Resources

J.P. Morgan’s healthcare conference may be wrapped up, but it has set some tangible momentum and without doubt a more buoyant mood for global life sciences going into 2026.

This week JPM kicks off in San Francisco with BIA hosting a UK Reception. A significant week for BIA too with the long-awaited announcement of our new CEO.

Happy New Year to all our BIA members and collaborators. We hope that the break has provided an opportunity for a refresh, ready for a jam-packed 2026.

BIA thought leadership takes centre stage with two key reports published: last week saw the release of 'From innovation to impact: unlocking patient access to innovative rare disease medicines', and today 'UK cell and gene therapy: driving efficiencies and innovation' celebrates real-world UK success.

In this analysis by Dr Martin Turner, Director of Policy and External Affairs, BIA, discover how the 2025 Budget could supercharge UK life sciences scale-ups with major investment incentives - while also highlighting potential risks from rising business rates.

Read our statement welcoming the Chancellor’s extended venture investment tax incentives and support for employee share options, as well as the prioritisation of tax and spending decisions in areas where the UK can lead and win.

In this blog, Lewis Miles, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the BIA, reflects on an intense period of engagement with Ministers and Parliament ahead of the Autumn Budget.

London Life Sciences Week kicked off last night with a buzzing reception at Somerset House and we’re looking forward to a jam-packed week of networking and events. Great to see the incredible hard work from the BIA and L&P teams come to life – shining a global light on the incredible UK ecosystem. At the same time, we’re seeing the UK take a leading role in pro-innovation regulation, from last week’s enactment of the Precision Breeding Act to Lawrence Tallon’s insights on the MHRA’s proportionate, strategic future approach, and now need the government to invest in the sector and ensure the commercial environment enables the UK to build on this world-beating foundation.

BIA’s influence and connect were out in force last week – grasping a timely opportunity to get our key Autumn Budget asks across impactfully to the Chancellor with the clear backing of over 200 member CEOs, and putting on a dynamic, pro-innovation Future of UK Regulation conference, featuring MHRA and NICE CEOs amongst other key stakeholders.

As discussion around the Autumn Budget heats up, BIA is leading a unified call to the Chancellor to back the science, the entrepreneurs and the life sciences industry that can fuel transformational growth for the UK economy. Our sector letter highlights key growth levers and indeed the barriers that hold the sector back in already challenging global conditions. 

Find out about how opposition parties are positioning themselves in an increasingly fragmented political landscape, and what it might mean for our sector now and in the long term.

It’s TechBio week and we’re celebrating the UK’s leading role in AI and life sciences with significant investment and interest from global players and our own flagship TechBio UK conference and 2025 report launch. 

BIA and Japan Bioindustry Association signed an MOU, agreeing to work together to connect the two countries’ life sciences and biotech ecosystems to accelerate medical innovation and the commercialisation of engineering biology.

Good to see support for BIA agendas in government messaging as we continue to push for pension fund reform, attracting the best global talent, UK manufacturing resilience and addressing the challenges of scaling.

Ellie Avni, Senior Director in Employment Tax and Reward at FTI Consulting, explores how the new PISCES platform could reshape EMI and CSOP share option plans – creating fresh opportunities for flexibility and tax-efficient value realisation.

The BIA moves into a new era this week, amidst news from the US on tariffs for UK pharma, UK political party conferences underway and a change in leadership at GSK. It’s full steam ahead for BIA towards a busy Autumn, ensuring that the life science sector stays at the top of the government’s priority list and that our members are represented and connected.