To celebrate 10 years of innovative research and development in the life sciences and health technologies, the City of Biotechnology and Human Health of Metropolitan Montreal (The Biotech City) is organizing an important two-day international symposium that will take place in Laval on May 2 and 3, 2012.

Organized in collaboration with The Biotech City’s two founding partners, LAVAL TECHNOPOLE and the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS–Institut Armand-Frappier), the program for the Symposium will feature forward-looking presentations by speakers of international calibre outlining some of the latest innovations in the field of life sciences in terms of outstanding basic and applied research, regulatory affairs, new technologies, as well as business and financing models.

The program will focus on a number of very timely topics:

SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS . Infectious diseases . Cancer . Chronic disorders: . Autoimmune . Neurological . Cardiovascular

BUSINESS SESSIONS . Changing paradigm in life sciences and health technologies (LSHT) . University-industry collaboration . New drug sources . New rules for intellectual property . Role of government programs in LSHT sector development . Resources for start-ups

An opportunity for the scientific and business communities to meet

“We have tremendous challenges in the area of health—and we have to start meeting these challenges now,” declares Dr. Pierre Talbot, Professor at INRS–Institut Armand-Frappier and co-chair of the Symposium Organizing Committee. “To help achieve this mission, the Organizing Committee has been hard at work, developing an exceptional program of presentations by leading experts from university research institutions, as well as biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms.”

“Given the jolts to the global economy of the last few years, it is vital that the health sector formulate and adopt new working methods to ensure that even the most extraordinary ideas in terms of science and innovative technology become a reality. Investors, governments and entrepreneurs must carve a new place for themselves, take part in this process of continuous improvement, and adapt to pressing issues and realities in the field of health. The program has been designed from this perspective,” continues Dr. Samir Mounir, Director of the BIOPOLE and Biotech City and co-chair of the Symposium Organizing Committee.

Among the confirmed speakers are:

• Michael Houghton, Ph.D., Professor and holder of the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Virology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta. Dr. Houghton is an internationally recognized expert in hepatitis virology. Working with researchers at the world-leading blood diagnostics Chiron Corporation and the United States' Center for Disease Control and Prevention, he was the first to identify the hepatitis C virus. The breakthrough allowed him to develop new blood-screening tests that are now used worldwide.
• Joe Cohen, Ph.D., Vice-President, R&D Emerging Diseases & HIV, GlaxoSmithKline, inventor and holder of a malaria vaccine patent. Dr. Cohen has extensive experience with vaccine formulation and helped create a new vaccine program for emerging diseases.
• Jack Antel, M.D., Professor, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Director of the Neuroinflammation Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute
• John Bell, Ph.D., Program Leader, Immuno- and Bio-Therapeutics, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, and Chief Scientific Officer, Jennerex Biotherapeutics
• Marcel Behr, M.D., Professor of Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology, Montreal General Hospital, McGill University
• Michel Bouvier, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal and Director, University Research Group on Drug Discovery (GRUM), Université de Montréal
• Eric Cohen, Ph.D., Director of the Human Retrovirology Research Unit and the Immunity and Viral Infections Research Program, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), and Professor of Virology, Université de Montréal
• Rémi Palmantier, Ph.D., Director, Research and Development, Immunotherapy, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
• Alexandre Prat, M.D., Ph.D., neurologist, Notre-Dame Hospital (Université de Montréal Health Centre [CHUM]),Professor of Neurology, Université de Montréal and holder of the Donald Paty Research Chair of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
• Serge Rivest, Ph.D., Director, Quebec City University Health Centre Research Centre (CRCHUQ), and Director, Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval
• Gerry Wright, Ph.D., Director of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Associate Member, Department of Chemistry, and Founding Director, McMaster Antimicrobial Research Centre, McMaster University

The preliminary program is available at www.2012biotech.com. It will be regularly updated.

As Pierre Desroches, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Biotech City and President and Executive Director of LAVAL TECHNOPOLE points out: "We in Laval have given ourselves powerful tools like the Biotech City to support our development of an economy based on science and advanced learning. For that reason, the Biotech City's Board of Directors is proud to salute this event, which will bring together great names from the scientific community and give concrete expression to ten years of sustained effort in meeting challenges and achieving success. The Biotech City is unquestionably a major actor in Metropolitan Montreal's life sciences and biotechnology industry, with 44% of its industrial investments attributable to the life sciences."

An invitation to participate
Researchers and scientists from Canada, the United States and across the world, research centre associates, employees of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, public service and research development administrators, business development and investment professionals, etc. are all invited to take an active part in this Symposium, which will be held at the brand-new Laval campus of the Université de Montréal located beside the Montmorency Métro station in Laval. To register online, go to www.2012biotech.com.

Convinced of the importance of developing a new generation with sound expertise, the Biotech City has also decided to incorporate a youth component in its 10th Anniversary programming, which allow a number of youths to meet professionals and corporate interests of the life sciences and health technologies.

About the Biotech City
A hub for the life sciences and health technologies sector in Quebec, the Biotech City science and technology park originated from a partnership, 10 years ago, between LAVAL TECHNOPOLE and the INRS–Institut Armand-Frappier. It is a centre for expertise and cross-fertilization between the life sciences industry and academia, as well as an- environment for business, research, training and commercial development.


Source and information:
Samir Mounir, Ph.D., MBA
Director, BIOPOLE and The Biotech City
450 681-3412

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc announced that effective December 16, 2011, the company completed its previously announced acquisition of Dermik, a dermatology unit of Sanofi.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Press Release

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Jeffrey Leiden, M.D., Ph.D., to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective February 1, 2012.

Vertex Press Release

Last Friday, December 9, 2011 -Warnex Inc. announced that it has sold the assets of its Medical Laboratories division to Gamma-Dynacare Medical Laboratories, one of Canada's largest providers of medical laboratory services.

Warnex Press Release.

Roche acquires Verum Diagnostica GmbH as part of plan to develop comprehensive coagulation testing portfolio for diagnostic laboratories

December 8th, 2011, Roche announced  that it has signed an agreement under which it will acquire 100 percent of Verum Diagnostica GmbH, based in Munich, Germany. Verum Diagnostica is a leading company in platelet function testing, the fastest-growing field in the coagulation diagnostics market.

See complete Roche press release

CQDM announces and investment of $1.5 M in two collaborative projects in biomedical research within the Québec/Ontario life sciences corridor.

See attached press release.

CQDM launches its second annual Explore competition. The main goal of this program is to support unconventional and highly innovative projects that could lead to the development of cutting edge tools or technologies addressing critical needs of the biopharmaceutical industry. This competition is widely open to the Quebec scientific community from private organizations or academic research institutions.

Please find enclosed the call for proposals and the application form.

The deadline for the submission of letters of intent is February 21st, 2012.

Samir Mounir, Ph.D., MBA, Director of the Biotech City, is pleased with the Harper government's decision concerning funding for Québec Biotechnology Innovation Centre.

Source: Press Release of the Government of Canada, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

The Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRSQ) announced August 8, 2011, to the scientific community, a reminder of the grant program of the Innovation Fund Pfizer - FRSQ.

The deadline for filing a letter of intent to contest 2012-2013 Grant Program Fund Pfizer-FRSQ Innovation is August 31, 2011.

This program, in partnership with Pfizer Canada, is designed to support innovative, large-scale multi-institutional research projects in human health that have a strong likelihood for technology transfer and commercialisation. The objective of this program is to act as a catalyst for innovative translational research and stimulate an entrepreneurial culture within Quebec Universities and Affiliated Hospital Based Research Centres. A maximum of $ 200 000 per year for three years.

For complete information, see the program details and forms.

The Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS) announced July 18^th, 2011, to the scientific community that the second edition of the Pfizer-FRQS-MSSS Chronic Disease Fund competition will be launched in September 2011.

As in the previous competition, projects must be presented by a health and social services centre (centre de santé et de services sociaux - CSSS) in collaboration with family physicians and researchers in the health and social services sector.

For more details, see the press release.

According to a press release dated July 15th, 2011 Warnex Inc. (TSX: WNX) announced that it is reorganizing the operations of its subsidiary, Warnex Analytical Services Inc. As part of this restructuring, Warnex will shut down the operations of its analytical laboratories located in Laval, Quebec, and consolidate all of its analytical services at its Neopharm Laboratories facility located in Blainville, Quebec.

Warnex’sBioanalytical Services and Medical Laboratories divisions, as well as its head office, will continue to operate at its Laval facilities.

For more details, see the press release.

According to a press release dated July 11th, 2011, Sanofi announces that it sells its dermatology division Dermik to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Strategic Divestiture to focus on Growth Platforms in the United States and Canada.

Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced today the strategic divestiture of its dermatology business, Dermik, to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. (NYSE/TSX: VRX) (“Valeant”), for a total cash consideration of US $425 million. Valeant is a pharmaceutical company focused on the neurology and dermatology therapeutic areas, based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

For more details, see the press release.

Nearly 100 participants turned out on June 14th, 2011 for the holding of the Pharmabio Development Annual General Meeting at the Chateau Taillefer Lafon Laval.

The Annual General Meeting was followed by an exchange between the guests and panelists on the results of sectoral analysis of the pharmaceutical industry and biotechnology conducted by Deloitte. Among the panelists, we find Mrs. Michèle Savoie, CEO of Montreal InVivo, Mr. Pierre Plante, president of Delmar and Mr. Samir Mounir, Director of the Biotech City and Biopole Laval.

According to a press release dated July 4th, 2011, the Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade announced the appointment of Mr. Rémi Quirion as Chief Scientist of Quebec, he will head the Research Fund of Quebec.

For more details, see the press release ( French only).

According to the statement dated June 30th, 2011 NanoQuébec announced the second call for project of its new program to fund industry/university or CTTC collaborative projects. The initial budget envelope is $400,000. This funding program is to encourage the development of nanotechnology in various industrial sectors in Quebec.

The new call for proposals is aimed at encouraging the use of nanotechnology in several Quebec industrial sectors, as well as facilitating decision-making on future directions for the development of new products and processes.

Applicants are invited to apply before October 16, 2011 at 4 p.m.

Click here for all the details.

According to a press release dated July 5, 2011, Le Fonds de recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ) announced it has joined a European call the "Joint Programme in Neurodegenerative deseases (JPND)."

The call for proposals was launched on May 16th, 2011, prior to the official inclusion of the FRSQ as a partner organisation and applications must be submitted by September 5th, 2011.

For more details, please see the press release.

Québec and Ontario join forces in the life sciences within the Québec-Ontario corridor

According to the statement dated June 28th, 2011- BiopolisQuébec, the alliance of leading life sciences regions in the province of Québec (Greater Montréal, Québec and Sherbrooke) dedicated to promoting the expertise of this major sector internationally, is happy to announce that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Life Sciences Ontario, the organization that represents and promotes the life sciences in Ontario.

Under the terms of the memorandum, the two partners have agreed to work together to discuss best business practices, issue joint position statements, and identify collaborative projects in the short term.

For more details, please see the press release posted on the site of Montreal InVivo.

Public Works and Government Services Canada have launched a new procurement Website for companies interesting in supplying goods and services to the government.

For more information, visit buyandsell.gc.ca.

According to the statement dated June 21st, 2011, Labopharm Inc. announced today its intention to delist its common shares from the Nasdaq Global Market as of the close of business on June 30th, 2011. The Company’s common shares will continue to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

For more details, consult the press release.

The Biotech City invites you to participate at the following event: International Interconnexions at BIO 2011 organized by BiopolisQuébec. The event will take place on June 27th, 2011 at the Intercontinental Willard Hotel, Pennsylvania Av. 1401, Washington DC.

Your participation at BIO 2011 is an exceptional opportunity for you to promote your ideas and build your international connections. You will also meet companies, research centers and other actors in the life sciences, in addition to presenting your business.

Click here to access to the information in reference to the event.

The global event for biotechnology, June 27-30, 2011.

Click here for details on this event.

The Biotech City will attend the event and we invite you to visit our booth at the Quebec Pavilion.

According to the statement dated June 1st, 2011, CQDM announced that a new pharmaceutical member has joined the Consortium.

CQDM welcomes Eli Lilly Canada, a leading innovative pharmaceutical company, to support the Explore program.

For more details, please consult the press release attached.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. announced May 24th, 2011 that it has agreed to acquire AB Sanitas for approximately EUR314 million in cash.

Click  here  to read the press release of Valeant Pharmaceuticals .

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated  (Nasdaq: VRTX)announced May 23rd, 2011 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved INCIVEK™ (telaprevir) tablets for a broad group of people with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C with compensated liver disease (some level of damage to the liver but the liver still functions), including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver).

Click here to read the press release of Vertex pharmaceuticals.

Monitor Clipper Partners ("MCP"), a Boston-based independent private equity firm, announced on May12, that it has acquired the assets of  Pharmetics Inc. ("Pharmetics") (excluding the Fort Erie manufacturing facility).

For the full news release, see the document below.

Sanofi-aventis Canada has earned the prestigious Laval regional Prix d’Innovation from Quebec’s Commission de la santé et de la securité du travail. The provincial government’s occupational health and safety organization is recognizing the company for Met Buster, a unique, innovative, custom-made pneumatic crushing machine – designed and developed in-house at sanofi-aventis’ Laval facility.

For more information, see the document below.

For the upcoming summer work term the Université de Sherbrooke offers you a new breed of professionals, unique in Canada, with both legal and scientific training backgrounds.

For more information, see the document below.

The Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital (JRH) and its Foundation invite you to run, walk or volunteer at the 3rd edition of our JRH-ORTHOFAB Rehabili-Thon. The event will take place on Sunday, May 15th, 2011 at the JRH. You can choose a distance of 10, 5 or 2 KM. Don't forget your children, they would love to run the 2 KM! There will be activities for children, a live band appearance (Bagg Street band) and refreshments. Register now!

According to the statement of LAB Research,Applied Biology Company the holding company of CIT Safety & Health Research Company, a leading player among European preclinical CROs, and LAB Research Inc. announced April 12, 2011 having reached an agreement setting forth the financial terms outlining the purchase of substantially all of LAB Research's assets, which include its three facilities located in Canada, Denmark and Hungary.

NanoQuébec announced April 12, 2011, an all-new program to fund industry/university or CTTC collaborative projects. The initial budget envelope is $400,000.

Applicants are invited to apply at any time. The selection committee will review applications three times a year.

Click here for more information.

 ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. announced April 5th, 2011 that it had entered into an Agreement with Celgene Corporation, for the worldwide rights to a commercial application of ProMetic's Protein Technologies.

To access the press release of ProMetic, click here.

BELLUS Health Inc. announced April 4th, 2011, that it has signed an exclusive license and distribution agreement with Agahan Ayandeye Pars Inc., regarding BELLUS Health's VIVIMIND™, a patented natural health product that has been shown to protect memory function.

To access the press release of Bellus Health, click here.

March 22, 2011, Labopharm announced that it has reduced its workforce, eliminating 38 positions.

Labopharm also announced that Sylvain Guénette has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation.

To access the press release of Labopharm, select the following link.

On 16 February 2011, the Quebec Consortium for Drug Discovery (CQDM) announced via press release that it welcomes two new members Pharma , Boehringer Ingelheim and GlaxoSmithKline Inc., and launches its Explore Program to drive innovation

For more details click here to read the CQDM press release.

The Explore Program is a new funding initiative for breakthrough technologies that have the potential to significantly improve the drug discovery or development process. The Explore Program is open to the research community in Québec from both public and private research institutions.

The research projects must be submitted by April 27th, 2011.


Click here to consult the call for proposals.


Click here to obtain the detailed information in reference to Competitions and Funding.


Click here for additional information available on the CQDM web site.

MITACS Accelerate Quebec is a cost-shared internship program in research and industrial development.

For more information about the MITACS Accelerate program click here.

February 14th, 2011, Société générale de financement du Québec announced that it has proceeded with a US$14.7 million equity reinvestment in Axcan Pharma to support the Company in its acquisition of Eurand Pharmaceuticals for US$587 million.


For more details click here for the full news release of Société générale de financement du Québec.

January 26, 2011 Merck Canada has renewed its partnership with the Quebec Consortium for Drug Discovery (CQDM) by investing a further $5 million over five years in the organization so it can continue its support of biopharmaceutical research in Quebec.

For more details click here.

BELLUS Health Inc. announced on January 31, 2011 the results of the phase I clinical study for NRM8499, a prodrug of tramiprosate, intended for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (the "Phase I Study").

For more details click here for the full news release.

École Polytechnique de Montréal is presently campaigning placement of its students concerning the Internships in Biomedical Engineering summer 2011.

Click here for more details (in french only).

January24th, 2011, LAB Research announced it has secured additional support from its main Canadian lender to enable the completion of its strategic review process.

To access the press release of LAB Research Inc., select the following link.

The Premier Partnering Event of 2011, February 22-24, 2011.

BIOCOM's Global Life Science Partnering Conference is an exclusive global partnering and networking forum that brings together senior executives and business development professionals from leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The conference includes case study presentations, individual company presentations, one-on-one meetings, and numerous networking opportunities.

For more details select the following link.

January 20, 2011 - Labopharm Inc. announced that Health Canada's Therapeutic Products Directorate (TPD) has approved OLEPTRO™, a new Once-Daily Antidepressant for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder.

To learn more, consult the press release of Labopharm.

On January 17, during a press conference at the INRS, the Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export announced that the Quebec government would help fund the institute’s clinical study on lung cancer.

To learn more, read the press release (in french).

The LAVAL TECHNOPOLE and the Biotech City, in collaboration with Tenrox, are inviting companies within the Information Technology, Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical sectors to an exclusive Wine and Cheese Event taking place on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 5:00 pm.

Take advantage of this opportunity to Network and meet Mr. Ludwig Melik, VP. of Sales at Tenrox who will provide a brief introduction to the Tenrox cloud-based project management solutions and explain its many benefits.

Since 1995, Tenrox has served more than 800 organizations in 50 countries including several pharmaceuticals, biotechs and healthcare industries such as Wyeth Biopharma, Anapharm, Codexi, Medarex , Thermo Fisher Scientific, Carestream Health, Teleflex, Hospitals of Ontario Pension Plan, Main General Medical Center, CIRION Biopharma and Synteract.


Date:        Thursday, February 3, 2011

Time:       Welcome at 5:00 pm followed by cocktail at 5:30pm

Where:     Sheraton, Laval, room: Guiseppe Saputo
                  2440 Autoroute des Laurentides, Laval, Québec H7T 1X5 
                 (Close to Carrefour Laval shopping center)

Participation is free-of-charge

Don’t forget your business cards – There will be an Appel iPad as a presence prize!


RSVP: Spaces are limited! Register before January 27, 2011 by completing the attached registration form
and return it to Claudine Diserens by fax at 450-978-5970 or by e mail
claudine.diserens@lavaltechnopole.com .

Need more information, please contact us at 450-978-5958.

Sherbrooke Innopole, Montreal In Vivo and The Biotech City invite you to participate at the following event: «BIOPARTENARIATS Europe», (Milan & London) from March 14-18, 2011.

For more details