East Midlands life science companies recognised at national awards

The achievements of four East Midlands life science companies have been recognised at the national Medilink UK awards.

The awards recognise a variety of outstanding contributions to life sciences, in five different categories. These are Collaboration with the NHS, Export, Innovation, Outstanding Achievement and Start-up. Companies from Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire attended the awards.

Charnwood Molecular, Quotient Sciences, Ariane Medical Systems and SurePulse Medical were all nominated for Medilink UK awards, with Ariane Medical Systems and Quotient Sciences going on to win in their categories. This follows on from the regional Medilink East Midlands business awards in June of last year (2018), in which all four companies won an award. Medilink East Midlands is a regional business support organisation which helps life science companies to grow.

The Innovation Award focused on companies which develop new technologies, in particular, new technologies which benefit the business and or end-user. It was won by Ariane Medical Systems, of Alfreton, Derbyshire.

Ariane has been in operation for over a decade and aims to optimise the use of low energy X-rays for the treatment of tumours. Judges were particularly impressed by Ariane’s innovative Papillon+ X-Ray Brachytherapy system, which was developed to deliver an Intra-Operative Radiotherapy (IORT) Boost to tumour beds, as well as the tumour itself.

The Outstanding Achievement Award was given for an achievement that has had a significant or vital impact on the company. This award was won by Quotient Sciences, of Nottingham.

Quotient Sciences works to speed up the development of new drugs for patients around the world. Quotient employs over 800 staff and operates from six facilities in the U.K. and U.S., with headquarters in Nottingham. Judges were particularly impressed by Quotient’s Translational Pharmaceutics approach, which integrates manufacturing and research supply chains, shortening drug development times and significantly reducing costs.

SurePulse Medical of Nottingham came as a runner-up in the Start-Up category, which looked at companies which have been trading less than three years, and which show a promising future. SurePulse aims to provide specialised neonatal intensive care and resuscitation monitoring, to ensure successful outcomes which will benefit new-borns in years to come.

Charnwood Molecular of Loughborough came as a runner up in the Export Achievement Award, which focused on outstanding performance in international trade. Charnwood Molecular provides drug discovery and development services on a global scale. The company has state-of-the-art research facilities in Loughborough and Nottingham.

Adam Kay, a British comedy writer, comedian, former doctor and author of the best-selling book This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor, presented the awards at the NEC in Birmingham, as part of the Med-Tech Innovation Expo and Conference.