CanAm Celebrates its 25th Anniversary - Insights from our Founder
2025 marks 25 years of innovation with CanAm Bioresearch. Since 2000, CanAm has delivered exceptional customer service and medicinal chemistry to biopharmaceutical clients seeking to advance their drug discoveries.
We sat down with our founder and CEO, Dr. Albert D. Friesen to chat about CanAm’s success over the years, and how his vision for CanAm has served as a roadmap for innovation.
What inspired you to pursue a career in science?
In grade 11, I found myself captivated by the world of molecules and reactions. The magic of a simple titration transforming a clear solution to a vibrant pink intrigued me. I also gained some understanding of the basic chemical reactions that are powering our cells and life itself. From that moment, I knew I wanted to translate chemical insights into real-world health solutions.
Tell us about how your educational background empowers you to lead the team at CanAm.
I went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science with Honours in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Manitoba. My coursework spanned organic synthesis, analytical techniques, and physical chemistry—each subject peeling back another layer of how biomolecules behave. Late-night lab sessions taught me precision and perseverance, while research projects honed my ability to ask the right questions. Over time, I learned that rigorous academic training was essential if I hoped to innovate in the biotech space.
Teamwork is one of our core values at CanAm. One of the most important aspects in building a strong team is mentorship. Do you have any mentors that have shaped CanAm into the collaborative environment it is today?
With inspiration from professors like Dr. C.M. Wong, a former Harvard post-doc with Nobel laureate Dr. R.B. Woodward, I discovered what mentorship could truly mean. His stories of working alongside Dr. Woodward instilled in me a vision of science as both an art and a disciplined pursuit.
At CanAm, we’ve had the pleasure of working with a number of visionary scientists. Out of all of our collaborators, can you share a story about how they have positively impacted CanAm?
In the early days, we were fortunate to work with a true innovator of medicinal chemistry, Dr. Marc Labelle. Marc Labelle was one of the three Merck chemists honored with the American Chemical Society’s Heroes of Chemistry award in 2003 for discovering and developing montelukast (Singulair) alongside Robert Zamboni and Robert Young. Marc’s leadership and mentoring of the CanAm chemistry team led to the development of a world drug discovery machine, that is now CanAm Bioresearch Inc.
What was your original vision when founding the company?
Twenty-five years ago, based on 20 years of prior drug development experience, I rallied a small team of scientists at CanAm Bioresearch with a simple mission: to bring rational drug design and cutting-edge chemistry to therapeutic innovation.
As we celebrate 25 years of impact, Dr. Friesen’s story reminds us that driving discoveries stems from beyond data and innovation, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and teamwork. His passion and mission to assist companies in bringing life-changing therapies to the world have shaped our team’s dedication in our laboratories.
Going into our next chapter, the foundation that has been laid over the last 25 years continues to guide our path forward as we continue to navigate the future of drug discovery.