentation capability, the site also offers a complementary footprint for synthetic process development and laboratory-based activities.”   BioVectra’s three additional cGMP facilities and headquarters are located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. About BioVectra BioVectra is a CDMO that serves pharmaceutical and biotech companies with full-service cGMP outsourcing solutions for intermediates and APIs. An innovative and reliable partner with an impressive track record of long-term API supply and a strong quality history, BioVectra has over 45 years of experience specializing in:  

  BioVectra is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.   Media Contact Jordan MacGregor, Communications Manager [email protected] 902-566-9116 ext. 6376 www.biovectra.com]]>

Appili Therapeutics to present at the Bloom Burton & Co. Healthcare Investor Conference

See original release  For Immediate Release April 19, 2017 – HALIFAX, Nova Scotia –– Appili Therapeutics Inc. (“Appili”), an anti-infective drug development company, today announced that it will participate in this year’s Bloom Burton & Co. Healthcare Investor Conference in Toronto, Canada. The event takes place May 1-2, 2017 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. Appili’s Chief Financial Officer, Kimberly Stephens, will present a corporate overview and update on Monday, May 1, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. ET in Hall B, Lower Concourse Level of the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. Ms. Stephens’ presentation will focus on market potential of Appili’s anti-infective pipeline as the company advances its late-stage and early-stage antibiotic candidates. She will discuss the future clinical path for its lead product, ATI-1501, a taste-masked, oral antibiotic that treats anaerobic infections like Clostridium difficile, as well as the Company’s earlier-stage product, ATI-1503, a novel antibiotic that targets Gram-negative bacteria. Investors interested in arranging a meeting with Ms. Stephens during this conference should contact Bloom Burton & Co.’s conference coordinator.   About the Conference Bloom Burton & Co. is hosting its sixth annual Healthcare Investor Conference on May 1 and 2, 2017 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Toronto, Canada. The Company aims to showcase approximately 60 of Canada’s premier healthcare companies to its network of international investors. The conference includes networking sessions, keynote speeches and panel discussions with venture capital, public equity and strategic investors. The event attracts investors who are interested in the latest developments in Canadian healthcare companies. Investors will have the opportunity to obtain corporate updates from presenting companies and participate in 1-on-1 meetings with company management.   About Appili Therapeutics Appili is dedicated to identifying, acquiring and advancing novel therapeutics for infectious disease. The company has two anti-infective programs, ATI-1501 and ATI-1503, in its pipeline. ATI-1501 is a taste-masked treatment for anaerobic infections, including C. difficile. Appili’s second product, ATI-1503, is a novel antibiotic with broad potential to treat drug-resistant Gram-negative infections, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobactor baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These drug-resistant infections have been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as posing the highest threat to human health. For more information visit www.AppiliTherapeutics.com.]]>

Immunovaccine Announces Dosing of First Patient in Investigator-Sponsored Phase 1b/2 Clinical Trial Evaluating Immuno-Oncology Candidate Targeting Incurable HPV-Related Cancers

Immunovaccine Announces Dosing of First Patient in Investigator-Sponsored Phase 1b/2 Clinical Trial Evaluating Immuno-Oncology Candidate Targeting Incurable HPV-Related Cancers


Study Demonstrates Broad Applicability of Immunovaccine’s DepoVax™ Platform for Delivering Cancer Antigens
Halifax, Nova Scotia; April 18, 2017 – Immunovaccine Inc. (“Immunovaccine” or the “Company”) (TSX: IMV; OTCQX: IMMVF), a clinical stage vaccine and immunotherapy company, today announced that the first study participant has been treated in a Phase 1b/2 clinical study evaluating Immunovaccine’s investigational cancer vaccine, DPX-E7, in combination with low-dose cyclophosphamide in patients with incurable oropharyngeal, cervical and anal cancers related to the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Dana-Farber) is leading the DPX-E7 study through a $1.5 million research grant from Stand Up To Cancer and the Farrah Fawcett Foundation to clinically evaluate collaborative translational research that addresses critical problems in HPV-related cancers.
“Because DPX-E7 is formulated with the same DepoVax™ platform technology as our DPX-Survivac candidate, this trial further demonstrates the broad applicability of DepoVax™ to deliver cancer antigens appropriately,” said Frederic Ors, Immunovaccine’s Chief Executive Officer. “It is also an important step forward in developing therapies for the high-risk HPV infections that have been linked to cancers associated with poor patient outcomes. We are pleased to be working with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in this endeavor, and we look forward to continuing to fully leverage our platform’s potential to address high unmet medical needs, delivering more options to patients and creating more opportunities to generate value for our shareholders.”
The Dana-Farber study is a single center, open label, non-randomized clinical trial that will investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of DPX-E7 in combination with low-dose metronomic oral cyclophosphamide in a total of 44 treated participants. Its primary objectives are to evaluate changes in CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood and tumor tissue, and to evaluate the safety of DPX-E7 vaccination in HLA-A2 positive patients with incurable HPV-related head and neck, cervical or anal cancers. DPX-E7 targets an HPV viral protein known as E7. Immunovaccine has the option to produce the DPX-E7 vaccine if it proves successful in the clinic.
“We are excited to offer this new therapy for our patients with HPV-related head and neck, anal and cervical cancers that have recurred after standard therapy,“ said Robert Haddad M.D., disease center leader, head and neck oncology program at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
This trial marks another milestone in the expansion of Immunovaccine’s growing pipeline of immuno-oncology candidates. Currently, Immunovaccine has multiple early-stage trials evaluating DepoVax™-based clinical candidates in ovarian cancer. The Company most recently announced that Princess Margaret Cancer Centre had received Health Canada clearance to begin an investigator-sponsored Phase 2 ovarian cancer study evaluating Immunovaccine’s DPX-Survivac with Merck’s pembrolizumab.
Individuals interested in enrolling in the Phase 1b/2 clinical trial evaluating DPX-E7 can find more information via clinicaltrials.gov.
About HPV-related Cancers
Approximately 30 to 40 types of human papillomaviruses (HPV) are transmitted through sexual contact and infect the anogenital region and oropharynx. About 15 of these are designated “high-risk” (i.e., oncogenic); more than five percent of all new cancers are attributed to high-risk HPV infections. iHPV is the cause of virtually all cases of cervical cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide, and has been linked to anal, vulva, vaginal, penile and oropharyngeal cancers.ii,iii,iv
About DepoVax™ 
DepoVax™ is a patented formulation that provides controlled and prolonged exposure of antigens plus adjuvant to the immune system, resulting in a strong, specific and sustained immune response with the potential for single-dose effectiveness. The DepoVax™ platform is flexible and can be used with a broad range of target antigens for preventative or therapeutic applications. The technology is designed to be commercially scalable, with the potential for years of shelf life stability. Fully synthetic, off-the-shelf DepoVax™-based vaccines are also relatively easy to manufacture, store, and administer. These characteristics enable Immunovaccine to pursue vaccine candidates in cancer, infectious diseases and other vaccine applications.
About Immunovaccine
Immunovaccine Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to making immunotherapy more effective, more broadly applicable, and more widely available to people facing cancer and infectious diseases. Immunovaccine develops T cell activating cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines based on DepoVax™, the Company’s patented platform that provides controlled and prolonged exposure of antigens and adjuvant to the immune system. Immunovaccine has advanced two T cell activation therapies for cancer through Phase 1 human clinical trials and is currently conducting a Phase 1b study with Incyte Corporation assessing lead cancer therapy, DPX-Survivac, as a combination therapy in ovarian cancer. The Company is also exploring additional applications of DepoVax™, including DPX-RSV, an innovative vaccine candidate for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which has recently completed a Phase 1 clinical trial. Immunovaccine also has ongoing clinical projects to assess the potential of DepoVax™ to address malaria and the Zika virus. Connect at www.imvaccine.com.
Immunovaccine Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking information under applicable securities law. All information that addresses activities or developments that we expect to occur in the future is forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the date the statements are made. However, they should not be regarded as a representation that any of the plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this press release due to risks affecting the Company, including access to capital, the successful completion of clinical trials and receipt of all regulatory approvals. Immunovaccine Inc. assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements in this press release except as required by law.
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Immunovaccine’s Lead Immuno-Oncology Candidate to Enter Investigator-Sponsored Phase 2 Clinical Trial in Ovarian Cancer in Combination with Approved Anti-PD-1 Drug

Original Press Release University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto to Launch Triple-Combination Study Evaluating the Potential for Enhanced Anti-Cancer Activity of Currently Marketed Checkpoint Inhibitor When Combined with DPX-Survivac

 Halifax, Nova Scotia; February 6, 2017 – Immunovaccine Inc. (TSX: IMV; OTCQX: IMMVF), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company, today announced that the UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM) will conduct a Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the use of a combination of immunotherapies from Immunovaccine and Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada).
Clinical investigators will assess the safety and efficacy of Immunovaccine’s DPX-Survivac cancer vaccine candidate in combination with Merck’s checkpoint inhibitor Pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Study participants will also receive metronomic cyclophosphamide, which is a low-dose regimen with immuno-modulating effects. PM listed the trial on www.clinicaltrials.gov and expects to initiate active enrollment following completion of the contract between Immunovaccine and UHN, and pending regulatory clearance from Health Canada. “Ovarian cancer is a main focus for Immunovaccine as we continue to develop DPX-Survivac,” said Frederic Ors, Immunovaccine’s Chief Executive Officer.  “Combination therapies — particularly those with anti-PD-1 activity — are emerging as increasingly promising approaches for hard-to-treat cancers. We believe that the robust immunogenic and safety clinical profile for DPX-Survivac, along with its unique complementary activity to anti-PD-1 agents, which may boost their response rates, position our immuno-oncology candidate as an optimal co-therapy in this disease area.” The non-randomized, open-label trial is designed to evaluate the potential anti-tumor activity of the combination of Pembrolizumab, DPX-Survivac, and low-dose cyclophosphamide. It is expected to enroll 42 subjects with advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer. The study’s primary objective is to assess overall response rate (ORR). Secondary study objectives include progression free survival (PFS) rate, overall survival (OS) rate, and potential side effects, over a five-year period.
 Amit M. Oza, Bsc (Hons), MBBS (Lon), MD (Lon), FRCPC, FRCP, Senior Staff Physician and Associate Professor of Medicine at PM is the lead investigator. Merck is funding this study and contributing materials. Immunovaccine is also contributing its product candidate as well as a related portion of analytical assays.
“Ovarian cancer is among the most challenging cancers to treat, as it is associated with poor response rates to currently available medical interventions,” said Dr. Oza. “To support the tens of thousands of women battling this disease, we need to develop new and novel approaches. With this trial, we have the opportunity to explore a novel combination of promising immunotherapies.” DPX-Survivac is Immunovaccine’s lead immuno-oncology candidate, generated by its novel proprietary DepoVax™ adjuvanting technology platform. The DPX-Survivac target, survivin, is present in more than 20 types of solid tumor and hematologic cancers. It is involved in multiple critical pathways of cancer cell growth and survival. Prior results from a Phase 1/1b study indicated that DPX-Survivac combined with a low dose of cyclophosphamide was highly immunogenic in individuals with high-risk ovarian cancer, inducing survivin- specific T cell immune responses in most trial participants. The company has shown in other studies that a combination immunotherapy using a DepoVax™-based vaccine could enhance the anti-tumor effects of a PD-1 blockade. Even tumors previously non-responsive to treatment with anti-PD-1 agents alone exhibited controlled cancer growth when combined with Immunovaccine’s DepoVax™-based compound. In addition to this Phase 2 trial, Immunovaccine is conducting a Phase 1b trial with Incyte Corporation to evaluate the triple combination of DPX-Survivac with Incyte’s investigational oral indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) inhibitor, Epacadostat (INCB24360), and low-dose oral cyclophosphamide in patients with platinum sensitive or resistant ovarian cancer. Immunovaccine expects to announce top-line interim results for this Phase 1b trial by the end of March 2017. About DPX-Survivac
DPX-Survivac consists of survivin-based peptide antigens formulated in the DepoVax™ adjuvanting platform. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has recognized survivin as a promising tumor-associated antigen (TAA) because of its therapeutic potential and its cancer specificity. Survivin is broadly over-expressed in multiple cancer types in addition to ovarian cancer, including breast, colon and lung cancers. Survivin plays an essential role in antagonizing cell death, supporting tumor-associated angiogenesis, and promoting resistance to anti-cancer therapies. Survivin is also a prognostic factor for many cancers and it is found in a higher percentage of tumors than other TAA’s.
The DPX-Survivac vaccine is thought to work by eliciting a cytotoxic T-cell immune response against cells presenting survivin peptides. This targeted therapy attempts to use the immune system to search actively and specifically for tumor cells and destroy them. Survivin-specific T-cells have been shown to target and kill survivin-expressing cancer cells while sparing normal cells. DPX-Survivac received Fast Track designation by the FDA as maintenance therapy in individuals with advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancer who have no measureable disease following surgery and front-line platinum/taxane chemotherapy to improve their progression-free survival. The FDA also granted orphan drug status to DPX-Survivac for the treatment of ovarian cancer. This designation is valid for all applications of DPX-Survivac in ovarian cancer without restriction to a specific stage of disease.   About the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre of the Toronto Hospital
 The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre has achieved an international reputation as a global leader in the fight against cancer and delivering personalized cancer medicine. The Princess Margaret, one of the top five international cancer research centres, is a member of the University Health Network, which also includes Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and the Michener Institute for Education; all affiliated with the University of Toronto. For more information, go to www.theprincessmargaret.ca or www.uhn.ca.
About Immunovaccine
Immunovaccine Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to making immunotherapy more effective, more broadly applicable, and more widely available to people facing cancer and infectious diseases. Immunovaccine develops cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines based on the Company’s DepoVax™ platform, a patented delivery agent that provides controlled and prolonged exposure of antigens and adjuvant to the immune system. Immunovaccine has advanced two T cell activation therapies for cancer through Phase 1 human clinical trials and is currently conducting a Phase 1b study with Incyte Corporation assessing lead cancer therapy, DPX-Survivac, as a combination therapy in ovarian cancer, as well as a Phase 2 study in recurrent lymphoma. The Company is also advancing an infectious disease pipeline including innovative vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and currently has clinical projects ongoing to assess the potential of DepoVax™ to address malaria and the Zika virus. Connect at www.imvaccine.com.
 
Immunovaccine Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking information under applicable securities law. All information that addresses activities or developments that we expect to occur in the future is forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the date the statements are made. However, they should not be regarded as a representation that any of the plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this press release due to risks affecting the Company, including access to capital, the successful completion of clinical trials and receipt of all regulatory approvals. Immunovaccine Inc. assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements in this press release except as required by law.
 
 Contacts for Immunovaccine:
 
MEDIA 
Mike Beyer, Sam Brown Inc.
T: (312) 961-2502 E: [email protected]
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Frederic Ors, Chief Executive Officer
T: (902) 492-1819 E: [email protected] 
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TruLeaf Closes $8.5-million Round of Financing

See full original release here

TruLeaf Closes $8.5-million Round of Financing Former executive of Scotiabank joins TruLeaf board of directors

  TORONTO, ON/BIBLE HILL, NS, December 7, 2016 – TruLeaf Sustainable Agriculture Ltd. (TruLeaf), the indoor, multi-level farming company from Bible Hill, Nova Scotia has closed an $8.5-million equity-finance round. This funding will enable the company to continue its mission of becoming a global leader in vertical farming technology. TruLeaf develops sustainable farming systems that can be built anywhere that enable fresh, nutrient-dense, pesticide-free produce to be grown locally all year round.   Mike Durland, Former CEO and Group Head of Scotiabank’s Global Banking and Markets division led this funding round along with a small group of strategic investors from Toronto. In addition, Mr. Durland and Neil Murdoch, Former CEO Connor, Clark & Lunn Capital Markets, will become members of TruLeaf’s Board of Directors.   “This new round of financing and the additions to our board will help us to expand the breadth of our product offerings and increase the number of markets that we serve,” said Gregg Curwin, President & CEO, TruLeaf. “Mike and Neil bring a high level of business acumen and strategic expertise that will help us scale our business.”   TruLeaf is positioned to meet the growing appetite for local food in Canada that has arisen in the last 10 years, by scaling its GoodLeaf Farms consumer brand. A 2013 BMO Food Survey found that Canadians buy locally grown vegetables above all other products. Ninety-seven per cent of those surveyed said they bought local because the food is fresh and tastes better.   TruLeaf is seeking to become a leader in sustainable agriculture through the use of vertical farming. Vertical farming combines proven hydroponic technology with advancements in LED lighting and environmental control to allow year-round propagation and production of plants indoors, inside stackable levels. Vertical farming is nearly ten times more efficient than traditional agriculture and is more productive, takes up less land and uses dramatically less water.   “There are a number of important macro forces which position TruLeaf for success in the coming years,” said Mr. Durland. “Food scarcity, water challenges, the increasing demand for pesticide-free foods, and the environmental impact of large-scale farming, all mean that new ways of growing and distributing foods will be key for feeding the world. We want TruLeaf to be a company that achieves a triple-bottom line by creating sustainable – and ultimately carbon neutral – food production, delivering nutrient-rich plants to communities that may not otherwise have access to them, and achieving a strong return for investors and stakeholders. We want to grow the best products for consumers in Canada.”   A native Nova Scotian and Saint Mary’s University graduate, Mr. Durland recently retired from his executive post at Scotiabank to focus his efforts on fostering growth and investment in innovative companies across the country. Recently, he provided important funding for Saint Mary’s University’s Masters of Technology, Entrepreneurship & Innovation program, which supports an innovation competition held in Halifax each year. Mr. Durland’s interest and passion for TruLeaf was spawned out of his desire to invest in the local Nova Scotia economy.   Founded in 2011, and located in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, TruLeaf has developed an indoor farming system that grows fresh plants for food and medicines anywhere in the world, regardless of environment, 365 days a year. The system integrates growing technologies in a controlled environment to grow high quality, predictable yield, and clean plants with innovative and efficient technologies.   Media Contact: Holly Thornton Account Manager, PUBLIC Inc. [email protected] P: 647 642 6846]]>