Encycle is a biopharmaceutical company with a unique platform technology that enables the rapid synthesis of small drug-like macrocycles, called nacellins. Encycle’s nacellins provide orally bioavailable, non-biologic modulators, with enhanced permeability, allowing for drug absorption through the gut. This technology provides new therapeutic opportunities for previously underserved diseases and ailments, due to previous oral drug delivery complications. Encycle is concurrently screening their nacellin library for new targets of interest.

To find out more, visit encycletherapeutics.com

Flosonics is a medical device company focused on developing non-invasive sensors to improve the management of critically ill patients. Flosonics Medical’s flagship smart-bandage product, the FloPatch, addresses unmet clinical needs of critically ill patients and the physicians, nurses, and paramedics who care for them in the ambulance, emergency department, operating room, and intensive care unit.

To find out more, visit flosonicsmedical.com

ImStar Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company, developing a new approach to treat ALS (Amylotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that cuases muscle weakness, paralusis, and ultimately respiratory failure. 450,000 people have the condition and every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed with it. Most people with ALS live only 2-5 years after experiencing the first signs of the disease.

ImStar is developing treatments directed at a new proprietary target, TANA (TDP-43 associated NF-kB activation), in a key immune system activation pathway implicated in ALS. This proprietary target could lead to the future development of treatments for ALS as well as other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s.

To find out more, visit imstartx.com

Inversago is developing new generations of peripherally-restricted cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptor inverse agonists/antagonists for the treatment of Prader-Willi Syndrome, type 1 diabetes, obesity and other metabolic disorders such as non-alcoholoic steatohepatitis (NASH).  Inversago’s technology addresses limitations associated with first generation CB1 blockers, allowing the Company to fully exploit their medical potential.

To find out more, visit inversago.com

KalGene Pharmaceuticals is a pre-clinical stage company focused on the development of precision medicine therapeutics to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Kalgene Pharmaceutical’s lead, KAL-ABP, targeting toxic amyloid beta oligomers, has been shown in animal models of Alzheimer’s Disease to cross the blood-brain barrier and to significantly reduce the plaque burden, leading to improved cognition and neuronal connectivity.

KisoJi is a biotechnology company focused on creating best-in-class drugs based on this novel screening platforms in antibodies, stem cells, and cancer stem cells. Through this platform, KisoJi plans to create next generation antibodies that have unique anti-cancer mechanisms. Such therapeutic antibodies have the potential to treat a wide range of cancers with the potential for limited side effects compared to current treatments due to their differentiating properties.

1. A biotechnology company that developed innovative treatments for dermal scarring. Scar-X’s mission was to improve the lives of surgical patients worldwide by providing therapies that prevented and reduced the occurrence of disfiguring, uncomfortable, or cosmetically unattractive scars. Scar-X’s lead candidate, discovered by Dr. Alman, Senior Scientist and head of Orthopedic Surgery at SickKids, was the re-purposing of nefopam into a topical anti-scarring treatment. Scar-X closed in 2018.

To find out more, visit scarxtherapeutics.com

SoundBite Medical Solutions is developing a proprietary shockwave technology to address significant unmet clinical needs in interventional cardiovascular therapy. Through an elegant combination of hardware and software, it can, in a controlled manner, deliver high amplitude shockwave pulses through guidewires and other interventional tools, to specifically attack highly calcified and fibrotic tissue in the arterial vascular system, while leaving healthy, elastic vessel walls largely unharmed.

To find out more, visit soundbitemedical.com

To find out more, visit specificitpharma.com

Zucara is developing the first drug therapy to prevent hypoglycemia in people with diabetes. The Company’s first-in-class therapeutic is focused on improving glucagon counterregulation by inhibiting somatostatin which is dysregulated in Type 1 diabetes. Preventing hypoglycemia would dramatically change diabetes disease management, improving both patient health and quality of life.

To find out more, visit zucara.ca