Avecia (Billingham, England) manufactures microbially-derived biopharmaceuticals, vaccines and DNA medicines, and offers contract process development and manufacturing services to the human healthcare industry. Avecia was recently awarded a $50 million contract for the development of a recombinant plague vaccine by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in 2004.

Cambridge Biostability (Cambridge, England) - Cambridge Biostability Ltd (CBL) has developed a revolutionary technology that reformulates existing vaccines into ready-to-inject stable liquids requiring no refrigeration or reconstitution. Cambridge Biostability is a major partner in a $5.4 million grant awarded to DynPort Vaccine for the development of a new vaccine against botulism. This grant is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Fusion Antibodies (Belfast, Northern Ireland) are world leaders in the bioinformatic design, rapid expression and purification of recombinant proteins via a high-throughput FET (Fusion Expression Technology) platform. These technologies and associated microbiological techniques enable academic researchers and drug discovery and diagnostic companies to achieve their goals more quickly and more cost-effectively.

Health Protection Agency (Salisbury, England) - The UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) plays a similar role to that of the US Centres for Disease Control (CDC). The HPA is responsible for infectious disease surveillance, and acts as a specialist center for reference microbiology and microbial epidemiology. HPA is the sole manufacturer of licensed anthrax vaccines in the UK. It has been awarded a number of contracts for Vaccine Development Resources and the development of models for emerging diseases and biodefence, funded by the NIAID.

LUX Biotechnology (Edinburgh, Scotland) develops technologies for life science research, drug discovery, toxicity testing and research. Currently in development is a unique sensor technology that combines the biological qualities of fungi with the power of optoelectronics. LUX sensors are designed to detect trace quantities of target chemicals, proteins and microorganisms, with specificity and sensitivity, and enable rapid throughput detection and analysis.

Microscience (Wokingham, England) is an emerging vaccine company focusing on the discovery and development of innovative, rationally designed vaccines and immunotherapeutics. Microscience is undertaking preclinical evaluation of the first oral anthrax vaccine under a CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) with the US Naval Medical Center.

MNLpharma (Maidenhead, England), formerly MolecularNature, is working on the discovery and development of immunomodulators - small molecule therapeutics that support the body's immune system in fighting disease.

Pharmidex (London, England) specialises in predicting and assessing the ability of compounds to cross the permeability barrier between blood and brain - the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Pharmidex is the only company in the world offering direct assessment of brain penetrability - Neuropharmacokinetics.

 

* list created from “British Innovations in Biosecurity" Conference March 2005