The Pharma Fast 50 PharmaTimes presents Alantra’s annual ranking of the fastest growing private pharma companies in the UK In 2020 the world turned upside-down and the pharma sector was no exception. As COVID-19 spread globally and lockdowns took effect, the industry responded with a surge of adaptability, resilience and innovation. This response is borne from the key trait we see every year in the constituents of the Alantra Pharma Fast 50, our annual ranking of the 50 fastest-growing privately owned pharmaceutical businesses in the UK. The common theme among these businesses is a relentless focus on innovation. There has never been more public attention on what it takes to deliver an effective drug to patients than over the last 12 months. The businesses in the Pharma Fast 50 touch on every element of that – from early stage research right through to ensuring vital medicines continue to flow across borders. Some are using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and design the most promising drug candidates at a faster rate than ever before, others are providing deep development and clinical experience to progress these with the lowest rate of attrition possible. Elsewhere businesses are using digital to replace face to face communications. Others still are ensuring pharma can access patients to understand the true nature of living with a condition or enabling distribution to ensure life-changing treatments are widely available.