Health and Community Services
Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
October 14, 2015

Pursuing Innovation to Improve Health Care Services and Programs

Provincial Government Agreement Supports Life Sciences Sector

The Provincial Government has reached a partnership agreement with Sequence Bio to improve health care outcomes and support commercial research and development opportunities in precision medicine. The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services, was joined by representatives from Sequence Bio and Memorial University, and other community stakeholders today for the announcement.

"Our government continues to explore opportunities to foster the development of a strong life sciences sector in the province, and this agreement is a step forward in positioning Newfoundland and Labrador as a world leader in precision medicine. Building on investments in the Translational and Personalized Medicine Initiative announced last fall, this agreement will help support improved clinical decision-making for residents and contribute to a sustainable health care system responsive to the needs of our province's unique population."
- The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services

Sequence Bio will lead a large-scale precision medicine initiative within the province to collect and analyze genetic data for drug discovery and improved patient outcomes. The results of Sequence Bio's research will help improve health care decision-making through a more personalized approach.

"An early-stage company in our province, Sequence Bio is positioning itself to be an innovator in the use of genetics for the discovery of new drugs and therapies. Their success in establishing key partnerships that attract world-leading expertise to Newfoundland and Labrador has not only helped to establish the biotechnology sector in our province, but will also lead to better health care and improved patient outcomes."
- The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

Sequence Bio works with complex genetic and clinical data to support drug discovery across multiple therapeutic areas. In July 2015, Sequence Bio was the first company to benefit from Venture Newfoundland and Labrador, a venture capital fund established by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and managed by Pelorus Venture Capital Ltd. The fund is designed to provide greater access to capital for innovative entrepreneurs with high-growth potential start-ups.

"We are proud to partner with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador as we build a strong big data, precision medicine and life sciences industry right here in this province. We are uniquely positioned to become a global player in this industry and are focused on ensuring families and patients in our province, together with their health care teams, have improved patient outcomes and enhanced care. Minister Kent and his team have worked hard to support Sequence Bio, as a local company growing in the global market and we appreciate their leadership and efforts in advancing better patient outcomes in this province."
- Dr. Tyler Wish, Chief Executive Officer, Sequence Bio

The Provincial Government continues to grow the life sciences sector in Newfoundland and Labrador, contributing to a diversified economy and the creation of an environment supportive of entrepreneurs and increased employment opportunities.

QUICK FACTS

• The Provincial Government has reached a partnership agreement with Sequence Bio to improve health care outcomes and support commercial research and development opportunities in precision medicine.
• Sequence Bio will lead a large-scale precision medicine initiative within the province to collect and analyze genetic data for drug discovery and improved patient outcomes. The results of Sequence Bio's research will help improve health care decision-making through a more personalized approach.
• The Provincial Government continues to grow the life sciences sector in Newfoundland and Labrador, contributing to a diversified economy and the creation of an environment supportive of entrepreneurs and increased employment opportunities.

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Media contacts:

Tina Williams Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 728-2837 tinawilliams@gov.nl.ca	Tansy Mundon Director of Communications Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development 709-729-4570, 693-1865 tansymundon@gov.nl.ca
Karen Moores Communications Sequence Bio 709-697-0734 karen@sequencebio.ca

2015 10 14                              9:35 a.m.