Femtech companies collect trio of BioUK awards

Femtech companies U-Ploid Biotechnologies and Calla Lily Clinical Care have won three awards between them at the 2026 BioUK Awards, recognising their work in fertility and women’s health.

U-Ploid, which is developing a treatment targeting age-related infertility, won best start-up biotech company.

Calla Lily took home both best early stage medtech company and the BioSeed ‘one to watch’ award.

The winners were announced at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London during the awards’ 18th annual ceremony, which recognised achievements across 12 life sciences categories.

Calla Lily is developing an intravaginal drug-delivery platform targeting threatened miscarriage and IVF.

The clinical-stage company is also exploring future applications in oncology, menopause, infection and live biotherapeutics.

It was the only company to win in two categories at this year’s ceremony.

Lara Zibners, co-founder and chair of Calla Lily Clinical Care, said: “Winning two awards at a mainstream life sciences event is a real coup for women’s health. It shows we are not niche.

“For me personally, it was extra special that our team accepted the awards on Thang’s and my behalf.

“They are the ones who made this happen, and I’m so pleased they were standing in the spotlight for this recognition.”

Jordan Abdi, CEO of U-Ploid, said the results reflected a shift in how the wider sector views women’s health.

“For too long, women’s health has been treated as a specialist corner of the life sciences.

“Seeing both early-stage company awards go to women’s health companies, chosen by judges from across pharma, investment and professional services, shows how much that is changing,” he said.

“Age-related decline in fertility is a large and growing unmet need, and it deserves the same scientific ambition as any other therapeutic area.

“We’re delighted to share this recognition with Calla Lily Clinical Care.”

Other winners included Mursla Bio, which received best emerging biotech company, and Huma Therapeutics, named most transformative healthtech company.

Digostics won best established medtech company for its home oral glucose tolerance testing technology, while Sitryx Therapeutics received best established biotech company.

Stephanie Annett, senior lecturer and principal investigator at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and interim CEO of university pre-spinout ImuPhile, was named emerging life sciences entrepreneur of the year.

Professor Matthew Wood received the special recognition award for his scientific and entrepreneurial work in rare diseases.

The awards are organised by BioUK, a not-for-profit life sciences membership network, and recognise companies at different stages of development alongside individual leadership and scientific achievement.