Zymeworks, Variational AI, and Arbutus Medical are among the standout winners of the 27th Annual Life Sciences BC Awards, announced today. The awards honour individuals and organizations that have driven innovation and growth in British Columbia’s thriving life sciences sector.
The winners will be recognized at a gala on October 2, 2025, at the Vancouver Convention Centre West—an evening that will bring together the community’s most influential figures to celebrate excellence across biotech, medtech, and health innovation.
This year’s award recipients:
Company & Organizational Awards
Company of the Year: Zymeworks
Emerging Company of the Year – Biotech: Variational AI
Emerging Company of the Year – MedTech: Arbutus Medical
Strategic Partner of the Year: Providence Health Care Ventures
Deal of the Year: NanoVation Therapeutics
Individual Awards
Dr. Don Rix Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Michael Hayden
Milton Wong Community Leadership Award: Ali Ardakani
Scientific Entrepreneurship Award: Dr. Poul Sorensen
Genome BC Award for Scientific Excellence: Dr. Fiona Brinkman
Companies to Watch – Recognition Honour Roll
Avee Health, CereCura Nanotherapeutics, GuideStar Medical Devices, Optigo Biotherapeutics, and Phyton Biotech were also named to the Honour Roll for their emerging contributions to the ecosystem.
“Advances in therapeutics, AI in drug discovery, medical devices, technology commercialization, and lipid nanoparticles stood out this year,” said Wendy Hurlburt, President & CEO of Life Sciences BC. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients for their incredible leadership within our vibrant life sciences community.”
Zymeworks Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Paul Moore added, “Being named Company of the Year is a tremendous honour and a reflection of the commitment to scientific innovation and collaboration here at Zymeworks.”
The awards gala’s early bird ticket deadline is July 31.