COVID-19 Joint Biomanufacturing Subcommittee

From: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

COVID-19 Joint Biomanufacturing Subcommittee Meeting: June 23, 2020

Proposal Considered: Fill and Finish and Bill of Materials

Name of Members: Nature of Interest Action Taken
  1. J. Mark Lievonen, C.M.
M. Lievonen was previously employed by Sanofi Pasteur (past president, retired in 2016) and holds modest shares (current value of approximately $500). He is no longer active with the company. As there are not direct, material linkages, it was not considered a conflict and recusal was not deemed necessary.
  1. Joanne Langley, MD
None N/A
  1. Nancy Harrison, MBA
None N/A
  1. Cédric Bisson, MD
None N/A
  1. Robert Brunham, MD
R. Brunham has an application submitted for funding under the COVID-19 Strategic Innovation Fund – this application does not relate to biomanufacturing. As there are not direct, material linkages, it was not considered a conflict and recusal was not deemed necessary.
  1. Christopher Procyshyn
C. Procyshyn is the co-founder and CEO of Vanrx, a company that produces biomanufacturing machinery Deemed a conflict of interest, C. Procyshyn recused himself from the deliberations and recommendations.
  1. Benjamin Rovinski, PhD
None N/A

COVID-19 Joint Biomanufacturing Subcommittee Meeting: June 25th; July 6, 2020

Proposal Considered: National Research Council – Royalmount (announced – August 31)

Name of Members: Nature of Interest Action Taken
  1. J. Mark Lievonen, C.M.
None N/A
  1. Joanne Langley, MD
None N/A
  1. Nancy Harrison, MBA
None N/A
  1. Cédric Bisson, MD
Did not attend the meeting. N/A
  1. Robert Brunham, MD
None N/A
  1. Christopher Procyshyn
C. Procyshyn is the co-founder and CEO of Vanrx, a company that produces biomanufacturing machinery. Prior to the creation of the task force, NRC had purchased a Vanrx machine. The CVTF played no role in the advice on the purchase of the machine. As there are not direct, material linkages, it was not considered a conflict and recusal was not deemed necessary.
  1. Benjamin Rovinski, PhD
None N/A

COVID-19 Joint Biomanufacturing Subcommittee Meeting: July 6, 2020 (with follow-up discussion on July 10, 2020)

Precision NanoSystems (Biomanufacturing Project Announced February 2nd)

Name of Members: Nature of Interest Action Taken
  1. J. Mark Lievonen, C.M.
None N/A
  1. Alan Bernstein, PhD
None N/A
  1. Cédric Bisson, MD
None N/A
  1. Robert Brunham, MD
None N/A
  1. Nancy Harrison, MBA
N. Harrison interacts regularly with Precision NanoSystems. Deemed a conflict of interest, N. Harrison recused herself from deliberations and recommendations.
  1. Joanne Langley, MD
Dalhousie University, where J. Langley is employed, may be considered as a potential study site for Precision NanoSystems' clinical trials; however, no contractual relationship is currently in place. Research funds for these trials would be paid to Dalhousie University. As there are not direct, material linkages, it was not considered a conflict and recusal was not deemed necessary.
  1. Christopher Procyshyn
C. Procyshyn is the co-founder and CEO of Vanrx, a company that produces biomanufacturing machinery. Precision NanoSystems indicated that Vanrx is a potential contributor towards establishing manufacturing infrastructure, perhaps through the purchase of a Vanrx machine. Deemed a conflict of interest, C. Procyshyn recused himself from deliberations and recommendations.
  1. Benjamin Rovinski, PhD
None N/A
  1. Lorne Tyrrell, MD, PhD
Precision NanoSystems indicated that several Canadian companies could use its platform, including a company in which L. Tyrrell has an interest. As there are not direct, material linkages, it was not considered a conflict and recusal was not deemed necessary.
  1. Sylvia van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk, PhD
None N/A
  1. André Veillette, MD
None N/A

COVID-19 Joint Biomanufacturing Subcommittee Meeting: July 6, 2020 (with follow-up discussion on July 14, 2020)

Proposal Considered: KABS Laboratories (Announced March 16, 2021)

Name of Members: Nature of Interest Action Taken
  1. J. Mark Lievonen, C.M.
None N/A
  1. Alan Bernstein, PhD
None N/A
  1. Cédric Bisson, MD
None N/A
  1. Robert Brunham, MD
None N/A
  1. Nancy Harrison, MBA
None N/A
  1. Joanne Langley, MD
None N/A
  1. Christopher Procyshyn
None N/A
  1. Benjamin Rovinski, PhD
None N/A
  1. Lorne Tyrrell, MD, PhD
None N/A
  1. Sylvia van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk, PhD
None N/A
  1. André Veillette, MD
None N/A

COVID-19 Joint Biomanufacturing Subcommittee Meeting: July 6, 2020 (with follow-up discussion on July 14, 2020)

Proposal Considered: Novocol Pharma (Announced March 16, 2021)

Name of Member: Nature of Interest Action Taken
  1. J. Mark Lievonen, C.M.
None N/A
  1. Alan Bernstein, PhD
None N/A
  1. Cédric Bisson, MD
None N/A
  1. Robert Brunham, MD
None N/A
  1. Nancy Harrison, MBA
None N/A
  1. Joanne Langley, MD
None N/A
  1. Christopher Procyshyn
C. Procyshyn is the co-founder and CEO of Vanrx, a company that produces biomanufacturing machinery. Novocol Pharma indicated that it was considering making a purchase from Vanrx. Deemed a conflict of interest, C. Procyshyn recused himself from discussion, deliberations and recommendations.
  1. Benjamin Rovinski, PhD
None N/A
  1. Lorne Tyrrell, MD, PhD
None N/A
  1. Sylvia van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk, PhD
None N/A
  1. André Veillette, MD
None N/A

COVID-19 Joint Biomanufacturing Subcommittee Meeting: June 29, 2020 (with follow-up discussion on September 4, 2020)

Proposal Considered: Sanofi (Announced March 31, 2021)

Name of Member: Nature of Interest Action Taken
  1. J. Mark Lievonen, C.M.
M. Lievonen was previously employed by Sanofi Pasteur (past president, retired in 2016) and holds modest shares (current value of approximately $500). He is no longer active with the company. Not considered a direct, material conflict but, in an abundance of caution, M. Lievonen recused himself from the meeting on September 4, at which recommendations were made.
  1. Alan Bernstein, PhD
None
*Was not a member of the JBS on June 29.
*Was not in attendance at the meeting on September 4.
N/A
  1. Cédric Bisson, MD
None
*Was not in attendance at the meeting on September 4.
N/A
  1. Robert Brunham, MD
None N/A
  1. Michel De Wilde, PhD
M. De Wilde was employed by Sanofi Pasteur in 2013, but holds no shares.
*Was not a member of the JBS on June 29.
Not considered a direct, material conflict but, in an abundance of caution, M. De Wilde recused himself from the meeting on September 4, at which recommendations were made.
  1. Nancy Harrison, MBA
None
*Was not in attendance at the meeting on September 4.
N/A
  1. Joanne Langley, MD

Dalhousie University, where J. Langley is employed, has collaborated with Sanofi Pasteur in the past on clinical trials. There is a challenge unit named after Sanofi Pasteur. She has no personal financial interests in the arrangement.

J. Langley has collaborated on research projects outside of clinical trials with scientists from Sanofi (no financial compensation).

J. Langley served as a consultant to Sanofi on influenza vaccines in 2018 (this was an ad hoc advisory board). Payment for this work was directed to academic activity in Dalhousie University's Department of Pediatrics.

As there are not direct, material linkages, it was not considered a conflict and recusal was not deemed necessary.
  1. Christopher Procyshyn
None
*Was not in attendance at the meeting on September 4.
N/A
  1. Benjamin Rovinski, PhD
B. Rovinski worked for Sanofi over 20 years ago. Not considered a direct, material conflict but, in an abundance of caution, B. Rovinski recused himself from the meeting on September 4, at which recommendations were made.
  1. Lorne Tyrrell, MD, PhD
None
*Was not a member of the JBS on June 29.
*Was not in attendance at the meeting on September 4.
N/A
  1. Sylvia van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk, PhD
S. van den Hurk held a small contract with Sanofi Pasteur regarding preclinical studies 10 years ago.
*Was not a member of the JBS on June 29.
As there are not direct, material linkages, it was not considered a conflict and recusal was not deemed necessary.
  1. André Veillette, MD
None
*Was not a member of the JBS on June 29.
N/A

COVID-19 Joint Biomanufacturing Subcommittee Meeting: January 21, 2021

Proposal Considered: Resilience Biotechnologies Inc. (Announced May 18, 2021)

Name of Member: Nature of Interest Action Taken
  1. J. Mark Lievonen, C.M.
None N/A
  1. Alan Bernstein, PhD
None N/A
  1. Cédric Bisson, MD
None N/A
  1. Robert Brunham, MD
None N/A
  1. Michel De Wilde, PhD
Resilience Biotechnologies Inc. indicated that it has had discussions with a number of vaccine developers related to their COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Not considered a direct, material conflict but, in an abundance of caution, M. De Wilde recused himself from deliberations and recommendations.
  1. Nancy Harrison, MBA
None N/A
  1. Joanne Langley, MD
None N/A
  1. Christopher Procyshyn
None N/A
  1. Youla Tsantrizos, PhD
None N/A
  1. Lorne Tyrrell, MD, PhD
None N/A
  1. Sylvia van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk, PhD
Resilience Biotechnologies Inc. indicated that it has had discussions with a number of vaccine developers related to their COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Not considered a direct, material conflict but, in an abundance of caution, S. van den Hurk recused herself from deliberations and recommendations.
  1. André Veillette, MD
None N/A