CEO Update | 14 March 2022

CEPI conference

I was delighted to represent the UK sector at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit, with partners and colleagues from across the global life sciences sector.

Key takeaways included Prime Minister Boris Johnson announcing that DIOSynVax, a biotech spinout of the University of Cambridge, will receive $42 million (about £32 million) to develop a vaccine candidate that could provide protection against both existing and future variants of SARS-CoV-2.

Moderna announced its global public health strategy, which includes advancing vaccines targeting 15 pathogens identified as the biggest public health risk by WHO and CEPI into clinical studies by 2025 and mRNA Access, a new collaboration for researchers to utilise Moderna’s mRNA technology.

Supporting aspiring entrepreneurs and CEOs

Today is the first day of PULSE, a three-day leadership and entrepreneurship training Programme for Up-and-coming Life Sciences Entrepreneurs. Developed by the BIA and the Francis Crick Institute, the programme is aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs and first-time CEOs looking for advanced practical advice, support and feedback from established CEOs, leading entrepreneurs and renowned professionals. Do keep an eye on our Twitter and LinkedIn for coverage of the programme, and if you would like further information please contact Sam Cruickshank.

Cytiva opens new Cardiff manufacturing facility

The great news for the UK ecosystem is that BIA member Cytiva has opened its new manufacturing facility in Cardiff, which will manufacture single-use bioprocessing technologies used to make vaccines and biopharmaceuticals for global customers. The facility is part of a £300 million investment over two years with Pall Life Sciences into UK operations and is set to create 250 new jobs, which shows the value of investing in UK life sciences.

COVID-19 vaccines waiver

The Peoples Vaccine campaign published a letter on Friday with several high-profile celebrities (Harry and Megan Markle) and politicians (former Prime Minister Gordon Brown) calling for the waiving of IP on COVID-19 vaccines to ensure those in the global south can be vaccinated. As I have said repeatedly, the issue on access to vaccines is not as simply waiving intellectual property but increasing global vaccine manufacturing capacity in the global south (such as Moderna’s recent announcement for an RNA manufacturing facility in Kenya) and ensuring local health systems are equipped to deploy these innovative vaccines.

Oxford cluster in the spotlight

It was great to see so many familiar faces in Oxford last week as part of the BIA’s event at Oxford Science Park focussing on skills. I was pleased to hear from member companies such as Oxford Biomedica, Advanced Oxford, Enara Bio and the University of Oxford talking about the great innovation taking place in the Oxford cluster. I noted an article in the Sunday Times (£) which explained how the Clarendon Centre (a once-thriving shopping centre) will be converted from retail space into laboratory space, which will be the new headquarters for Oxford Science Enterprises. It leads to the question - could biotech be the future of the UK high street?

 

 

Steve Bates OBE
CEO, BioIndustry Association

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