While the UK biotech sector has faced headwinds over the past couple of years — from funding pressures to market uncertainty — several standout companies are defying the trend.
The UK continues to excel in areas such as cell and gene therapy (CGT), regenerative medicine, and immuno-oncology. Within this space, five emerging UK-based startups have made significant strides. They’re not only pushing forward with innovative science, but also securing funding, progressing clinical trials, and establishing international partnerships. These could be ones to look out for in the next few years when it comes to thinking about career moves:
Autolus Therapeutics
- London & Stevenage
- Focus: CAR-T therapies for blood cancers
Autolus has developed AUCATZYL (obe‑cel), a CAR-T therapy for relapsed/refractory adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). In April 2025, it became one of the first UK biotech companies to receive MHRA approval for a commercial CAR-T product. Its purpose-built Stevenage facility supports large-scale manufacturing and is central to its plans for broader market access.
Resolution Therapeutics
- Edinburgh
- Focus: Regenerative macrophage cell therapy for the promotion of organ repair
Resolution currently have a Phase II study underway to establish clinical proof of concept for the treatment of advanced liver disease. They are financially well backed and are developing a fully automated robotic Cell & Gene Therapy manufacturing platform.
Quell Therapeutics
- London (UCL spinout)
- Focus: Engineered regulatory T cells for immune disorders
Quell is at the forefront of immune regulation through its CAR-Treg platform, with programs targeting transplant tolerance and autoimmune diseases. In June 2025, it reached a development milestone in partnership with AstraZeneca for inflammatory bowel disease. The company is also advancing its lead programme (QEL-001) through early clinical trials, with a focus on long-term immune tolerance in organ transplantation.
Ori Biotech
- London & New Jersey
- Focus: Automated CGT manufacturing platform
Ori is addressing one of the biggest bottlenecks in cell therapy — scalable, reproducible manufacturing. Its proprietary platform, the IRO® system, launched in early 2025, delivering to CDMOs and CGT manufacturers. The company has also partnered with MaxCyte to integrate gene-editing capabilities, supporting greater standardisation and efficiency in autologous therapies.
MeiraGTx
- London (Global HQ)
- Focus: Gene therapies for ocular and salivary gland disorders
MeiraGTx is a clinical-stage company developing gene therapies for conditions such as inherited retinal disease, ALS, and xerostomia. It operates a GMP viral vector facility in West London, supporting both internal development and external partnerships. With a major strategic alliance with Janssen (J&J), the company is well-positioned to progress several of its candidates toward late-stage development.
Conclusion:
These five companies demonstrate that, despite a challenging market, meaningful progress in UK biotech is still being made. Their momentum in advanced therapies makes them important organisations to watch as the sector evolves into 2026.
