Respiratory

A proprietary vector discovery platform called Therapeutic Vector Evolution sits at the centre of 4DMT 's approach to genetic medicine. Rather than relying on existing delivery vehicles, the clinical-stage biopharma company engineers customised, proprietary gene delivery vectors matched to specific tissue types and routes of administration, with the goal of addressing large-market diseases where conventional treatments fall short. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Emeryville, California, 4DMT trades on NASDAQ under the ticker FDMT. 4DMT's integrated product engine spans design, development and manufacturing, enabling the company to build a diverse clinical pipeline. Current therapeutic focus spans retinal diseases and pulmonary diseases, two areas with significant unmet need in which precision gene delivery to targeted tissue is critical. The company positions its work as striving for potential curative outcomes rather than symptomatic management, reflecting its stated ambition to unlock the full potential of genetic medicine. As a clinical-stage organisation, 4DMT combines platform innovation with pipeline execution, maintaining a scientific advisory structure that includes a dedicated Retina Advisory Board alongside broader scientific and corporate advisory boards. The company also supports internal diversity through its 4Diversity programme, which shapes workforce culture and recruitment practices. Further information is available at 4dmoleculartherapeutics.com.

With a cumulative team experience of over 130 years in clinical trials and the pharmaceutical industry, 4MCS (4 Medical Clinical Solutions) operates as a patient-centred Site Management Organisation dedicated to improving the quality of research in healthcare. The organisation runs its own network of research sites and recruits volunteers from a patient population of over 10 million, giving sponsors direct access to well-characterised cohorts without the delays associated with conventional site activation. The therapeutic breadth across the site's active clinical trial programme spans respiratory conditions including asthma and COPD, cardiovascular disease areas such as atrial fibrillation and hypertension, metabolic and hepatic conditions including fatty liver disease, and a range of central nervous system and dermatological indications. Migraine, depression, general anxiety disorder, myasthenia gravis, lower back pain, psoriasis, and premenopausal effects on sexual health are among the specific areas where the organisation is actively recruiting or conducting clinical research . The patient-centred model that underpins the 4MCS approach prioritises participant experience alongside data quality, with a stated mission linked to improving patient quality of life through evidence generation. The organisation maintains dedicated disease and therapy area specialisms within its leadership and operations structure, supported by an established research site infrastructure across the United Kingdom. Further information is available at 4mcs.co.uk.

AstraZeneca is one of the world's largest biopharmaceutical companies , with its global headquarters at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in England. Founded in 1999 through the merger of Astra AB of Sweden and Zeneca Group of the United Kingdom, the company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (AZN) and on Nasdaq, and employs approximately 90,000 people across more than 100 countries. Cambridge functions not merely as a corporate address but as the centre of the company's worldwide research and early development capability, hosting thousands of scientists working across discovery biology, chemistry, and translational medicine. Therapy Areas and Pipeline The company's research strategy concentrates on three main therapy area clusters: oncology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolic disease (CVRM), and respiratory and immunology (R&I). Within oncology, AstraZeneca markets established medicines including osimertinib (Tagrisso), olaparib (Lynparza, developed with MSD), and durvalumab (Imfinzi). The CVRM portfolio includes dapagliflozin (Farxiga/Forxiga), which has received regulatory approvals across heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes indications. The respiratory franchise covers budesonide/formoterol combinations and the biologic tezepelumab (Tezspire, developed with Amgen) for severe asthma. UK Operations and Clinical Development AstraZeneca UK operates across the full pharmaceutical value chain: early and late-stage clinical trials , regulatory affairs, medical affairs, market access, and commercial operations serving the National Health Service. The UK site at Cambridge is complemented by manufacturing and biologics development capabilities at sites including Macclesfield. The company collaborates extensively with the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, and NHS England, and was a prominent partner in the University of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine programme, through which AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria was manufactured and distributed globally at no profit during the pandemic period. AstraZeneca participates in hundreds of sponsored clinical studies in the United Kingdom at any given time, engaging NHS trusts, academic medical centres, and independent research sites. The organisation also operates a patient access programme infrastructure and maintains a dedicated UK medical information service for healthcare professionals. Further information is available at astrazeneca.co.uk.

Boehringer Ingelheim ranks among the largest research-driven pharmaceutical companies in the world and, uniquely for a business of its scale, remains wholly family-owned, having operated independently since its founding in Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany, in 1885. That private ownership shapes everything from its long investment horizon to its willingness to pursue complex biology that publicly listed peers may avoid. Human and Animal Health The company operates across two distinct businesses. Its human pharma division concentrates on respiratory diseases , cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, oncology, and immunology, with established medicines spanning COPD, heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The animal health division is one of the largest in the world, covering livestock and companion animal health across a broad portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics, a segment reinforced by the 2017 asset swap with Sanofi that brought in Merial. Global Research & Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Boehringer Ingelheim maintains a significant contract manufacturing presence alongside its own pipeline work. Its biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing organisation arm, among the longest-established in the industry, produces biologics for third-party clients as well as internal programmes. Research centres span Germany, Austria, the United States, China, and other locations, with the company consistently investing a substantial proportion of net sales back into research and development each year. Its pipeline spans small molecules, biologics, and cell and gene therapy technologies, reflecting a deliberate push into next-generation modalities. The group employs tens of thousands of people across more than 130 markets globally. Headquartered in Ingelheim am Rhein, the company's independent status means it publishes net sales rather than stock-market results, with figures consistently placing it within the global top-ten pharmaceutical groups by revenue. Its therapy focus on diseases with significant unmet need, combined with a long-term ownership model, gives it a research culture oriented toward decade-spanning programmes rather than quarterly targets. Further information is available at boehringer-ingelheim.com.

Covis Pharma built its model around acquiring and commercialising established, off-patent branded medicines that larger pharmaceutical companies no longer prioritise, giving those products renewed focus and commercial investment. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, the company operates internationally with a significant commercial presence across Europe and North America. The portfolio centres on specialty and hospital medicines , with particular depth in cardiovascular, respiratory, and women's health therapy areas. Key marketed products include treatments for heart failure, hypertension, and related cardiovascular conditions, alongside respiratory medicines and products addressing acute obstetric and gynaecological needs. Rather than pursuing early-stage drug discovery, Covis focuses on lifecycle management and ensuring continued patient access to medicines that retain clinical relevance. Covis operates through direct commercial infrastructure in multiple European markets and partners with distributors and co-promotion arrangements where its own footprint does not reach. The company has grown substantially through a series of portfolio acquisitions from major pharmaceutical groups, adding assets that benefit from dedicated commercial attention rather than competing for resources within large multinational pipelines. The business is privately held and backed by Apollo Global Management, which has supported its acquisition-led growth strategy. This structure allows Covis to move with relative speed on asset deals and to take a long-term view on branded generics and mature specialty products that still address unmet patient needs in their therapeutic categories. Further information is available at covispharma.com.

GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline) is one of the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical and vaccine companies, with a history stretching back more than 300 years through its predecessor organisations. Headquartered in London, GSK employs tens of thousands of people across more than 75 countries and serves patients in over 150 markets worldwide. The company completed a major strategic transformation in 2022, separating its consumer healthcare division into a standalone business (Haleon), allowing GSK to focus exclusively on biopharma innovation. Vaccines & Infectious Disease Leadership GSK is one of the world's leading vaccine manufacturers , with an extensive portfolio covering infectious diseases including influenza, shingles, meningitis, hepatitis, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Its Shingrix vaccine for shingles became one of the most commercially significant vaccine launches in the company's history. GSK's vaccine research and manufacturing infrastructure spans multiple continents, supporting both commercial markets and global health programmes in lower-income countries. Oncology & Specialty Medicines Pipeline Beyond vaccines, GSK has built a growing presence in oncology , HIV, respiratory disease, and immunology. Through its long-standing collaboration and partial ownership of ViiV Healthcare, GSK holds a leading position in HIV treatment and prevention, including long-acting injectable regimens that have reshaped clinical standards of care. The company's oncology pipeline targets areas including gynaecological cancers and haematological malignancies. In respiratory medicine, GSK has decades of heritage in treatments for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. GSK is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GSK) and on the New York Stock Exchange as an American depositary receipt (NYSE: GSK). The company invests heavily in research and development, with a stated commitment to using genetics and advanced science to identify and validate new targets across its core therapy areas. Its R&D operations are spread across major hubs in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Belgium. Further information is available at gsk.com.

Novavax, Inc. is a Gaithersburg, Maryland-based vaccine biotechnology company founded in 1987 and listed on NASDAQ (ticker: NVAX), best known for developing protein subunit vaccines using its proprietary Matrix-M adjuvant platform. Unlike mRNA or viral-vector approaches, Novavax produces recombinant nanoparticle antigens that mimic the surface of a pathogen, pairing them with Matrix-M, a saponin-based formulation derived from the Quillaja saponaria tree, to generate robust immune responses with a well-characterised tolerability profile. NVX-CoV2373 and COVID-19 Programme Novavax received its first major regulatory milestones through its COVID-19 vaccine, NVX-CoV2373, marketed as Nuvaxovid. The vaccine secured Emergency Use Authorisation from the US FDA, conditional marketing authorisation from the European Medicines Agency, and approvals in numerous countries across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Americas. Nuvaxovid became a significant addition to global vaccination campaigns as a protein-based alternative for individuals who preferred a non-mRNA option, with the World Health Organization granting it Emergency Use Listing. Updated formulations targeting later SARS-CoV-2 variants have continued to advance through regulatory review. Pipeline and Strategic Partnerships Beyond COVID-19, Novavax applies its platform to influenza vaccines , with a quadrivalent recombinant candidate in late-stage development, and combination respiratory programmes including a COVID-influenza co-formulation. The company has historically held collaboration agreements with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and has executed manufacturing and supply partnerships with organisations including Serum Institute of India to support large-scale global distribution. Novavax's corporate growth strategy centres on out-licensing the Matrix-M adjuvant to third-party vaccine developers, extending the platform's reach across a broad range of infectious-disease targets. The company publishes peer-reviewed scientific findings through a dedicated publications resource and maintains transparency with the research and investment communities through its public filings and investor relations programme. Further information is available at novavax.com.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries is the world's largest generic medicines company, supplying roughly one in every six generic prescriptions filled in the United States and operating across more than 60 countries. Founded in Jerusalem in 1901, the Israeli-headquartered business has grown into a global leader with a dual focus on generic pharmaceuticals and a focused portfolio of branded specialty medicines. Generic & Biosimilar Scale Teva's generics business underpins the company's identity. Its manufacturing network produces a vast range of solid oral doses, injectables, and respiratory products, serving retail pharmacies, hospital systems, and government procurement agencies worldwide. The company has also built a growing biosimilars division, seeking to bring lower-cost biological medicines to patients in oncology, immunology, and other high-cost therapy areas as reference products lose patent protection. Branded Specialty: AUSTEDO and Neurology On the branded side, Teva's most significant commercial asset is AUSTEDO (deutetrabenazine), approved for tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's disease chorea, and one of the company's primary revenue growth drivers in recent years. The company also markets AJOVY (fremanezumab), a calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibitor for migraine prevention, reflecting a sustained commitment to central nervous system disorders. Teva's respiratory franchise, built in part around the ProAir and QVAR brands, further diversifies its branded presence. Teva trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker TEVA and on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, giving it a dual-listed profile unusual among its peers. Headquarters are in Tel Aviv, Israel, with major operational hubs across the United States, Europe, and Israel. The company has faced significant financial restructuring over the past decade following its 2016 acquisition of Allergan's generics business, and has pursued a multi-year transformation plan centred on debt reduction and portfolio rationalisation. Further information is available at tevapharm.com.

Born from the 2020 combination of Mylan and Pfizer's Upjohn division, Viatris operates as one of the world's largest generic and established medicines companies, serving patients across more than 165 countries with a portfolio spanning both off-patent generics and branded products. The company's founding premise was to bridge the gap between innovation and access, ensuring that essential medicines reach patients regardless of geography or economic circumstance. Portfolio Breadth and Therapeutic Reach Viatris maintains a catalogue of approximately 1,400 molecules covering a wide range of therapeutic areas , including cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, central nervous system conditions, oncology, immunology, and respiratory health. The company is recognised as a leading global supplier of antiretrovirals for HIV treatment, a position inherited in part from Mylan's longstanding role in global health programmes. Its branded medicines include well-known products such as Lipitor (atorvastatin) and EpiPen, alongside an extensive generics and complex generics pipeline. Global Manufacturing and Access Mission Headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, USA, and incorporated in 2020, Viatris operates a substantial global manufacturing network with facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia. The company is publicly listed on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker symbol VTRS . Its scale enables a dual mandate: competing commercially in mature markets while actively supplying low- and middle-income countries through tiered pricing and partnership agreements with international health bodies. Viatris has also pursued a strategic refocusing in recent years, divesting certain assets to concentrate resources on higher-value complex generics, biosimilars, and brand-name medicines . The biosimilars segment represents a growing area of investment, with the company working to commercialise alternatives to complex biologics across key markets. This evolution reflects a broader industry shift as the patent cliff for major biologics opens new competition opportunities for experienced generics manufacturers. Further information is available at viatris.com.