OBN Awards Winner Announcement – UKI2S

London, UK, 8^th November 2019: UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) is delighted to announce it is has been awarded ‘Best Sector Support Organisation’ at the 11^th Annual OBN Awards celebration last night. UKI2S was nominated on the strength of its work nurturing new businesses in life sciences arising from the great science undertaken in the UK; providing the patient, long-term committed capital and strategic advice these companies need to thrive.

Over the past decade and more UKI2S has built a substantial track record with 55 portfolio companies created – with only £14m of capital from UKI2S - that between them have attracted over £500m of later stage investment and now have a combined market value of over £700m.

Dr Andrew Muir, Investment Director at UKI2S, commented: ‘We could not be happier with the outcome of last night’s Awards. This success is evidence of the thriving innovation taking place in the UK life science sector, and the need to support these budding entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship and guidance.’

UKI2S has been instrumental in the creation and development of many bioscience companies; an independent analysis of the Fund showed that over 70% of its companies would not exist without the Fund’s support. Such companies include Quethera, a gene therapy company focused on glaucoma; UKI2S was the founding investor and helped guide the company to acquisition by Astellas Pharmaceuticals for £85m. UKI2S has also been instrumental in the success of Atelerix, a company enabling the storage and transport of viable cells at room temperature, by providing start-up funding and leading a seed round with investors introduced by UKI2S.