Symansis wins emerging company award

Biotechnology company Symansis NZ has scooped the NZBIO 2009 Emerging Company of the Year award at this week's industry conference, winning a $30,000 prize package.

Symansis makes high-quality reagents for use by cell biology researchers for applications including the development of treatments for diseases such as cancer, diabetes and stem cell research.

Judging committee chairman Doug Wilson said: "Symansis stood out because it had an advanced business case and had entered the international landscape.

"The company has demonstrated creativity and imagination, entering the international market with an extremely high-quality product," Wilson said.

"Unlike many young companies, it is also earning cash with a very sophisticated technology in a highly competitive environment."

Symansis chief executive Peter Foster said the company was delighted to win the award.

"We feel that a small New Zealand company like ours can be successful on the world stage, particularly if we as a country pool our combined biotech strengths, and we would like to thank our investors, collaborators, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Foundation for Research Science and Technology for their support in helping us make this happen," Foster said.

Bronwyn Dilley, chief executive of biotechnology industry body NZBIO, said she was delighted by the high level of interest in the new award.

"This is an exciting time to be involved in New Zealand's life sciences industry as local companies begin to demonstrate their great potential."