Cream of life sciences sector celebrate big achievements

GREATER Manchester-based life sciences companies landed a raft of top prizes last night at the 15th annual Bionow Awards.

Celebrating the crème-de-la-crème of talent in the North of England and sponsored by Manchester Science Partnerships, the awards ceremony recognised the life science  industry’s highest achievers.
 
Around 400 people attended the gala dinner at The Mere Golf Resort and Spa, Cheshire. The evening was hosted by comedian and broadcaster Paul Sinha, one of the stars of the ITV quiz The Chase.

Among the biggest winners on the night were Eccles-based F2G, which took home the Investment Deal of the Year Award (sponsored by QIAGEN) in recognition of its $60m financing round to fund the launch of a completely new class of antifungal agents.

Its near neighbour, Swinton-based Magnesium Elektron, won the Product of the Year Award (sponsored by Innovation Agency) for its development of SynerMag, a revolutionary bioresorbable metallic alloy for use in implants.

The material has already been used in the world’s first clinically proven, metallic bioresorbable coronary scaffold.
 
An individual award went to Bianca Price of the University of Manchester, who took home the Promising Technologist of the Year Award (sponsored by Seqiris) for her work in creating an innovative ‘infected wound in a dish’ for use in the evaluation of anti-infective products from different industrial collaborators.

Similarly, Microbiosenser, which develops infections diagnostics solutions and is based at the University of Manchester, took home the Healthcare Project of the Year Award (sponsored by TRUSTECH).
 
Greater Manchester Academic Health Science Network won the Business Services Award (sponsored by Skills and Growth Company), while lastly, Alderley Park-based Aptus Clinical, which provides expert clinical research professionals to biomedical businesses won the Start Up of the Year Award (sponsored by RSM).
 
Dr Geoff Davison, chief executive of Bionow, said: “The shortlist for this year’s awards was a who’s who of life science talent in the northern region and a testament to the strength and depth of the sector in the North of England.

“It has undoubtedly been a tumultuous year politically, but each and every one of these businesses is making a name for itself on the national and global stage in life sciences innovation, attracting investment and providing solutions which have the potential to be game-changing in the industry.”  

Dr Chris Doherty, managing director of Alderley Park, the UK’s largest dedicated life science campus, which is part of Manchester Science Partnerships, said: “We are delighted to support these important awards. The sector is undoubtedly one of the Northern Powerhouse’s key strengths, developing knowledge, creating high-value skilled jobs and attracting investment.

“The region already has a reputation for world-class science innovations and with businesses like these at the vanguard of the industry, we are confident that the life sciences sector will continue to go from strength-to-strength, next year and beyond.”

A not-for-profit membership organisation, Bionow supports the North of England’s burgeoning life sciences  sector, which currently includes some 1,000 science and healthcare companies with a combined turnover of around £10.9bn.

Its member base includes start-ups and spin-outs as well as well-established businesses. The services it offers to firms include dedicated business support programmes, shared procurement schemes and recruitment and training support.
 
The Bionow Awards Dinner was also sponsored by Appleyard Lees, CY Partners, Redx Pharma and World Courier.