Best Communication Award

sponsored by Optimum Strategic Communications.

 
The 2020 shortlist:

Abcam plc 

Cambridge-based Abcam is a global life sciences company providing highly validated antibodies and other binders and assays to research and clinical communities.

Abcam have a very active IR team who ensure their communication is both clear and consistent. The group’s Annual Report was one of the highest scorers in the benchmarking exercise and clearly communicates the strategic progress made by the company. The website contains some excellent navigational tools in addition to a wealth of content for shareholders and investors.

Abcam held its first Capital Markets Day in November 2019 which the Voting Panel noted as being extremely well attended and very well received.

argenx SE 

Belgium-based argenx is a global immunology company.

The company is known for its consistently outstanding investor communication. It was noted by the Voting Panel that Argenx communicates with clarity and transparency and the group regularly publishes its strategic goals and timelines across all aspects of the business.

argenx has been very active during the period under review and has maintained regular communication with stakeholders throughout. argenx has a solid investor website which scored well in the benchmarking exercise. The group’s IR team held a large number of conferences and business updates across the year.

Calliditas Therapeutics 

Stockholm-based Calliditas Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with an initial focus on renal and hepatic diseases.

2019 was an exceptional year for Calliditas, with the group achieving many major milestones, culminating in its NASDAQ IPO. For the period under review, the Voting Panel acknowledged that Calliditas maintained very clear messaging with its stakeholders, in addition to ensuring significant financial disclosure above and beyond the expected level.

The group’s Annual Report broke fresh ground with an interview with the founder of a renal disease foundation. Calliditas held an informative Capital Markets Day at the end of last year.

Ergomed Plc 

Surrey-based Ergomed provides specialist services to the pharmaceutical industry spanning all phases of clinical development, post-approval pharmacovigilance and medical information.

Ergomed is another company that had a transformational year last year. This was reflected in its investor communications. The Voting Panel noted that Ergomed’s new CEO had a large volume of news to communicate, involving some complex transactions, and this was done effectively and with complete transparency. The group’s recent involvement in providing services to the re-purposing of three compounds for critically ill patients with COVID-19 has also been communicated to the investor audience with clarity.

Breakthrough of the Year Award

sponsored by FTI Consulting

 
The 2020 shortlist:

Amryt Pharma plc 

Amryt is a biopharmaceutical company comprising a growing commercial business, combined with a significant development pipeline.

In May 2019, Amryt announced its acquisition of US-based Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, resulting in its rapid transformation from a one-product company to a global player in rare and orphan diseases with two commercialised products, a US salesforce and extended market reach. Amryt also successfully raised £60m in new equity from new and existing investors.

The Voting Panel commented on the complexity of the Aegerion deal and noted that Amryt had subsequently broken the biotech mould; the transformational effect of the deal can be seen across the group’s significant growth in market cap from c.£34m to c.£152m in the period

Genmab A/S 

Genmab is an international, dual-listed biotech company. The group’s ultimate goal is to transform cancer treatment with its own products and have a pipeline of knock-your-socks-off antibodies.

Genmab celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019, which was a momentous year for the company with breakthroughs achieved in all areas of its business. The group advanced its innovative pipeline through a variety of new strategic partnerships, including an exclusive worldwide license and option agreement with Janssen.

Genmab’s partnered products also made significant progress, receiving multiple regulatory submissions and approvals, including DARZALEX, which is approaching triple-blockbuster status for use in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Novacyt 

Novacyt is an AIM-listed international diagnostics business generating an increasing portfolio of in vitro and molecular diagnostic tests.

In January 2020, Novacyt commenced the development of a new test in response to the emerging COVID-19 threat. The group’s polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, developed by its subsidiary Primerdesign, was first launched as a research-only test at the end of January, and received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA in mid-February.

It was noted by the Voting Panel that Novacyt has experienced unprecedented global demand for its test and is supplying more than 100 countries worldwide. The group significantly increased its manufacturing capacity and now has eight manufacturing sites capable of producing COVID-19 tests at a rate of more than ten million tests per month. Sales, orders and commitments to purchase the test since initial launch have significantly exceeded expectations and will be financially transformational for the business.

Silence Therapeutics Plc 

Silence Therapeutics is a specialist in RNA (ribonucleic acid) therapies, which is a clinical approach that aims to stifle (or ‘silence’) the production of disease-causing proteins in the body.

The Voting Panel commented that the period under review has been transformational for the group which secured multiple high value research and collaboration agreements, namely with AstraZeneca, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and Takeda.

Shares in Silence Therapeutics soared in March 2020 after the group announced its most recent deal with AstraZeneca, which was worth $80m in addition to a further $400m in milestone payments and royalties. The collaboration covers potential therapies for cardiovascular, kidney, metabolic, and respiratory disorders and is further validation of Silence Therapeutics propriety RNAi platform.

Best Technology Award

sponsored by MC Services AG

 
The 2020 shortlist:

Abivax SA 

Abivax is focused on developing therapies to effectively treat inflammatory and viral diseases as well as cancer.

The group’s technology is based on cutting-edge science, driven by the goal of developing therapeutics that stimulate the body’s natural immune mechanisms to cure diseases. Abivax’s lead candidate ABX464, is an oral, best-in-class, small molecule that has demonstrated safety and profound anti-inflammatory activity based on a novel mechanism of action. The drug effectively puts a brake on inflammation, whereas conventional treatments often lose their effectiveness after a certain duration.

argenx SE 

argenx SE is a global immunology company that has developed a pipeline of differentiated antibody therapeutics with its Simple Antibody platform.

Last year argenx and Halozyme Therapeutics announced a global collaboration and license agreement enabling the group to use Halozyme's ENHANZE® drug delivery technology to develop multiple subcutaneous product formulations for current or future product candidates. The agreement provides argenx with exclusive access to ENHANZE® for any product targeting the human neonatal Fc receptor FcRn, including argenx's lead asset efgartigimod (ARGX-113) and up to two additional targets. This is significant as it will potentially shorten drug administration time, reduce healthcare practitioner time and offer additional flexibility for patients.

Oxford Biomedica plc 

Oxford BioMedica (OXB) is the only FDA-approved lentiviral vector manufacturer worldwide.

Oxford BioMedica’s lentiviral platform is extremely versatile. Its commercial and clinical value has been consistently proven, with partner programmes having increased from nine to nineteen in the period. Further validation of the technology was recently demonstrated with its licence and clinical supply agreement with Juno Therapeutics worth over $200m.

OXB also made significant developments in its bioprocessing capabilities over the past year, including the development of Oxbox, which will further enable the group to support its product pipeline and meet the increasing global demand for lentiviral vectors.

Renalytix AI plc 

Renalytix AI is an AIM-listed developer of clinical grade artificial intelligence in vitro diagnostics for kidney disease.

The group’s technology platform utilises distinct sources of patient data, including large electronic health records, predictive blood-based biomarkers and genomic information to predict which high risk patients are likely to fall into dialysis.

Renalytix AI hit a number of key milestones on its pathway to FDA approval for KidneyIntelX™ in the period, including key targets for pricing, insurance payor determination and other regulatory markers. The product is already revenue generating and national roll-out is expected later this year in the US.

Mediscience Commentator of the Year Award

sponsored by Instinctif Partners

 
The 2020 shortlist:

Lucie Ellis/In Vivo 

Lucie is the Executive Editor of In Vivo, an Informa Pharma Intelligence publication providing specialist insight and analysis for the pharmaceutical, medtech and diagnostics sectors.

In Vivo provides comprehensive industry analysis to help inform corporate strategies. It was highlighted by the Voting Panel as being a trusted source of lifescience information and analysis, and Lucy, in particular, plays a vital role in contributing to this.

Lucie is an experienced sector commentator, having covered the ups and downs of the pharmaceutical industry since joining the Informa Pharma Intelligence team in 2012. Prior to In Vivo, Lucie was a Senior Editor at Scrip and Pink Sheet where she gained vast experience covering the biopharma and medtech markets.

Stephen Hansen/BioCentury 

Stephen is Associate Editor at BioCentury, where he serves as a primary point of contact with European companies and investors.

Stephen is well known and well connected in the industry and it was noted by the Voting Panel that his writing does a proficient job of covering both financial and scientific viewpoints.

Stephen has covered clinical development, corporate strategy and finance in Europe, the US and China for over a decade and is a frequent contributor to BioCentury’s quarterly Financial Markets Preview and annual Buyside View and European Finance reports.

Sabah Meddings/The Sunday Times 

Sabah is a Business Reporter at the Sunday Times, reporting on some of the biggest stories in the pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences sectors.

Sabah’s work has included analysis of the strategy of large pharma, along with trends driving development, funding and innovation in smaller companies and university spin outs. Sabah is keen to make Life Sciences accessible to a general audience because she believes raising the profile of the sector is key to ensuring it receives the attention of government and international investors.

Prior to the Sunday Times, Sabah was a City Correspondent at the Daily Mail, where she wrote across all sectors.

Nuala Moran/BioWorld 

Nuala Moran is a Freelance Science Journalist and has been part of the BioWorld team since 1996.

Nuala is a passionate advocate for the lifescience sector and is considered to be one of Europe's most experienced science and technology journalists. She recently extended her remit to cover medtech and the Voting Panel commented on Nuala’s extensive coverage of the scientific and commercial development of the biotechnology sector in Europe and the US.

Nuala was formerly Managing Editor of science journal, Nature,and, prior to this, was Innovation Editor of The Independent on Sunday and also Deputy Editor of Computer Weekly.

Capital Market Transaction of the Year Award

sponsored by SP Angel

 
The 2020 shortlist:

Amryt Pharma plc 

Also shortlisted for the Breakthrough of the year Award, 2019/2020 has been a sensational year for Dublin-based Amryt Pharma.

In September 2019, Amryt completed the acquisition of US based Aegerion Pharmaceuticals in what the Voting Panel described as “one of the most complex Capital Market transactions ever seen”. The deal involved Amryt reversing into a significantly larger company, that had previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, whilst also raising $60m in equity.

The result of the transaction has rapidly transformed Amryt from a one-product company to having two commercialised products, a US salesforce and enhanced global market reach, establishing the group as an international player in the orphan disease space.

Galapados NV 

Galapagos has been shortlisted in no less than three categories at the 2020 awards, demonstrating the magnitude of the group’s achievements in the period.

In July last year, Galapagos entered into a transformative 10-year global research and development collaboration with US antiviral drugmaker, Gilead, allowing the group to access all Galapagos’ current and future programs outside of Europe.

Gilead invested $5.1bn in the major expansion of its partnership with the group, resulting in shares in Galapagos rising to an all-time high. The Voting Panel agreed that not only was the deal transformational for Galapagos, it also reflected well on the whole European biotech sector.

Genmab A/S 

Another triple shortlisting for Genmab, Europe’s largest independent biotech, which also had a transformative and record-breaking year.

In July last year, Genmab raised $582m in Europe’s largest ever Nasdaq IPO, giving the group a market cap of $11.6bn. The group reached its current position based on two approved products: Arzerra, sold by Novartis; and its blockbuster blood cancer drug, Darzalex, developed in partnership with Janssen.

The funds raised have allowed Genmab to accelerate its pipeline of differentiated and well-tolerated antibodies alongside its approved products via alliances.

MorphoSys AG 

Munich-based MorphoSys has a focus on cancer, and, together with its partners, the group has developed more than 100 product candidates, of which 28 are currently in clinical development In January 2020, MorphoSys signed a unique $2bn global collaboration and licence agreement with Incyte, for its lead candidate, tafasitamab. The deal triggered an upfront payment of $750m plus an equity investment from Incyte of $150m. In addition, MorphoSys is eligible to receive milestone payments totalling up to $1.1bn, making it transformational for the group. MorphoSys and Incyte will co-commercialise tafasitamab in the US, with MorphoSys leading the commercialisation strategy.

Most Significant Contribution to the Mediscience Sector Award

sponsored by Covington

 
The 2020 shortlist:

Steve Bates/BIA 

Steve Bates has been CEO of the UK BioIndustry Association since 2012. He also chairs the International Council of Biotech Associations and has been a board member of Europabio since 2015. Steve is the visible force of the vibrant UK life sciences industry to government and media.

Steve was described by the Voting Panel as “an absolute power-house” who has relentlessly lobbied and campaigned with positive results. One such example: in February this year, Steve convened a group to address the problem of Covid-19 vaccine scale-up and delivery. Within one month, the UK had a "coalition of the willing" with credible plans to supply 100m vaccine doses to the UK and beyond.

An expert and regular commentator on the sector in the media and at conferences, Steve has worked both in biotech and at the highest levels of UK government for over 15 years.

Clive Cookson/Financial Times 

Previous winner of the European Mediscience Commentator of the Year Award, Clive is the FT’s Science Editor, covering the field of science, spanning medicine, space and research policy.

Clive also guides the coverage of science in the FT, discussing key policy issues, from R&D funding to science education. Clive has worked in science journalism for the entire duration of his career. His commitment to the sector was commended by the Voting Panel and his expertise in his field is unrivalled. Clive shines a light on unique science in an accessible way and his passion for the sector is consistently evident.

Prior to the FT, Clive worked previously as Science Correspondent for BBC Radio.

European Investment Bank 

EIB is the lending arm of the European Union. It is the biggest multilateral financial institution in the world and one of the largest providers of climate finance. EIB also has a share in the European Investment Fund (EIF), which invests in SMEs.EIB’s current pipeline of projects in the health sector amounts to around €5bn. The bank’s Infectious Disease Finance Facility also committed over €300m in the first quarter of this year alone. The Voting Panel were particularly impressed with EIB’s swift response to Covid-19, which was strategic and determined and involved funding the development of effective therapies, novel vaccines and diagnostics.

EIB’s reach across the sector has been extensive and its investment, in many cases, has been transformative.

Andreas and Thomas Strüngmann 

Andreas and Thomas Strüngmann have been writing the history of the German pharmaceutical industry since 1979. The twin brothers invest in biotech, pharma, life sciences and healthcare companies and their portfolio includes BioNTech and AiCuris.

The Strüngmann’s have been on a long and successful journey in the healthcare sector, starting with co-founding Hexal in 1986. They later sold their generic drugmaker Hexal (plus a stake in Eon Labs) to Novartis for some $7bn and have continued to fund breakthrough science and innovative biomedicines. The Strüngmann brothers have built an impressive portfolio of biotechnology leaders such Mega Pharma and BioNtech, culminating in its IPO in 2019.

In 2008, The Strüngmann’s established a neuroscience research centre in Frankfurt named after their father.

The Emerging Star Award

sponsored by Design Portfolio

 
The 2020 shortlist:

Achilles Therapeutics 

Hertfordshire-based Achilles Therapeutics was founded by world-leading experts in cancer evolution, bioinformatics and cell-based immunotherapies. The company brings together these disciplines to develop next-generation, patient-specific cell therapies that harness the immune system to destroy cancer cells.

Achilles uses DNA sequencing data from each patient, together with its proprietary bioinformatics platform, to identify clonal neoantigens specific to that patient, to enable the development of personalised cell therapies. The group has made rapid progress in this area, having moved from concept to clinic-ready in less than three years.

In September last year, Achilles closed a £100m Series B financing to enable the group to continue expansion of its solid tumour pre-clinical product pipeline.

Artios Pharma 

Cambridge-based Artios Pharma is an independent DNA Damage Response (DDR) company with a strong pipeline of novel cancer therapies in development.

Since launch in 2016, Artios has grown into a leading DDR company with an exciting pipeline of assets, a world-class R&D team and an enviable financial position following two successful fundraises from high calibre investors. The funds raised validate the group’s pipeline and provide the opportunity for DDR to yield new breakthrough oncology products.

Artios is collaborating with a global network of leading researchers in the DDR field, including Cancer Research UK, and the Francis Crick Institute, to maintain its leading position.

iTeos Therapeutics 

Based in Belgium, iTeos Therapeutics is a biotech company with a deep understanding of the tumour microenvironment. The group uses immunosuppressive pathways to design novel product candidates to improve the clinical benefit of oncology therapies.

iTeos’ innovative pipeline includes two clinical-stage programmes targeting novel, validated immuno-oncology pathways; an A2A antagonist targeting the adenosine pathway and an anti-TIGIT mAb targeting regulatory T cells. The TIGIT space is big news in the sector currently, with both Roche and Merck currently carrying out clinical trials.

In April this year, iTeos raised $125m in a Series B financing, which will be used to accelerate and expand the clinical development of its two lead products.

Quanta Dialysis Technologies 

Warwickshire-based Quanta Dialysis is a technology-enabled provider of innovative dialysis products and services. The group aims to improve the lives of dialysis patients through its engineered solutions.

Quanta’s lead product, SC+, is a small, versatile haemodialysis system designed to provide greater freedom in the delivery of life-sustaining dialysis treatment. The group’s initial launch plans for SC+ were dramatically altered by the COVID-19 pandemic when it was asked to redirect all available SC+ devices for urgent use in ICU. Consequently, Quanta provided machines at four leading NHS Trusts and within one month had placed the total number of machines intended for roll-out in the first six-months of launch.

Chief Executive of the Year Award

sponsored by Panmure Gordon

 
The 2020 shortlist:

Renée Aguiar-Lucander/Calliditas Therapeutics

Renée has been CEO of Calliditas Therapeutics since 2017. Prior to joining the group, she sat on the other side of table, as Partner and COO of Omega Fund Management, focusing on investments within the life sciences sector.

Since becoming CEO of Calliditas, Renée has totally transformed the business. She implemented a new strategy, recruited a team in Europe and the US and developed the group’s clinical asset, with outstanding results. Renée took the biotech through an IPO in Stockholm, raising a sizable $82m and subsequently signed a multi-million-dollar deal with Everest Medicines, whilst also hitting transformational regulatory milestones.

Renée successfully completed a follow-on financing for Calliditas in July 2019 and in January this year announced plans for a transformational US NASDAQ listing, which completed just last month.

John Dawson/Oxford BioMedica plc

John was appointed CEO of Oxford BioMedica in October 2008. He initially joined the Board as Non-Executive Director and prior to this held senior management positions in the European operations of Cephalon Inc.

John has guided Oxford Biomedica through a stellar year in which the group’s partner programmes have more than doubled from nine to nineteen. In March 2020, John secured a major new deal with Juno Therapeutics, giving the group access to its LentiVector platform and committing to at least five years of clinical supply, making the collaboration worth over $200m. Other noteworthy partnerships driven by John during the period include the extension of its commercial supply agreement with Novartis, and the R&D collaboration and Option and Licence Agreement with Santen in June 2019.

A new management structure was implemented by John last year as the workforce increased to meet the exponential demand for gene and cell therapies.

Onno van de Stolpe/Galapagos NV

Onno is the Founder and CEO of Galapagos. He initially launched the biotech as a fee-for-service company, however the group is now focused on its own R&D programmes and over the last twenty years has grown into one of the largest biotechs in Europe.

Onno is an inspirational leader who delivered a momentous year for Galapagos. In June last year, Onno orchestrated a deal with Gilead Sciences who invested $5.1bn to develop and commercialise its treatments over a ten-year period. This was transformative for Galapagos, securing its independent R&D and allowing it to expand its commercial presence, ultimately helping the group achieve its ambition to become one of the largest biopharma companies globally.

In addition, for the first time in Galapagos’ history, the group has a drug candidate from its pipeline under review for approval, which it will commercialise in partnership with Gilead.

Jan van de Winkel/Genmab A/S

Jan is a co-founder of Genmab and served as President, Research & Development and Chief Scientific Officer until his appointment as CEO in 2010. Jan has more than 25 years of experience in the therapeutic antibody field.

2019 was also the 20th anniversary year for Genmab and one which was historic for the group, with breakthroughs completed in all areas of the business, achieved through Jan's outstanding leadership. The group experienced unprecedented progress in the development of its early-stage proprietary pipeline and secured multiple new strategic partnerships in the period, including an exclusive worldwide license and option agreement with Janssen. In addition, it was a transformational year for DARZALEX, which is approaching triple-blockbuster status.

Jan led the group through its NASDAQ IPO in July, a significant milestone for the business, and the second largest US IPO ever achieved by a biotechnology company.

Company of the Year Award

sponsored by WG Partners

 
The 2020 shortlist:

argenx SE 

It’s been an outstanding year for argenx, led by Tim Van Hauwermeiren, who was crowned CEO of the Year at the European Mediscience Awards 2019. The group’s run of success has continued, validated by its triple shortlisting at the awards this year.

During the period, argenx made significant progress towards its 2021 vision of becoming a fully integrated, global immunology company. The group ran five registrational and seven earlier-stage clinical trials, fuelling its ambition to have five product launches in five years, starting in 2021.

argenx’s milestone moment came through its first ever pivotal Phase III ADAPT trial of efgartigimod, for the treatment of myasthenia gravis, a rare and chronic autoimmune disease. Positive results from the trial were announced just outside the period, in May this year, and the group is now planning to submit to the US FDA.

AstraZeneca plc 

AstraZeneca focuses on three main therapy areas: Oncology; Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM); and Respiratory, whilst also selectively pursuing therapies in Autoimmunity, Infection and Neuroscience.

AstraZeneca has led the way in life sciences in the UK, Europe and beyond, transforming the life sciences landscape and building an ecosystem to support others in the sector. Last year was the first full year of AstraZeneca’s return to Product Sales growth, achieved by transforming its pipeline and focusing on science-led innovation.

AZ has a unique ability to respond to a changing world. This was perfectly demonstrated recently by the group’s agreement to supply, if successful, up to 400m doses of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford, before the end of 2020.

Galapados NV 

Another triple shortlisting for Galapagos, who had a stand-out, historic year. The group’s CEO, Onno Van de Stolpe, has also been nominated for CEO of the year for leading the business through its remarkable year.

In July last year, Galapagos announced it was entering into a 10-year collaboration with Gilead Sciences, worth $5.1bn. The deal gave Gilead access to Galapagos’ six clinical-phase assets, 20 preclinical programs and its future products over the next decade, effectively safeguarding the independence of Galapagos and giving it the ability to mature into a multiproduct, commercial-stage company.

The 20th anniversary year was also significant for Galapagos because, for the first time in the group’s history, a drug candidate from its pipeline is under review for approval. Pending approval, it is now preparing to commercialise filgotinib in partnership with Gilead.

Genmab A/S 

A record breaking four nominations for Genmab at this year’s awards, reflecting the momentous year the group has had, with breakthroughs achieved in all areas of its business. CEO, Jan van de Winkel was also shortlisted? nominated for CEO of the Year 2020.

During the period, Genmab experienced unprecedented progress in the development of its early-stage proprietary pipeline and also secured multiple new strategic partnerships, including an exclusive worldwide license and option agreement with Janssen. In addition, it was a transformational year for DARZALEX, which is approaching triple-blockbuster status and for ofatumumab, which is being commercialised by Novartis.

The other significant milestone for the business was its NASDAQ IPO in July 2019.This was the second largest US IPO ever achieved by a European biotech and establishes Genmab as a world-class antibody innovation powerhouse.