The home of the United States’ life sciences industry, Cambridge, Massachusetts, played host to twenty of the UK’s leading firms in the sector earlier this month as part of Santander UK’s latest trade mission.

Organised in conjunction with the Department for International Trade (DIT) and One Nucleus, a not-for-profit membership organisation for life science businesses, the four day event provided a platform for the UK firms to showcase their areas of expertise and build new relationships and contacts.

The firms attended the BIO 2018 International Convention, which is hosted by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), representing more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions and related organisations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. Participants also attended a series of networking events including a visit to the Cambridge Life Sciences Corridor and a tour of its world-class bio medical facilities.

Adam Payne, US Country Specialist, Santander UK, said: “Santander is delighted to support these businesses as they target the US market for potential growth opportunities. Life science is an important part of the UK’s rich manufacturing history and ably demonstrates that the UK remains at the cutting edge of research and development in the industries of the future. It was great to see firms based in Cambridge in the UK sharing ideas and talking about new opportunities with their counterparts in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The trade mission to Boston for the BIO 2018 conference demonstrates our commitment to helping British businesses grow internationally.”

The majority of firms that participated in the mission are based out of Cambridge in the UK and covered all aspects of the sector from drug development to providing regulatory advice. Cambridge, Massachusetts, was chosen as the destination for the trade mission as it is a global hub for the life sciences industry with world-leading universities, hospitals, research and development facilities, as well as a thriving SME and start-up business culture. The recent trade mission is part of Santander’s focus on helping the UK life sciences sector to invest for growth and, importantly, capitalise on international trade and export opportunities.

Helping SMEs to export is a core priority for Santander. The bank's trade missions are unique in the wider SME banking market – Santander regularly and proactively gets UK firms out to markets to meet buyers and network with key stakeholders. Previous trade missions have covered Singapore, Poland, Chile, Argentina, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.

To help businesses looking at the US, Santander has worked with the British American Business Council (BABC) to produce a guide on Trade and Investment in the US which is available at www.santandercb.co.uk

UK firms interested in intending future trade missions should visit our website www.santandercb.co.uk or contact international@santander.co.uk.

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Notes to Editors

More information about the businesses who participated on the Trade Mission is included here:

Abzena
Abzena Plc is a life sciences group with its corporate HQ in Cambridge, UK and chemistry and manufacturing sites in the USA. The company provides complementary services in chemistry and biology, as applied to the selection, development and manufacture of biopharmaceuticals.

Arecor Limited
Areocor Limited is a leader in the application of innovative drug formulation technology platforms. The company, based in Chesterford Park Essex is developing a platform of proprietary products, enabling improved treatments for diseases including diabetes.

Astex Pharmaceuticals UK
Astex Pharmaceuticals UK is a leader in innovative drug discovery and development. The company is committed to the fight against cancer in diseases in the Central Nervous System. The UK operation is based in the Cambridge Science Park and is part of the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company of Japan.

Avacta Life Sciences Ltd
Avacta Life Sciences Ltd is based in Wetherby and has developed its proprietary Affirmer technology as an engineered alternative to antibodies.

Bactevo Ltd
Bactevo Ltd is a drug discovery company based in Cambridge, UK, active in the quest to find effective treatments for mitochondrial, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, metabolic and joint / tissue diseases and cancer.

Bicycle Therapeutics
Bicycle Therapeutics is based in Cambridge where it has developed a proprietary peptide technology, enabling the discovery of a new class of drug candidates, having antibody like sensitivity.

BioMed Realty
BioMed Realty is an international realty company, with a focus area in the establishment of state of art laboratory research and development.

Bridgehead
Bridgehead is the only Boston, London and Zug based group for outsourcing of a ‘one stop shop’ of proven, experienced professional service providers with complete US and European experience in all the essential launch and support components.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
Committed to ensuring Cambridgeshire and Peterborough becomes a leading place in the world to live, learn and work, the Mayor and Combined Authority team are bringing forward a range of exciting infrastructure, housing, skills and economic development related projects.

CIMYM BioSciences Ltd
CIMYM BioSciences Ltd is based in London and was established to develop oncology and immunological therapeutics.

CN Bio Innovations
CN Bio Innovations is based in Welwyn Garden City and has developed a sophisticated range of tools designed to mimic the structure and function of human organs in vitro, as a means of improving testing methodologies in drug discovery, cosmetics and other applications

Dehns
Dehns is an international firm of patent attorney’s, based in London, with over 30 specialist attorneys dedicated to the life sciences and healthcare sectors.

Global Regulatory Services
Global Regulatory Services specialises in providing clients in the life sciences sector with regulatory advice, focussing on quality compliance and regulatory processes.

Iontas Ltd
Iontas Ltd is based in Cambridge and specialises in phage display technology services for antibody discovery and the support of phage display libraries.

Invest Essex
Invest Essex, based in Chelmsford, assists companies to identify optimum business locations and helps in establishing their business development routings.

J A Kemp
J A Kemp is one of the largest international firms of patents and trade mark attorneys with offices in London. It has a strong position in the life science and healthcare sector.

Kymab Limited
Kymab Limited is based in Cambridge and is a clinical stage biopharma company. Its focus is on the discovery and development of human monocional antibody drugs, using its broad based and proprietary antibody platform.

LifeArc 
LifeArc has offices and laboratories in Stevenage, London and Edinburgh. The centre for Therapeutics Discovery, based at the Innovation Campus in Stevenage, is active in biology, chemistry and biotherapeutics in designing assay development and screening systems, compound filing and cellular pharmacology.

Lonza Biologics Plc
Lonza Biologics plc is the UK subsidiary of a leading global supplier to he pharma and healthcare sectors, with its corporate HQ in Basel. The Applied Protein Services Group, based in Cambridge, provides a wide range of services enabling clients to maximise drug discovery, manufacturing and therapeutic optimisation strategies.

TwistDx Ltd
TwistDx Ltd has developed an ultra-rapid DNA/RNA detection technology. TwistDx Ltd was founded in 1999 by molecular biologist and protein biochemist, Dr Niall Armes, together with Dr Derek Stemple and Dr Nagesh Mahanthappa with its headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Its operational facilities are based in Cambridge, UK. 
 

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