Aquinox Pharmaceuticals is a private, venture-backed biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel and targeted small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory disease and cancer.

The company commenced operations in 2006 as a spin-off from research conducted at the University of British Columbia, the BC Cancer Agency and the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, organizations with outstanding reputations for world-class research. The scientific founders of the company discovered a unique biochemical enzyme called SH2-containing inositol 5'-phosphatase (known as SHIP1) and drugs to regulate this enzyme. Activation of SHIP1 inhibits the critical PI3K pathway in blood cells. The PI3K pathway promotes cell growth, proliferation, survival, and immune cell activation.

Aquinox's most advanced program is its SHIP1 activator program and has generated promising data with the highly selective compound AQX-1125, a potent activator of SHIP1. AQX-1125 possesses many desirable drug properties and has demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory activity both in vitro and in vivo. Aquinox is now evaluating AQX-1125, and several closely related analogs that have properties for different routes of administration, and is advancing its lead product into IND-enabling studies.

The company's second program is its SHIP1 inhibitor program for blood cell recovery and is making advances in developing drug candidates.