BIA update - 6 October 2025

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. 
 
BIA are out and about again this week at Conservative Party conference and in Japan – cementing relationships with stakeholders both at home and abroad.

Jane Wall
Managing Director, BIA

Science Minister urges pension funds to invest in UK innovation 

We were delighted to see Science Minister Lord Vallance use the platform at the BVCA’s Pensions Summit to urge the pensions industry to invest in innovative companies, like life sciences, very much echoing BIA’s call to arms.  

He also unveiled a new and improved innovation clusters map, outlining pockets of research and commerce across the country, making it easier for investors to identify and support growth opportunities. 

Labour and Conservative Party Conferences 

Liverpool once again hosted Labour’s annual party conference. Our policy and public affairs team were there to fly the flag for life sciences, meet with ministers, and gain political insight at this post-euphoria, pre-delivery phase of Starmer’s government. 

BIA’s own fringe event focused on “Scaling up, not shipping out” and rounded off the conference with a stimulating panel discussion on how good the UK is at nurturing innovation and talent, and the challenges of raising capital in the UK, especially compared to its US counterparts. 

This week, we're in Manchester for the Conservative Party Conference to continue our advocacy, ensuring that the needs of UK life sciences remain a top priority for all political parties. We'll provide a full summary of our party conference takeaways next week – watch this space. 

Government expands Global Talent Visa scheme 

The government has announced its intention to double the number of people coming to the UK through high-talent visa routes. Although implementation detail was scant, we will continue to push for promotion and streamlining of the visa routes - something we have consistently advocated for, including a letter to Chancellor recently urging her to improve the Global Talent Visa scheme for our sector. Attracting top international talent is key to strengthening the UK’s position as a world-leading life sciences hub. 

OpenFold3 grows consortium; join us at TechBio UK to hear more 

The intersection of AI and biology continues to draw global investment and focus, and this week saw another major development with Bristol Myers Squibb, Takeda, and Astex Pharma joining the OpenFold3 AI consortium. This government-backed initiative is set to create the world's largest open dataset of drug-protein interactions, further cementing the UK's position as a global leader in AI-driven drug discovery.

We are looking forward to hearing more from the co-lead of OpenFold3, Professor Charlotte Deane, headlining TechBio UK next week. Tickets are going like hot cakes, so make sure you grab yours today – you can view a list of investors, pharma and techbio companies already signed up to attend. 

BIA responds to House of Lords inquiry on medicine supply 

We have responded to the House of Lords inquiry into the UK’s ability to predict and prevent medicine supply issues - highlighting the UK’s strengths and vulnerabilities. The supply chain is inherently global, and the UK remains heavily reliant on overseas production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, excipients, and other components.

While reliance can’t be eliminated, resilience can be improved by increasing the number of UK-based developers, producers, and manufacturers, particularly SMEs, which account for around 70% of medicines in development worldwide and play a vital role in innovative manufacturing. To secure resilience, policies must support SMEs as well as larger companies, encourage continued investment in innovative medicines, and create the conditions for the UK to scale up manufacturing and retain high-value activity. 

BIA in Japan 

Dr Martin Turner, our Director of Policy and External Affairs, will be busy in Japan this week, flying the flag for the UK life sciences sector alongside the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and MedCity missions. Martin will be presenting the UK’s ecosystem at the 'Global Life Science Session 2025' in Tokyo and signing an MOU with the Japan Bioindustry Association (JBA) outlining some principles for closer working between the two organisations. The trip also includes an introduction for the UK delegation to Takeshi Yamamoto, Corporate Vice President of Fujifilm Holdings. 

Women in Biotech 

Last week’s Women in Biotech event in Oxford was a resounding success -  it was so inspiring to see so many of our members and allies come together to discuss the critical issue of women’s health. An outstanding expert panel chaired by Mary Kerr and featuring Cecilia Lindgren, Kelly Curtin, Aidan Crawley and Krina Zondervan emphasised the lack of data, the importance of promoting success stories and pushing for change, the need for strong science and a clear business case, and the incredible opportunity for biotech, pharma and investors that arises from areas deemed ‘too difficult’. 
 
Fantastic presentations from early-stage companies working in women’s health brought the conversation to life, including Léa Wenger, Cyclana Bio (ex. Cycle Therapeutics), Sayoni Das, PrecisionLife and Stasa Stankovic, OvartiX. 

New data on the UK life sciences sector 

The Office for Life Sciences (OLS) has released its latest statistics for our sector from 2023 to 2024, providing a snapshot of our continued growth. The data shows our industry is a powerhouse, with 6,170 businesses across employing 359,600 people and generating £146.9 billion in turnover. Medtech leads in both company numbers (60%) and employment (55%), while the biopharma generates the highest turnover at 67%. These figures are a powerful reminder of our sector’s vital contribution to the UK economy. 

Good news for Blood Cancer UK and Myeloma patients 

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved isatuximab in combination with bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Isa-VRd) for adults with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who cannot have a stem cell transplant. This is a significant step forward, as until now, isatuximab was only available after several other treatments had been tried. The new combination can help people stay well longer and may reduce the amount of cancer left in the body after treatment.