Despite a marginal positive shift at CEO level, overall representation of women in leadership positions has stalled across the UK biotech sector, new figures have revealed. 

The BioIndustry Association’s (BIA) report, ‘Women in Biotech Leadership: one year on’, combines PitchBook data with sector insights to track changes in representation across the C-suite, analyse capital flows to female-led companies and assess the evolving structural barriers affecting women in leadership. 

The 2025 data paints a sharply divided picture. On one hand, a handful of female-led Series A superstars – including Draig Therapeutics, T-Therapeutics and Elevara – secured some of the largest private raises of the year, demonstrating that female CEOs can outperform even the most conservative investment conditions. 

Yet beyond these outliers, the broader pipeline remains stuck. Female CEO representation has reached 18.7% – up only 0.4% from last year. Representation in technical leadership remains the lowest across C-suite roles, with chief technology officer (CTO) roles at just 14% and chief strategy officer (CSO) roles at 20%. 

While capital raised by women increased to 15% (up from 8% in 2024), this growth is highly concentrated. If the top three Series A deals are removed, the female representation in total capital raised drops to just 6%. 

Political threats to DEI progress 

The report warns that UK biotech is now battling a new headwind: political rhetoric gathering pace that threatens both progress in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and global health initiatives. Without action, the sector risks losing the competitive advantage diversity delivers. 

Jane Wall, Managing Director at BIA, said: “One year ago, we identified the structural barriers. Today, we are calling out the lack of progress. 2025 has been a year of caution and strategic maturation for the UK biotech sector, and female leaders have remained successful despite the fight against a new political current. We celebrate the ‘Series A superstars’ who secured high-conviction capital, like the landmark raises at Draig and T-Therapeutics. These results prove that female-led companies are delivering world-class science that is as attractive to investors as any male-led round in the market.  

“At the same time, we must confront a sobering fact: systemically, the dial is stuck. In addition to the structural barriers identified in last year’s report, a political rhetoric is now gathering pace that threatens both progress in DEI and in global health initiatives.”