California Life Sciences Association Honors Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, Senator Cathleen Galgiani and Assemblymembers Kevin Mullin and Marie Waldron

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and SAN DIEGO, Feb. 4, 2016 -- California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) today announced the winner of its "2015 Lifetime Achievement Award," Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), and the honorees of this year's "2015 Life Sciences Champion Award," Senator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton) and Assemblymembers Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco) and Marie Waldron (R-Escondido). CLSA is the nation's largest statewide life sciences public policy, advocacy and business solutions organization serving over 750 life sciences organizations across California.

The respected awards program held in Sacramento at CLSA's Back to Session Reception honors legislators for their thoughtful leadership and dedication to advancing biotechnology, biomedical science, pharmaceutical and medical device innovation in California in 2015.

"California is the birthplace of biotechnology and today the state's life sciences sector employs over 281,000 people working to develop more than 1,200 new innovative medicines and technologies. Thanks in part to the commitment of this year's honorees, innovators up and down the state are better equipped to continue the challenging work of bringing needed therapies to treat and cure patients," said Sara Radcliffe, President and CEO of CLSA. "The leadership and guidance that Assembly Speaker Atkins, Senator Galgiani and Assemblymembers Mullin and Waldron each bring to the table has been instrumental in nurturing our treasured life sciences sector. We thank them for their dedication to advancing sound public policy that spurs life sciences innovation, leading to a healthier population in California and around the world."

All four legislative champions have demonstrated a fundamental understanding of the importance of California's life sciences innovation ecosystem. This year's winners have consistently been principled defenders of policies to strengthen and promote life sciences investment, innovation and job creation in California.

"The life sciences industry is already one of the biggest contributors to San Diego's economy, and the entire state's as a whole. Because of the sector's impressive growth, I am confident that California will play a lead role in finding cures for some of our most challenging diseases," Assembly Speaker Atkins said. "I'm honored to be recognized by CLSA and I look forward to helping to ensure the progress of life sciences innovators in our region and state for many years to come. I also want to thank the association for its leadership in promoting the state's life sciences economy."

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About California Life Sciences Association (CLSA)

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) is the leading voice driving innovation for California's life sciences sector. We work closely with industry, government, academia and other stakeholders to shape public policy, drive business solutions and grow California's life sciences innovation ecosystem. CLSA serves over 750 biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostics companies, research universities and institutes, investors and service providers. CLSA was founded in 2015 when the Bay Area Bioscience Association (BayBio) and the California Healthcare Institute (CHI) merged to create the state's most influential life sciences advocacy and business leadership organization. Visit CLSA at www.califesciences.org, and follow us on Twitter @CALifeSciences, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Contact:
Will Zasadny
Manager, Communications
[email protected]
619-961-8848

Photos accompanying this release are available at:
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=38791

CONTACT: Will Zasadny
         Manager, Communications
         [email protected]
         619-961-8848