The Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA) announced the winners of its annual Deal of the Year awards during its annual Invest Canada 19 conference taking place in Vancouver.

TVM Capital Life Science won in the venture capital category for its investment in Montreal-based AurKa Pharma. AurKa Pharma was established in 2016 to develop oncology compound AK-01, a compound originally discovered through one of Eli Lilly and Companys research and development programs, with the potential to treat certain types of solid tumors, including small cell lung cancer and treatment resistant breast cancer.

The project was fully financed by TVM Life Science Ventures VII since 2016. Eli Lilly acquired AurKa Pharma in May 2018.

Watch Dr. Luc Marengere, Managing Partner in Montreal summarizing the investment rationale: