The UK TechBio sector is thriving, according to a new report, with a growing number of companies pioneering ground-breaking products and services.
A BioIndustry Association (BIA) report lists the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), the advancement of gene editing technologies, the power of engineering biology, and a growing interest from major pharmaceutical players as key trends driving the sector.
Five companies that are leading the way are highlighted in the report. These are:
Exscientia was the first company to have an AI-designed molecule enter clinical trials and now has six drugs in clinical studies for CNS disorders, cancer and inflammatory disease.
BenevolentAI’s AI-enabled drug discovery engine is designed to provide a multidimensional representation of human biology across all diseases. The company recently reported strong preclinical data for its candidate in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
- Charm Therapeutics
Charm secured new investment from Nvidia this year to develop its DragonFold platform, which can identify novel molecules through protein-ligand co-folding, and secured its first industry partner in Bristol Myers Squibb.
- Perspectum
A University of Oxford diagnostics spinout, Perspectum raised $55 million during its Series C investment round in 2023.
- BIOS Health
A pioneer in combining AI technologies and precision neurology, BIOS hopes to sequence neural biomarkers to elucidate the link to various disease states.
The BIA also spotlights early-stage companies driving innovation in this space. Among these are Brainomix, Cardia Tec, Sixfold, Turing Biosystems, Etcembly and Serna Bio.
Steve Bates, CEO of the BIA, said: “The UK has emerged as a prominent player in TechBio deal-making, trailing only the US over the last 18 months, showcasing the sector’s rapid ascent and its significance on a global scale.”
Diana Spencer, Senior Digital Content Editor, Drug Discovery World
