Britain is spending record sums just to keep its power grid stable, which shows how critical reliable energy and advanced health science have become to the country's future. That focus on resilience puts British biotechnology shares in an interesting spot, as investors look for sectors tied to essential services rather than discretionary trends. This article highlights three UK-listed biotech stocks from a quality-focused screen that could deserve a closer look.
The three stocks in this article are just a starting sample from the wider biotech universe, and the full screen surfaced 3 more UK companies with equally compelling stories that are not covered below. To see the rest of the field, head straight into the Biotech Stocks screener to identify, compare, and analyze the highest-conviction biotech ideas that match your risk tolerance.
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (LSE:HIK)
Overview:Hikma Pharmaceuticals develops and sells generic, specialty, and branded drugs worldwide, with a meaningful oncology and hospital injectable footprint.
Operations:Hikma generates most of its revenue from Injectables at US$1.4b, Hikma Rx at US$1.0b, and Branded at US$914 million.
Market Cap:£3.5b
Hikma Pharmaceuticals appeals to Biotech Stocks screeners because its oncology injectables and branded cancer treatments sit inside a larger, diversified generics engine that targets essential hospital demand rather than niche science projects.
"Hikma's ongoing investment in expanding manufacturing capacity in the US, Europe, MENA, and new state-of-the-art facilities (e.g., Bedford, Cherry Hill, Italy, North Africa, Saudi Arabia) positions the company to meet rising global demand for pharmaceuticals that is associated with an aging population and greater chronic disease prevalence."
What really matters for Hikma now is how one unseen pressure around future pricing power and margins ultimately resolves.
That pricing question sits at the heart of Hikma Pharmaceuticals' story, and the full narrative for Hikma Pharmaceuticals shows how capacity, contracts, and competition could reshape the next phase for investors.
Oxford Biomedica (LSE:OXB)
Overview:Oxford Biomedica is a contract developer and manufacturer that supplies viral vectors, including its LentiVector platform, for gene and cell therapies worldwide.
Operations:Oxford Biomedica earns most of its income from Manufacturing Services at £88 million and Development Services at £60 million, with smaller contributions from Procurement and Licensing.
Market Cap:£616 million
Oxford Biomedica matters for this Biotech Stocks screen because its LentiVector and broader viral vector services give you exposure to the tools powering gene and cell therapies rather than a single high-risk drug bet.
"The increasing demand for their differentiated CDMO services, highlighted by a 35% rise in contracted client orders, positions OXB for sustained growth and an increase in overall revenue."
What really matters for Oxford Biomedica now is how efficiently new contracts translate into higher-margin production over the next few years.
That margin question is exactly where the full narrative for Oxford Biomedica picks up, mapping how Oxford Biomedica's order book, capacity choices and capital needs could reshape returns for patient holders.
Genus (LSE:GNS)
Overview:Genus plc supplies biotech-driven animal genetics, providing dairy and pork breeding stock, semen and embryos that apply genomics to improve livestock traits worldwide.
Operations:Genus PIC generates £355.8 million and Genus ABS £299.8 million, with revenue spread across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the UK.
Market Cap:£1.5b
Genus matters for this Biotech Stocks screen because its genetics business turns biotech tools into practical products that can reshape farm productivity and cash flows.
"Although the PRP program is progressing through approvals in markets such as Canada, Mexico and Japan, planned PRP expenditure of about £13m in FY26 with a further increase guided for FY27 means cash outflows are locked in before revenue arrives."
What really matters for Genus is whether that upfront spending ultimately feeds through into the kind of margins this genetics model is built around.
If that margin equation is what decides where Genus goes next, the full narrative for Genus lays out how PRP spending, approvals and pricing power could quietly accelerate the story.
Seeking Fresh Alternatives Beyond Biotech?
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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