First AbbVie Biotech Innovators Award goes to Neuropeutics
Startup focused on neurodegenerative disease research to receive support from the SpinUp incubator at the University of Toronto Mississauga (Issue #332, 1,150 words, 5.5 minutes)
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Neuropeutics Inc. was named the recipient of the inaugural AbbVie Biotech Innovators Award at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) campus on May 22, 2025. The award, a collaboration between AbbVie and UTM’s SpinUp incubator, recognizes early-stage Canadian biotech startups with the potential to deliver transformative therapies in areas aligned with AbbVie’s research focus. Neuropeutics was selected for its work developing small molecules that prevent and reverse protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The award provides Neuropeutics with one year of complimentary laboratory space at SpinUp, including access to state-of-the-art equipment, entrepreneurship programming, and the university’s scientific community. Neuropeutics will also receive mentorship from AbbVie’s global scientific and business leaders. “Being able to do that partnership with U of T and giving that first-ever award for the AbbVie Biotech Innovators Award was the highlight of the year,” said Stephanie Sauvageau, Head of Medical at AbbVie Canada. “Neuropeutics now has a year of lab access, support from AbbVie scientists and experts, and the opportunity to further their neuroscience work, which closely aligns with our mission.”
The SpinUp program, based at UTM, plays a central role in the award by providing infrastructure and support tailored to the needs of emerging science-based ventures. Designed specifically for early-stage companies, the incubator offers subsidized wet lab space and is part of the University of Toronto Entrepreneurship, a broader network supporting startup innovation across all three University of Toronto campuses. The collaboration with AbbVie underscores the importance of aligning commercial mentorship with scientific innovation to accelerate progress in health care.
Neuropeutics’ research targets TDP-43, a protein that mislocalizes and accumulates in conditions such as ALS, frontotemporal dementia, and Parkinson’s disease. “There’s a significant gap in treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. There are no truly effective options right now,” said Marc Shenouda, CEO and Co-Founder of Neuropeutics. “Neuropeutics is working to fill that gap by developing a new drug that can improve patients’ quality of life and extend their lives. Our goal is to bring that to patients as quickly as possible.”
Shenouda emphasized the value of big pharma companies such as AbbVie supporting startups and highlighted the importance of the resources available through SpinUp.
He noted that most small startups originate from academic labs, where much of the innovation takes place. “When these innovations are backed by big pharma, with decades of expertise, it helps accelerate progress,” he said. “Many innovations come from startups supported by programs like SpinUp, which offer not just a lab space but a whole community of founders. They provide support not only with science but also leadership, finance, and more.”
According to Sauvageau, the collaboration between AbbVie and UTM’s SpinUp represents a forward-thinking approach to solving major health challenges. “There used to be a world where all of the research and development used to be in-house within our organization,” she said. “But now we’re realizing that we need to have strong partnerships.”
THIS WEEK 05/27/25
The U.S. FDA approved Novavax’s Biologics License Application for Nuvaxovid for active immunization to prevent Covid-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in people over 65 and individuals between 12 and 64 years who have at least one underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from Covid-19.
Canada’s Drug Agency issued a Time-Limited Reimbursement recommendation for AstraZeneca’s and Daiichi Sankyo’s trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu). The drug is recommended for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma who have received a prior trastuzumab-based regimen.
GSK announced the U.S. FDA has approved mepolizumab (Nucala) as an add-on maintenance treatment for adult patients with inadequately controlled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and an eosinophilic phenotype.
Health Canada granted a Notice of Compliance with conditions for AstraZeneca’s osimertinib (Tagrisso) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable (stage III) non-small cell lung cancer whose tumours have EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 substitution mutations (either alone or in combination with other EGFR mutations) and whose disease has not progressed during or following platinum-based chemoradiation therapy.
NOW, LISTEN UP: HERE’S BETTINA HAMELIN OF INNOVATIVE MEDICINES CANADA
In Season 14 of the NPC Podcast, Dr. Bettina Hamelin, President of Innovative Medicines Canada, offers insights into adopting innovative technologies, the domestic pharmaceutical supply chain, and the exclusion of medicines as retaliatory measures for tariffs. Hear her in conversation with podcast hosts Mitch Shannon, Jim Shea, and Mark McElwain.
HEALTHBIZ REWIND
This feature of NPC Healthbiz Weekly looks back at some of the most insightful moments from previous NPC Podcast episodes. You can listen to the podcast here.
Paul Levesque
President and CEO
Theratechnologies Inc.
Montreal
Season 13, episode 08
Listen to this episode here
What bold predictions do you have for the life sciences industry during the coming 12 or 24 months?
AI will continue to accelerate the identification of targets and could shorten the time to innovation.
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The NPC Spring Webinar is part of an engaging webinar series that complements the National Pharmaceutical Congress.
This year's theme is “Points of Light in Pharma: Reasons for Optimism in Uncertain Times.”
In a time of political shifts, tariff uncertainty and global pressure the Canadian life sciences sector continues to find reasons for optimism. From breakthroughs in gene therapy manufacturing to emerging collaborative frameworks innovation is moving forward.
Join us for the NPC Spring Webinar 2025 as Jason Field from Life Sciences Ontario and other speakers to be announced share insights on how collaboration and resilience are helping shape the future of pharma in Canada.
Date: June 11, 2025
Time: 11 AM to 12 PM ET
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Cost: Free of charge
Click here to register:
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* Gain insights from leaders driving innovation and progress in life sciences.
* Discover where the momentum is building and why it matters.
* Explore how policy shifts and collaboration are influencing the future of pharma in Canada.
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