Haptogen directors win science and technology prize at Scotland Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2005

29 June 2005. Haptogen directors, Jim Reid, chief executive officer, and Professor Andy Porter, chief scientific officer, won the Science and Technology category in this year’s Ernst and Young Scotland Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The duo fought off competition from four other shortlisted nominees. 

Following the presentation ceremony at the Hilton Glasgow on 23 June 2005, Jim Reid said: “We are thrilled to have won this award. We feel it reflects the spirit of the company which continues to go from strength to strength. We are honoured to be listed among such impressive Scottish talent.” 

Jim Reid and Andy Porter were amongst the founders of Haptogen Ltd which spun-out from the University of Aberdeen, one of the world’s leading centres in antibody engineering. Jim Reid provides the company with valuable business skills gained during more than 25 years in the bioscience industry – and Andy Porter’s significant expertise in the field of antibody development provides the hands on know-how. 

Haptogen was formed in 2002, a time when the challenges of establishing a drug development company were significant. It was the entrepreneurial spirit of the founders which ensured that the company quickly generated revenue without needing to rely on external funding to grow the business. The recent announcement of a major collaborative research agreement with a leading Korean pharmaceutical company to develop novel antibiotics illustrates the success of the company. 

About Haptogen

Haptogen specialises in the isolation of antibodies that recognise targets beyond the reach of other immunotechnologies. The company are developing new drugs which are more specific and safer than current products. It does this by developing antibodies against bioactive haptens – the smallest of all small molecules – and against the haptenic structures found on larger targets. The company uses a pioneering new approach, known as Haptomics^®, with the aim of generating novel therapeutic products in the areas of anti-infectives (antibiotics), CNS disease, liver disease and obesity management.  

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Caption:  Fellow award winners Alison Smith and Stewart Milne with Andy Porter and Jim Reid from Haptogen 

Press contact: Richard Kent, Kapler Communications Ltd

Tel: +44 (0)1480 471117 E-mail: richard@kapleronline.com

Haptogen contact: Jim Reid

T: +44 (0)1224 555889 Email: info@haptogen.com