NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: October 8, 2025

Enliven Therapeutics and Umoja Named Company of the Year Finalists
Ambrosia Biosciences, EnteroTrack, RheumaGen, and VitriVax Selected as Rising Star Finalists
Enveda Honored with 2025 Deal of the Year Award

Denver – Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) announces the finalists and honorees for its prestigious annual awards, recognizing the companies and leaders driving health innovation across Colorado’s thriving life sciences ecosystem. Hundreds of life sciences leaders will gather for an evening of impact, inspiration, and connection at the 22nd Annual Awards Celebration Presented by AGC Biologics. The high-profile event takes place on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at the Seawell Ballroom in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

“Colorado’s life sciences community continues to deliver transformative innovations that change lives,” said Elyse Blazevich, President & CEO of Colorado BioScience Association. “Even in a time of challenge and uncertainty, our state’s life sciences ecosystem demonstrates remarkable momentum. Our finalists and honorees embody the collaboration, ingenuity, and perseverance that define Colorado’s success story. They are building companies of impact and advancing discoveries that strengthen our position as a national hub for health innovation.”

Company of the Year Finalists

Enliven Therapeutics | Boulder, Colorado

Enliven is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics to help people not only live longer, but live better. The company’s 2025 momentum includes positive updated clinical data for its lead candidate, ELVN-001, in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Based on differentiated efficacy, tolerability, and convenience, ELVN-001 has potential to become a best-in-class therapy for people living with CML. Enliven plans to initiate its first Phase 3 pivotal trial in 2026. The company also strengthened its balance sheet with a $230 million public offering, to advance its robust precision oncology pipeline.

Umoja Biopharma | Louisville, Colorado

Umoja Biopharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing in vivo cell and gene therapies from research to vector manufacturing at its Louisville facility. In September 2025, the FDA granted Fast Track designation to Umoja’s investigational CD19 in vivo CAR T cell therapy UB-VV111 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The company was recognized on the 2025 Endpoints 11 and Fierce Biotech Fierce 15 lists and $100 million in Series C financing co-led by Double Point Ventures and DCVC Bio, with participation from RTW Investments, MPM Capital, Cormorant Asset Management and other prominent life science investors.

Rising Star of the Year Finalists

Ambrosia Biosciences | Boulder, Colorado

Founded in 2024 by Nick Traggis and Boulder Ventures, Ambrosia Biosciences builds on Boulder’s deep talent and expertise in small-molecule drug discovery. The company develops orally delivered therapies for obesity and metabolic disorders, translating the expertise of a deeply experienced medicinal chemistry team from Array BioPharma and Pfizer. Ambrosia raised $25 million in Series A funding, with investments from Boulder Venture Partners, BVF Partners, and Merck, and operates from the former Array facility in Boulder. The company plans to initiate clinical trials by 2027.

EnteroTrack | Aurora, Colorado

EnteroTrack, founded by Robin Shandas, Ph.D., and Glenn Furuta, M.D., at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, is revolutionizing how gastrointestinal conditions are monitored. From its home at Fitzsimons Innovation Community, the company developed the EnteroTracker®, a minimally invasive device that collects upper GI samples without the need for endoscopy. Validated in eight clinical trials with more than 800 patients, EnteroTracker has demonstrated comparable accuracy to endoscopic biopsies at a fraction of the cost. Medicare coverage for the Esophageal String Test expands access for patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). The company is CAP accredited and recently expanded its team by eight.

RheumaGen | Aurora, Colorado

RheumaGen is advancing a new class of HLA gene-editing therapies to treat autoimmune diseases. Founded by Richard Freed, Brian Freed, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., and brothers Brian and Ryan Hart, the company launched with a $15 million Series A round co-led by SPRIM Global Investments and William Taylor Nominees. RheumaGen is conducting IND-enabling studies for its lead program in refractory rheumatoid arthritis and advancing a pipeline for multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes. The company recently partnered with SiVEC Biotechnologies to leverage its BactPac™ platform for in vivo delivery of HLA gene-editing therapies.

VitriVax | Boulder, Colorado

VitriVax is a formulation technology company engineering innovative solutions to maximize global accessibility and utility of human vaccines that save lives and protect our world from preventable disease. The company’s significant ongoing momentum in 2025 includes a new grant of up to $5 million from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), enabling VitriVax to leverage its Atomic Layering Thermostable Antigen and Adjuvant (ALTA®) technology for a single-dose rabies vaccine.

Deal of the Year: Enveda | Boulder, Colorado

During the high-profile celebration, CBSA will also honor Colorado’s Deal of the Year, Enveda’s rise from Seed to Series D in five Years. The Boulder, Colorado-based biotech’s AI-driven drug discovery platform is rapidly uncovering new medicines in nature. Enveda reached unicorn status this year after announcing its $150 million Series D financing. The round was led by Premji Invest, with participation from Baillie Gifford, Lux Capital, and Kinnevik among other prominent investors. Earlier in 2025, an investment from Sanofi brought Enveda’s Series C round to $150 million.  

Legislators of the Year and Additional Honorees

This year, CBSA will also honor four Colorado policymakers as Legislators of the Year for their commitment to advancing life sciences in the state and engagement on legislation critical to our life sciences community.

• Sen. Scott Bright (R, District 13 – Adams, Weld)
• Sen. Julie Gonzales (D, District 34 – Denver)
• Rep. Sheila Lieder (D, District 28 – Jefferson)
• Rep. Lori Garcia Sander (R, District 65 – Larimer, Weld)

Additionally, the evening will recognize a number of companies and individuals who are driven to support the growth of Colorado’s life sciences ecosystem and the health of patients around the world. Their names will be revealed during the event.

• Educator of the Year, Presented by Fisher Scientific
• Building Momentum Award
• Business Partner of the Year
• Manufacturing Excellence Award, Presented by BioMed Realty

“Each year, the awards celebration brings our community together to shine a spotlight on innovation and collaboration,” said Matt Teter, Vice President of Partnerships at Colorado BioScience Association. “This event reflects our collective drive to grow Colorado as a top-five life sciences hub and celebrates the people and companies who make that vision real. We’re honored to welcome Aron Ralston, whose remarkable story of resilience and ingenuity will inspire our community as we continue advancing breakthroughs for patients.”

Keynote Speaker: Aron Ralston 

CBSA welcomes Aron Ralston as keynote speaker. Ralston, a legendary Boulder-based climber, survivor, and medical innovator, made headlines after amputating his own arm to survive a canyoneering accident, then helped design his own prosthetics. His story, featured in 127 Hours and Between a Rock and a Hard Place, continues to inspire audiences around the world.

He brings a powerful message of the resilience mindset, innovation, and human potential that resonates deeply with Colorado’s life sciences ecosystem as we drive bold advances in patient-centered care and health innovations.

Event Details and Sponsorship Opportunities

Colorado’s life sciences community is invited to join CBSA for this celebration of innovation and impact at the 22^nd Annual Awards Celebration Presented by AGC Biologics, on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Seawell Ballroom in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. A limited number of sponsorships and tables remain available. Contact Matt Teter, CBSA Vice President of Partnerships.   

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 + Growth, Education + Networking, Policy + Advocacy, and Workforce Cultivation initiatives to make its members stronger together. Learn more: cobioscience.com

# # #

Media Contact:

Sheliah Reynolds
Primavera Group for Colorado BioScience Association
(720) 289-4739
sheliah@theprimaveragroup.com