Press Release from Nexxus Scotland: Winning streak continues

11 November 2010

In a remarkably short space of time, an innovative Scottish SME has set up a sales facility in the United States, won its first major pharmaceutical contract, secured its first EU and US customers, been awarded a SMART Research & Development Grant, filed three new patents and launched three new products.  And as if this wasn't enough, on 10 November it fought off competition to win the Nexxus Most Promising Young Life Science Company of the Year (West) Award in front of an audience of around 130 life scientists gathered to celebrate local life science achievements.

Glasgow based Sistemic only started trading in late 2009 but have already established themselves as major players on the global life science stage.  The organisation, whose primary business is focussed on providing innovative, problem solving services and kit based products to the life sciences research and development markets has gone from strength to strength and is exciting interest in the UK, the US and the Far East. 

Chris Hillier, CEO (pictured right, between Graeme Boyle, Director of Nexxus and Chris Packard, Chair of Nexxus Steering Group West) said,"I am delighted to receive the Nexxus Award on behalf of the staff, Directors, founders, and partners who have worked so hard this year to take Sistemic to the point where we now have true leadership in our market. Our ethos has always been that Sistemic has a global perspective and I think we've shown this by opening our Boston office so early in our development.  However, it is equally important that we show leadership in Scotland, and we have a strong commitment to building close relationships with customers, suppliers, government and collaborators here at home. This Award is testament to that approach."

Graeme Boyle, Director of Nexxus said,"There are many elements which are crucial to commercial success - amongst them are a strong management team, innovative and well priced products that address identified market needs and, perhaps above all, a proactive approach in seeking out opportunities for partnership and collaboration - Sistemic has all of these, and more.  It is a prime example of the right way to set up and grow a business and exactly the type of positive, high achieving Scottish organisation the Nexxus Most Promising Young Life Science Award of the Year was intended to recognise."

The company started trading following initial seed investment from ChimaeraBio Ltd, the UK based venture fund created by serial life science entrepreneurs Jim and Karen Reid (Non-Executive Chairman and Non-Executive Director of Sistemic respectively).  The strong management team includes CEO, Professor Chris Hillier who was formerly CEO of the award winning Biopta; CSO, Dr Vincent O'Brien, formerly a Senior Fellow at Imperial College and Dr Verna McErlane who took part in the inaugural Saltire Fellowship programme last year which is designed to equip individuals to help Scottish SMEs transform into companies of scale. 

Its services and products are already finding favour among pharmaceutical clients, and local collaborations to date include the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow and Roslin Cellabs.