Colorado BioScience Association Announces 2026 Awards Finalists, Honorees

Enveda, HepQuant and Watchmaker Genomics are among the companies recognized ahead of the Nov. 12 celebration in Denver.

Colorado’s life sciences industry will take center stage Nov. 12 as the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) brings together industry executives, researchers, entrepreneurs and policymakers for its 23rd Annual Awards Celebration at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

The association announced its 2026 finalists and honorees Oct. 14, recognizing companies developing new treatments, advancing diagnostic technologies, expanding manufacturing operations and attracting substantial investment to Colorado.

This year’s finalists include six companies based in Boulder, Denver and Aurora, with achievements ranging from multimillion-dollar financing rounds and significant workforce expansions to federal regulatory approval of new medical technologies.

“Colorado’s life sciences companies are attracting major investments, expanding operations here, and advancing new approaches to some of the toughest health challenges,” said Elyse Blazevich, president and CEO of CBSA. “Our finalists and honorees demonstrate the depth of talent and ambition in this community.”

Presented by KBI Biopharma, the annual celebration will recognize companies and individuals contributing to Colorado’s position as a growing center for biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical diagnostics and health innovation.

Three Boulder Companies Compete for Company of the Year

CBSA named three Boulder-based companies as finalists for its Company of the Year Award, recognizing established Colorado businesses making significant contributions through scientific advancement and strategic growth.

Enveda is developing medicines by combining artificial intelligence with the study of chemical compounds found in nature. In September, the company secured $311 million in Series E financing, bringing its valuation above $2 billion. The investment followed encouraging early clinical results involving potential treatments for atopic dermatitis and metabolic conditions.

OnKure Therapeutics is advancing precision medicines designed to target genetic mutations associated with cancer and vascular anomalies. The company completed a $150 million financing round in March to support its drug development pipeline, including potential treatments for breast cancer and vascular conditions.

Watchmaker Genomics develops specialized tools used in genetic research and molecular diagnostics. The company announced a 100,000-square-foot Boulder expansion in September that is expected to more than double its manufacturing capacity and support hundreds of new Colorado jobs. Watchmaker also reported workforce growth exceeding 35% over the preceding year and received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Exporting.

The finalists reflect continued investment in Colorado-based scientific research, commercialization and advanced manufacturing.

HepQuant, Think Bioscience and VitriVax Named Rising Star Finalists

Three companies have been selected as finalists for Rising Star of the Year, an award recognizing emerging and growing businesses developing technologies with the potential to improve health outcomes.

HepQuant, headquartered in Denver with lab facilities at Fitzsimons Innovation Community in Aurora, develops blood-based diagnostic tests that help clinicians evaluate liver function. The company achieved a significant regulatory milestone in June when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted premarket approval for its HepQuant SHUNT Liver Diagnostic Test. HepQuant also received College of American Pathologists laboratory accreditation and continued advancing clinical research involving its DuO test.

Think Bioscience, based in Boulder, is using synthetic biology to identify new opportunities for treating diseases associated with proteins that have historically been difficult to target with medicines. The company raised $55 million in Series A financing in January to advance its drug development pipeline, including a program focused on Noonan syndrome, a genetic disorder.

VitriVax, also based in Boulder, is developing vaccine technology intended to improve storage, transportation and administration, particularly in settings where refrigeration and repeated access to health care can be difficult. Its ALTA platform is designed to improve vaccine stability and potentially allow initial and booster doses to be delivered through a single injection. The company has received $17.25 million in Series B financing and a $9.9 million Gates Foundation grant while expanding into a 31,465-square-foot facility at Flatiron Park.

Foresight Diagnostics Receives Deal of the Year Recognition

CBSA selected Foresight Diagnostics, a Natera company, as its 2026 Deal of the Year honoree following a major acquisition that underscored the commercial value of Colorado-developed medical technologies.

The Boulder company developed PhasED-Seq, a blood-based testing technology designed to detect very small amounts of circulating tumor DNA that may indicate cancer remains after treatment or has returned.

In December 2025, Natera acquired Foresight Diagnostics in a transaction involving $275 million in upfront stock consideration and up to $175 million in additional payments tied to revenue and reimbursement milestones.

The acquisition brought Foresight’s cancer detection technology into Natera’s broader precision oncology portfolio, creating opportunities to expand applications across blood cancers and solid tumors.

Colorado Lawmakers to Receive Recognition

The association will also honor four state legislators for their engagement on policies affecting Colorado’s life sciences industry.

The 2026 Legislators of the Year are:

• Sen. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, representing Senate District 18.
• Sen. John Carson, R-Highlands Ranch, representing Senate District 30.
• Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-Fort Morgan, representing House District 63.
• Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, representing House District 53.

Additional honors will recognize contributions in education, institutional leadership, patient advocacy, manufacturing, business partnerships and volunteer service. Those recipients will be announced during the event.

Keynote to Highlight Rare Disease Research and Patient Advocacy

The celebration will also feature a discussion focused on advances in research and treatment for stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that has received international attention following singer Céline Dion’s diagnosis.

Dr. Amanda Piquet, director of the Autoimmune Neurology Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz and holder of the Céline Dion Foundation Endowed Chair, will join Dr. Tara Zier, founder and CEO of the Stiff Person Syndrome Research Foundation, for a keynote conversation moderated by Blazevich.

The discussion will explore the role of medical research, patient advocacy, philanthropy and collaboration in advancing treatment options for patients and families affected by the condition.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democratic candidate for governor, is also scheduled to deliver remarks.

Annual Celebration Recognizes Colorado’s Growing Life Sciences Industry

The awards celebration comes as Colorado life sciences companies continue attracting capital, advancing clinical research and investing in facilities and workforce development.

This year’s finalists collectively represent hundreds of millions of dollars in recent investments and financing, alongside developments in cancer treatment, diagnostic medicine, vaccine delivery and advanced biotechnology manufacturing.

“Colorado’s life sciences community is built on people and organizations willing to push boundaries, invest in bold ideas, and work together to create meaningful impact,” said Matt Teter, vice president of partnerships at CBSA.

The 23rd Annual Awards Celebration, presented by KBI Biopharma, will take place Thursday, Nov. 12, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Seawell Ballroom in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

Editor’s note: Tickets, tables and additional event information are available through the Colorado BioScience Association’s awards celebration page.