Benzinga | Sep 14, 2021 04:00PM EDT

Amgen, The Lundquist Institute Announce That Diadem Therapeuctics Will Receive The First Amgen Golden Ticket To BioLabs LA

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) and The Lundquist Institute today announced that Diadem Biotherapeutics, Inc., has been awarded the first Amgen Golden Ticket in Southern California. Diadem will receive one year of lab space at BioLabs LA at The Lundquist Institute (TLI) as well as additional facility benefits and connections to Amgen's scientific and business leaders.

The 2021 Amgen Golden Ticket winner was chosen by an internal team of Amgen scientific leaders at a virtual pitch event. Five finalists pitched their business plans before Amgen's internal committee that evaluated the strength and novelty of their scientific rationale, subject matter expertise and business plan viability. This is the first of three Amgen Golden Tickets to be awarded over the next three years to help accelerate life science start-ups in Southern California.

Perspectives on announcement:

* "Amgen's partnership with BioLabs LA at The Lundquist Institute (TLI) recognizes the rapid growth of bioscience innovation in the Los Angeles area and aligns with our aspiration to bring breakthrough therapies for patients. We are enthusiastic about the exosome technology that is being advanced by Diadem Biosciences, and look forward to engaging with the team as they advance novel immunotherapies to treat serious illness" -- Philip Tagari, Ph.D., vice president of Therapeutic Discovery at Amgen

* "Biolabs LA at the Lundquist Institute is honored to be working with Amgen, a worldwide pioneer in biotechnology, to help identify and support innovative up and coming life-science companies in Southern California. Amgen's three-year Golden Ticket sponsorship provides a unique opportunity for BioLabs to help promote growth for startup companies in the rapidly developing Los Angeles market while relying on expert mentorship from Amgen, as the premier industry partner in the region. Amgen serves as a model and guidepost to encourage and champion companies to grow with local resources being a key to their success. We look forward to having Diadem join the BioLabs LA community and in assisting them, along with Amgen and The Lundquist Institute, in reaching their milestones. Together we will drive progress in the field of human biology and patient health." -- Lindsay Bourgeois, director of BioLabs LA at the Lundquist Institute

* "We are honored to have our approach to therapeutic signaling endorsed by an expert judging panel of Amgen's leading scientists. With the extensive resources at BioLabs LA and access to Amgen expertise we can accelerate the development of a new class of therapeutics that has the potential to enhance patient-care outcomes across a range of diseases. That BioLabs LA is now at full capacity speaks to the ambition of biotech startups in Los Angeles, and the fertile ground of this ecosystem." -- Mickey Pentecost, Ph.D., co-founder and chief executive officer, Diadem Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Amgen supports life science start-ups through Golden Ticket awards and affiliated engagement in other Biotech Innovative hubs, including San Francisco, Boston and Toronto.