====== Tekmira Pharmaceuticals ====== {{ :pharmaceutical_companies:tekmira_logo_.jpeg?200|}} **Tekmira Pharmaceuticals** was a Canadian pharmaceutical company based in [[canada:british_columbia:Vancouver]], [[canada:British Columbia]]. ===== History ===== ==== Founding ==== Tekmira was founded as a spin-out from its predecessor, [[Inex Pharmaceuticals]], following a near-unanimous vote by Inex's shareholders in September 2006.((//INEX Pharmaceuticals provides timeline for completing spin-out of Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation.// (2007, February 26). BioSpace. https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/inex-pharmaceuticals-provides-timeline-for-completing-spin-out-of-tekmira-pharmaceuticals-corporation-/)) The spin-out process was completed on May 1, 2007, with shares of the new company launching on the [[:Toronto Stock Exchange]] (TSX).((//Inex Pharmaceuticals announces completion of spin-out of Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation.// (2007, May 1). Arbutus Bio. https://investor.arbutusbio.com/static-files/7043d792-acbb-47ae-9b0f-ce74445f583a)) ==== Lipid nanoparticles ==== On March 30, 2008, Tekmira announced it was combining its business with [[Protiva Biotherapeutics]], reuniting the intellectual property that had become scattered across several startups out of the [[:University of British Columbia]] (UBC). The new joint company signed a new deal with [[Alnylam Pharmaceuticals]] to allow access to their [[:lipid nanoparticles|lipid nanoparticle]] patents - a key component of achieving Alylam's self-described “Alnylam 2020” strategy.((//Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Protiva Biotherapeutics announce business combination to create new company focused on RNAi delivery and therapeutics.// (2008, March 31). Fierce Biotech. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/tekmira-pharmaceuticals-corporation-and-protiva-biotherapeutics-announce-business)) ((Lindenboom, C. R., & Brodsky, J. (2021, January 10). //Alnylam launches “Alnylam P5x25” strategy for planned transition to a top five biotech in market capitalization over next five years.// Business Wire; Berkshire Hathaway. https://archive.ph/0wJ2n)) An American brach of the company was incorporated in [[united_states:washington:Seattle]], [[united_states:Washington]] on October 20, 2008.((Washington Secretary of State - Corporations Division. (2023, February 25). //TEKMIRA PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION.// OpenCorporates. http://archive.today/2023.03.30-195647/https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_wa/602872481)) An agreement was signed on July 27, 2009, mutually establishing the rights and limitations held by Alnylam, UBC, AlCana/[[Acuitas Therapeutics]], Tekmira and Protiva, while explicitly acknowledging the complex nature of the variety of relationships they all had with each other.((//Exhibit 10.2.// (2009, July 27). Real Deal Docs. https://agreements.realdealdocs.com/Addendum-or-Modifications/Alnylam-Tekmira-Protiva-UBC-AlCa-2894169/)) In June 2011, Tekmira filed a lawsuit against both Alnylam and AlCana/Acuitas, seeking damages for (among other things) “misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference with contractual relations, unjust enrichment, unfair and deceptive acts and trade practices, and civil conspiracy.”((GlobeNewswire. (2011, June 3). //Tekmira files amended complaint in Alnylam litigation.// NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna43273972)) The case between Tekmira and Alnylam was settled in November 2012, resulting in a restructured licensing agreement allowing Alnylam to resume using Tekmira’s LNP patents under terms with new “clarity.”((//Tekmira and Alnylam restructure relationship and settle all litigation.// (2012, November 12). U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. https://web.archive.org/web/20220322141914/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1447028/000117184312004102/newsrelease.htm)) This also allowed Acuitas to acquire a sublicense for some of the LNP technology from Tekmira - and conversely, Tekmira to use Acuitas’ RNAi tech - an arrangement which went into effect in December 2013.((George, J. (2017, February 10). //Doylestown biopharm firm granted injunction over licensing dispute.// American City Business Journals. https://web.archive.org/web/20170214043742/http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2017/02/10/arbutus-biopharma-abus-injunction-acuitus-sales.html)) On December 19, 2014, Tekmira announced the appointment of [[:Richard Henriques]] to the company's board of directors.((Rezler, J. P. (2014, December 19). //Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Announces Leadership Changes.// Securities and Exchange Commission. http://archive.today/2023.06.01-185035/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1447028/000117184314005977/newsrelease.htm)) Henriques had previously served as Chief Financial Officer for the [[:Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]] and held a leadership role at [[Merck]]. In the same press release, Tekmira announced that [[:Ian MacLachlan]] was to resign as Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer as of December 31, 2014. ==== Ebola ==== The [[:United States Department of Defense]] awarded Tekmira a $140 million contract to develop a treatment against [[:Ebola]] in response to the 2013 outbreak in West Africa, but the product failed to pass safety and efficacy testing and was pulled from trials in 2015.((//Biotech stock in spotlight: as the world awaits Ebola treatment, Tekmira Pharma in prime focus.// TechNews. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://web.archive.org/web/20210527095559/http://technews.org/biotech-stock-in-spotlight-as-the-world-awaits-ebola-treatment-tekmira-pharma-remains-in-orime-focus/2913113/)) ((Pollack, A. (2015, June 19). //Clinical trial of experimental Ebola drug is halted.// The New York Times. https://archive.ph/nsBpe)) The company merged with [[OnCore Biopharma]], an offshoot of [[Gilead Sciences]]. This led to yet another name change to [[Arbutus Biopharma]].((Cutler, A., & Baradarani, H. (2015, July 20). //Tekmira announces launch of Arbutus Biopharma, a Hepatitis B solutions company.// U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. https://archive.ph/2nX2O)) ===== Organization ===== ==== Personnel ==== ^ Name ^ Position ^ Notes ^ | [[:Herb Conrad]] | Board member | [[Roche]], [[Gilead Sciences]] | | [[:Bruce Cousins]] | EVP & Chief Financial Officer ([[Arbutus BioPharma]]) | [[Johnson & Johnson]], [[Euphraxia Pharmaceuticals]] | | [[:Richard Enriques]] | Board member | [[:Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]], [[Merck]] | | [[:Elizabeth Howard]] | - | - | | [[:Frank Karbe]] | Board member | [[:Goldman Sachs]] | | [[:Keith Manchester]] | Board member | [[:QVT Financial]] | | [[:Hector McKay-Dunn]] | - | [[:British Columbia Technology Industry Association]], [[:Life Sciences British Columbia]], [[:Innovate BC]], [[:Genome British Columbia]], [[:United Way British Columbia]], [[:Canadian Red Cross]] | | [[:Ian MacLachlan]] | Chief Technical Officer and Executive Vice President | - | | [[:Mark Murray]] | Chief Executive Officer | [[:Crohn's & Colitis Foundation]] | | [[:Michael Sofia]] | - | [[Gilead Sciences]], [[:International Society for Antiviral Research]], [[:Drexel University]] | | [[:Peter Lutwyche]] | - | [[Genevant Sciences]], [[QLT]] | | [[:Vivek Ramaswamy]] | Chairman | [[Roivant Sciences]], [[:Strive Asset Management]], [[:Phi Beta Kappa]], [[:Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans]], [[:Campus Venture Network]], [[:QVT Financial]], [[:Chapter Medicare]] | | [[:William Symonds]] | Chief Development Officer | [[Gilead Sciences]] | ===== External links ===== * [[https://covidtruthinitiative.ca/en/Organizations/Tekmira-Pharmaceuticals|COVID Truth Initiative]] ==== Further reading ==== * [[https://liamsturgess.substack.com/p/follow-the-patents-lipid-nanoparticles|Follow the Patents: Lipid Nanoparticles and COVID-19 Genetic Vaccines]] by [[:Liam Sturgess]]