Kimer Med wins Innovative Business Award

We were  honoured to be recognised for our innovative business model, and our approach to antiviral development at the Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. It was a great way to raise the profile of our business.

 

Nelson biotech start-up Kimer Med recognised with Innovative Business Award

24 February 2023

Nelson biotech company, Kimer Med, has won the Innovative Business Award at the Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce Business Awards gala dinner, held at the Rutherford Hotel on Friday night.

Presented by Julie Baxendine, Chair of the Innovate Charitable Trust Board, the Innovative Business award recognises a company that “demonstrates an extraordinary story as a result of pure grit or clever thinking” and an “innovative and inventive approach to people, products or processes.”

Kimer Med is developing a novel and genuinely broad-spectrum antiviral drug that has already shown the potential to treat a range of viral diseases in laboratory-based testing.

Their innovative business model, research process and product development path sees them on an unconventional journey compared to the traditional ‘big pharma’ model – one which they refer to as ‘small pharma’.

Commenting on their selection, the judges said it was “hard to ignore the audacious vision and ground-breaking innovation that is at the heart of this business.”

Kimer Med’s Business Development Manager, Dr Mike Schmidt, accepted the award on behalf of the company’s co-founders, Phil Oliver and Rick Kiessig, who were unable to attend.

Schmidt made a short speech in which he acknowledged the vision of the company’s founders, and thanked the Cawthron Institute for their support.

Kimer Med announced in November 2022 that they had reached an agreement with Cawthron to lease laboratory space at their state-of-the-art Te Wero Aro-aramata facility, allowing them to significantly increase the pace of their antiviral research and development.

The microphone was then passed to Kimer Med’s Communications and Funding Lead, Andy Clover, who expressed his gratitude to the judging panel, before speaking about some of the scientific challenges faced by the small drug development business, and their motivation to succeed.

“Nothing like this currently exists, so if we are successful, we will revolutionise medicine, save countless lives and reduce the suffering of millions of humans and animals,” Clover said.

He continued by outlining a vision for Kimer Med’s future growth which was warmly received by the 350-strong audience, drawn from among the region’s business community.

“Along the way we plan to build a sustainable business that will generate IP, create highly skilled jobs, and have a significant positive impact on economic activity in the Nelson Tasman region,” said Clover.