OTTAWA, CANADA, May 23, 2007 - BIOTECanada and MEDEC are pleased to announce the winners of this year's MEDEC Awards for Excellence and National Biotechnology Awards presented jointly May 28 at MaRS in Toronto as part of the National Presidents' Awards Celebration.

    "Canadian companies and researchers continue to make their mark nationally and globally, meeting demands for new treatments and innovation in medical devices," said Stephen Dibert, President & CEO of MEDEC, the association representing the medical device industry in Canada. "The recipients of MEDEC's Awards for Excellence reflect individual and company commitment and dedication to work that positively affects patients."

    "For example, MEDEC is recognizing Dr. Antoine Hakim for his research and contribution to stroke prevention, care and rehabilitation, while MEDEC's Diabetes Committee has strengthened this sector's ethical interactions with Healthcare Professionals by collaborating on a guideline to the industry Code of Conduct. Our individual member co-recipients have advanced the medical device industry's relationships with provincial governments and other stakeholders through their leadership and active engagement on a number of MEDEC's committees and task forces," Dibert continued.

    "Our award winners are indicative of Canada's strengths," said Peter Brenders, President & CEO, BIOTECanada, Canada's voice for biotechnology. In 2006, Theratechnologies had great success with its Phase 3 clinical program, and saw its share price increase 564 percent. Its market capitalization on the Toronto Stock Exchange grew from $80 million to $510 million. "That's a huge success story," said Brenders.

    The winners also reflect the biotech industry's strength in all sectors, including agriculture and nutrition and industrial biotechnology. Ray Mowling with the Council for Biotechnology Information has led the traveling exhibit, The Green Kitchen, across the country to demonstrate how plant biotechnology is transforming the agriculture industry addressing nutrition and industrial applications of plant biotech.

    Joining attendees for the evening is Dr. Roberta Bondar, Space Scientist, Neurologist, Author, Astronaut, Photographer who will deliver a special address. BIOTECanada is launching its National Biotechnology Champion program at MaRS on May 28 with Dr. Bondar as the inaugural champion. The new Champion program will profile leaders in Canada and put a familiar face to Canada's biotech industry for key stakeholders, the media, and the public.

    "Feeding the growing appetite for discussion about biotechnology and its benefits, we are honoured to have someone with Dr. Bondar's calibre and breadth of knowledge to represent Canadian biotech and share the stage with our award winners," said Brenders.

    The National Presidents' Awards Celebration begins at 5:00 pm at MaRS with a reception sponsored by Cassels Brock Lawyers followed by the awards presentation hosted by BIOTECanada and MEDEC. Visit www.biotech.ca or www.medec.org for details.

    Join BIOTECanada earlier in the day for CANMEDBIO 2007 - Hear from industry experts on the issues that matter to you: Mergers & acquisitions, success in science, and working with big pharma. For more details visit www.canmedbio.com

    MEDEC's Awards for Excellence

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    2006 - 2007 MEDEC Award for Medical Achievement:

    Dr. Antoine Hakim, University of Ottawa and Canadian Stroke Network

    Dr. Hakim is being recognized for his work on the investigation of biochemical, ionic, molecular and receptor events that affect cerebral vulnerability in stroke. He has dedicated significant efforts to scientific discovery in stroke and its application to improve stroke prevention, care and rehabilitation. Dr. Hakim has received many honors throughout his career, including being appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2007.

    2007 President's Award for an Outstanding MEDEC Member:

    Co-recipients Raj Malik, Tyco Healthcare Group Canada Inc. and

    Jean Rousseau, Johnson & Johnson Medical Products

    Raj Malik is Director, Regional Corporate Accounts at Tyco Healthcare Group Canada Inc. and has chaired MEDEC Ontario Committee since 2006 to continue building relationships with the Ontario government. He also actively participates on the Pandemic Planning Task Force, Policy Committee and Tendering Task Force. Jean Rousseau is Vice President of Strategic Affairs at Johnson & Johnson Medical Products and has chaired the Quebec Committee since 2003 to lead interactions with the major stakeholders of the Quebec healthcare system.

    2007 President's Award for Outstanding MEDEC Committee:

    Diabetes Committee led by Les Klajnscek, Chair, LifeScan Canada Ltd. In 2006, the Diabetes Committee developed and implemented the Diabetes Guidelines to the MEDEC Code of Conduct, as well as producing and distributing position papers and statements on various diabetes care issues, and a Blood Glucose Monitor checklist to pharmacies across Canada. Other participating members of the Diabetes Committee being recognized are: Peter Devlin, Abbott Troy Hopps, BD Canada Keith MacKinnon, Auto Control Medical Inc. Russ Newsome, Bayer HealthCare Tom Roberts, Roche Diagnostics Carol Anne O'Brien, Cassels Brock &Blackwell LLP

    National Biotechnology Awards

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    Biotech Company of the year:

    THERATECHNOLOGIES INC (St. Laurent, QC)

    Theratechnologies discovers or acquires innovative drug candidates in order to develop them and bring them to market. In addition to its fiscal success, Theratechnologies has witnessed remarkable progress with its Phase III clinical program for TH9507 for a serious metabolic disorder known as HIV-associated lipodystrophy. In August 2006, the company received Special Protocol Assessment from the FDA in relation to the design of its second Phase III trial evaluating TH9507 and its US regulatory requirements. At the end of 2006, positive top-line efficacy and safety results were announced, and in early 2007, the first patient was enrolled in the second Phase III clinical trial.

    Contribution to Advancing the Benefits of Biotech for Canadians:

    RAY MOWLING, Executive Director, Council for Biotechnology Information

    (Canada)

    CBI has successfully deployed a variety of programs over the past seven years, including advertising, media relations and industry outreach under Ray's direction. Ray has led the award-winning "The Green Kitchen" exhibit, which had toured a number of Canadian home and food-related shows to demonstrate how plant biotechnology is transforming the agriculture industry addressing nutrition and industrial applications of plant biotech.

    Promising Early Stage Companies:

    CHEMAPHOR INC. (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)

    Chemaphor Inc. is a TSX Venture Exchange-listed company developing diverse applications in animal and human health based on novel properties of oxidized ss-carotene that were discovered in a project Dr. Graham Burton, the company's President, CEO and co-founder initiated at the National Research Council of Canada. In January 2007, Chemaphor raised an additional $1 million in private placement.

    TECHNOLOGIE BIOLACTIS (Laval, Quebec)

    Biolactis is focused on developing novel bioactive ingredients, nutraceuticals and medical food, addressing obesity and metabolic syndrome-associated problems. Swiss-based Inventages Venture Capital recently invested in Biolactis's technology and its products. As a result, Biolactis has strengthened its international development by multiplying its business and scientific collaborations and by beginning clinical trials. Biolactis is entering in its third development phase by launching the commercialization of its products in different markets.

    Contribution to the Association:

    BOB INGRATTA, Vice President of Regulatory & International Affairs,

    Monsanto Canada and Chair, BIOTECanada Agriculture & Nutrition Advisory Board

    Bob's long-standing engagement with the Agriculture & Nutrition Advisory Board began in 2003 when he took the role of Vice-Chair of the then Ag Policy Committee. Since January 2005 in his role as Chair, Bob has worked to re-energize the Ag Policy Committee and develop a new mandate with member driven direction for the Advisory Board to enhance innovation with effective ag & nutrition policy.

    CHRISTIAN BLOUIN, Director, Vaccine Division, Merck Frosst Canada and

    Chair, BIOTECanada Vaccine Industry Committee

    The Vaccine Industry Committee is extremely active under Christian's leadership to inform policy makers and Canadians in general about the benefits of vaccines worldwide. Christian was instrumental in the formation of BIOTECanada's Vaccine Industry Committee in 2003, and became Chair of the VIC in January 2006. He not only brings years of industry experience and knowledge of key issues to the table, but also strong leadership to ensure balanced input is provided to key stakeholders.

    More information about the awards and the National Presidents' Awards Celebration is at http://www.biotech.ca

    About MEDEC

    MEDEC is the national association created by and for the Canadian medical device industry. MEDEC is the primary source for advocacy, information and education on the medical device industry for members, the greater healthcare community, industry partners and the general public. The medical device industry in Canada employs over 35,000 Canadians in close to 1,500 corporate facilities, and contributes nearly $6 billion in national sales per annum. MEDEC's focus is on ensuring access to proven, safe technology and new, innovative medical technology developed by member companies. Access www.medec.org.

    About BIOTECanada

    BIOTECanada is the national industry-funded association representing the broad spectrum of biotech constituents including emerging, established and related service companies in the health, agricultural, and industrial sectors. www.biotech.ca

For further information: Grace Kim, Communications Specialist, MEDEC,  (416) 620-1975, ext 227, gkim@medec.org; Dana Alexander, Manager of Public Affairs, BIOTECanada, 613-230-5585, ext 222, dana.alexander@biotech.ca