Company Directory

Brain-inspired AI platform for multi-target drug discovery

Symbiotic.blue is a pre-seed biotech company developing an AI-driven drug discovery platform that combines generative AI with neuroscience-inspired computational methods. The platform aims to design molecules capable of acting on multiple biological targets simultaneously, with an initial focus on obesity. The company was founded by academics from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge alongside life sciences industry veterans.

Oral and injectable peptide therapies for obesity and cardiometabolic disease

Verdiva Bio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation oral and injectable treatments for obesity and cardiometabolic disorders. Its pipeline centres on rationally engineered peptide candidates acting on GLP-1 and amylin receptors, advanced through a proprietary oral absorption technology designed to enable once-weekly dosing. The lead programme is in Phase 2b clinical development, with earlier-stage amylin candidates in preclinical development for monotherapy and combination use.

UK affiliate of global family-owned biopharmaceutical company

Boehringer Ingelheim is a global family-owned biopharmaceutical company founded in 1885. Its Bracknell headquarters houses functions spanning research and development, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, medical affairs, and commercial operations across its human pharma and animal health divisions. It operates across therapeutic areas including respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, oncology, immunology, and metabolic disorders. It is a member of the ABPI and one of the largest pharmaceutical employers in Berkshire.

Microbiome modulator ingredients for metabolic health and disease prevention

OptiBiotix Health is a biotechnology company developing and licensing microbiome modulator products for use in food ingredients, dietary supplements, and nutraceuticals. Its portfolio includes patented prebiotic and probiotic formulations targeting weight management, cholesterol reduction, cardiovascular health, and gut microbiome diversity. Products are licensed to food and supplement manufacturers globally. The company operates through subsidiaries including OptiBiotix Ltd and holds a majority stake in SkinBioTherapeutics plc and ProBiotix Health Ltd.

UK commercial base for a rare metabolic disease biotech

Amicus Therapeutics UK is the British subsidiary of Amicus Therapeutics, a US-listed biotechnology company focused on rare metabolic diseases. The company develops enzyme replacement therapies and gene therapies targeting lysosomal storage disorders, with approved medicines for Pompe disease and Fabry disease. The UK office in Marlow serves as the commercial and medical affairs base for Great Britain and Ireland.

Oral iron deficiency therapy for adults across multiple indications

Shield Therapeutics is a commercial-stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on iron deficiency. Its lead product, Accrufer/Feraccru (ferric maltol), is a non-salt-based oral iron therapy approved for the treatment of iron deficiency with or without anaemia in adults across the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and Switzerland. The product is commercialised directly in the US via a partnership with Viatris, and licensed to Norgine for Europe, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Mitochondrial sulfide-donor therapeutics for obesity and myopathies

MitoRx Therapeutics is a company developing first-in-class small molecule therapeutics that target mitochondrial sulfide signalling, a mechanism implicated in metabolic dysfunction and muscle disease. Its lead programme is an injectable mitochondria-targeted sulfide donor designed to achieve fat loss without lean mass loss, positioning it as a differentiated alternative to GLP-1 receptor agonists. Preclinical studies have also demonstrated efficacy in models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Alzheimer's disease.

Takeda's UK clinical development and drug discovery operations

Takeda UK encompasses the British operations of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, one of the world's largest biopharmaceutical companies. The London-based Takeda Development Centre Europe leads clinical development, regulatory affairs, and medical affairs across oncology, neuroscience, gastrointestinal disease, rare diseases, and vaccines. Takeda Cambridge, based at Cambridge Science Park, conducts target-based drug discovery research in CNS disorders and metabolic diseases.

Preclinical CRO for receptor pharmacology and occupancy studies

Gifford Bioscience is a contract research organisation providing receptor pharmacology and occupancy services for preclinical and discovery stage drug development. The company conducts radioligand binding assays, functional GPCR assays, receptor occupancy studies, autoradiography, and surface plasmon resonance using human tissue, cultured cells, membranes, and recombinant proteins. Services support target engagement characterisation across neuroscience, oncology, and metabolic disease programmes for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients worldwide.

NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors for chronic inflammatory disease

NodThera is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing potent and selective small molecule inhibitors of the NLRP3 inflammasome for diseases driven by chronic inflammation. Its lead asset, NT-0796, is a brain-penetrant oral inhibitor in Phase Ib/IIa clinical trials for Parkinson's disease and obesity-related cardiovascular conditions. The NLRP3 inflammasome is implicated in a broad range of inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, and NodThera's pipeline targets multiple indications across this biology.

Single-pill fixed-dose combinations for cardiometabolic disease

George Medicines is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative single-pill, fixed-dose combination therapies for cardiometabolic diseases. Rather than pursuing early drug discovery, the company reformulates established best-in-class small molecules into novel proprietary low-dose combinations designed to improve efficacy, safety, and treatment adherence. Its lead programme is a triple combination therapy for hypertension that has completed two pivotal Phase III trials with positive data, and is being commercialised across multiple international markets.

Oral muscle-sparing small molecule therapies for obesity

Hawkhill Therapeutics is a pre-clinical biotechnology company developing oral, muscle-sparing therapeutics for obesity and metabolic health. Its programme targets a clinically validated mechanism to achieve fat-selective weight loss while preserving muscle mass, addressing a recognised limitation of current GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs. Operating as a lean virtual biotech, the company outsources chemistry and biology to contract research organisations with the aim of delivering a clinic-ready candidate efficiently.