Biotech Company of the Year
Award Description
This award recognizes a Canadian biotech company that has distinguished itself from its peers with strong overall performance as a company, demonstrated leadership and shown significant achievement. It will have reached milestones in terms of financing, product introduction, and / or partnerships during the year that has allowed the company to be recognized as a leader. The company will have established a solid foundation for a strong and diverse pipeline, and impressive potential for sales and earnings. This award is based on performance in the previous calendar year.
Past Award Recipients
2023 – Repare Therapeutics
2022 – AbCellera
2018 – BioVectra Inc.
2017 – enGene
2016 – Zymeworks
2015 – Stemcell Technologies
2014 – Agrisoma
2013 – Xenon
2012 – Enobia
2011 – Cardiome Pharma
2010 – OncoGenex Technologies Inc.
2009 – Arius Research Inc.
2008 – BioMS Medical Corp
2007 – Theratechnologies Inc.,
2006 – Aspreva Pharmaceuticals
2005 – SemBioSys Genetics Inc.
2004 – Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Industry Leadership
Award Description
This award is given to the individual who demonstrates exemplary vision and leadership in Canadian biotechnology in a global context, in terms of of industry development and/or commercial success. The recipient is recognized for their commitment to promoting and supporting the growth of the biotech industry in Canada.
Past Award Recipients
2023 – Nabanita Nawar, co-founder/CEO, HDAX Therapeutics
2022 – Dr. Thomas Madden, President & CEO, Acuitas Therapeutics Inc
2018 – Dr. Wilf Keller, AgWest Bio
2017 – Dr. Ilse Treurnicht, MaRS
2016 – Dr. Neil Cashman, ProMIS Neurosciences
2015 – Joseph Garcia, Blake, Cassels and Graydon, LLP
2014 – David Main, Aquinox
2013 – Albert Friesen Ph.D, Medicure
2012 – David Allan, Stem Cell Therapeutics Inc.
2011 – Yves Rosconi, Theratechnologies
2010 – Murray McLaughlin, Sustainable Chemistry Alliance
2009 – Natalie Dakers, Centre for Drug Research and Development
2008 – Dr. John Evans, MaRS
2007 – Ray Mowling, Council for Biotechnology Information (Canada)
2006 – Dr. Alex McPherson, Biomira
2005 – Theresa Kennedy, Hill & Knowlton Canada
2004 – Peter McCann, President of Ag-West Bio Inc. (Retired)
2003 – J. Mark Lievonen, President, Aventis Pasteur
2002 – Gord Surgeoner, President, Ontario Agri-Food Technologies
2001 – Burleigh Trevor-Deutsch, Bioethicist, Burleigh Trevor-Deutsch Consulting
Emerging Company – Health
Award Description
The recipient of this award is a pre-commercialized company recognized for their potential. Through technology advances and business milestones, these companies will have contributed to the Canadian biotech landscape.
Past Award Recipients
2023 – Abdera Therapeutics
2022 – Inversago Pharma
2018 – Aspect Biosystems Ltd.
2017 – Turnstone Biologics
2016 – Northern Biologics
2015 – Zymeworks
2014 – Trillium Therapeutics
2013 – Aquinox Pharmaceuticals Inc.
2012 – Therapure Biopharma Inc.
2011 – Allon Therapeutics Inc.
2010 – iCo Therapeutics Inc.
2009 – Medicago Inc.
2008 – Xenon Pharmaceuticals*
2007 – Chemaphor Inc.
2006 – Rimon Therapeutics Ltd.
2005 – ImmunoVaccine Technologies Inc., Halifax, NS
2005 – Trillium Therapeutics Inc., Toronto, ON
2004 – Arc Pharmaceuticals Inc, Vancouver, BC
2004 – Clera Inc., Toronto, ON
2004 – Generex Biotechnology, Toronto, ON
2003 – GB Therapeutics (now CITA Neuropharma Inc.), Mississauga, ON
2003 – Zelos Therapeutics, Ottawa, ON
2003 – Zinc Therapeutics, Toronto, ON
*Prior to 2008, BIOTECanada’s annual awards program was known as the National Biotechnology Awards with recognition for companies and this award was called “Promising Early Stage company(s) Recognition”.
Emerging Company – Ind.&Ag
Award Description
The recipients of this award are pre-commercialization companies and are recognized for their potential. They will have distinguished themselves from their peers with demonstrated technology innovation and achieved milestones.
Past Award Recipients
2017 – C02 Solutions
2016 – AquaBounty
2015 – Prevtec mircrobial
2014 – Ceapro
2013 – Okanagan Specialty Fruits
2012 – BioAmber
2011 – EnWave Corporation
2010 – CO2 Solution Inc.
2009 – Zymeworks Inc.
2008 – Lignol Energy Corp. *
2007 – Technologie Biolactis
2006 – MBEC Bioproducts
2005 – Performance Plants, Kingston, ON
Ecosystem Builder Award
Award Description
Recognizing an organization or company who has distinguished itself through its contributions to Canadian biotech beyond sector business and economic impact, offering significant contributions to a global audience.
Past Award Recipients
2023 – Bloom Burton & Co.
2022 – AdMare BioInnovations
Association Contribution
Award Description
An industry association’s effectiveness is highly dependent on the active participation of its member companies and their representatives. There are times where the contributions of some member companies or individuals greatly exceed expectations. In this context, the Gold Leaf Award for Association Contribution was established to recognize an individual who has demonstrated significant initiative and commitment in support of the whole industry through his or her work as a representative of BIOTECanada or through BIOTECanada’s ongoing policy and advocacy work on behalf of the industry.
Past Award Recipients
2019 – Frédéric Lavoie (Pfizer), Paul Petrelli (Jazz), Geoff Sprang (Amgen), and Laurene Redding (AstraZeneca)
2016 – Ron Keefe, BioVectra
2015 – Rob Van Exan, Sanofi Pasteur
2013 – Dr. Cathy Lau, Janssen Pharmaceutical Inc.
2012 – John Dorsey, Novartis
2011 – Gordon Jans, PricewaterhouseCoopers
2010 – Dr. Karen Burke (AMGEN) & Mr. James Willoughby (Hoffman-LaRoche)
2009 – Dr. Lesia Babiak, Janssen-Ortho Inc.
2008 – Deborah Brown, EMD Serono
2007 – Bob Ingratta, Vice President of Regulatory & International Affairs, Monsanto Canada and Chair, BIOTECanada Agriculture & Nutrition Advisory Board
2007 – Christian Blouin, Director, Vaccine Division, Merck Frosst Canada and Chair, BIOTECanada Vaccine Industry Committee
2006 – Dr. Luis Barreto, Vice-President of Public Policy, Sanofi Pasteur
2005 – John Mendlein, President & CEO, Affinium Pharmaceuticals (former)
2004 – Paul Hastings, President and CEO, QLT Inc.
2003 – Brian Kerslake, Senior Marketing Manager, VWR International
2002 – Claude-André Lachance, Director of Public Policy, Dow Chemicals Canada and Myka Osinchuck, (former) Executive Director, BioAlberta
2001 – Art Stirling, Government & Industry Relations Manager, Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited** Award for Contribution to the Industry – combined with Contribution to Advancing the Benefits of Biotech for Canadians in 2002.
Public Service Leadership
Award Description
Individuals eligible for Honourary Gold Leaf Awards include government officials, academic leaders, elected officials and civic leaders. Honourary distinctions are awarded to individuals in recognition of distinguished public service and contributions in support of the Canadian biotech industry.
Mayor McCallion (2014)
The City of Mississauga is home to one of the country’s largest and most vibrant sector clusters which includes large multi-national companies, investors and small and medium sized biotech companies. Through her 36 years as Mayor of the City of Mississauga, Mayor McCallion’s significant leadership in support of the Canadian biotech ecosystem in her community demonstrates a clear understanding of the industry’s economic and social importance to the city. The Mississauga biotech community and the Canadian industry more broadly greatly appreciate the enormous energy and commitment the Mayor has consistently demonstrated in support of her city and all of its constituents.
Game Changing Technology
Award Description
The industry is discovering solutions to the world’s pressing challenges. There is a paradigm shift underway where we require new ways to feed and fuel a growing world demand. This category will recognize nominees who have reached milestones such as discovery, investment, regulatory, development, market access, or unique business model.
Past Award Recipients
Roberto Bellini (2023)
Medicago Inc. Proficia (2014)
To effectively respond to emerging diseases, the ability to rapidly produce vaccines or therapeutic antibodies in the face of an outbreak such as pandemic influenza is critical. Medicago has developed the Proficia™ technology, a proprietary alternative to current egg-based and cell production systems. Using whole living plants as hosts, our Proficia™ technology is a rapid, flexible, high yielding and robust vaccine and antibody production system. A major advantage of this system based on transient protein expression in plant leaves is unmatched speed. Vaccine production can be initiated within less than three weeks from the identification of the genetic sequence from a pandemic or seasonal influenza strain.
Community Support
Award Description
This award recognizes a BIOTECanada member company that has distinguished itself through its contributions to the community or communities in Canada beyond its normal business activities. The company will have demonstrated leadership through involvement in local, regional or national efforts and shown significant commitment in contributing to organizations, schools, or activities. The company will have established a solid foundation of social responsibility and demonstrated continued commitment in Canada. A variety of approaches can be recognized from establishing learning programs, donating goods and services, supporting employee volunteering, to supporting charity and community events. It will have developed or continued partnerships during the year that has allowed the company to be recognized as a leader and an important part of the local or national community. The award has been established to showcase the contributions member companies offer to our Canadian quality of life beyond their respective business and economic impact. This award is based on performance in the previous calendar year.
Past Award Recipients
2014 – Sanofi Group of Companies
2013 – Novo Nordisk
2012 – Amgen
2011 – Sanofi Pasteur