AGADA Biosciences

Conducting research for an important cause 

AGADA Biosciences was set up for noble reasons, says co-owner and chief operating officer Amanda Mullen.

The Halifax-based company conducts research to test the efficacy of new treatments designed to help those suffering from rare or orphan diseases.  An orphan disease is a rare disease that affects a small number of people and is difficult to treat due to limited research.

It’s up to companies like AGADA to help those least visible.

“We truly believe in our mission to accelerate drug development in this area of rare disease research,” says Mullen, who was the company’s first employee when it began in 2013. “The goal is to not make the highest profit, it’s to make an impact.”

The company is a CRO (Contract Research Organization), which means pharmaceutical companies develop the treatments and hire AGADA for research services.

Most projects are confidential. One medication that AGADA can talk about is their contribution to the success of Vamorolone (Brand name, aGamree). It’s an anti-inflammatory steroid with reduced side effects to help those suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), the most severe form of muscular dystrophy.  Vamorolone was approved last year in the United States, Canada, Europe, and the United Kingdom.

Helping these types of treatments get approved motivates the 48 AGADA staff to work as hard as they can, knowing their work is making an impact.

“It’s amazing to be at a company that carries out so much important research,” says Mullen. “You’re in a position where you can provide completely unbiased results. AGADA can help get new treatments to patients who are suffering without being financially tied to one treatment.”

Because the company isn’t financially tied to any treatment, it’s easy to provide unbiased results. Many drugs fail at the preclinical and clinical stages of development, but the goal is to accelerate the process of moving the successful treatments into the clinic and toward approval.

Co-founder and CEO Eric Hoffman had a keen interest in incorporating AGADA in Nova Scotia since deciding to start the CRO spin-off from Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. The former U.S. resident developed a love for the province through his experiences producing apples and cider on his farm property in New Germany, along with a feeling of friendliness from everyone he met. He still lives on the farm while proudly calling himself a Nova Scotian resident.

AGADA prioritizes hiring recent Nova Scotia university graduates to help conduct its research and has been thrilled with the quality of its highly skilled new employees.

“We just can’t believe how dedicated and motivated our workforce is here,” Mullen says, noting the company has benefited from the province of Nova Scotia’s Graduate to Opportunity program when seeking young talent.

When AGADA needed more workspace to grow, ACOA provided critical financing for the new facility  in downtown Halifax. The Agency supported the purchase and expansion of specialized laboratory equipment, including highly efficient ductless fume hoods, and the hiring of new researchers.

Mullen says this move has allowed the company to expand its capacity and become more efficient, serving the ultimate goal of getting more successful treatments to those who need them most.