Best Communication Award

sponsored by ICR Consilium

 
The 2024 shortlist:

Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc

Headquartered in London, Hikma is a global company with a local presence across North America, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Europe. The group provides a broad range of branded and non-branded generic medicines to bring innovative health technologies to people around the world. 

Hikma is a regular on the shortlist for the Best Communication Award and the team has continued to work hard to stay connected to all its stakeholders. Hikma has a targeted external communications programme to inform key audiences on its strategic progress, including organised investor roadshows in new markets across Europe and investor site visits at its Injectables manufacturing facility in Portugal. The group was commended for the strong communication of its succession planning/transition to the new CEO. 

hVIVO plc

London based hVIVO is a rapidly growing specialist contract research organisation, and a world leader in testing infectious and respiratory disease vaccines using human challenge clinical trials. The Group provides end-to-end early clinical development services to its large, established and growing repeat client base, which includes four of the top 10 largest global biopharma companies.

hVIVO has a strong and visible IR team that host a number of events for the investor community. The group’s clear and precise trading updates have led to a significant uplift in investor interest, resulting in continued growth in share price, despite challenging market conditions. hVIVO’s focus on investor relations and the growing interest from equity market participants is evidenced by the growing number of equity analysts providing research coverage on the group.

MoonLake Immunotherapeutics AG

Based in Switzerland, MoonLake Immunotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company unlocking the potential of Sonelokimab, the novel investigational Nanobody® for the treatment of inflammation, to revolutionise outcomes for patients.

Last year was transformational for MoonLake Immunotherapeutics with several significant announcements, including landmark clinical trial results followed by a substantial fundraising. The group is heavily invested in communicating its pivotal achievements, hosting a large volume of R&D days and actively engaging with stakeholders and investors. The group has significantly increased its social media activity, resulting in a sharp rise in in followers and engagement.  

Syncona Ltd

London-based Syncona is a leading healthcare company focused on creating, building and scaling a portfolio of global leaders in life science. The group focuses on developing treatments for patients by working in close partnership with world-class academic founders and management teams.

Syncona’s IR team has produced clear and definitive communications during the period, providing informative analysis and detail of its biotech portfolio, making it accessible and digestable to investors wanting access to the high growth biotech sector. The group recently expanded its senior investment team and evolved its operational model, which was well communicated to the market.

Tissue Regenix Group plc

Leeds-based Tissue Regenix Group is a pioneering, international medical technology company, focusing on the development of regenerative products utilising its two platform technologies, dCELL®, addressing soft tissue needs, and BioRinse® providing sterile bone and soft tissue allografts.

Tissue Regenix enjoyed a solid year of growth, marked by completing several milestones, which were achieved following the implementation of a new strategy and new management team. The group’s consistently clear communication regarding its focused 4S strategy has helped drive Tissue Regenix’s growth and enabled the business to reach its next level of performance.

Verona Pharma plc

Headquartered in London, Verona Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercialising innovative therapies for the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases. The group is developing ensifentrine, potentially the first treatment for respiratory disease that combines bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory activity in one compound.

Verona Pharma was commended by the Voting Panel for its outstanding communication efforts during a pivotal regulatory period. The group effectively used all available communication tools and made good use of social media around relevant national events such as Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week and National Doctors day. The IR team maintain regular, consistent dialogue with stakeholders.

Breakthrough of the Year Award

sponsored by FTI Consulting

 
The 2024 shortlist:

CRISPR Therapeutics AG

Based in Switzerland, CRISPR Therapeutics is a leading gene editing company with a strong and diversified pipeline. The group’s Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR science has revolutionised biomedical research and represents a powerful, clinically validated approach with the potential to create a new class of potentially transformative medicines.

Last year was a momentous year for CRISPR with multiple milestones achieved, including the remarkable breakthrough of the group’s first-ever approval of a CRISPR-based therapy. CRISPR’s product, CASGEVY, was approved in the US, EU, Great Britain, Bahrain, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for the treatment of patients with either sickle cell disease (SCD) or transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT). This historic achievement validates the group’s CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology and paves the way for the future of gene-based medicines.

Kooth plc

London-based and AIM-listed Kooth is a global leader in youth digital mental well-being. The group’s platform is clinically robust and accredited to provide a range of therapeutic support and interventions. All its services are predicated on easy access to make early intervention and prevention a reality.

2023 was a transformational year for Kooth, resulting in the group significantly expanding its services and capability. In July, Kooth signed the largest deal in its history, a $188m contract with the state of California to deliver behavioural health care to the State’s population of 13–25-year-olds. To support this contract, Kooth developed Soluna, a next-generation platform to help build mental health skills-for-life, access peer-support and professional help, which is offered for free to the State’s 6 million young people.

Newron Pharmaceuticals SpA

Newron Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company, based in Milan. The group is committed to delivering innovative treatments to improve the quality of life for patients with central nervous system (CNS) disorders.

In April this year, Newron announced positive top-line results from its potentially pivotal study evaluating the safety, tolerability and efficacy of evenamide in patients with chronic schizophrenia. The results of the trail were groundbreaking because this is the first major international study demonstrating the significant benefit of adding a new chemical entity (NCE) to poorly responding, compliant schizophrenia patients being treated with a second-generation antipsychotic. It is also the first demonstration of efficacy in a placebo-controlled trial of a NCE acting exclusively through glutamatergic inhibition.

Santhera Pharmaceuticals

Based in Switzerland, Santhera is a speciality pharmaceutical company focused on the development of treatments for neuromuscular diseases currently lacking treatment options, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

During the period, Santhera achieved various significant regulatory milestones for vamorolone, a first-in-class dissociative steroid which retains the anti-inflammatory activity of corticosteroids, while decreasing the deleterious side effects. Following these approvals, Santhera completed its first market launch of vamorolone in Germany in January 2024. Commercialisation of this product mean patients gain access to a treatment that overcomes the significant burdens associated with traditional steroid treatment.

Valneva SE

Based in France, Valneva is a specialty vaccine company that develops, manufactures, and commercialises prophylactic vaccines for infectious diseases. The group has advanced a broad range of vaccine candidates into and through the clinic, including candidates against the chikungunya virus and Lyme disease.

In November last year, Valenva announced a significant breakthrough with the US FDA approval of IXCHIQ®, a single-dose, live-attenuated vaccine indicated for the prevention of a disease caused by chikungunya. Chikungunya is a mosquito-transmitted disease with potentially debilitating consequences. XCHIQ® is the world’s first licensed chikungunya vaccine available to address this unmet medical need and the third vaccine Valneva has brought from early R&D to approval.

Zealand Pharma A/S

Headquartered in Denmark, Zealand Pharma is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of peptide-based medicines. More than 10 drug candidates invented by Zealand have advanced into clinical development, of which two have reached the market and three candidates are in late-stage development. 

Last year was transformational for Zealand Pharma as the group not only significantly advanced its obesity portfolio, but also delivered two regulatory submissions to the US FDA for its rare disease assets, resulting in a considerably strengthened financial position. Zealand’s collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim reported positive Phase 2 results with survodutide in people living with overweight or obesity, leading to the initiation of a Phase 3 program, which could potentially position survodutide as a leading weight-loss medication in the future. 

Best Technology Award

sponsored by RBC Capital Markets

 
The 2024 shortlist:

4basebio plc

Headquartered in Cambridge and listed on AIM, 4basebio is an innovation-driven life biotech company focused on accelerating the development of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) through its high-performance synthetic DNA products and nonviral, cell targeting nucleic acid delivery platform.

4basebio has proprietary technology in the fields of DNA synthesis and payload delivery, enabling the group to manufacture both synthetic DNA constructs and mRNA and develop vectors for cell and tissue specific delivery for a range of applications. The technologies are unique because they are highly customisable, which significantly differentiates 4basebio’s offering and has resulted in increased commercial traction, in addition to a rise in share price.

Avacta Group plc

Leeds based Avacta Group is focused on improving healthcare outcomes through targeted cancer treatments and diagnostics. The group has two divisions: a clinical stage oncology biotech division and a diagnostics division focused on supporting healthcare professionals.

Avacta’s pre|CISION™ platform is a highly specific substrate for fibroblast activation protein (FAP), which is upregulated in most solid tumours compared with healthy tissues. The platform enables targeted chemotherapy and increases tolerability, thereby enabling patients to benefit from what is still the mainstay of cancer treatment. Avacta recently announced encouraging clinical data from its lead pre|CISION™ peptide drug conjugate, which well positions the group for its evolution into a therapeutics-focused business.

BiVictriX Therapeutics plc

Cheshire-based BiVictriX is a rapidly emerging biotechnology company applying a novel approach to develop safer, more effective cancer therapies. Founded and led by a passionate and talented young female entrepreneur, the group is applying state of the art techniques to identify combinations of cancer-specific targets for both solid and liquid tumours. 

BiVictriX has developed Bi-Cygni® therapeutics, which are uniquely selective for particular cancer types, to enable higher dosing and more aggressive cancer eradication without causing harmful side effects. This approach allows the team to identify unique combinations of antigens that are present on the surface of cancer cells but not on healthy cells, which are then targeted with highly precise Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs). The ADC market is forecast to reach $23.9bn by 2032, making BiVictriX well-placed to take the lead in bringing forward the next generation of life-changing cancer treatments.

Creo Medical Group plc

Based in Chepstow, Creo Medical is an innovative and growing medical technology company. The group is transforming lives through the development and delivery of minimally invasive devices, by bringing Advanced Energy to the emerging field of therapeutic endoscopy.

Having developed a portfolio of innovative endoscopic instruments that can treat and potentially cure a range of cancers through minimally invasive treatments, Creo Medical is transitioning into a commercialisation company. The group has significantly expanded the user base of its lead device, Speedboat, which achieved a number of firsts through 2023, including the first upper gastrointestinal procedure performed in Europe. Initial health economic data has demonstrated that by using Creo’s technology, the NHS can save approximately £5,000 per procedure.

CRISPR Therapeutics AG

Switzerland-based CRISPR Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on creating transformative gene-based medicines for serious diseases. The Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR science has revolutionised biomedical research and represents a powerful, clinically validated approach with the potential to create a new class of potentially transformative medicines.

CRISPR Therapeutics advanced the first-ever CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited therapy into the clinic in 2018 to investigate the treatment of sickle cell disease or transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. At the start of last year, the group announced its first-ever approval of a CRISPR-based therapy, with the approval of CASGEVY™ in the US, EU, Great Britain, Bahrain, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This historic achievement validates the group’s CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology and paves the way for the future of gene-based medicines. 

MaxCyte, Inc. 

Headquartered in the US and quoted on AIM, MaxCyte is a leading, cell-engineering focused company that enables platform technologies to advance innovative cell-based research as well as next-generation cell therapeutic discovery, development and commercialisation.

Maxcyte’s ExPERT™ platform, which is based on its Flow Electroporation technology, has been designed to support the rapidly expanding cell therapy market and can be utilised across the continuum of the high-growth cell therapy sector, from discovery and development through to commercialisation of next-generation, cell-based medicines. Last year, MaxCyte continued to advance its delivery technology with the launch of its VLx System, which revolutionises protein production with true scalability.

The Emerging Star Award

sponsored by HSBC Innovation Banking

 
The 2024 shortlist:

AstronauTx Ltd

London-based AstronauTx is a biotech company developing drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The group was founded in 2019 by the Dementia Discovery Fund and has a unique portfolio of small-molecule therapeutics to both improve symptoms and modify disease.

AstronauTx is at the forefront of a novel approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases. Instead of preventing the build-up of toxic deposits that cause disease, the group’s approach is to amplify the brain’s normal physiology for dealing with them. These new medicines, currently in early development, have the potential to modify the underlying disease for the fifty-five million sufferers round the world. In October 2023, AstronauTx announced the completion of a £48m Series A financing to advance its portfolio of programmes and take its lead molecule into clinical trials.

Autifony Therapeutics Ltd

Hertfordshire-based Autifony Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotech company. The group is dedicated to developing new medicines to treat rare genetic CNS disorders by deploying its pioneering ion channel drug discovery platform.

Autifony is a leader in the translation of ion channel biology into promising new pharmaceutical approaches. The group’s early-stage portfolio of programmes has the potential to deliver novel treatments for neurodegenerative disorders including epilepsy and neuropathic pain. Validation of Autifony’s platform was demonstrated in November 2023 with an exclusive global licensing agreement with NASDAQ-listed Jazz Pharmaceuticals for up to $770.5m to discover and develop drug candidates targeting two different ion channel targets associated with neurological disorders.

CHARM Therapeutics Ltd

Cambridge-based CHARM Therapeutics is a protein-ligand intelligence company turning advanced protein-ligand prediction into impactful medicines. The group’s initial focus is novel small molecules to treat cancer, but the technology is also potentially applicable to many other therapeutic areas. 

CHARM’s proprietary technology, DragonFold, is based on the first rapid, accurate protein/ligand co-folding algorithm. The technology allows for modelling how a protein and its predicted ligands will fold, dynamically and in 3D space, predicting its interaction with small molecule treatments, making CHARM well placed as a leader in the deep-learning space. The group launched in June 2022 with a $50m Series A fundraising and in May last year announced further investment from Nvidia’s NVentures to enable delivery on its R&D activities in novel medicines for oncology.

NMD Pharma A/S

Based in Denmark, NMD Pharma is a clinical-stage biotech company founded with a focus to deliver life-transforming therapies for people living with neuromuscular diseases. The group has a unique translational muscle electrophysiology platform for discovering and developing first-in-class therapeutics in neuromuscular diseases.

NMD Pharma’s lead development program has demonstrated compelling preclinical and clinical data in animal models of myasthenia gravis (MG), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and a range of other neuromuscular disorders. Over the last year, the group has matured significantly and achieved several milestones. In September 2023, NMD  announced a Series B financing to complete three Phase 2 studies and in March this year the group received FDA clearance to initiate a Phase 2b trial of NMD670 in generalized myasthenia gravis patients in the US. 

Nuclera Ltd

Nuclera is a biotechnology company headquartered in Cambridge (UK), with offices in Boston. The group was founded in 2013 by PhD students at the University of Cambridge who identified protein inaccessibility as the number one obstacle and a key bottleneck in biology.

Nuclera is accelerating protein expression and purification workflows through its benchtop protein system, eProtein Discovery™. The group’s platform reduces the timelines and costs associated with protein expression and purification, empowering life science researchers with easy access to target proteins. Nuclera has completed several fundraisings, most recently raising a total of $58m in two rounds of Series B funding to further develop its eProtein Discovery™.

Quell Therapeutics Ltd

London-based Quell Therapeutics has rapidly established itself as a leader in developing potentially transformative CAR-T-regulatory (Treg) cell therapies designed to drive durable remissions and improve the quality of life in patients with devastating immune conditions whilst minimising the need for chronic, lifelong immunosuppressive treatments.

2023 was a significant year for Quell. In June, the group announced it had signed its first major collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca to develop, manufacture and commercialise autologous, engineered Treg cell therapies for two autoimmune disease indications, which provided further validation for its Treg platform. This agreement is thought to be worth over $2bn. Quell’s proprietary toolbox of Treg cell engineering modules will be leveraged to develop autologous multi-modular Treg cell therapy candidates for Type 1 Diabetes and Inflammatory Bowel Disease as part of the agreement.

Sitryx Therapeutics

Oxford-based Sitryx Therapeutics is biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of disease modifying therapies for treating autoimmune and inflammatory disease. Sitryx was founded in 2018 with seed funding from SV Health Investors and has raised in excess of $75m to date from an international syndicate of specialist investors. 

Metabolic pathways play a central role in regulating immune cell function and activation, with dysregulation across these pathways impacting immune response and contributing to the progression of chronic autoimmune and inflammatory disease. Sitryx is building a broad pipeline of first and best-in-class therapies by identifying novel targeted approaches based on how changes in metabolism modulate immune cell function. In September last year, the group raised a further $39m, following a Series A financing, to advance its proprietary pipeline of immunometabolism-targeting therapies into clinical development.

Tubulis Gmbh

Based in Germany, Tubulis’ goal is to expand the therapeutic potential of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) by increasing design flexibility, while overcoming constraints of toxicity, efficacy and indication, to make a difference in a variety of cancer indications and beyond. 

Tubulis has created a unique suite of technologies that combines a diverse range of targeting molecules, innovative payloads, and proprietary conjugation technologies to deliver revolutionary ADCs with superior, indication-tailored properties. In March this year, Tubulis announced the successful completion of an upsized and oversubscribed €128m Series B2 financing to support clinical evaluation of its lead candidates and allow the group to expand into the US. This round follows a $55m Series B1 raise, reinforcing investor confidence in the company's potential and advancing its mission to revolutionise cancer treatment.

Mediscience Media Commentator of the Year Award

sponsored by MEDiSTRAVA

 
The 2024 shortlist:

Biotech Hangout

Biotech Hangout is a weekly discussion of all things biotech – breaking news, data, deals, and FDA actions – with a community of biotech industry leaders and experts. 

The show was conceived at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when the team began gathering to discuss the latest industry news, as a way to stay connected, in lieu of in-person meetings. A tight knit community was created, which continued to convene every week, resulting in the weekly show which can be viewed live on X, with replays available on Spotify, Apple podcasts and on the show’s website. Biotech Hangout was founded by Chris Garabedian, Daphne Zohar and Brad Loncar, who has also been shortlisted for the European Mediscience Awards Media Commentator of the Year Award.

Stephen Hansen/BioCentury

Stephen is BioCentury’s Associate Editor in the UK, where he serves as one of the group’s primary points of contact with European companies and investors. Stephen is renowned for his strong, robust articles on the biotech industry, which have earned him a regular place on the shortlist for the Mediscience Media Commentator of the Year.

Stephen has covered clinical development, corporate strategy and finance in Europe, the US and China for BioCentury for over a decade. He is a frequent contributor to BioCentury’s quarterly Financial Markets Preview and annual Buyside View and European Finance reports in addition to being a frequent contributor to, and occasional host, of BioCentury’s weekly podcast. 

Hannah Kuchler/Financial Times

Hannah has held the role of Global Pharmaceuticals Correspondent at the Financial Times for three years. She is an Emmy-nominated journalist with a flair for eye-catching stories and a commitment to accuracy and unbiased reporting. 

Hannah is a highly respected journalist who has covered a wide range of topics related to the pharmaceutical industry - including drug development, clinical trials, pricing, and access to medicines. Hannah led the FT side of a partnership with PBS Frontline to create the Opioids Inc documentary, which won a Loeb award, was nominated for an Emmy. In addition to her work for the Financial Times, Hannah has appeared on TV in NBC Bay Area's Press:Here show and featured on CNBC's Closing Bell, Sky News and the BBC World Service.

Natasha Loder/The Economist

Natasha Loder is The Economist’s health editor, covering a wide range of topics in medicine, technology, pharma and science. She has worked at The Economist since 2000, spending over a decade on the science desk.

Natasha is known for her strong commentary on key issues in healthcare and has won many awards for her work in news, features and opinion. In 2018, her feature about progress in cancer treatment won awards from the June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism, and the Medical Journalism Association. Natasha prides herself on her ability to turn dry science into thrilling stories and on bringing her passion and enthusiasm for her subjects to a wider audience.

Brad Loncar/BiotechTV

BiotechTV brings the best of the biotech sector to life online. Founded by Brad, the website hosts news, stories, and educational videos about the biotechnology sector. 

BiotechTV hosts a hub of live content with key industry figures. Some of the site’s most recent content includes GSK's Emma Walmsley, who was interviewed by Brad on the company's pipeline, business development, AI, and the UK life sciences sector, in addition to Biotheryx's CEO being interviewed regarding the company's protein degradation platform. Biotech TV reports from key industry events, such as the recent JP Morgan Healthcare Week in San Franscisco, to update audiences on the latest technologies, innovations and breakthroughs in the world of biotech.

Melanie Senior 

Melanie is freelance journalist for Nature Biotech, Evaluate, Scrip and In Vivo. She demonstrates a profound understanding of the biotech sector and has a deep understanding of complex scientific concepts, making Melanie a regular on the shortlist for the Mediscience Media Commentator of the Year Award.

Melanie’s work has a significant impact on public understanding of biotech, especially around the developments of ADC's. She offers insightful analysis and commentary on biotech developments and landscape, including articles on new drug approvals and precision medicine. Melanie provides thought provoking perspectives on key issues within the industry and is engaging and witty with compelling story telling and narratives. 

Capital Market Transaction of the Year Award

sponsored by Edison Group

 
The 2024 shortlist:

argenx

Belgium-based argenx is a global immunology company committed to improving the lives of people suffering from severe autoimmune diseases. The group’s lead products, Vyvgart and Vyvgart SC are now approved in more than 30 countries or regions. By the end of last year, argenx had treated over 6,000 gMG patients globally with its innovations.

In July last year, argenx raised $1.1bn from the sale of 1,580,981 ADSs at a price of $490.00 per ADS and the sale of 663,918 ordinary shares at a price of €436.37 per ordinary share. The raise was one of the largest follow-on stock sales for a biotech in recent years and follows positive results for Vyvgart, which is already approved in the US for the immune condition myasthenia gravis. New data shows Vyvgart  could also help people with an autoimmune disease called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

Autolus Therapeutics plc

London-based Autolus is a CAR T cell therapy company. The group is applying its extensive programming capabilities to develop advanced autologous T cell therapies that have the potential to deliver life-changing benefits to cancer patients.

In February this year, Autolus announced a significant strategic collaboration with BioNTech in a $250m upfront collaboration. The deal allows BioNTech to use Autolus’ manufacturing and clinical site network across the UK to help develop BNT211 for pivotal trials in CLDN6+ tumours. In return, BioNTech will support the launch and expansion of Autolus’ lead autologous CD19 CAR-T,  which is awaiting an FDA decision for patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. With this strategic alliance, in addition to two equity financing transactions, Autolus is poised to be a leader in the delivery of CAR-T therapy to patients with autoimmune diseases.

Bicycle Therapeutics plc

Headquartered in Cambridge, Bicycle Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of medicines, referred to as Bicycle® molecules. The group’s mission is to become one of the world’s leading solid tumour medicines companies. 

In July 2023, Bicycle announced the closing of an underwritten public offering resulting in proceeds of approximately $230m. In addition, the company received gross proceeds from Bicycle’s at-the-market (ATM) offering program during the second quarter of 2023 totalling $12.5m. This strengthened balance sheet, along with strategic collaborations with Novartis and Bayer, allow Bicycle Therapeutics to significantly advance its programs and platform in oncology. 

Galderma Group AG

Based in Switzerland, Galderma is a pure-play dermatology category leader, present in approximately 90 countries. The group delivers an innovative, science-based portfolio of premium brands and services that span the full spectrum of the fast-growing dermatology market through Injectable Aesthetics, Dermatological Skincare and Therapeutic Dermatology. 

In March this year, Galderma completed an IPO on the SIX Swiss Exchange, with shares priced at CHF 53, the higher end of its pricing range, giving the group a market cap at listing of CHF 12.6bn. The IPO was the biggest in Switzerland since 2017 and the shares rose 21% on Galderma’s first day of trading. Since the acquisition of Galderma by EQT Private Equity and a consortium of co-investors, Galderma has transformed from a non-core subsidiary of Nestlé into a category leader in dermatology. The group intends to use proceeds from the IPO to strengthen its balance sheet and de-lever the company.

Kooth plc

Since its inception in 2001, London-based Kooth has grown to become one of the largest and most trusted providers of digital mental health services in the UK. The group’s mission is to provide accessible and safe spaces for everyone to achieve better mental health via its platform, which provides a range of therapeutic support and interventions. 

In September last year, Kooth secured a £10m investment, with £3m of the funding coming from equity investor, BGF. The fundraise follows the group’s recent success securing a transformational contract with the California Department of Health Care Services, worth $188m, to provide digital mental health care services to all six million 13-25 years olds living in the state. The oversubscribed round will help Kooth’s expansion efforts in the US in addition to supporting further international growth.

SCHOTT Pharma

Based in Germany, SCHOTT Pharma is a global leader in the pharmaceutical industry. The group’s product portfolio ranges from drug containment solutions to drug delivery systems manufactured in collaboration with leading industry partners. Its selection of pharmaceutical syringes, cartridges, vials, and ampoules is one of the widest and most advanced on the market for injectable drugs.

In September last year, SCHOTT Pharma raised €813m in its IPO on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, exceeding analyst expectations and marking the largest German IPO of 2023. Shares in the group surged 16% on the first day of trading, demonstrating investors faith in the group’s strategy and confirming that Europe's IPO market is picking up. Shortly after the listing in December 2023, SCHOTT Pharma achieved another milestone by joining the SDAX index of the Frankfurt Exchange comprising the seventy largest and most liquid companies in terms of market capitalisation.  

Most Significant Contribution to the Mediscience Sector Award

sponsored by SP Angel

 
The 2024 shortlist:

Jennifer Doudna, Emmanuelle Charpentier & Francisco Mojica

Jennifer is an American biochemist who conducted pioneering work in CRISPR gene editing. She was one of the first women to share a Nobel in the sciences and received the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, with Emmanuelle Charpentier, for the development of a method for genome editing.

Emmanuelle Charpentier is a French professor and researcher in microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry. Jennifer and Emmanuelle were the first to propose that CRISPR-Cas9 (enzymes from bacteria that control microbial immunity) could be used for programmable editing of genomes which has been termed one of the most significant discoveries in the history of biology.  Emmanuelle later co-founded CRISPR Therapeutics in 2013.

Francisco Mojica is a Spanish molecular biologist and microbiologist. He was behind the discovery of repetitive, functional DNA sequences in bacteria, which he named CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats). These were later developed into the first widespread genome editing tool, CRISPR-Cas9.

EBD Group

EBD Group is a leading partnering firm for the global life science industry. The group’s mission is to facilitate connections across the life science value chain. Its range of partnering conferences has grown to be one of the largest and most productive conference platforms in the industry. 

EBD Group is passionate about contributing to the advancement of exciting new treatments for patients through its leading partnering events. The group operates seven landmark events held in key markets around the world, which are powered by the state-of-the-art partnering software, to enable delegates to efficiently identify and engage with new opportunities via one-to-one meetings. EBD’s conferences include the widely attended BIO-Europe®, BIO-Europe Spring®, BioEquity Europe and Biotech Showcase. 

LifeArc

LifeArc is a self-financing medical research charity. The group specialises in translational science – bridging the gap between academic research and clinical development – across five focus areas where patients are in desperate need of new treatments or diagnostic options. LifeArc has teams in its London office, as well as scientific research labs in Stevenage and Edinburgh, in addition to a specialist science team at the Francis Crick Institute.

LifeArc has committed to invest £1.3bn by 2030 to help deliver new diagnostics, drugs, devices, and digital solutions to transform the ways diseases are treated. Work undertaken by the charity has resulted in a diagnostic for antibiotic resistance and four licensed medicines. This includes Keytruda®(cancer), Actemra® (rheumatoid arthritis), Tysabri® (multiple sclerosis) and Entyvio® (Crohn’s disease) and a test for antimicrobial resistance. The group also invests in early-stage life science companies, through its venture funding division, LifeArc Ventures, which has built a portfolio of exceptional companies with outstanding innovation and inspiring leadership. 

Ruth McKernan

Ruth has over 25 years in the pharma industry, having held roles at Merck and Pfizer, leading several Research Sites in the UK and US. She has set up new Research Units, including Pfizer Regenerative Medicine and Neusentis, initiated multiple neuroscience partnerships, acquisitions and spinouts and played an active role in taking more than 10 compounds into the clinic.

Ruth has made remarkable contributions to the field of innovation throughout her career. Highlights include her groundbreaking work in creating drugs for brain diseases, utilising her application of stem cell knowledge to develop new therapeutics, her commitment to fostering innovation as CEO of InnovateUK, in addition to the co-creation of four new biotech companies. Ruth is an enthusiast for innovation and entrepreneurship, sitting on multiple innovation and translation boards, including the Academy of Engineering and the Francis Crick Institute. Ruth is also a Trustee for Alzheimer’s Research UK and previously served as Chair of the UK BIA, in addition to being an award-winning science writer and spokesperson for Women in Innovation. 

Novo Nordisk Foundation

Novo Nordisk Foundation is an independent, Danish enterprise that supports scientific, humanitarian and social causes. The group is a non-profit organisation that supports philanthropic purposes using funds derived from its ownership of, and investment in, companies and other financial assets.

Last year the Novo Nordisk Foundation celebrated its centennial year. Through the past hundred years, the group has supported many of the world’s best scientists − pioneers who, through their groundbreaking research and innovation, have contributed to defeating disease and improving human health. The Novo Nordisk Foundation awards around DKK 5bn each year for scientific, humanitarian and social purposes. Over the past year the group considerably broadened its grant activities within life science to broadly promote human health and the sustainability of the planet. 

Chief Executive of the Year Award

sponsored by Panmure Gordon

 
The 2024 shortlist:

Karim Bitar/Convatec plc

Karim is CEO of Convatec having joined the group in September 2019. Prior to this, Karim was CEO of Genus, during which time he helped transform the group into a technology pioneer with leading global franchises in dairy, beef and pork genetics. Before this, Karim worked for over fifteen years with Eli Lilly & Company and was President of Lilly Europe, Canada and Australia. 

During his tenure at Convatec, Karim has delivered an impressive turnaround story, driving investment in innovation and returning sustainable growth. Karim has helped the group strengthen its competitive position with a rich stream of innovation and successful product launches. In addition, Karim has overseen the completion of several significant acquisitions, resulting in Convatec’s shares reaching a five-year high.

Christian Itin/Autolus Therapeutics plc

Christian joined Autolus as CEO in 2016 and served as Chairman from 2014. Prior to Autolus, Christian was on the board of Kuros Biosciences, serving as chairman, and before this was executive chairman of Cytos Biotechnology. Christian has also held CEO roles at Micromet and served as non-executive director on the board of Kymab. 

Christian is a leader in the immuno-oncology field. During his tenure at Micromet, Christian and his team pioneered the field of T-cell engaging antibodies, or BiTEs. Christian was instrumental in the significant strategic collaboration Autolus signed with BioNTech in February this year, worth $250m, and his leadership is credited with the company’s significant growth. Christian’s drive has established Autolus as a force to be reckoned with in the engineered T-cell field.

Yamin ‘Mo’ Khan/hVIVO plc

Mo Khan was appointed CEO of hVIVO in 2022. He has over 25 years of global clinical research experience across clinical operations, project management, business development and executive management functions. Mo has held a number of senior roles at Pharm-Olam International and prior to this worked at Innovex and Quintiles CRO (IQVIA).

Mo brought his extensive CRO experience to hVIVO, accelerating the group’s growth trajectory and driving increased awareness of human challenge trials. Under his leadership, hVIVO focused on developing a substantial orderbook of signed contracts to provide greater visibility and robustness to trading. The results speak for themselves, with a record weighted orderbook of £80m, a sixfold growth since 2019, and over 90% of forecast revenue for 2024 already secured with revenue visibility stretching into 2025.

Daniel Lee/Tissue Regenix Group plc

Daniel was appointed as CEO of Tissue Regenix Group in November 2020. He has nearly 30 years’ experience in the medical device and biologics industry, ranging from product innovation to commercialisation to corporate management. Prior to Tissue Regenix, Daniel was the CEO for Scaffold Biologics and Aperion Biologics and he has also held senior management roles at OsteoBiologics and Regeneration Technologies.

Since Daniel took over the leadership of Tissue Regenix, he has transformed the business. Daniel rapidly developed and implemented a new strategy for the Group under the '4S Strategy' of Supply, Sales, Sustainability and Scale, resulting in revenue growth of 20% and generating the group’s first year of EBITDA profitability. With Daniel’s guidance, Tissue Regenix has entered 2024 with a strong balance sheet to support the group’s significant growth plans.

Flemming Ørnskov/Galderma Group AG

Flemming joined Galderma as CEO in October 2019. Prior to joining the group, Flemming served as CEO of Shire plc from 2013 to 2019. Earlier in his career he held a number of leadership positions at Bayer, Novartis and Merck. He is currently the non-Executive Chairman of Waters Corporation.

Flemming is leading Galderma’s transformation to become the leading dermatology company in the world. He began the group’s transformation by scaling up its R&D activities and strengthening the product pipeline, followed by appointing a strong leadership team to seek strategic acquisitions to supplement the group’s growth. Under Flemming’s leadership, Galderma reported record net sales of over $1bn for the first quarter of this year.

Jorge Santos da Silva/MoonLake Immunotherapeutics AG

Jorge is the founder and CEO of MoonLake Immunotherapeutics. The group was created in 2021 to develop next-level therapies for inflammatory skin and joint diseases. Prior to this, Jorge was a Senior Partner at McKinsey’s Zurich office and a leader in its Pharmaceuticals & Medical Products Practice. 

Jorge is responsible and accountable for leading MoonLake Immunotherapeutics, setting the group’s vision, and ensuring the delivery of strategic goals. Last year has been monumental for the business, with MoonLake overachieving in all areas, which is in no small part due to Jorge’s leadership. The group has advanced clinical trials, announced positive feedback from a Phase 3 program and ended the year with a strong balance sheet to support MoonLake’s significant growth plans.

Adam Steensberg/Zealand Pharma A/S

Adam took over the reigns as CEO of Zealand Pharma in March 2022, having previously been Chief Medical Officer of the group. Prior to joining Zealand, Adam led clinical research teams as medical director at Novo Nordisk. Adam was a medical and scientific advisor in the areas of endocrinology, cardiology, gastroenterology and rheumatology, and has significant experience of leading regulatory strategies.

Since being at the helm of Zealand, Adam took the brave move of terminating all commercialisation activities of the first fully owned product in the US in order to refocus the company towards a promising pipeline of programs in the metabolic space. In order to execute this strategy, Adam raised substantial capital, allowing the business to invest in its pipeline and maintain ownership. This bold strategy has significantly paid off, with Zealand now delivering one of the best pipelines in the space in addition to a strong share price performance.

Fredrik Tiberg/Camurus AB

Fredrik has been Camurus’ president and CEO since 2003, and member of the board since 2002. Fredrik has more than 30 years’ experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Camurus, he was CEO of Heptahelix AB and adjunct professor of surface chemistry at Lund University and visiting professor of physical and theoretical chemistry at the University of Oxford. 

During his tenure, Fredrik has driven Camurus towards achieving several approved products and a solid pipeline, using novel formulation technologies and approaches for the benefit of patients. He has established a strong financial position for the group, which has been reflected in a solid share price. Fredrik’s ambitions for Camurus have resulted in increased revenues, improved results, and significant progress in the group’s development portfolio.

Company of the Year Award

sponsored by Cavendish

 
The 2024 shortlist:

Camurus AB

Camurus is a science-led biopharmaceutical company, based in Sweden. The group’s clinical pipeline includes products for the treatment of dependence, pain, cancer and endocrine diseases, which are developed in-house and in collaboration with international pharmaceutical companies. 

During the period, Camurus made significant progress with Brixadi™, an extended-release injection for the treatment of moderate to severe opioid use disorder. The group received FDA approval of the product in May 2023 and following this the product was launched in September in the US. As a result of this progress in the group’s development portfolio, total revenues increased by 37% to SEK 390m and profit before tax increased by 26% to SEK 97m.

CRISPR Therapeutics AG

Switzerland-based CRISPR Therapeutics is a leading gene editing company. The group’s Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR science has revolutionised biomedical research and has the potential to create a new class of potentially transformative medicines.

Since its inception over a decade ago, CRISPR has transformed from a research-stage company advancing programs in the field of gene editing, into a company with a diverse portfolio of product candidates that recently celebrated its historic approval of the first-ever CRISPR-based therapy. This momentous milestone validates the group’s CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology and paves the way for the future of gene-based medicines. CRISPR’s first quarter financial results report cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totalling $2.1m as of 31 March 2024 compared to $1.7m as of 31 December 2023. 

MoonLake Immunotherapeutics AG

MoonLake Immunotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Switzerland. The group’s focus is on inflammatory diseases with a major unmet need, including hidradenitis suppurativa and psoriatic arthritis. 

Last year was transformational for MoonLake. The group reported positive top-line results for its Phase 2 trial of sonelokimab in patients with moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), which was a landmark milestone. Following this positive clinical data, MoonLake raised $460m in an upsized offering of shares to fund the continued development of sonelokimab, which was the largest European fundraising in Q2 2023. For the quarter ending 31 March 2024, MoonLake held cash, cash equivalents and short-term marketable debt securities of $547m. 

PureTech Health plc

Headquartered in Boston and listed in London (FTSE250), PureTech is a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company. The group is a pioneer of the hub-and-spoke business model and have built a portfolio of successful Founded Entity companies.

PureTech made significant financial and clinical progress during the period. One of the group’s most notable achievements was Bristol Myers Squibb's acquisition of Founded Entity Karuna Therapeutics for $14bn in March this year. Karuna’s key asset is an oral schizophrenia drug, which is expected to receive FDA regulatory approval next year, making it the first new schizophrenia treatment to be commercialised in over 50 years. In addition, PureTech announced it would receive $293m in gross proceeds from its remaining stake in Karuna, allowing the group to propose a $100m capital return to shareholders. The group reported $573.3m in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of 31 March 2024.

Recordati SpA

Recordati is a global pharmaceutical business, based in Italy. The group is uniquely structured to bring treatment options across specialty and primary care, consumer healthcare, and rare diseases. It has fully integrated operations across R&D, chemical and finished product manufacturing through to commercialisation and licensing.

Last year was a year of outstanding performance for Recordati, with execution of the group’s long-term growth strategy coming to fruition. The group’s Specialty & Primary Care and Rare Diseases businesses delivered a solid performance, achieving double-digit organic growth, which resulted in revenue exceeding €2bn for the first time. Recordati also sustained its sector-leading EBITDA margins, putting the group in a very strong position for successfully growing its rare diseases franchise business. 

Zealand Pharma A/S

Headquartered in Denmark, Zealand Pharma is focused on the discovery and development of peptide-based medicines. The group has invented more than ten drug candidates that have advanced into clinical development and has developed partnerships with a number of pharma companies.

2023 was an extraordinary year for Zealand Pharma. The group delivered on several key strategic objectives, including significant advancement of its obesity portfolio and two regulatory submissions to the US FDA for its rare disease assets. In April, Zealand completed a successful accelerated bookbuilding offering of DKK 1.5bn, allowing the group to further invest in its R&D pipeline for its obesity portfolio.  For the year to end December 2023, Zealand reported revenue of DKK 343m, driven by a €30m milestone payment from Boehringer Ingelheim for its obesity product.