Aurora Bioscience

Aurora Bioscience Corporation was a leader in the development of advanced drug discovery technologies, specifically high-throughput screening (HTS) systems and proprietary fluorescence-based assays. Founded in 1995 and based in San Diego, the company revolutionized early-stage drug discovery by utilizing green fluorescent protein (GFP) and other sensors to monitor cellular functions in real-time. Their technology platform was instrumental in identifying lead compounds for various therapeutic areas, most notably cystic fibrosis. In 2001, Aurora was acquired by Vertex Pharmaceuticals for approximately $592 million in stock. This acquisition provided Vertex with the screening capabilities and the cystic fibrosis research program that eventually led to the development of blockbuster drugs like Kalydeco and Orkambi.