TORONTO, May 11, 2009 -- Canada has the research expertise to develop drugs and vaccines to address pressing medical needs, but delivering on the promise will require new models of collaboration between scientists, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry, according to speakers at an upcoming symposium by The Gairdner Foundation and York University.

The symposium, Entrepreneurship and Commercialization in Biomedical Science, on Thursday, May 14, marks the 50th anniversary of both York University and The Gairdner Foundation, which recognizes the world’ leading medical research scientists through its prestigious annual awards program for biomedical science. Hosted by the Faculty of Science and Engineering and Schulich School of Business at York, it will bring together scientist entrepreneurs, Canadian venture capital firms, the biomedical industry and policy-makers.

Highlights of the symposium include:

Academia, Biotech, and Pharma: Navigating the Interface to Build a New Model for Drug Discovery and Development, Dr. Corey Goodman, founder of two biotechnology companies, 1997 Gairdner Laureate in neuroscience, and president, Biotherapeutics and Bioinnovation Center, Pfizer Inc. San Francisco.

If the tools and technologies and targets for drug discovery are greater than ever, then why are there so few new drugs?  Why have the costs for developing new medicines gone up so dramatically and why are so many drug candidates failing in the clinic? Going forward, and especially with the capital markets broken, academia, biotech and pharma will have to collaborate in new ways.

From Genetic Disorders in a Few to Drugs for Many, Dr. Michael Hayden, Director of the Center for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Canada’s Health Researcher of the Year for Biomedical and Clinical Research (Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 2008), a genetic disease researcher whose group has identified 10 disease-causing genes.

Despite increases in investment, there has been no parallel greater success in bringing new drugs into clinical practice, in part because of inadequate validation of targets selected for drug development. Mutations in human genes in a few people may lead to findings that are relevant for development of drugs to help many people, with common conditions such as lipid disorders, cancer, osteoporosis, anemia, obesity, diabetes and pain.

Case study panel discussion on the development, commercialization and health policy implications of vaccines, followed by a moderated discussion

HIV / AIDS: The Global Challenge of Our Time

Dr. Alan Bernstein, executive director of Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, New York, president emeritus of the CIHR, Gairdner Wightman Award Laureate, 2008.

A coordinated global effort is urgently needed to address scientific needs in HIV vaccine research and development (R&D), mobilize new investments and facilitate the prioritization of funding and resource commitments to the vaccine research, as well as stimulate and incentivize public-private partnerships to discover, develop, and manufacture an AIDS vaccine. Stakeholders in the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise agree on shared research priorities and promote coordination, collaboration, and transparency between researchers, funders, industry, advocates, governments and non-governmental organizations worldwide.

The Courage to Win

Susan M. Smith, founder, former president and CEO of RBC Ventures, Toronto, and Board of Directors, MaRS.

Canada has made strong progress in positioning itself as a potential leader in biotech and medical research and in its commercialization efforts but faces two clear threats – the global financial calamity together with the lack of clear federal government support for research. Vaccines: Intellectual Property

Professor E. Richard Gold, McGill University, Faculty of Law, founding director of the Centre for Intellectual Property Policy.

Developing new vaccines, particularly those aimed at meeting health needs in developing countries, will require new attitudes and deployment of patent and data protection rights. Challenges to current models of using patents will be discussed, along with promising ways to overcome them.

WHAT: Entrepreneurship and Commercialization in Biomedical Science

WHEN: Thursday May 14, 1 to 5pm
WHERE: McEwen Auditorium, Seymour Schulich Building, York University, Keele campus (#42 on Map)

PROGRAM: Click here.

TO ATTEND: Advance, online registration is now closed. Onsite registration opens at NOON on May 14th in the lobby outside of the McEwen Auditorium. Limited space available.

The Canada Gairdner Awards were created in 1959 to recognize and reward the achievements of medical researchers whose work contributes significantly to improving the quality of human life. They are Canada’s only globally known and respected international prizes, and Gairdner is the only national organization that consistently brings the world’s best biomedical researchers to Canada to share their ideas and work with scientists across the country. In so doing, it enlarges networks and enhances Canada’s international reputation while providing a realistic and unbiased benchmark for Canada’s leading scientists.

York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 11 faculties and 26 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.

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Media Contact:

Janice Walls, Media Relations, York University, 416 736 2100 x.22101 / wallsj@yorku.ca