BIA update – 5 January 2026
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. Many of you will be heading to JPM – do read on to ensure that you are signed up to the UK reception and take advantage of opportunities to promote your company.
There are further opportunities for overseas collaboration with the UK mission to the Swiss Biotech Day, the PULSE application deadline looms and we take a sneak peek at some BIA dates for your diary.
Jane Wall
Managing Director, BIA
Celebrating excellence: New Year Honours 2026
We start the year with the 2026 New Year Honours list, which recognises several individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to our sector.
Huge congratulations to BIA members and supporters, Suzanne Farid, Head of Department for UCL Biochemical Engineering, and Luisa Maria Freitas dos Santos, VP of Global Clinical Supply Chain at GSK, who both received CBEs. We also celebrate biopharma thought leader Annalisa Jenkins, who was awarded an OBE, and Alan Boyd, Founder and CEO of Boyds, who was awarded an MBE. It’s great to have sector expertise and dedication recognised at the highest level, reflecting the critical importance of our industry to the nation's health and economy.
UK @ JPM – lookbook deadline today
The JP Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPM) takes place next week (12-15 January) in San Francisco. With the UK attracting 40% of all biotech venture capital financing across Europe in 2024 and being the first country to achieve 0% tariffs on pharmaceutical exports to the US, the UK will be going out on the front foot this year – feeling confident of the global recognition (demonstrated by London Life Sciences Week 2025), the trade advantage and the political support.
We would love to see you at an exclusive reception to network with the UK delegation and businesses, hosted by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) in partnership with the BIA. The opportunity to connect with fellow UK innovators, global investors and international partners will take place on Monday from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm at the Marines’ Memorial Club (more details and RSVP).
To maximise global investment exposure during JPM week, the DBT and OLS have compiled the official UK@JPM2026 innovator lookbook, a strategic catalogue distributed to key global investors, VCs and health systems. It is set for a refresh this week.
If your company is travelling to JPM and seeking investment or partnership opportunities, please submit your company details to be featured in the lookbook.
Compensation benchmarking data – take part by 9 January
At the close of last year, we reminded companies to participate in the Thelander survey in order to build a solid UK cohort to be able to compare alongside global data. For those of you looking to salary benchmark in 2026, now is your last chance to take a look at the free Thelander Global Year-End Merit Increase, Option Pool & Bonus Survey by Friday 9 January to secure real-time compensation data for your entire organisation, plus a year-end report with salary increase percentages, bonus factors, amounts and more.
PULSE – apply by 18 January
PULSE is a free three-day leadership and entrepreneurship training programme for up-and-coming life sciences entrepreneurs, running 16-18 March in collaboration with the Francis Crick Institute.
Having supported nearly 200 aspiring entrepreneurs since 2018, PULSE is an amazing opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs and first-time CEO exploring how to launch an innovative life science company. If you or someone you know has a transformative idea for a biotech start-up would benefit from meeting and learning from previous start-up CEOs and investors, submit your application by 18 January 2026.
Also, be sure to read the latest PULSE report, which shines a spotlight on two innovative spinouts and PULSE alumni – Marra Bio and ConsoneAI, both of which have successfully secured funding to advance their groundbreaking research.
Gala Dinner
The BIA Gala Dinner is just around the corner, taking place at the Roundhouse in Camden on 29 January 2026. The event is sold out, and we look forward to seeing 750 of the sector's finest, whilst having the opportunity to fundraise for our new charity partner - Muscular Dystrophy UK! We can’t wait to see what the collaboration has in store.
BIA events for your diary
In addition to our Gala Dinner, Women in Biotech will be returning to Hinxton in Cambridge on 5 March – snap up your tickets now for a full day of inspiration and celebration ahead of International Women’s Day.
The inaugural BioSolutions UK conference will take place on 21 April 2026 in London - the definitive industry event where engineering, biology, and innovation converge to support companies to grow, scale and succeed.
Also, save the date for Start-up Festival on 21 May; Life Science Leadership Summit on 8-9 June; Summer Party on 2 July; TechBio UK on 13 October; and bioProcessUK on 17-19 November.
Swiss Biotech Day 2026
Another reminder to join us at Swiss Biotech Day 2026. For the first time, the UK will have a dedicated booth in the Global Village at Swiss Biotech Day – one of Europe’s leading biotech conferences. UK innovation will be showcased on a global stage, giving our sector the chance to connect with Swiss and international biotech leaders and life sciences clusters. Please contact Miriam Gedge if you are interested in joining us.
Included in the UK Delegation:
- A discounted ticket for Swiss Biotech Day;
- option to participate in the Eureka Global Innovation Summit on 6 May;
- access to a side programme, including visits to leading Swiss biotech clusters;
- opportunity to apply for pitching sessions to showcase your innovation.
M&A activity
The broader market sentiment is one of renewed activity. Cambridge-based Cycle Pharma is set to purchase US competitor Applied Therapeutics, which has struggled since suffering clinical and regulatory setbacks. Applied Therapeutics was valued at more than $1 billion a year ago, but will be snapped up for about $15 million, plus potential future milestone amounts. This acquisition demonstrates a clear return in value for shareholders that we hope will translate into sustained further investment for the UK sector.
Furthermore, in December, BioMarin entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Amicus – both BIA members – for $14.50 per share in an all-cash transaction for a total equity value of approximately $4.8 billion.
The transactions come at a time when analysts expect a notable uptick in global biopharma M&A in 2026, driven by falling interest rates, looming patent cliffs and renewed buyer confidence. Industry reports indicate that 2026-27 may mark one of the strongest M&A cycles in years, with both big pharma and increasingly active mid‑cap biopharma seeking to replenish pipelines and secure differentiated clinical‑stage assets. We'll be keeping a close eye on activity at JPM next week.
