Pioneer Group, a specialist in life science infrastructure and venture building, has
teamed up with global healthcare company Novo Nordisk to launch a Golden
Ticket designed to help accelerate innovations in cardiometabolic diseases, rare
blood and rare endocrine disorders.

The Golden Ticket programme is aimed at early-stage biotech companies focused
on novel drug targets and transformational medicines in cardiometabolic disease,
with robust research plans and potential for successful research development.

Pioneer Group and Novo Nordisk want to hear from science and technology
founders as well as innovators from established businesses who are creating
approaches for cardiometabolic disease in the following areas:

• Diabetes – Efficacy beyond blood glucose lowering, restoring insulin
resistance, and regenerating & disease modifications
• Obesity – Enhancing energy expenditure, modulating hedonic eating
behaviour, and modulating counter-regulatory mechanism
• Cardiovascular Disease – Atherosclerosis beyond low density lipoprotein
(LDL) and triglycerides (TG) lowering, precision-medicine heart failure,
disease-modification for heart failure and cardiomyopathy, and resistant
hypertension & unstable angina
• Metabolic Disease Co-morbidities & Rare Disease – Metabolic
dysfunction associated steatohepatitis (MASH), chronic kidney disease,
rare, non-malignant haematology conditions, and rare endocrine disorders
• Drug Discovery & Enabling Technology – Drug discovery & enabling
technology in the previous stated therapeutic areas

The winning company will receive:

• 12-month rent-free incubation space at one of the following Pioneer
locations: Victoria House London, Cherrywood Campus Dublin, BioCity
Glasgow or BioCity Nottingham
Access to Pioneer’s Venture Programmes, as well as its ecosystem and
annual Investment Showcase event.
• Mentoring and support from Pioneer’s Expert Network and specialist
business coaches
• Mentoring and support from Novo Nordisk’s drug discovery and
development experts

As the fourth Golden Ticket programme run by Pioneer Group, the partnership
with Novo Nordisk follows previous programmes formed through collaborations
with CPI, AbbVie, and Astellas.

Ayokunmi Ajetunmobi, Head of Ventures at Pioneer Group, comments: “We are
delighted to launch this partnership with Novo Nordisk, which provides a fantastic
opportunity for science and technology founders. With the combined benefit of
Pioneer’s cutting-edge facilities, support networks and resources, as well as Novo
Nordisk’s expertise in cardiometabolic disease drug discovery and development,
this Golden Ticket programme has the potential to significantly advance
breakthrough therapies for the benefit of patients globally.”

Owing to the high level of spin-out activity in the UK, Novo Nordisk has chosen to
partner with Pioneer to deliver the programme in the UK. Daniel B. Timmermann,
VP of Innovation Outreach at Novo Nordisk adds: “The UK is home to several
world-leading universities, harbours a strong entrepreneurial culture and a robust
investor community. These elements together form the foundation for a life
science entrepreneurship ecosystem where breakthrough medicines of the future
are likely to be discovered. We are excited to engage with the UK start-up/early
biotech community in close partnership Pioneer Group, in our pursuit of novel
therapies for people living with cardiometabolic diseases.”

Entries to the Golden Ticket competition will close on 15 November 2024. All
entries will be reviewed by the Pioneer and Novo Nordisk selection committee,
and shortlisted candidates will be invited to a virtual pitching event. The Golden
Ticket winner will be announced during the first week of December, with the
potential for the winner to move into their chosen incubator space in January
2025.

To apply for the Golden Ticket programme, visit:
https://thepioneergroup.com/novo-nordisk-golden-ticket-programme/#apply