BIA update – 10 November 2025
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.
Chancellor highlights biotech as a core UK strength
Following the publication of the UK biotech financing Q3 numbers, clearly demonstrating fragility in the face of significant headwinds, we used the data to write to the Chancellor, highlighting our key Autumn Budget asks, with the support of over 200 member CEOs.
Jane Wall
Managing Director, BIA
When Rachel Reeves then cited AI and biotech as core strengths of the UK (the only sectors cited), we ensured that we grasped the opportunity to push the message further, getting coverage in The Times, coinciding with another report published from the House of Lords, Bleeding to death: the science and technology growth emergency.
We will continue to press, meeting Treasury officials and Parliamentarians over the next few weeks. Following the Autumn Budget on 26 November, BIA will provide a full analysis on 2 December – you can sign up to our webinar to find out more.
We have also signed a letter to the Chancellor coordinated by the London Stock Exchange (LSE), urging her to require that workplace pensions’ default fund have a 25% UK allocation across all asset classes. This complements our own letter’s call for Rachel Reeves to double down on the Mansion House agenda. BIA members, including GSK, Oxford Nanopore and Greywolf Therapeutics, among others, also signed the LSE letter. If you would like to add your signature, please email [email protected].
Biomedical Catalyst 2025 competition now open
The news we have all been waiting for: Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst 2025 competition is now open! Through this latest round, Innovate UK is making up to £25 million available to support the development of cutting-edge technologies and approaches that address key health and healthcare challenges.
The Biomedical Catalyst remains a cornerstone of the UK’s life sciences innovation ecosystem, bridging the critical funding gap between discovery and commercialisation, and helping to translate world-class research into real-world health impact. BIA played a pivotal role in establishing the Biomedical Catalyst and is consistently championing its continuation as a vital source of early-stage funding for UK bioscience companies. Find out more and apply
Future of UK Regulation and major reform to accelerate rare disease treatments
The BIA Future of UK Life Sciences Regulation conference last Thursday brought together all key stakeholders to discuss progress in clinical trials, patient access and smart regulation. It was a dynamic and packed day of thought leadership: some really positive news around the success of the cancer vaccine trial pilot and plans to expand the concept; the setting up of an NIHR Industry Hub to help set up contracting and recruitment across NIHR and NHS; MHRA review times consistency down and combined reviews with HRA deemed a USP for the UK; an MHRA pro-innovation agenda, strategic prioritisation and collaboration across agencies and overall a consistent focus through the day on end-to-end thinking.
Having a supportive and pro-innovation regulation and access environment will be crucial in ensuring that the UK is a great place to get things done in life sciences – so it was really fantastic to hear MHRA announcing major reforms to accelerate rare disease treatments in the UK, signalling a shift towards faster, more flexible approval pathways. Around 3.5 million people in the UK – one in 17 – live with a rare disease, yet fewer than 5% currently have an approved treatment. Many families wait years for diagnosis and access to therapies; 30% of affected children die before age five.
The reforms could allow a single approval covering clinical trial and early access, supported by strict safety monitoring, and explore digital twins and real-world data to overcome challenges of small patient groups. A new Rare Disease Consortium of patients, clinicians and industry will help develop the full framework, due next year.
10 years of CPI
I joined the ’10 years of CPI’ celebration event in Darlington on Tuesday, and it was great to hear in detail about the beginnings and the development of CPI over that time – and indeed how it has been a core part of the building of expert critical mass in the North East, alongside FUJIFILM Biotechnologies and others.
Collaboration was the theme of the day, and it was interesting to hear about all the different ways in which expertise was being shared with the wider community, alongside the challenges of strategic direction for a Catapult that is required to serve different constituents. There is no doubt that the expertise in RNA has ensured the UK has firm leadership in this important modality, and BIA has enjoyed our collaboration with CPI on our mRNA explainer and annual conference.
London Life Sciences Week 2025
London Life Sciences Week kicks off on Sunday evening with the ‘Welcome to London’ reception at Somerset House – and then rolls through next week with a plethora of events and gatherings. We are looking forward in particular to Wednesday at Victoria House, when our International Investor Summit in collaboration with London & Partners will be followed by the 3rd Biotech CEO and Investor Reception in collaboration with BioCentury, Pioneer Group and Precision BioSearch.
Don’t forget to sign up for the networking platform, partneringONE, and BIA members have exclusive use of the member lounge at Victoria House for the week (subject to availability). You can either book through meetings in partneringONE or email [email protected] to book a working space.
