KA Imaging’s Premium Dual-Energy Mobile System now available for sale in the U.S.

FluidAI Medical has developed an AI-powered monitor that detects post-operative gastrointestinal leaks, preventing complications that can arise from their late detection. The company’s investment will be used to research product improvements and build an automated assembly line to meet growing international demand and will create 38 jobs. In support of FluidAI’s investment, Ontario is providing over $1.4 million in funding through the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness stream of the Regional Development Program.

KA Imaging is an OBIO® member, an alumnus of our BDSP™, CAAP®, EAHN™, H2BB™, HealthMINT™ and presented at the OBIO® Investment Summit.

OBIO® Celebrates the Advancement of Women in Health Science with WiHI Seed Program and Leadership Awards

January 4, 2024 (Toronto, ON) – The Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®) is proud to announce significant milestones for its Women in Health Initiative (WiHI). Launched in July 2022 with support from the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), the OBIO® WiHI aims to bridge the gender disparity in the health science industry, particularly in senior management roles and leadership positions. The program offers comprehensive training, support and networking opportunities, empowering women with the skills and knowledge required to excel in leadership positions.

“Investing in the Women in Health Initiative (WiHI) is a crucial step in providing necessary supports and training so women can enter and flourish in the health and life sciences sector,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. “Southern Ontario is home to an abundance of healthcare-focused businesses—many more of which are women-led thanks to the committed efforts of WiHI. Our government is pleased to support the WiHI program as it works to increase the representation of women in this exciting field.”

In its first year, WiHI has made remarkable strides, supporting more than 325 women in the industry through experiential learning and financial support. This year, 11 women-led companies have been selected for the WiHI Seed Program, a key component of the initiative, which addresses the significant barriers that women-led companies face in accessing financing and support, especially in the health science sector where venture capital investment is at a historic low. The participating companies will benefit from this comprehensive six-month program and have access to expert networks, essential industry resources and skills, non-dilutive funding of up to $20,000 and potential equity investment.

“By providing a combination of early-stage capital and advisory support to women-led companies, the program addresses critical barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in the life science and health technology sectors,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President & CEO of OBIO®. “The WiHI Seed Program is a critical step towards creating a more equitable, diverse and inclusive health science industry, empowering women entrepreneurs to thrive and be successful leaders.”

The selected companies for the WiHI Seed Program 2023 are A.I. VALI, Atorvia, Cove Neurosciences, HDAX Therapeutics, ImaginAble Solutions, mDETECT, MoxyPatch, Noa Therapeutics, Paradox Immunotherapeutics, Tenomix, and Vessl Prosthetics. These companies will receive comprehensive support, including non-dilutive funding, tailored advisory and coaching assistance, and opportunities to pitch for equity seed investment.

Other exciting WiHI highlights

We are delighted to welcome Monika Yazdanian (CEO and Co-founder of ToeFX Inc.) and Mai Elfarnawany (VP Engineering at Flosonics Medical) as recipients of the Women in Health Initiative Business Leadership Program, joining our previous eight awardees. The program celebrates women that are exemplary leaders, role models and mentors to other women in the industry. The awardees (who each receive a $50K wage subsidy) will participate in OBIO’s networking events and contribute as mentor leaders to a women’s professional development community to support workforce development in a sector where women are underrepresented.

“As a recipient of the WiHI Seed and Women in Health Initiative Business Leadership programs, I am deeply grateful for the opportunities and support OBIO® has provided to us. It is encouraging to see a focused effort to challenge systemic biases and create a level-playing field for women entrepreneurs,” said Natalie Galant, CEO of Paradox Immunotherapeutics. “The WiHI Seed Program symbolizes a transformative shift, empowering women entrepreneurs to excel and innovate. It's about creating a more inclusive future in health science, and I'm proud to be part of this change."

We are also excited to share that OBIO® WiHI has received the first ever honourable mention ACE (Advancement, Commitment, Engagement) award from the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (known as HBA), a global not-for-profit organization dedicated to furthering the advancement and impact of women in the business of healthcare. Represented in countries across the globe, the HBA serves a community of more than 75,000 individuals and 180 corporate partners. 

The ACE award recognizes results-oriented initiatives fostered by organizations committed to ensuring that gender equity and leadership opportunities for women are part of their organizational DNA. A panel of healthcare leaders selects recipients for their excellence in advancing their female talent and removing the systemic barriers preventing timely progress to parity. Award criteria include measurable results, business performance, stewardship, execution, and sustainability. Read more.

Furthermore, WiHI was nominated for the Women Leaders in Pharma Awards for The Women Support Network award. This award recognizes companies that have supported the women’s network through networking, coaching, and mentoring.

About OBIO®

Founded in 2009, OBIO® is a not-for-profit membership-based innovation organization engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies that position Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. OBIO® advances this goal through collaborative partnerships with industry, the investment community, academia, the health care system and government. For more information, please visit obio.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About FedDev Ontario
For 14 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contacts:

Doriane Rey
Manager, Marketing & Events
Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®)
dorianerey@obio.ca

Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

XPAN secures FDA 510(k) clearance and announces successful completion of initial human clinical cases in the U.S.

Xpan Inc., a medical device company focused on minimally invasive surgical innovation, secured FDA 510(k) clearance on the XpanTM Universal Trocar System – a device that can be tailored by surgeons during laparoscopic procedure, reducing complications and improving quality of care for patients.

XPAN is an OBIO® member, an alumnus of our BDSP™, CAAP®, H2BB™ and HealthMINT™ programs and presented at the OBIO® Investment Summit.

Seeing patients from the inside out: Realize Medical featured on national CTV News

Realize Medical, an Ottawa-based virtual reality start-up, was featured on CTV News, showing how its virtual reality (VR) innovation, Elucis, enables surgeons to plan surgical procedures and improve patient treatment. Elucis lets you easily segment images into 3D models, collaborate with multiple remote colleagues and plan procedures all within virtual reality.

Realize Medical is a CAAP® company and presented at the 2021 OBIO® Investment Summit. They will be presenting at the 2024 OBIO® Investment Summit next month along with other exciting companies.

OBIO® affiliated companies among selected funded projects to accelerate digital health innovations

The Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) announced the funding of projects through the Innovating Digital Health Solutions Program (IDHS), an initiative, funded by the Ontario government, aimed at fast-tracking digital health innovations in Ontario. IDHS, delivered by the Ontario Centre of Ontario (OCI), will invest $8.2 million across 13 approved projects designed to revolutionize healthcare delivery across the province.

We are thrilled to share that four of the selected companies, Health Espresso, Hypercare, OPTT and Swift Medical, are OBIO® affiliated companies.

Phyxable Partners with Right at Home and OBIO® to Revolutionize Senior Healthcare with Falls Prevention Program

December 19, 2023 (Markham, ON) – Each year in Canada, up to one third of seniors are at risk of falling due to physiological factors associated with aging. Once a fall has occurred, there is very limited traditional, in-person rehabilitation programs for seniors with reduced mobility, and especially for those living in rural areas. To address this issue, OBIO® has partnered with Phyxable and Right at Home Canada in a collaborative effort to provide equitable access to effective falls prevention. Through OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™), Phyxable and Right at Home Canada have revolutionized falls prevention rehabilitation with AgeWell, a digitally guided exercise program.

"Following a successful evaluation of AgeWell, Phyxable is thrilled to see the positive impact our digitally guided falls prevention exercise program has had on the lives of community-dwelling Canadian seniors. The collaboration with Right at Home Canada and the support from OBIO® has allowed us to address a critical need for accessible and effective falls prevention rehabilitation. The results of the study demonstrate not only significant improvements in strength and balance, but also a high level of satisfaction among participants,” said Dr. Jim Feng, CEO of Phyxable. “We are committed to continuing our mission of transforming healthcare and empowering individuals to take charge of their well-being from the comfort of their homes. We extend our sincere gratitude to OBIO® for their unwavering commitment to supporting the commercialization of Ontario-made biosciences companies like Phyxable."

The AgeWell program, delivered through the Phyxable app, combines live video-based care sessions with licensed healthcare providers and self-paced exercises. Accessible from any internet-connected device, the exercises cater to individual preferences, enabling seniors to enhance their lower extremity strength and balance.

“It was a great experience collaborating with Phyxable and creating the Fall Prevention Program. Our community clients thoroughly enjoyed the support and expertise from our collaboration with Phyxable and OBIO® ,” said Sharlene Hogeterp Louden, Registered Kinesiologist at Right at Home Canada. “The feedback from the users was very positive and they all improved their knowledge of fall prevention - to be proactive instead of reactive.”

“Phyxable partnered with Right at Home Canada to address the high incidence of falls among community-dwelling seniors. We created an engaging and dynamic falls prevention program which included twenty-five sessions of progressive strength and balance exercises, as well as six live virtual coaching calls with registered healthcare providers. Clients successfully adopted this digitally guided program and reported a high level of satisfaction with the hybrid model of virtual coaching and in-home assistance from Right at Home Canada caregivers,” said Anna Michalski, Registered Physiotherapist. “We were able to objectively measure balance, leg power, and fear of falling at the start and end of the program and are very excited to report improvements across all metrics. We hope the Falls Prevention Program empowers seniors to improve their mobility and allows them to maintain a high level of independence in their homes.”

This EAHN™ evaluation study revealed positive changes in key health measures in participants following the program:

• The 30-second chair stand test showed an improvement of approximately 11.52%

• Handgrip strength increased by about 7.24%

• The Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) score decreased by roughly 4.85%

• Average balance scores increased by around 1.40%

Participants gave a high rating of 9/10, indicating the effectiveness of the program and their satisfaction with it.

Furthermore, feedback from app users indicated a high level of satisfaction with the app:  

• Users found the Phyxable app easy to follow (89%),

• Users rated the quality of the video as good or very good (89%)

• Users were satisfied with the length of the sessions (84%)

Most importantly, all app users felt comfortable with the virtual coaching calls, valued the presence of a caregiver to set up the program and would recommend the program to others.

The data from this study strongly supports the effectiveness of the falls prevention exercise program in improving strength, balance and reducing the perception of falls risk among community-dwelling Canadian seniors. The high satisfaction levels and positive outcomes indicate the successful adoption of this innovative approach, marking a significant stride in advancing senior community-based healthcare and well-being.

“OBIO® is proud to be partnered with Phyxable and Right at Home Canada to address the issue of falls prevention for seniors in the community,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®. “The results of the AgeWell app’s evaluation reflect the profound impact that simple, easy-to-use technology can have on the lives of seniors. We are eager to continue supporting Phyxable in the next steps of procurement and wider adoption of their product across Canada’s healthcare systems.”

About OBIO®

OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through their Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace.

For more information, please visit OBIO.ca or contact Bibaswan Ghoshal, Senior Director, Technology Adoption, OBIO®.

About Phyxable

Phyxable is a pioneering virtual rehabilitation platform committed to transforming the healthcare landscape. Born and bred in Markham, Ontario, Phyxable combines telemedicine, machine vision, and video content to redefine how physical pain and injury are managed and prevented. Our mission is to empower individuals to receive high-quality care from the comfort of their homes, ensuring accessibility and convenience for all. With virtual 1-on-1 video calls, asynchronous chat systems, self-help exercise prescriptions, and augmented reality motion detection, Phyxable is at the forefront of innovative healthcare solutions.

For more information, please visit Phyxable's website or contact Jeannie Allen, Patient Success Advisor, Phyxable.

About Right at Home Canada

Right at Home is one of the largest providers of in-home supportive care services, staffing and employer solutions, globally. With over 600 Care Offices in 8 countries around the world, and 55 offices in Canada, they are a trusted resource for tens of thousands of families, clients, residential living organizations, employers and government agencies in the delivery of a wide variety of highly personalized, quality suppor

For more information, please visit Right at Home's website or contact Rica Esguerra, National Director of Community Engagement, Right at Home Canada

OBIO® launches national health science technology training program powered by Upskill Canada

December 7, 2023 (Toronto, ON) – The Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®) has launched its national Health Science Technology Training for Software and Data Professionals training program, powered by Upskill Canada. The program is part of the first wave of partnership agreements that are taking an industry-oriented approach to supporting Canadian workers. These agreements will help thousands of workers find new careers through skills training and job placement in some of the most dynamic industries in Canada.

The program will support fast-growing health science employers developing digital technologies to address their talent needs, create new career paths for individuals who want to transition into high-demand roles in health science and attract tech professionals with the necessary expertise to fill these roles.

Up to 100 participants will be upskilled through the program to help them secure their next role in the industry by integrating foundational software skills with industry-specific knowledge. Over 14 weeks, the program will cover topics including software development for health science, regulatory frameworks for software as a medical device, data compliance, cybersecurity, AI & machine learning, and foundational skills.

Supported by funding from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s (ISED) Upskilling for Industry Initiative, more than 15,000 Canadian workers will benefit from an innovative approach to skills training. Central to the Upskill Canada initiative is the role of community training providers, who work closely with local and national employers to identify precise suites of skills being sought by industry. Equipping workers with these skills will create new career pathways for Canadians and better position Canadian companies to compete both domestically and internationally.

Quick Facts

• OBIO® supports early-stage and venture backed companies enabling them to raise capital, build the workforce, and accelerate commercialization and adoption.

• OBIO’s Workforce Development programs support in-demand skills development of the life science workforce to remove barriers faced by employers in the labour market, enabling access to industry-ready talent, and facilitating hiring and retention.

• Individuals interested in applying for the first cohort of the Health Science Technology Training for Software and Data Professional as talent participants can complete and submit an application by December 15 at: obio.ca/health-science-technology-training.

Quotes

“We’re so proud to formally launch Upskill Canada with our inaugural class of workers and training service providers. This is a big first step – but it’s only the beginning. We’re looking forward to working with our supporters in government and industry to upskill many more Canadians, so they can transition into high-demand roles in the modern workforce – and help fast-growing companies achieve their full potential.”

– Rhonda Barnet, CEO of Palette Skills, which was chosen by ISED to run the Upskill Canada initiative

“OBIO® is thrilled to partner with Upskill Canada to deliver the national Health Science Technology Training for Software and Data Professionals training program. Developing the health technology workforce and enabling talent to transition into high-demand technology roles will enable Canadian companies to commercialize and adopt digital technologies faster, giving them a competitive edge on a global scale.”

– Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®

To learn more, visit paletteskills.org/upskillcanadaprograms.

About OBIO®

Founded in 2009, OBIO® is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies that position Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. OBIO® advances this goal through collaborative partnerships with industry, the investment community, academia, the healthcare system and government. For more information, please visit obio.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

About Upskill Canada

Upskill Canada is a national talent platform that helps fast-growing companies access the talent they need to compete and succeed globally while creating new career pathways for workers to rapidly transition into high-demand roles. Upskill Canada will target all regions of the country and support Canadian-based employers, with a particular focus on small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It will focus on strengthening key growth sectors, including digital technology, cybersecurity, agricultural technology, advanced manufacturing, clean technology and biomanufacturing.

Media contact:

Doriane Rey
Manager, Marketing & Events
dorianerey@obio.ca  

Microbix Clot-Buster Drug Fully-Funded for Return to U.S. Market

Microbix Biosystems Inc., a life sciences innovator, manufacturer and exporter, recently announced the reconfirmation of its agreement with Sequel Pharma, LLC to return Kinlytic® urokinase to market in the United States, followed by other geographies and clinical indications. Kinlytic is an enzyme derived from human cell cultures that dissolves the material of a blood clot. A further payment of US$ 2.0 million has been received by Microbix relating to this reconfirmation.

Microbix is an OBIO® member and an alumnus of the BDSP™ and H2BB™ programs.

AmacaThera Closes Series A Extension to Advance Clinical Development of Long Acting, Localized, Non-Opioid Therapeutics to Improve Post-Surgery Patient Care

AmacaThera, a leader in the development of novel injectable, localized therapeutics based upon its AmacaGel delivery platform, announced the closing of a CAD$4.0 million financing round. The proceeds will be used to accelerate the clinical development of the AMT-143 formulation, with the objective of it being a best-in-class, non-opioid, therapeutic able to provide an extended period of post-surgical pain relief and reduce with the aim of eliminating the need for opioids in the postsurgical recovery period. 

AmacaThera is an OBIO® member, an alumnus of all OBIO® programs and presented at the OBIO® Investment Summit.

Phenomic AI Enters Strategic Collaborations with Boehringer Ingelheim & Astellas

Phenomic AI recently announced a strategic collaboration and licensing agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim to discover targets important in stroma-rich cancers. The partners will leverage Phenomic’s expertise in target identification and stromal biology based on its scTx® single-cell transcriptomics platform which will greatly enhance Boehringer’s efforts to develop first-in-class medicines to transform the lives of people with cancer by delivering meaningful advances with the ultimate goal to cure a range of cancers.

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Phenomic AI has recently entered a strategic research collaboration with Astellas for solid tumor cell therapies. For this collaboration, Phenomic and Astellas will explore the ability of antibodies, developed by Phenomic and directed at a novel target of the tumor stroma identified with Phenomic’s scTx platform, to enhance cell therapy approaches for the treatment of solid tumors.

Phenomic AI is an alumnus of OBIO's HealthMINT™ program and presented at the OBIO® Investment Summit.

New technology aims to improve access to cancer care

November 28, 2023 (Toronto, ON) – The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), the Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®), and Gray Oncology Solutions (Gray) are thrilled to announce the results of the deployment and evaluation of a new technology developed in Canada and aimed at optimizing operations in cancer care.

Over the past few decades, remarkable strides in cancer treatment have significantly improved the treatment of patients. While offering exciting possibilities, these advances have also introduced a high level of complexity that can be a challenge to manage effectively.

The scheduling of care journeys, which plays a pivotal role in ensuring patients’ access to care and the optimal use of hospital resources, is a highly manual and inefficient process, leading to increased administrative burden, wait times and cost of care delivery.

In a concerted effort to maintain the quality of care and maximize hospital resources, TOH partnered with Gray to deploy and evaluate their novel technology, GrayOS. This project was carried out with support from OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™).

GrayOS is the operating system for cancer care, which automates and optimizes the operations of cancer centres. It was co-developed with the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) and now deployed in clinics across multiple provinces, where it has been proven to increase efficiencies, reduce administrative overhead, save costs and improve staff experience.

TOH, one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals, became the first Ontario hospital to introduce and evaluate the technology. TOH, Gray and OBIO® are excited to share the preliminary results of this evaluation.

In less than six months, the solution saved costs and reduced the administrative burden by 60%. After GrayOS was deployed, TOH reported a 17% increase in the rate of patients treated within the targeted time outlined by Cancer Care Ontario, which is the provincial agency that sets standards for cancer care.

“Using GrayOS has played a pivotal role in reducing our operational challenges in radiation oncology,” said Melissa Diffey, Manager, Radiation Medicine Program at The Ottawa Hospital. “With this innovative technology, we are now able to further streamline our workflow and improve wait times by scheduling more patients within the targeted treatment deadline.”

The team will continue to monitor the results as further impact is expected from the efficiency gain.

“We’re incredibly grateful that The Ottawa Hospital has been such a great partner in deploying, testing and evaluating our technology. The meaningful results and interest we’ve received from Québec and now Ontario signal that we are on the right track to addressing a significant challenge in cancer care,” added André Diamant, CEO of Gray.

“OBIO® is proud to have partnered with The Ottawa Hospital and Gray Oncology Solutions on this inter-provincial project. The results of this evaluation reflect the impact of using cutting-edge technology in healthcare to improve clinical efficiency and enhance patient care. We are eager to continue to support GrayOS in the next steps of procurement and wider adoption across Ontario’s healthcare systems,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®.

GrayOS will continue to help The Ottawa Hospital treat more patients with the same amount of resources by unlocking additional capacity to prioritize scheduling in a way that minimize gaps in the calendar.

About OBIO®

OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through their Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace.

For more information, please visit OBIO.ca or contact Bibaswan Ghoshal, Senior Director, Market acceleration at bibaswanghoshal@obio.ca.

About Gray Oncology Solutions

Gray Oncology Solutions (Montréal-based start-up) has a vision of a healthcare ecosystem with no resources wasted. In pursuit of this vision, they have developed an “operating system” which simplifies cancer treatment by streamlining workflows across multiple points of cancer care (GrayOS). Operationally, this translates to the optimization & automation of patient scheduling while explicitly incorporating the complex multi-disciplinary workflow resulting in increased access to care, reduced patient wait times, increased patient/staff satisfaction and ultimately superior patient care.

For more information, please visit www.gray-os.com or contact André Diamant, CEO at andre@gray-os.com.

About The Ottawa Hospital

The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) is one of Canada’s top learning and research hospitals where we are guided by our vision to provide the world-class and compassionate care we would all want for our loved ones. Our multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, is home to the Regional Trauma Centre and Cancer Centre, and to discoveries that are adopted globally.

Backed by generous support from the community, we are focused on reshaping the future of health care to improve the health of our diverse population of patients from Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, and Nunavut.

For more information about The Ottawa Hospital, please visit OttawaHospital.on.ca or contact Alison Jennings, Manager (acting) Digital Innovation at ajennings@toh.ca.

QurCan to participate in Novo Nordisk's program

QurCan Therapeutics has been selected to participate in Novo Nordisk's Co-Creation Greenhouse Program. Anchored through the Novo Nordisk Bio Innovation Hub, this collaboration provides QurCan with funding and deep scientific and technical expertise in translational and drug development.

QurCan Therapeutics is an OBIO® member, an alumnus of the BDSP™, CAAP® and HealthMINT™ programs and presented at the OBIO® Investment Summit.

Vasomune Therapeutics and AnGes drug candidate AV-001 receives positive recommendation from the IDSMB for AV001-004 phase 2a study

Vasomune Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of diseases associated with vascular dysfunction, recently announced that their lead drug candidate AV-001 has received positive recommendation from the Independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (IDSMB) of the AV001-004 Phase 2a Study.

Vasomune Therapeutics is an OBIO® member and an alumnus of the CAAP® program.

KA Imaging to showcase growing family of Reveal products at RSNA

KA Imaging, a company specializing in developing innovative X-ray imaging technologies and systems, is ready to showcase a robust product line that can attend both fixed rooms and mobile systems at RSNA. “1 exposure, 3 images, 0 motion artifacts”, a summary of the company patented SpectralDR technology, can now be implemented in a variety of environments for better clinical and operational outcomes.

KA Imaging is an OBIO® member and an alumnus of all our programs.

University Health Network partners with Zamplo Inc. to optimize technology-enabled cancer remote monitoring

Nov 22, 2023 (Toronto, ON) – The measurement of and clinicians’ response to patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT) has been found to have many clinical benefits, including the patient’s improved quality of life and increased overall survival. This method has the potential to better utilize healthcare human resources, and decrease the need for extended clinical hours, urgent care and emergency care.

Through its Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN®), OBIO® has facilitated a study by the University Health Network (UHN) with Zamplo Inc., an Alberta-based company with a connected health platform, the Zamplo app, to monitor PROs of patients undergoing RT.

The app provides researchers and clinicians with a flexible tool to collect PROs, including symptoms, ability to function and/or quality of life, through multiple formats at any required frequency (e.g. a routine survey or an ad hoc measurement). The app can be used for patients with any disease regardless of their treatment or related conditions and can collect information from both patients and caregivers. The data is easily shared across the platform by healthcare providers in any setting of the patient’s choice.

As part of its strategic priorities, UHN aims to transform the health system through consumer-centric innovation and emerging technologies, supporting outstanding patient experiences in every interaction.

“Consumer-friendly apps such as Zamplo focus on enhancing personalized, equitable, compassionate care and transforming the patient experience, while also helping the care team optimize treatment and use of hospital space and resources,” said Philip Wong, MD, who is the EAHN™ evaluation lead at UHN.

“Our evaluation with OBIO® focuses on a proactive model of care which enhances patient-clinician communication and informs optimal clinical decision making, leading to fundamental changes in radiation therapy symptom management while maintaining a safe model of care with better utilization of resources,” he added. “The goal is to challenge today’s fragmented system and put consumer-friendly apps and tools in the hands of patients, families and providers.”

“Navigating cancer care can be complex and daunting for patients and caregivers. Zamplo is a care tool made by patients for patients to modernize and improve their experience,” said. Jennifer Croke, MD, Radiation Oncologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network. “The platform acts as a triage for radiation follow-up care, directing more complex cases for in-person assessment and helping others avoid taxing and sometimes costly trips to the hospital. Thus, patients on radiation can use the platform to inform the treatment team of their well-being, and the care team is better informed about the patient’s medical and/or psychosocial needs or lack thereof.”

“The Zamplo app allows clinicians and researchers to focus on the “whole” patient, supporting improved communication without increasing consult time, and engaging patients and their caregivers more in their care,” said Shaneel Pathak, CEO of Zamplo. “The Zamplo app allows patients to document their health journey on a desktop or mobile device, including symptoms, activities and medications. Researchers and clinicians can use the app to gather PROs through questionnaires and health tracking journal entries to help determine quality of life. Through OBIO’s EAHN™ program, Zamplo is now partnering with the largest health research organization in Canada.”

“OBIO® is delighted to support Zamplo, an Alberta-based company, through the EAHN™ program to facilitate a project with UHN and help Zamplo access the Ontario market,” said. Maura Campbell, PhD, President and CEO of OBIO®.  “We look forward to seeing the benefit of the Zamplo app to better utilize healthcare human resources and improve patients’ quality of life.”

About OBIO®

OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through their Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. To learn more, visit: obio.ca.

About Zamplo Inc. 

Zamplo Inc. is a mission-driven social enterprise, founded in 2015. Zamplo has created a person-centered connected health platform that provides a central location for individuals to track their whole health data while staying connected to their clinicians, caregivers, researchers and the health community.

With informed consent, the Zamplo App can be used to collect patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between participants and researchers through an integration with the electronic data capture platform, Zamplo Research. This integration supports patient-centered research by streamlining study enrolment, providing tools for PRO collection, and focusing on participant engagement and quality of life. Researchers and clinicians can engage participants in their own care as participants retain control of their data and can access their personal health information to make more informed decisions.

About University Health Network

University Health Network consists of Toronto General and Toronto Western Hospitals, the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and The Michener Institute of Education at UHN. The scope of research and complexity of cases at University Health Network has made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. It has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in cardiology, transplantation, neurosciences, oncology, surgical innovation, arthritis, vision, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. University Health Network is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto. For more information: www.uhn.ca.

Contacts

For more information about OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™), or if you are interested in joining the Network, please contact:

Bibaswan Ghoshal
Senior Director, Technology Adoption
Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization
bibaswanghoshal@obio.ca

For more information about Zamplo Inc. please contact:

Shaneel Pathak
CEO
Zamplo inc.
shaneel@zamplo.org

For more information about University Health Network please contact:

Ania Jones
Sr. Manager, Strategic Communications & Partnership Engagement
University Health Network
ania.jones@uhn.ca

Ontario biotech start-ups get government funding boost

Four new start-ups have been welcomed into BioCreate, Ontario Genomics’ $11.6-million accelerator program providing financial and business support to biotechnology companies creating game-changing solutions in the health, food and agriculture, and cleantech industries.

Congratulations to the winners!

We are proud to share that two of the four winners, QurCan Therapeutics and Virica Biotech, are OBIO® members.

Northern Nanopore Instruments acquired by Oxford Nanopore Technologies

Northern Nanopore Instruments (NNi), a Canadian biotechnology start-up with unique expertise in an innovative solid-state nanopore fabrication technology was recently acquired by Oxford Nanopore Technologies, the company delivering a new generation of nanopore-based molecular sensing technology. The NNi team will continue to work with Oxford Nanopore to develop and scale solid-state nanopore fabrication technology, with a potential long-term goal of developing arrays of solid-state nanopores.

Northern Nanopore Instruments is an alumnus of our BDSP™ program.

Enhanced Medical Nutrition over-subscribes pre-series A financing, announces strategic investment from dsm-firmenich

Enhanced Medical Nutrition, Inc. (EMN) recently announced the successful closing of an over-subscribed Pre-Series A equity financing supported by dsm-firmenich venturing, The Kale Fund, Keiretsu Forum, and various angel investors. The financing comes on the heels of EMN's expansion across more than 150 orthopaedic providers. Proceeds of the transaction will be used to fund EMN's operations and growth.

EMN is an OBIO® member, an alumnus of all our programs and presented at the OBIO® Investment Summit.

Edesa Biotech to receive up to CAD $23 Million in funding from Federal Government

Edesa Biotech, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on inflammatory and immune-related diseases, has secured a commitment of up to CAD $23 million from the Government of Canada for a pivotal Phase 3 clinical study of the company’s first-in-class therapeutic candidate.

Edesa is an alumnus of our WiHI program.

A made-in-Ontario medical device proven to save lives now being evaluated in its home province

Nov 7, 2023 (Toronto, ON) – In trauma situations where physicians are treating an unstable patient who is experiencing bleeding, time is of the utmost importance and the medical team needs to act quickly. Small and fast-acting solutions are needed to reduce complications and save lives.

Through its Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN ™), OBIO® has facilitated an evaluation between Front Line Medical Technologies and Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) to help trauma patients receive a cutting-edge treatment for hemorrhage control.

Front Line’s COBRA-OS® is an innovative, minimally invasive medical device that helps control bleeding in patients with non-compressible trauma in the torso. The device is inserted to block the artery above the injury. This stops the blood flow and enables patients to reach the operating room where trauma surgeons can effectively control the bleeding and increase the patient’s chance of survival. The COBRA-OS® can be deployed in just over a minute and is the smallest device of its kind in the world. It is being used in multiple American Level 1 trauma centres and by US military groups.

“We have had the incredible privilege of providing front line physicians with a tool that has already helped save many lives since the COBRA-OS® has been available commercially in North America,” said Asha Parekh, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of Front Line Medical Technologies. “The device has mainly been adopted in the United States and we are extremely excited to have Hamilton Health Sciences evaluating the utility of the COBRA-OS® for their system and patients”.

“As an alumnus of the McMaster University general surgery program, I am so proud to come back to Hamilton to help introduce this life-saving device to my colleagues for their trauma patients,” said Adam Power, MD, CMO, Co-founder, and practicing vascular surgeon.

”At Hamilton Health Sciences, we’re committed to finding innovative solutions to help our patients and the community. Collaborating with organizations like OBIO® is an essential part of developing partnerships with the right companies to make impactful change,” said Ted Scott, Vice President Innovation at Hamilton Health Sciences. “When it comes to trauma patients, every second counts. So, as the regional trauma centre for Central South Ontario, it’s our responsibility to explore all ways to utilize the limited time we have to save a patient’s life.”

“The trauma team is very pleased to be part of this project and looks forward to working with these important partners to bring cutting-edge technology to the bedside of our injured patients to help make a difference with saving their lives,” said Paul Engels, MD, trauma surgeon and trauma medical director at Hamilton Health Sciences.

“OBIO® is eager to facilitate this EAHN™-funded project between HHS and Front Life Medical Technologies, supporting a medical device that increases the survival for trauma patients,” said Maura Campbell, PhD, OBIO® President and CEO. “We are delighted to see Front Line Medical Technologies build on the previous success of COBRA-OS® and to support the commercialization of their innovation in Canada.”

About OBIO®

OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through their Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. To learn more, visit: obio.ca.

About Front Line Medical Technologies

Front Line Medical Technologies is a medical device company lowering the barriers to bleeding control and resuscitation worldwide. The company offers a life-saving tool, the COBRA-OS™ (Control of Bleeding, Resuscitation, Arterial Occlusion System) to help patients survive emergency situations. The COBRA-OS is used for REBOA (Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta) procedures, and its significantly reduced size decreases both the time it takes to complete the procedure and the risk of complications.

About Hamilton Health Sciences

Hamilton Health Sciences is a community of 15,000 staff, physicians, researchers and volunteers that proudly serves southwestern Ontario residents. It is the only hospital in Ontario that cares for all ages, from pre-birth to end-of-life and offers world-leading expertise in many areas, including cardiac and stroke care, cancer care, palliative care and pediatrics. Hamilton Health Sciences is also a world-renowned hospital for healthcare research and has a daily focus on improving the quality of care for patients through innovation and evidence-based practices.

Contacts

For more information about OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™), or if you are interested in joining the Network, please contact: Bibaswan Ghoshal, Senior Director, Technology Adoption

For more information about Front Line Medical Technologies, please contact: Asha Parekh, CEO and Co-Founder

For more information about Hamilton Health Sciences, please contact: Wendy Stewart, Communications Advisor