Company Directory

Natural product-inspired small molecules for sexual and mental health

Kadence Bio is a clinical-stage biopharma company developing small molecule therapeutics for sexual and mental health. Its lead asset KH-001 is an on-demand oral treatment for premature ejaculation, developed from nature-inspired medicinal chemistry based on kanna plant alkaloids and optimised through standard drug development approaches. KH-001 completed Phase 1 safety studies in 2024 and is progressing to Phase 2 trials. A secondary pipeline targets mood disorders through novel neuropsychiatric compounds.

Small molecule drug discovery targeting rare genetic diseases and oncology

Tay Therapeutics is a drug discovery company developing targeted small molecule therapies for rare genetic diseases and cancer. Its platform uses stop codon read-through technology to restore production of functional proteins disrupted by premature stop codon mutations, with programmes targeting oncology, cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and epidermolysis bullosa. The company previously discovered and out-licensed two BET inhibitor programmes to VYNE Therapeutics, which are advancing in clinical trials for immuno-inflammatory conditions.

Global pharma company in immunology, vaccines, and oncology

GSK is a multinational biopharmaceutical company engaged in the research, development, manufacture, and commercialisation of medicines and vaccines. Its pipeline and portfolio span respiratory and immunology, oncology, HIV (through its specialist subsidiary ViiV Healthcare), and infectious diseases including vaccines. The company operates major UK sites including its global R&D hub at Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, manufacturing facilities at Barnard Castle, Ware, and Montrose, and its global headquarters in London's Knowledge Quarter.

Clinical-stage antifungal drug developer targeting invasive fungal infections

F2G is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel antifungal therapies for life-threatening invasive fungal infections. The company discovered the orotomides, a new class of antifungal agents that selectively inhibit fungal dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, a mechanism of action distinct from all approved antifungals. Its lead compound, olorofim, is an oral agent in Phase 3 development for invasive aspergillosis and has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for multiple indications.

Transformative medicines for cystic fibrosis and serious genetic diseases

Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharmaceutical company with its European R&D headquarters at Milton Park, Oxfordshire, and its international commercial headquarters in London. The Oxford site conducts full-spectrum drug discovery encompassing human genetics, structural biology, and medicinal chemistry, and has been central to Vertex's development of approved therapies for cystic fibrosis. The company's broader pipeline addresses sickle cell disease, beta-thalassaemia, pain, and kidney disease, including gene-edited cell therapies.

Pharmaceutical formulation development and clinical manufacturing services

SGS Quay Pharma is a contract development and manufacturing organisation providing formulation development, analytical services, and clinical trial manufacturing for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The company specialises in dosage form design for APIs with challenging solubility and bioavailability profiles, and in modified and controlled release formulations. Operating from a MHRA and FDA-approved facility in North Wales, it supports clients from preclinical stage through to Phase III and commercial manufacture.

Specialist CRO for inhaled and nasal drug product development

Nanopharm is a contract research organisation specialising in the development of orally inhaled and nasal drug products, providing formulation development, materials characterisation, analytical testing, and in vitro and in silico modelling services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients. The company supports development from preclinical through to cGMP clinical stages, including regulatory strategy. Its proprietary platform enables bioequivalence demonstration for generic inhalation products without comparative clinical endpoint studies.

Clinical-stage therapeutics for advanced liver disease

Yaqrit is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing treatments for patients with advanced liver disease, including cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure. Its pipeline includes an oral ammonia scavenger for hepatic encephalopathy, an extracorporeal liver support device, and a microbiome-based therapeutic. Multiple programmes are in Phase 2–3 development. The company's science originates from over two decades of research by Professor Rajiv Jalan and his team at University College London and the Royal Free Hospital.

Multimodal small molecule therapeutics for neurodegenerative disease

Elixa MediScience is a UK drug discovery company developing novel small molecule compounds designed to slow the progression and delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis. The company's approach targets multiple pathophysiological mechanisms simultaneously, addressing the limitations of existing single-pathway strategies. Elixa operates as a virtual biotech, outsourcing all R&D activity, with a strategy of advancing lead candidates to first-in-human readiness before seeking development and commercialisation partners.

ECM-targeted drug discovery platform for fibrosis and solid tumours

Engitix is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapeutics that target the extracellular matrix (ECM) in fibrosis and solid tumours. Its proprietary discovery platform integrates one of the largest ECM bioarchives with AI and machine learning to identify disease-specific targets and biomarkers. Internal programmes target fibro-inflammatory diseases and solid tumours, with partnered drug discovery collaborations with Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Dompé farmaceutici. Engitix was spun out of University College London's Institute for Liver and Digestive Health.

Oncology biotech developing peptide therapeutics and diagnostics

ValiRx is a UK-listed biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of oncology therapeutics and companion diagnostics. The company selects and incubates novel drug candidates, including peptide-based compounds targeting prostate cancer, endometriosis, and other solid tumours, progressing them from preclinical evaluation towards clinical development and partnering. Through its subsidiary Inaphaea BioLabs, ValiRx also offers translational drug discovery services, including cell-based assays and patient-derived cell models, to academic and industry researchers.

Chiral and achiral chromatography services for small molecule purification

Reach Separations is a contract chromatography company specialising in the analysis and purification of small molecules for clients in the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and fine chemical sectors. Using HPLC and SFC technologies, the company provides chiral and achiral separation services from discovery scale through to kilogram-scale purification, supporting medicinal chemistry and drug development programmes. Services include impurity isolation, compound library QC, and LC-MS analysis.