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In this edition:
- BABCNE President's message
- Member Hub
- BABCNE Events
- Event of Interest
- British Consulate News
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August 2026
- Bio Pharma News
- BAB Policy & Trade updates
- Special Events
- Travel Advisory
- Get involved with the BABCNE
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Dear Members and Friends,
As we cruise into the second half of the year, I am thrilled to share some exciting reflections and updates from my recent travels representing BABCNE.
Attending BIO 2026, I had the privilege to meet Preet Kaur Gill, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care alongside the new CEO of the Bio Industry Organisation. At the conference, I noted a palpable shift toward a much more optimistic and vibrant mood across the biopharma sector, which is incredibly encouraging for our collective industries.
A standout of the trip was our collaboration with our friends at BABC SD to host a watch party for the England vs. Ghana match – not the most exciting of games, but a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the conference.
Back on the home front, our recent Boston Tea Party has hands-down been the highlight of my year so far.
This week I also had the opportunity to meet Professor Dame Angela McLean, the UK’s Chief Scientific Advisor, where we discussed improving collaboration with New England.
Thank you all for your continued engagement, and I hope you enjoy diving into this month’s updates.
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Mike Fisher, PhD FRSC
President of BABCNE
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Your BABCNE Membership Today
We connect. We inform. We support.
Now is the ideal time to renew your membership—or join for the first time—and take full advantage of what’s ahead in 2026. JOIN US!
Video courtesy of Hawke Commercial Filmmaking
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Christmas in August! Reserve your place now!
Only 20 tables now available.
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10th US-UK Small & Mediuam Enterprise Dialogue
September 9, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales
Small business stakeholders are cordially invited to attend the 10th United States-United Kingdom Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Dialogue on Wednesday, September 9 in Cardiff, Wales.
Launched in 2018 under the Trump Administration, the U.S.-UK SME Dialogue is convened by:
- the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative,
- the U.S. Department of Commerce, and
- the U.S. Small Business Administration with
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the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST),
alternating locations between the United States and the United Kingdom. The trade relationship between the U.S. and UK amounts to over $300 billion and $1.7 trillion invested in each other’s economies.
To RSVP for U.S. small business stakeholders: Please provide your name, title, organization and city/state to: international@sba.gov
More details on the location and agenda will be provided to registered participants closer to the date of the event. Thank you for your interest.
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Beyond Accounting - AI & Accountants 2026
September 17, 12 pm - webinar
Features Boston based member Chris Easton. It’s likely of interest to anyone wondering about ‘current state’ of AI. The Speakers are all actively involved in AI focused companies and clients. RSVP here
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Update
October 1, 12 pm - webinar
Bi-annual update by BDO experts on Accounting Standards. RSVP here
Both the online events are eligible for Continuing Professional Education (CPE).
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Visit from Professor Dame Anglea McLean, UK Chief Scientific Advisor
David Clay, MBE, HM Consul General for NE
August 2026
Delighted to welcome UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Dame Angela McLean to Massachusetts this week.
Dame Angela's visit deepened UK-US science ties in a range of areas from climate adaptation and fusion energy to AI-enabled biotech and life sciences research. In all these fields, the aim of the discussions was to shape how the UK and Massachusetts partner to tackle shared challenges and lead innovation across both ecosystems.
One of my personal highlights of the visit was getting my wellies on to learn more about The Trustees of Reservations incredible work to restore the salt marshes near Ipswich MA.
| | Want to learn more about the services of the British Consulate General? Click here | | |
Novartis to Acquire UK-Based Myricx Bio in $1.5 Billion Deal
In a major transatlantic exit, Novartis the Swiss pharma giant with a major presence in New England announced a definitive agreement to acquire London-based Myricx Bio, an Imperial College London and Francis Crick Institute spinout. Valued at up to $1.5 billion, the acquisition integrates Myricx’s novel class of payloads for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) directly into Novartis’ oncology pipeline.
AstraZeneca Anchors £3 Billion UK Life Sciences Investment Boom
Data released by the UK government reveals that the life sciences sector has attracted over £3 billion in public-private investment over the past 12 months. Cambridge UK based AstraZeneca contributed significantly to this, backing UK infrastructure with its £300 million investment to support operations at its UK headquarters and an AI-driven drug discovery facility in Macclesfield.
UK Government Successfully Slashes Clinical Trial Setup Times
The average wait time to establish clinical trials in the UK has successfully dropped from 169 days to 122 days. This milestone - paired with a newly introduced "Joint MHRA-NICE approval process" designed to get medicines to patients up to 6 months faster - makes the UK an increasingly nimble clinical trial partner for Boston-Cambridge biotechs looking across the Atlantic.
UK Life Sciences Industry Calls For Policy Continuity To Help Companies Scale
At a BIA roundtable with Dr Zubir Ahmed MP, the UK’s innovative life sciences sector called on Government to deliver policy continuity, unlock scale-up investment and improve patient access to new medicines.
· More details from the BIA website
Oxford's Scancell and Burlington, MA's Neuphoria Therapeutics Announce Merger
In a direct UK-New England tie-up, Oxford-based Scancell Holdings plc (AIM: SCLP) and Burlington, Massachusetts-based Neuphoria Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: NEUP) announced an all-share merger on 23 July. The combined company will operate under the Scancell name, list on Nasdaq alongside its existing AIM listing, and use the proceeds to fund a global Phase 3 trial for Scancell's lead melanoma immunotherapy, iSCIB1+. Existing Scancell shareholders will hold roughly 85.5% of the combined group.
· Read the merger announcement
GSK Completes $10.6 Billion Acquisition of Boston's Nuvalent
London-headquartered GSK finalised its takeover of Nuvalent, a Boston-based clinical-stage oncology biotech, adding two late-stage lung cancer assets (zidesamtinib and neladalkib) to its pipeline. The deal, agreed in June, closed in mid-July and stands as one of the largest UK-New England biopharma transactions of the year, worth roughly $10.6 billion.
· Read GSK's completion announcement
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This November, London Life Science Week will bring the wider life science community together through events and activities taking place across the city.
To help you make the most of the week, we're offering free access to the London Life Sciences Week Networking partneringONE platform, giving you a simple way to connect with others attending.
Use the platform to discover who's taking part, reach out to new and existing connections, and arrange meetings throughout the week. The platform opens four weeks before London Life Science Week, so you can create your profile, explore opportunities, and book meetings ahead of time.
Dedicated meeting spaces will be available at The View at The Royal College of Surgeons on Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th, or you can arrange meetings at your own preferred locations across London, giving you flexibility to fit conversations around your plans for the week.
Register for free here
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July brought a significant change in UK politics, with Andy Burnham succeeding Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister and moving quickly to reshape both his cabinet and the machinery of government - including the abolition of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and an early focus on cost-of-living measures.
On the trade side, the US Trade Representative brought into effect new Section 301 tariffs on goods linked to forced labour as the temporary Section 122 duties expired, with the UK placed in the lowest tariff band. The change marks a further evolution in US trade policy and a continued reminder of the importance for BAB and partners to advocate for stability and predictability for transatlantic business.
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The British American Business Network (BABN), engages with the US and UK governments on a broad range of policy issues impacting the flow of goods and services between the UK and North America. The New York/London chapter, named British American Business (BAB), represents all the chapters on policy matters.
For more details visit: https://babn.org/about-us/ The BABCNE is a founding member of the network of 20 chapters.
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Meet the Delegation: UK Health Tech Innovators Coming to Boston
From 26–30 April 2027, Boston will welcome New Horizons: the UK Health Tech Mission — a delegation of entrepreneurs and clinicians from UK digital health companies exploring partnerships in the world's leading healthcare market.
For BABC New England members, this is a chance to connect directly with UK innovators seeking US partners, investors and collaborators — and to help shape a programme of visits, seminars and receptions during their week in Boston.
The mission brings scale-up and established companies from across the UK with digital health innovations in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, rehabilitation, monitoring and healthcare management.
We're looking for:
- Boston-area healthcare providers, hospitals, innovators and payers willing to host a visit
- Investors and industry leaders interested in meeting the delegation
- US health tech companies exploring UK collaboration
Get involved: Whether you're a hospital system, a payer, an investor, or a fellow health tech innovator, get involved in this rare opportunity to build lasting transatlantic relationships. We look forward to seeing BABC New England members among the hosts.
If your organisation can host, contribute, or simply wants to meet the delegation, contact: Chris Born Health Tech Ambassador, Tech West England Advocates chrisborn@cantab.net
The Trade Mission will be organised by Tech West England Advocates, with support from the UK Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, the Association of British HealthTech Industries.
www.techwestenglandadvocates.co.uk
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NH 50th Highland Games
Loon Mauntain, Lincoln, NH
September 19 - 21, 2026
Organizers Attempt Unprecedented Gathering of Bag Pipers in a Single Performance; Stone-Lifting, Sheep Dogs, Live Music + Dance Mark Milestone Celebration of Scottish Heritage
What began as a “wee” clan picnic in 1975 has blossomed into a truly “Bonnie” event for all to enjoy.
The 50th Annual NH Highland Games & Festival returns to Loon Mountain in Lincoln September 19-21st, with even more to see, hear, taste, and do in 2025. Highlighting the agenda is sure to be a gathering the world has never seen or heard before: an attempt to host the most bagpipers in a single performance ever on Saturday at 5 PM. The current record is 333 and event organizers are feeling optimistic that record held by Bulgarian pipers will finally fall.
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“What better way to mark our birthday than with a traditional and huge gathering of pipers to celebrate?” asks Terri Wiltse, Executive Director of NHSCOT, host of the NH Highland Games & Festival. “Lang may yer lum reek is an old Scottish phrase that wishes one long life and good health."
Thanks to the countless number of visitors we have had to our Games over the decades, we feel this phrase has become our annual motto.”
Get Tickets Here | Schedule
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The Uprising
In theatres from September 11
Andrew Garfield stars as the legendary leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II.
As war burns across England, he forms an army of the people to face the King’s might in a fight for justice and survival.
King Richard II was considered a bad king because he believed in absolute divine authority, alienated the nobility, and behaved with ruthless vengeance. His-self-inflicted downfall culminated in his deposition by Henry Bolingbroke (Henry IV) in 1399.
Watch the Official Trailer here
Peasants’ Revolt | Also known as: Wat Tyler’s Rebellion
Find out more here
| | A battle scene from the Bayeux Tapestry Photo credit: Bayeux Museum | | |
The Bayeux Tapestry at
the British Museum
September 10 - July 11, 2027
For the first time in nearly 1,000 years, the 70-meter-long Bayeux Tapestry is on loan from France to the British Museum in London.
It displays the historic 1066 Norman Conquest embroidery horizontally.
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From Discover Britain, Neil Jones, August 11, 2026
The Bayeux Tapestry is coming to Britain; here is the historic spin woven into what France wants you to believe.
As the British Museum prepares to welcome the Bayeux Tapestry, we explore what’s known to be true about this medieval masterpiece – and what was simply Norman spin.
Depicting events leading up to Duke William of Normandy’s victory over Anglo-Saxon King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the embroidery – it’s made of dyed wool stitched onto linen even though it is popularly called a tapestry – presents a Norman take on the epoch-changing happenings.
Read more here
Everything you need to know about the tapestry
Location of exhibit: The British Museum, The Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery,
Room 30, Great Russell Street, London.
January – March 2027 Priority booking opens in October 2026; general release follows. (September - December tickets are sold out.)
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Traveling to the UK? ✈️
Visitors to the UK must have an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) if they do not need a visa for short stays of up to six months. Visitors without an ETA will not be able to board their transport and cannot travel to the UK. British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA, including dual citizens.
Learn more: https://lnkd.in/daGgYvaz | Apply for an ETA at: https://www.gov.uk/eta
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We would love to hear from you!
Please contact Urszula Wojciechowska, MBE, BABCNE Executive Director, if you are interested in becoming more involved on a committee, have ideas for an event or speakers, or would like to raise your company's visibility by becoming a BABCNE Partner or an Event Sponsor. info@babcne.org
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