Page 18 - Synapse Life Sciences Consortium

ToeFX: ‘Big

Welcome mat’ in
Hamilton

A Hamilton company is battling the
most pervasive and stubborn infection
in the world – onychomycosis or toenail
fungus.
ToeFX uses a non-invasive and non-toxic
light-based (photodisinfection) therapy
to treat toenail fungus in clinical
settings. Its system is fully approved
in Canada and found in more than
60 clinics. The hope is to secure FDA
approval in 2022.
ToeFX has aspirations to serve a global
market, said Monika Yazdanian, CEO
and Co-Founder of ToeFX.

“There is a stigma to this infection
and people hide it. One woman in our
clinical trial has hid it from her husband
for five years. That takes a psychological
toll.”

The company has benefitted from the Hamilton’s Future:
resources and guidance at McMaster Reaching the Next
and its incubator The Forge, as well as
Innovation Factory. ToeFX won the 2021 Level of Success
Synapse Life Sciences Competition
and that provided great exposure
and credibility to the company, says Hamilton’s role as a centre for life sciences
Yazdanian. innovation and commercialization in Southern ontario
will be strengthened exponentially with a massive
“The prize money is very significant for a build-out of the mcmaster innovation Park.
start-up. It’s the help that you need. We
are using it to advance our IT strategy leveraging Hamilton’s research and innovation
and regulatory work.” ecosystem, anchored by mcmaster University. it is
positioned to be ontario’s premier life sciences hub,
ToeFX was also named among the 2021 connecting industry to applied research capabilities –
recipients of the Ontario Bioscience bringing local innovation to a global audience.
Innovation Organization’s Capital Access
Advisory Program. Upon completion the 58-acre miP will have a
staggering 3.5 million square feet of space, with
“Hamilton brings it all together. And 1.3 million square feet dedicated to a life Sciences
there is a great deal of goodwill here. innovation megahub – a hub that will include wet
This is a very friendly city and people labs that will lead discovery, provide start-up spaces
want to do what they can to help you. to develop prototype and test products, along
They are rooting for you,” said Yazdanian. with early-stage production facilities and full-scale
biomanufacturing.
“The infrastructure is here in Hamilton.
It’s a big city but there is a lot of room. “the Park is ontario’s fastest-growing life sciences
A big welcome mat is out here.” hub and the heart of Hamilton’s potential to be an
epicentre in the field,” says Karen Mossman, Vice-
President, research at mcmaster and chair of miP.

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