Lumira Capital Announces Investment Team Promotions and Additions

/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. NEWS AND WIRE SERVICES/

TORONTO, April 4, 2017 /CNW/ - Lumira Capital, a leading North American healthcare venture capital firm, today announced several senior investment team promotions and the addition of new members to its team and advisory board. Dr. Jacki Jenuth has been promoted to Partner. Dr. Richard Glickman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, has been named Partner. Dr. Lu Han has been promoted to Director, Business Development Asia Pacific and Baye Galligan has joined the firm as an Analyst. Additionally, Dr. John Gillard has been appointed to the firm's advisory board.

Commenting on the promotions and additions to Lumira Capital's team of investment professionals, Peter van der Velden, Managing General Partner of Lumira Capital, noted: "Jacki has been an invaluable member of the Lumira team for many years and we're pleased to recognize her contributions across every aspect of our firm and our investment franchise. We are also excited to leverage Richard's 30 years of experience in the creation and operation of numerous successful healthcare ventures, and in particular his leadership role in the biomedical industry in British Columbia." 

"We also recognize Lu's efforts helping expand Lumira's strategic relationships in China and Asia, both for the firm as well as for our portfolio companies," added Mr. van der Velden. "We welcome Baye as the newest member of our team. Her analytical skills and relationships across the Canadian innovation ecosystem and angel investor community will contribute to all our investment initiatives. And as an accomplished drug developer and pharmaceutical industry veteran, John will be a tremendous resource to our biotech entrepreneurs and portfolio companies."  

"These promotions and additions to our investment team will support Lumira's current portfolio companies as well as our investing activities in the future," concluded Mr. van der Velden.

Jacki Jenuth, Ph.D. joined Lumira Capital in 2001 and has served as a key member of the firm's senior management team with responsibilities that include financial analysis, industry intelligence, proactive sourcing of deals, structuring investments and fundraising initiatives. She also directs all aspects of Lumira Capital's information technology initiatives. Dr. Jenuth earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Calgary followed by post-doctoral studies at the Montréal Neurological Institute and McGill University, where her research focused on the genetic basis of disease involving the human mitochondrial genome.

Richard Glickman L.LD (Hon) is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:AUPH/TSX:AUP) and Chairman of enGene, both Lumira Capital portfolio companies. He was a co-founder and CEO of Aspreva Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Galenica in 2007 for $915 million. Dr. Glickman has served on numerous biotechnology and community boards including roles as Chairman of Life Sciences B.C., a member of the federal government's National Biotechnology Advisory Committee, a member of the British Columbia Innovation Council and as a Director for the Vancouver Aquarium.

Lu Han, Ph.D. joined Lumira Capital's Toronto office as an Analyst in 2014. He focuses on new company formation and due diligence on both public and private companies. Dr. Han also coordinates partnership initiatives in China and Asia on behalf of both Lumira Capital and the firm's portfolio companies.  Prior to joining Lumira, he was a co-founder and vice president of Sound Options Tinnitus Treatment, Inc. Dr. Han received his Ph.D. in neuroscience from the Department of Physiology at the University of Toronto, and he holds a B.Sc. in medical sciences from Western University in London, Ontario.

Baye Galligan, M.A., HBA was most recently Research Manager of the National Angel Capital Organization and Associate Director of Maple Leaf Angels, the largest network of angel investors in Toronto, where she evaluated applications for early-stage investment, interviewed entrepreneurs and conducted due diligence research. Ms. Galligan holds an M.A. in organic chemistry from Harvard University, an HBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University, and a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Western Ontario.

John Gillard, Ph.D. is currently Adjoint Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at McGill University. Dr. Gillard is an accomplished organic chemist and drug developer who served as Director of Medicinal Chemistry at Merck Research Laboratories; VP Research at Canada's most successful biotech company, BioChem Pharma; and as founder, CSO and EVP of Aegera Therapeutics. He holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from University of Tasmania and was a post-doctoral research associate at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute of Harvard Medical School. 

About Lumira Capital
Lumira Capital leverages over 25 years of experience as one of North America's leading healthcare and life sciences venture capital investors. The firm invests in biopharmaceutical, medical device, health IT and consumer health companies whose products deliver transformative improvements in the lives of patients worldwide. In addition to a longstanding presence in the U.S. with offices in Boston and San Diego, the firm continues to be the most active domestic healthcare investor in Canada, where it has offices in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

For more information, please visit www.lumiracapital.com. 

This press release is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities.  Securities referred to in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933.

SOURCE Lumira Capital

Peter van der Velden, Managing General Partner, [phone], [email protected]