Colorado BioScience Association Celebrates Colorado’s Growth as a Leading Life Sciences Hub at 20^th Annual Awards Celebration

PharmaJet Honored as Company of the Year, Foresight Diagnostics Named Rising Star

Denver, November 21, 2023 – Colorado BioScience Association celebrated the companies, organizations, and individuals in Colorado’s life sciences community who are forging new frontiers for patients at the 20^th Annual Awards Celebration Presented by AGC Biologics, held on November 16 at the Denver Center for Performing Arts’ Seawell Ballroom.        

“CBSA congratulates the award winners and finalists honored at our 20^th Annual Awards Celebration Presented by AGC Biologics,” said Elyse Blazevich, President & CEO of Colorado BioScience Association. “They are educators, business leaders, policymakers and health innovators, all collaborating for patient impact. Our community is saving and changing patient lives as we drive to become a top five hub for life sciences in the U.S.”

Company of the Year: PharmaJet

A commercial stage MedTech company bringing its needle-free injection systems to the world. The company’s technology gives more people, especially in developing countries, greater access to life-improving medicines. It also overcomes the challenges of traditional vaccine and pharmaceutical delivery.

PharmaJet’s fast fluid injection systems have been used for millions of immunizations against devastating diseases, including polio and COVID-19. The company has developed 89 pharmaceutical partnerships across 107 development programs in 30 different countries.    

Finalists for the award were: TriSalus Life Sciences and Enliven Therapeutics.

Rising Star of the Year, Sponsored by Willis Towers Watson: Foresight Diagnostics

A privately held cancer diagnostics company and CLIA-registered laboratory. The company has developed a cutting-edge novel liquid biopsy testing platform for the measurement of minimal residual disease. Their diagnostic can detect cancer recurrence well before imaging and is significantly more sensitive than existing tests.

The company closed an oversubscribed $58.75 million Series B round earlier this year, has grown its team to more than 50 employees, and has established more than 16 partnerships with pharmaceutical and life sciences customers for custom assays.    

Finalists for the award were: Arpeggio Biosciences and Lazzaro Medical. 

More Award Winners:

Educator of the Year, Sponsored by Fisher Scientific: Lindsay Schultz, Academy High School, Mapleton Public Schools

Institute Leadership Award: Amy Claeson, Ph.D., ZimVie Spine

Business Partners of the Year: BIO and PhRMA 

Legislators of the Year: Sen. Dafna Michaelson Genet and Rep. Matt Soper

Building Momentum Award, Sponsored by Fitzsimons Innovation Community: Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation

Volunteer of the Year: Rita Sanzgiri, J.D., Ph.D., CBSA Executive Board Member and Chair, DEI Committee 

Executive communications consultant and former CNBC reporter, Mike Huckman, served as Master of Ceremonies. Nick Santonastasso, an author, global speaker, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and mental health advocate who speaks with the Tony Robbins Foundation World Tour, delivered a transformative keynote presentation.

“Colorado BioScience Association was proud to inspire our community with Nick Santonastasso’s keynote address,” said Emily Martini, Vice President of Partnerships, Colorado BioScience Association. “His story of defying medical odds since he was born with a rare genetic disorder and techniques to embrace the positive offered new perspectives on problem-solving.”     

The evening also included a celebration of life honoring Tom Vierzba, Co-Founder and CEO of Live Fully, Inc. After being diagnosed with a rare lung disease, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, he was inspired to co-found Live Fully, with the goal of improving the quality of life for patients battling IPF with smart technology to manage supplemental oxygen.

Generous sponsors made the evening possible. Awards Celebration Sponsors: Fisher Scientific, Fitzsimons Innovation Community in Partnership with Aimco, and Willis Towers Watson. Cocktail Reception Sponsor: CAI. Wine Pour Sponsor: Cooley. Champion and Supporting Sponsors: AdvaMed, Biodesix, BIO, BNBuilders, PhRMA, Richtr Financial Studio, and Sage Law Group.

CBSA also thanks AGC Biologics, Presenting Sponsor of CBSA’s 20^th Annual Awards Celebration and Sustaining Sponsor throughout the year.

About Colorado BioScience Association

Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) creates co-opportunity for the Colorado life sciences community. CBSA champions a collaborative life sciences ecosystem and advocates for a supportive business climate. From concept to commercialization, member companies and organizations drive global health innovations, products and services that improve and save lives. The association leads Capital and Growth, Education and Networking, Policy and Advocacy, and Workforce Cultivation to make its members stronger, together. Learn more: cobioscience.com