Saskatchewan is ... Biotech Central.

Team Saskatchewan considers its efforts a success in promoting the province's progress and potential in biotechnology at the recent BIO 2003 Conference and Trade Show in Washington, D.C.

Team Saskatchewan's activities in Washington were highlighted by trade talks, discussions with federal Industry Minister Alan Rock, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the state of Andhra Pradesh, Republic of India, on future co-operation in agricultural biotechnology.

Saskatchewan's role as "Biotech Central" was featured at an international press conference staged by Team Saskatchewan on Monday, June 23 following President Bush's multi billion dollar annoucement for the U.S. Biotech industry.

Given that BIO 2003 is the largest gathering of biotechnology expertise in the world, Team Saskatchewan capitalized on the opportunity to showcase the province's business climate and expertise in biotechnology to delegates front 52 different countries.

"We opened a lot of eyes," Saskatchewan Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline said. "Business, scientific and government representatives from around the world went home with a new awareness of what our province offers as a place to invest, work and live."

Saskatchewan is a world leader in biotechnology and agricultural biotechnology, and its cities have some of the most competitive business environments within the G-7 countries. Saskatoon is now home to Canada's only Synchrotron and one of the most advanced research parks in North America--Innovation Place. "We told Bio 2003 delegates that Saskatchewan is a province with a wide open future, where biotechnology companies that didn't exist ten years ago are now marketing their expertise around the world," Cline said.

Roger Wyse, Managing Director, Burrill & Company, a life science merchant bank in California, was among the many people who visited Saskatchewan's booth at BIO 2003. He said Saskatchewan's image as a supportive place for innovative biotechnology companies was getting through. "One of our companies--Pyxis Genomics--is located in Saskatoon, so we have direct experience with Saskatchewan's environment for biotechnology," Wyse said. "Saskatchewan is doing a lot of things right in providing an attractive, nurturing climate for early-stage companies."

Peter McCann, President, Ag-West Biotech, is a Team Saskatchewan member. He said the MOU with Andhra Pradesh is a good example of what Saskatchewan can offer countries all over the world. "We have a province of one million people that is advanced in biotechnology now positioned to help a nation of one billion," McCann said. "In India, between 30-50 per cent of the crops grown never reach the consumer because of insects, disease, or rot and decay in the field. Saskatchewan can do a great deal to help overcome this, and the first step was taken today."

Team Saskatchewan members include business, academic, and government representatives specializing in biotechnology and agricultural biotechnology. Along with showcasing the province at BIO 2003, Team Saskatchewan also met with representatives from the Government of Australia and the international pharmaceutical industry.

Team Saskatchewan members at Bio 2003 included: Ag-West Biotech Inc., Canadian Light Source, Saskatchewan Drug Research Institute, Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority Inc., University of Saskatchewan, Triage Therapeutics, Prairie Plant Systems, Phenomenome Discoveries Inc, and Pyxis Genomics Canada Inc.

"Saskatchewan has established a world-class reputation for excellence in biotechnology. Renowned experts, recent breakthroughs, and a significant infrastructure investment are the basis for our success. There is tremendous potential in the biotechnology sector--and we were at Bin 2003 to tell the world that Saskatchewan is the place to make it happen," Minister Cline said.

Members of Team Saskatchewan at Bin 2003 were pleased to announce recent highlights of the province's biotech scene.

At more than $130 million USD, one of the largest scientific projects in Canadian history is the new University of Saskatchewan owned Canadian Light Source. Operational in spring 2004, it will be among the most powerful synchrotron science facilities in the world and feature dedicated access for commercial users. Servicing more than 2,000 researchers per year, experiments will be conducted in a wide range of areas from chemistry and geochemistry to pharmacology and proteomics.

Triage Therapeutics Inc., a Saskatoon-based company managed by Lombard Life Sciences, recently licensed a break through drug treatment with potential to reduce the devastating effects of spinal cord and brain injury. Triage licensed the drug from University of Saskatchewan Technologies Inc. (UST), the University of Saskatchewan's technology transfer company. Each year, over 1.5 million Americans sustain a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with direct and indirect costs of over $56 billion USD. In Canada, head injury is the number one killer and disabler of persons under the age of 44.

Prairie Plant Systems Inc. has developed the world's first GMP-compliant biosecure underground growth chambers for plant-made pharmaceutical cultivation, processing, and packaging. The Canadian facility is currently committed to the production of medical-grade Cannabis products under license for Health Canada.

Phenomenome Discoveries Inc. offers the only non-targeted comprehensive metabolic profiling technology in the world, and has secured a number of the top global agricultural and pharmaceutical companies as clients. A first, its proprietary technology allows the effects of a change in a biological system to be scientifically measured from a comprehensive perspective, including the measurement and identification of unintended effects.

Pyxis Genomics Canada Inc. develops new treatments and prevention strategies for human and animal infections, and is partnered with the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), which provides access to VIDO's animal health and genomics infrastructure and world-renowned researchers. Given the recent BSE threat, Pyxis was quick to respond with enhanced DNA-based technology to more accurately and rapidly trace beef products, for farm-to fork meat traceability. The new technology provides government and industry with greater assurance and accountability to the trace-back process and will shorten the time span on an embargo to the beef or dairy industries. The current embargo on Canadian beef due to BSE is costing the industry over $30 USD million per day.

Since 1993, the Saskatchewan Drug Research Institute (SDRI), a unit of the University of Saskatchewan, has provided site-management services for 564 clinical trials, conducted at 736 research sites across the province, with a total contract value of in excess of $25 million USD. The number of studies serviced by SDRI has grown from 15 in 1994 to 126 in 2002.

CONTACT

For more information regarding Saskatchewan--Biotech Central, Visit the following web sites:

www.ir.gov.sk.ca www.wideopenfuture.com www.agwest.sk.ca