Symansis takes Emerging Company Award

Symansis NZ Ltd has received a $30,000 prize package as part of an inaugural life science business award. The company was named NZBIO 2009 Emerging Company of the Year at the NZBIO Conference Awards dinner in Auckland last night.

The $30,000 prize package includes services from two of NZBIO’s premier sponsors; PricewaterhouseCoopers and Thompson & Clark Investigations Ltd. This new award acknowledges the achievements of an emerging company in the New Zealand life sciences industry in areas including; vision and leadership, deals done, product pipeline, IP position and strategy.

Symansis was initially set up in the UK in 2002 by an international group of leading cancer research specialists. Primary founder Professor Peter Shepherd returned to New Zealand from University College London to take up a post at the University of Auckland and relocated Symansis to New Zealand in 2006.

The company is a producer of high quality reagents for use by cell biology researchers, for a number of applications including the development of new treatments for cancer and diabetes and for stem cell research. The company already sells a unique portfolio of high quality products on a worldwide basis and a new range of core products are due to be launched before the end of 2009.
Judging committee Chair Doug Wilson said there were a number of very high calibre candidates for the Emerging Company award.

“Symansis stood out because it has an advanced business case and has entered the international landscape,” Mr Wilson explained.

“The company has demonstrated creativity and imagination entering the international market with an extremely high quality product. Unlike many young companies it is also earning cash, with a very sophisticated technology in a highly competitive environment.”

Symansis CEO Peter Foster said the team at Symansis was delighted to receive the award. “We feel that a small New Zealand company like ours can be successful on the world stage, particularly if we as a country pool our combined biotech strengths, and we would like to thank our investors, collaborators, NZTE and FRST for their support in helping us make this happen."

NZBIO Chief Executive Bronwyn Dilley says she is delighted by the high level of interest in this new award. “The number and quality of entries for the NZBIO Emerging Company Award was very strong, proving that we have a critical mass of life science companies competing effectively in local and international markets.

“This pipeline of talented and motivated life science companies based in New Zealand are generating jobs and export revenue for the benefit of the wider economy. I congratulate Symansis on their success tonight and thank everyone who was nominated for this award, and the award sponsors PricewaterhouseCoopers and Thompson & Clark Investigations.

“This is an exciting time to be involved in New Zealand’s life sciences industry as local companies begin to demonstrate their great potential.”

ENDS

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