3 British Biotech Stocks To Own In October 2026

Rising bond yields and a stronger dollar are putting global shares under pressure, which makes it harder for high growth stories to attract patient capital. That backdrop can create mispricing in higher risk areas such as UK biotech stocks, where sentiment often swings faster than fundamentals. This article walks through three ideas from the Biotech Stocks screener that combine scientific potential with balance sheets that look more grounded than many peers.

The three stocks in focus below are only a sample from the wider opportunity set, and the full screen has surfaced 3 more biotech businesses with equally compelling narratives that are not covered in this article. If you want to move quickly from ideas to a working watchlist, head straight into the Biotech Stocks screener to analyze, filter, and identify the biotech candidates that best fit your own conviction.

Hikma Pharmaceuticals (LSE:HIK)

Overview: Hikma Pharmaceuticals develops and sells generic, specialty, and branded medicines, with oncology injectables giving it a clear biotech edge.

Operations: Hikma generates about $1.4b from Injectables, $1.0b from Hikma Rx, $914 million from Branded products, and $46 million from Others.

Market Cap: £3.4b

Hikma Pharmaceuticals adds a slightly different flavour to this biotech screen, pairing an oncology-focused injectable portfolio with a broad generic base that can help support investment in higher risk science.

"Hikma's ongoing investment in expanding manufacturing capacity in the US, Europe, MENA, and new state-of-the-art facilities (for example, Bedford, Cherry Hill, Italy, North Africa, Saudi Arabia) positions the company to capitalize on rising global demand for pharmaceuticals driven by an aging population and greater chronic disease prevalence, supporting future revenue growth and market share gains."

What really matters now is how one unseen pressure on its future margin mix ultimately resolves over the next few years.

How that margin pressure plays out is exactly what the full narrative for Hikma Pharmaceuticals unpacks, including where Hikma Pharmaceuticals might be quietly building leverage for the next phase.

Oxford Biomedica (LSE:OXB)

Overview: Oxford Biomedica provides viral vector development and manufacturing services for gene and cell therapies, built around its LentiVector and InAAVate platforms.

Operations: Oxford Biomedica generates about £88 million from Manufacturing Services, £60 million from Development Services, £22 million from Procurement Services, and £5 million from licences, milestones and royalties.

Market Cap: £639 million

Oxford Biomedica taps directly into the Biotech Stocks theme by supplying the viral vectors that underpin many gene and cell therapy pipelines. This makes its execution on complex contracts central to the investment case.

"Their development and manufacturing capabilities expansion into AAV and other vector types diversify their revenue streams, reducing dependency on any single vector type and potentially enhancing overall earnings and EBITDA margins."

What investors will be watching closely now is how one unresolved execution bottleneck affects the timing of that potential improvement in profitability.

That execution question sits right at the heart of the full narrative for Oxford Biomedica, where Oxford Biomedica's bottlenecks, contract mix, and upside scenarios are examined from fresh angles.

Genus (LSE:GNS)

Overview: Genus develops biotech-driven animal genetics, supplying farmers with improved cattle and pig breeding stock, semen, and embryos worldwide.

Operations: Genus PIC generates about £355.8 million, Genus ABS £299.8 million, and Central activities £2.5 million across multiple global regions.

Market Cap: £1.5b

Genus plugs into the Biotech Stocks theme through its genetics work on herds, where small DNA edits can reshape long-term productivity and profitability.

"Rapid shifts towards plant-based diets and alternative proteins present a structural threat to Genus's long-term addressable market, creating the risk that demand for animal genetics will stagnate or decline, placing persistent pressure on revenue growth."

The way a single assumption about long-run protein demand ultimately develops will influence how durable Genus’s biotech edge is perceived to be.

That protein debate is only the starting point, and the full narrative for Genus shows where Genus could still compound value as preferences accelerate toward lower impact diets.

Seeking Fresh Alternatives Beyond Biotech?

Fresh ideas move first. Once momentum breaks out and early capital flies in, the cleanest entry points can get caught and start dropping fast. Consider looking earlier in the cycle instead.

• Spot cash generative companies before they hit every headline and review the list of solid balance sheet and fundamentals (9 results) while valuations still feel under the radar for now.
• Consider the structural demand for electricity and track the 43 power grid technology and infrastructure stocks while grid upgrades and infrastructure spend are still quietly building in the background.
• Focus on metal producers with meaningful exposure to gold prices and scan the 36 elite gold producer stocks as investor attention evolves across the sector.

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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