Resources

MSD Merck acquire UK biotech EyeBio for $1.3 billion upfront, ASCO and BIO conference week and the UK General election campaign produces little news for the life science sector.

Grey Wolf Therapeutics closes oversubscribed $50 million Series B Financing Expansion, led by ICG Life Sciences, to accelerate and expand first-of-its-kind antigen modulation technology. This brings the total Series B funds raised to nearly $100 million.

The European Life Science sector has been marked by strong growth and resilience in recent years and is set for significant expansion in 2024, driven by new medical treatments and both private and public funding according to JLL’s Life Sciences Industry & Real Estate Perspective report.

New report 'State of the Discovery Nation: Fostering a Dynamic, Sustainable Medicines Discovery Sector’ says the sector must work together to de-risk funding in medicines discovery and attract more investors.

Infinitopes Precision Immunomics, an integrated cancer biotech combining world-leading platforms in precision antigen discovery with vaccine vectors capable of durably stimulating protective immune responses, today announced the completion of a £12.8 million seed funding round led by Octopus Ventures.

The UK's engineering biology scene was out in force at a Number 10 Downing Street reception last week. It was great to celebrate the developments in our community network together with ministers and investors.

Launched in May 2022 by thriving life science community Discovery Park, Discovery Park Ventures (DPV) is an investment fund that invests in ambitious and growing life sciences companies, driving disruptive innovation and catalysing economic growth. Initially a £1 million fund, DPV has now expanded to £3 million.

I don’t always start Newscast with a technical detail – but this one matters and underpins the work of many, many companies in our Association. In short, keep doing your experiments and manufacturing medicines as normal as we work hard to keep your reagents and materials supply chain operating smoothly.

I’m delighted to be opening PULSE this morning. It is a free three-day leadership and entrepreneurship training programme for up-and-coming life sciences entrepreneurs that we’ve developed and delivered with the Francis Crick Institute. Read on for the latest on EU biotech initiatives, Biosecurity Leadership Council and boost for UK cell and gene therapy.

A year ago, the life sciences sector faced a significant challenge with the SVB UK collapse. This event threatened to disrupt vital research and development for many companies. Today, we're taking a moment to reflect on that experience and share valuable resources to help us all build a more resilient future. 

The Chancellor's Budget last week had plenty for UK life sciences. The BIA’s mission to unlock pension funds for investment into UK life sciences took a great leap forward with the announcement that the life sciences team of Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) has successfully partnered with Phoenix Group.

In this blog, Dr Martin Turner, Associate Director, Policy, Public Affairs & Investor Relations at BIA takes a closer look at the impact of the Spring Budget on UK life sciences, examines key announcements and invites you to join our webinar tomorrow for a deeper dive into the implications.

Three highlights for UK life sciences: first, the new expert advisory panel for the HMRC is a smart way to maximise the efficiency of R&D tax relief support for life science innovators; secondly, Alan Marchington’s ICG winning the LIFTs scheme shows real movement to unlock pension funds for life sciences; thirdly, AstraZeneca’s investment in next-generation manufacturing in Speke and Cambridge shows the strength of our ecosystem.

It is the Budget week at Westminster and all eyes will be on the Chancellor's statement this Wednesday. We've already seen Jeremy Hunt doubled down on the pensions reform agenda in weekend reporting and I'm hopeful we'll see more to support the life science sector this week.