Canadian Biotech Successes
Insulin: Frederick Banting, Charles Best, J.J.R. Macleod and J.B. Collip were the first to obtain insulin in a form consistently effective for treating diabetes mellitus. In 1923, Banting and Macleod receive the Nobel Prize.
Barcodes: Dr. Hebert at the University of Guelph discovered that one gene gives scientists an easy-to-identify label to distinguish an animal from a closely related species.
Stem Cells: James E. Till and Ernest A. McCulloch at the University of Toronto discovered the hemopoietic stem cell. This is the basis for bone marrow transplantation, which is a highly successful clinical story today
BioDiesel: Dr. David Boocock at the University of Toronto developed a new process to produce biodiesel from any feedstock, vegetable oils, agricultural seed oils, animal waste greases/oils and recycled cooking oils/grease
Value-add Canola: University of Guelph professor, Ken Kasha developed new varieties of canola.
Heart Pacemaker: A Canadian surgeon developed the pacemaker.
Human Genome Sequencing: Scientists at the Hospital for Sick Children contributed to the Human Genome Project.
AIDS therapeutic: 3TC- key ingredient in the AIDS cocktail was developed by BioChem Pharma, Quebec.
Novel Production Systems: SemBioSys Genetics Inc. developed high value protein a using its proprietary oil body/oleosin technology, enabling commercialization of purified protein products
Vaccines: ID Biomedical in Vancouver developed nasal Proteosome-based vaccines that protect against pneumonic plague caused by lethal aerosol infection with virulent plague bacteria.