Xterna, a pioneering engineering biology company, has been crowned the winner of Pioneer Group and Daiichi Sankyo’s 2025 Golden Ticket Programme.

The Golden Ticket programme invited applications from early-stage biotech companies focused on novel drug targets and transformational medicines, with robust research plans and potential for successful research development.

Following a competitive pitch process reviewed by the Pioneer and Daiichi Sankyo selection committee, three exceptional finalists were invited to present at the 2025 Golden Ticket final, with Xterna selected as the winner.

The day was opened by Chris Walters, Portfolio Director and European Acquisitions Lead at Pioneer, and featured a strong line-up of scientific talks from Daiichi Sankyo leaders, including Dr Masakatsu Suzuki, who discussed corporate and research strategy, Dr Teiji Wada, who spoke about antibody drug conjugates, and Dr Takahide Aburatani, who explained the mission of the Daiichi Sankyo Research Institute in Munich.

Co-founded by Dr Jessica Corry and Dr Chris Wan, Xterna is pioneering the use of enhanced nucleic acids to transform the future of targeted drug delivery – a standout innovation with the potential to reshape how therapies are delivered.

As winner of the Golden Ticket, Xterna will receive:

• 12-month rent-free incubation space in London
• Access to Pioneer’s Venture Programmes to support commercial de-risking
• Mentoring and support from Pioneer’s Expert Network and specialist business coaches
• Mentoring and support from Daiichi Sankyo’s drug discovery & development experts
• Access to Pioneer’s inspiring ecosystem, events and annual Investment Showcase

Dr Ayokunmi Ajetunmobi, Head of Ventures at Pioneer Group, says: “We are delighted to name Xterna the winner of this special Golden Ticket programme, in partnership with Daiichi Sankyo – a company that shares our deep commitment to innovation. Xterna is taking a novel approach to solving one of medicine’s biggest problems: delivering drugs precisely where they’re needed in the body. We were truly impressed by the company’s innovative use of xeno-nucleic acids to build targeted delivery vehicles that ensure therapies reach the right tissues and organs.

“By winning this Golden Ticket, Xterna gains access to Pioneer’s world-class resources and the expert insights of Daiichi Sankyo – providing a powerful platform to accelerate its transformative work. We’re excited to support their journey.”

Xterna CEO and co-founder Dr Jess Corry says: “We are thrilled to be announced as this year’s Golden Ticket winners! This win gives us the chance to extend our lab facilities at Victoria House and gain key insights from Daiichi Sankyo as we navigate the early stages of R&D and lead candidate optimisation. We look forward to working closely with the Daiichi Sankyo team and Pioneer over the coming years.”

This was the fifth Golden Ticket programme run by Pioneer Group, with previous programmes formed through collaborations with Novo Nordisk, CPI, AbbVie and Astellas.