Life sciences focused startups and scaleups join tech business hub

The development of a life science cluster at Canary Wharf has a range of life sciences focused start-ups and scaleup businesses joining the community of technology businesses at its co-working and office hub, Level39.

Based in One Canada Square, Level39 is a workspace and tech community. Launched by Canary Wharf Group ten years ago, it is now home to over 180 start-ups and scaleups innovating in FinTech, Cyber Security, CleanTech, Blockchain, Life Sciences and HealthTech.

Level39 is now becoming a "go-to destination" for life sciences-based companies, welcoming a raft of new members including TC BioPharm, the clinical stage biotechnology company; Neural Rays, the ethical AI company; and Sanius Health, a health tech company dedicated to improving rare diseases treatment.

Richard Archer, managing director of offices, Canary Wharf Group, said: “Our strategy is to make Canary Wharf one of Europe’s leading centres for life sciences, and establishing an ecosystem of inter-connected companies is a key element to achieving that goal. Having welcomed a raft of new members at Level39, we are building real momentum in growing this cluster whilst working seamlessly in tandem with the development of the new vertical life sciences campus at North Quay.”

The Cancer Awareness Trust is also using Level39 as a base from which to carry out its pioneering work, and has been joined by L Base, a biotech company specialising in R&D of cancer drugs.

Congenica, a digital health company, has also recently extended its long-term commitment to Level39. The company was born out of the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the NHS, providing pioneering analysis of genomic data. Congenica is also the exclusive provider of clinical decision support to Genomics England, one of the world’s most cutting-edge life science organisations, which recently moved to One Canada Square, Canary Wharf.

The life sciences ecosystem at Level39 will soon also be accompanied by the occupiers within the new life sciences innovation centre at 20 Water Street, which is launching in June this year and will provide laboratory space. This is further endorsement of Canary Wharf Group’s strategy, which, in joint venture with Kadans, is looking to establish a world leading health and life sciences cluster at Canary Wharf centred around their planned development of a new 823,000 sq ft commercial laboratory building at North Quay.

James Sheppard, managing director of Kadans Science Partner, added: “The rapid emergence of such a vibrant community of life sciences companies at Level39 is a sure sign of the growing recognition of Canary Wharf’s potential as the home for a major UK and European ecosystem of life sciences, providing a best in class space for the broad and diverse range of companies operating in the sector.”

The new 23-storey building will be delivered in 2026 and will set a new benchmark in the development of life sciences laboratories and workspace. Importantly, it will be a laboratory building at its core, with designs allowing for lab space to be available on all floors.

Jayesh Pankhania, CFO of Congenica, said: "The UK is leading the way in driving precision medicine across the world and being part of the Level39 community enables us to develop and establish important connections in this exciting, and fast growing, MedTech and life sciences hub. Level39 is a great space for us due to its convenient location, high quality and flexible office space, networking opportunities and the first-class support provided by the Level39 team.”

The 3.3 hectare North Quay site is located on the doorstep of Canary Wharf’s new Elizabeth Line station, providing connectivity to central London and Heathrow. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), the new building is designed to be developed to high sustainability and technological standards. The project will leverage Kadans’ experience of curating multi-let lab projects with vibrant health and life science ecosystems housing SMEs and academics as well as global healthcare and pharmaceutical companies.

Canary Wharf is already home to a range of healthcare and life sciences-focused companies, including Genomics England, Barts Health NHS Trust, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Medical Defence Union, General Pharmaceutical Council and NHS Transformation.

Professor Sir Chris Evans, founder of The Cancer Awareness Trust, said: "This is a very exciting time for the Cancer Awareness Trust (CAT) to be based at Level39 at Canary Wharf. It is the perfect home for my team as they develop our unique and comprehensive Cancer Platform - a digital platform offering a global solution to support any person affected by any cancers. We are part of a vibrant business community that shares in our vision and journey and is supporting our development at all levels.”