Aquinox Pharma Scores Series A

Aquinox Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Vancouver-based small-molecule drug company focused on cancer and inflammatory disease, has raised US$14.5 million in Series A funding. Ventures West led the deal, and was joined by Johnson & Johnson Development Corp., Baker Brothers Investments and seed backer BC Advantage Funds (managed by Lions Capital Corp.). Aquinox was formed in 2004 as a spinout from the University of British Columbia and the BC Cancer Agency. www.aqxpharma.com