Flot.bio x Philip Hemme

Forbion celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, with a whopping €5 billion raised so far. Sander marks the occasion by discussing how Forbion plans to promote life sciences investments in Europe via the Life Sciences VC Coalition. We chat about building European biotech champions like Argenx, the thriving Chinese biotech space, and why life should be fun, not only dealflow.

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This episode is brought to you by GeneNovate Investors Day, an invite-only event for scientists, startups, investors, and industry leaders working at the forefront of cell and gene therapies. Learn more: https://bit.ly/flot-genenovate or reach out to [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

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⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Sander co-founded Forbion in 2006. Prior to co-founding Forbion, Sander co-founded ABN AMRO Capital/Life Sciences in 2000. Sander serves on the boards of NorthSea Therapeutics and Azafaros, with previous board roles at NewAmsterdam Pharma, Replimune and uniQure.

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED

Forbion website — https://forbion.com/
Forbion Joins Newly Launched European Life Sciences Coalition — https://forbion.com/news-insights/news/forbion-joins-newly-launched-european-life-sciences-coalition/
Novartis acquires Gyroscope Therapeutics — https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-acquire-gyroscope-therapeutics-adding-one-time-gene-therapy-could-transform-care-geographic-atrophy-leading-cause-blindness
GSK acquires Aiolos Bio — https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/gsk-enters-agreement-to-acquire-aiolos-bio/
European Biotech Act — https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-regulation-establish-measures-strengthen-unions-biotechnology-and-biomanufacturing-sectors_en
Capital markets union — https://finance.ec.europa.eu/financial-markets/financial-markets-policy/capital-markets-union_en
Gimv discontinues activities for new Life Sciences investments — https://www.gimv.com/en/news/gimv-increases-focus-strategic-objectives-and-discontinues-activities-new-life-sciences
Why the Strait of Hormuz matters so much in the Iran war — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78n6p09pzno
Antoine Papiernik, Sofinnova | Billion Investing with Balance — https://flot.bio/episode/antoine-papiernik-sofinnova-ebillion-biotech-investing-with-balance/
Christina Takke, V-Bio Ventures 🇧🇪 | Wonder VC Woman | E17 — https://flot.bio/episode/christina-takke-v-bio-ventures/
Fabrice Chouraqui, Pharming 🇳🇱 | Transgenic Rabbits, Rare Diseases | E43 — https://flot.bio/episode/fabrice-chouraqui-pharming-transgenic-rabbit/

📜 TRANSCRIPT

Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/sander-slootweg-forbion-eu-biotech-investment/

💸 DONATE

We welcome donations from individuals and businesses to support our podcast and allow us to create even more content: https://www.paypal.me/PhilipHemme

⭐️ SPONSORSHIP

Ready to amplify your brand to influential leaders in biotech and biopharma? Contact [email protected] and unlock sponsorship opportunities in our podcasts!

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🙏 LIKE/FOLLOW/REVIEW

🎙️ ABOUT FLOT.BIO

Flot.bio is a show to watch the best Europeans in biotech to help you grow. Hosted by Philip Hemme. 25k monthly views. Free.

⏰ TIMESTAMPS
[00:00:00] Intro
[00:02:13] Uniting European biotech VCs
[00:09:25] Why European pension funds overlook biotech VCs
[00:17:36] Making European biotech an attractive market
[00:30:24] Forbion’s “special sauce” and company culture
[00:39:31] Sourcing China’s biotech assets from Europe
[00:49:51] European biotech robustness in energy crises
[00:52:19] Learning science as an investor
[00:57:18] Sander Slootweg on skis
[01:00:55] Quick-fire questions

Antibiotic-resistant superbugs could become a greater threat than cancer. Bruno and Pedro at the startup Immunethep explain how they’re tackling the crisis with vaccines.

We discuss how Immunethep could challenge Pfizer’s $7bn+ Prevnar, and how one pharma company got on board after a representative said he doesn’t believe in vaccines!

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For transparency, this episode has been sponsored by Immunethep. Learn more at https://bit.ly/flot-immunethep

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⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Bruno is Immunethep’s co-founder and CEO, and co-founder of the startup creator Venture Catalysts. He also co-founded the tech startup Abyssal, which was acquired by marine robotics company Ocean Infinity in 2021.

Co-founder and CSO Pedro is a biomedical scientist previously serving as an Assistant Researcher at i3S. He has a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Porto and boasts over 30 peer-reviewed publications.

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED
Immunethep website — https://www.immunethep.com/
When Cancer is no longer the biggest threat: AMR’s growing shadow over oncology — https://www.incate.net/when-cancer-is-no-longer-the-biggest-threat-amrs-growing-shadow-over-oncology/
Antimicrobial resistance WHO page — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance
Center for Global Development: The Economics of Antibiotic Resistance — https://www.cgdev.org/sites/default/files/economics-antibiotic-resistance.pdf
GSK completes Affinivax acquisition — https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/gsk-completes-acquisition-of-affinivax-inc/
António Portela, BIAL 🇵🇹 | Parkinson’s, Family-Owned Biotech | E54 —https://flot.bio/episode/antonio-portela-bial-parkinsons-biopharma/

📜 TRANSCRIPT

Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/immunethep-antimicrobial-resistance/

💸 DONATE

We welcome donations from individuals and businesses to support our podcast and allow us to create even more content: https://www.paypal.me/PhilipHemme

⭐️ SPONSORSHIP

Ready to amplify your brand to influential leaders in biotech and biopharma? Contact [email protected] and unlock sponsorship opportunities in our podcasts!

🫶 FOLLOW US
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/h_fnmH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flot-bio/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/FlotBio

🙏 LIKE/FOLLOW/REVIEW

Did you enjoy the episode? Please hit the like and subscribe button. Also, please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

🎙️ ABOUT FLOT.BIO

Flot.bio is a show to watch the best Europeans in biotech to help you grow. Hosted by Philip Hemme. 25k monthly views. Free.

⏰ TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:00] Intro
[00:02:10] The overlooked antimicrobial resistance crisis
[00:10:26] Immunethep: When Bruno Santos and Pedro Madureira teamed up
[00:15:41] Taking down multiple superbugs with a single vaccine
[00:27:30] Preparing to challenge Pfizer’s $7bn+ Prevnar
[00:42:11] The Portuguese biotech ecosystem
[00:46:10] Bruno Santos’ cross-disciplinary experience
[00:48:09] Not taking ‘no’ for an answer from big pharma
[00:51:44] Immunethep’s IP and tech transfer achievements
[00:55:44] Quick-fire questions

We dive into Bial’s meteoric journey from a small pharmacy in Porto to Portugal’s biggest biopharma company, all while still being 100% family owned.
We cover Bial’s pipeline, including treatments for epilepsy and Parkinson’s, and why Bial’s multigenerational leadership story is nowhere as dramatic as HBO’s “Succession.”

---Avance is where European biotech turns for trusted financial advice. Learn more at https://bit.ly/flot-avance.---

⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Prior to leading Bial, António worked at Roche in the UK as a Medical Sales Representative and a Market Analyst. While he worked at Roche, he also launched a Hepatitis C drug.António holds a degree in Economics from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Porto and an Executive MBA from the Porto Business School.

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED
Bial’s website — https://www.bial.com/en
Bial 2024 financials — https://downloads.ctfassets.net/oyx9uzi3vj2y/XTmSUhXd7ggVEnpJLx0Ch/7a22a851246d910c517e064fca4b6968/Consolidated_Management_Report_BIAL_Holding_2024.pdf
Bial launches KYNMOBI in Portugal and Spain — https://bial.com/en/media/news/bial-launches-kynmobi-in-portugal-and-spain
Succession TV show — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7660850/
BIO-Europe Spring — https://informaconnect.com/bioeurope-spring/

📜 TRANSCRIPT

Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/António-Portela-BIAL-parkinsons-biopharma/

💸 DONATE

We welcome donations from individuals and businesses to support our podcast and allow us to create even more content: https://www.paypal.me/PhilipHemme

⭐️ SPONSORSHIP

Ready to amplify your brand to influential leaders in biotech and biopharma? Contact [email protected] and unlock sponsorship opportunities in our podcasts!

🫶 FOLLOW US
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/h_fnmH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flot-bio/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/FlotBio

🙏 LIKE/FOLLOW/REVIEW
Did you enjoy the episode? Please hit the like and subscribe button. Also, please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

🎙️ ABOUT FLOT.BIO
Flot.bio is a show to watch the best Europeans in biotech to help you grow. Hosted by Philip Hemme. 25k monthly views. Free.

⏰ TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:00] Intro
[00:02:31] Bial’s humble beginnings
[00:05:59] Behind the scenes of the Portela family
[00:12:45] A CNS innovator pipeline
[00:18:42] From small molecules to biologics
[00:21:17] Sourcing Portuguese talent from overseas
[00:24:14] Manufacturing critical for gene therapy
[00:26:21] António Portela’s dynamic leadership
[00:27:38] Quick-fire questions

Novonesis arose from a 2023 merger of Novozymes and Chr Hansen, and is a highly profitable powerhouse. CSO Claus talks about the applications of Novonesis’ technology, its low profile among consumers, and how hard it is for biosolutions startups to scale up.
⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Claus first joined Novozymes in 1993 and led its R&D both in Denmark and the US, with six years as CSO. He has a Master’s degree in biochemistry and an MBA.
🔗 LINKS MENTIONED
Novonesis’ website — https://www.novonesis.com/en
Merger of Novozymes and Chr Hansen — https://www.novonesis.com/en/news/novozymes-and-chr-hansen-announce-name-future-combined-company-novonesis
Novonesis’ nine-month results in 2025 — https://backend.novonesis.com/sites/default/files/document/2025-11/2025_46_9M_Interim_report.pdf
Novonesis and Benchling partnership in 2024 — https://www.benchling.com/news/novonesis-and-benchling-long-term-partnership-to-power-rd
EU biosolutions — https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/environment/bioeconomy/bio-based-products-and-processes_en

📜 TRANSCRIPT

Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/claus-crone-fuglsang-novonesis-biosolutions/
💸 DONATE
We welcome donations from individuals and businesses to support our podcast and allow us to create even more content: https://www.paypal.me/PhilipHemme
⭐️ SPONSORSHIP

Ready to amplify your brand to influential leaders in biotech and biopharma? Contact [email protected] and unlock sponsorship opportunities in our podcasts!
🫶 FOLLOW US
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/h_fnmH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flot-bio/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/FlotBio
🙏 LIKE/FOLLOW/REVIEW

Did you enjoy the episode? Please hit the like and subscribe button. Also, please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
🎙️ABOUT FLOT.BIO

Flot.bio is a show to watch the best Europeans in biotech to help you grow. Hosted by Philip Hemme. 25k monthly views. Free.
⏰ TIMESTAMPS
[00:00:00] Intro
[00:02:19] Novonesis: the Novozymes and Chr Hansen merger
[00:09:51] Under the consumer radar
[00:12:52] Business divisions and myriad applications
[00:20:46] The scaling challenge in biosolutions
[00:27:39] Novonesis’ profitability and growth
[00:36:34] Genetic engineering and cool patents
[00:47:57] Novonesis’ growing AI use
[00:56:34] Claus Crone Fuglsang’s enthusiasm for his work
[01:00:09] Industrial biotech globally
[01:04:15] Quick-fire questions

At the beginning of 2025, Sten R. Sörensen announced Cereno Scientific’s positive Phase 2a results in PAH for lead asset CS1. He’s now moving forward with a global Phase 2b trial starting in Q2 2026. The company also progresses its second HDACi asset, CS014, toward Phase 2. Cereno's developing pioneering treatments with disease-modification potential for rare cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases.---Learn more about Cereno: https://bit.ly/cereno-e52---
⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Sten joined Cereno as CEO in 2015, with decades of experience in pharma, ranging from Monsanto Pharma to AstraZeneca.
🔗 LINKS MENTIONED
Cereno’s website - https://cerenoscientific.com/
Cereno Scientific | BioStock Life Science Summit 2024 - [https://www.youtu.be/A5b3Ud_PSas](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5b3Ud_PSas)
Cereno Scientific announces positive topline results of Phase IIa trial with lead candidate CS1 in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension **-** https://cerenoscientific.com/press-single/?releaseIdentifier=2D7F159764FDB891
Cereno's HDAC inhibitor reduces risks from pulmonary arterial hypertension in phase 2 trial **-** https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/cerenos-hdac-inhibitor-reduces-risks-pulmonary-arterial-hypertension-phase-2-trial
Cereno Scientific Receives FDA Clearance to Initiate Global Phase IIb Trial of CS1 in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) - https://cerenoscientific.com/press-single/?releaseIdentifier=008944355F62DA91
Competing drug Winrevair / sotatercept by US Merck - https://www.drugs.com/winrevair.html

📜 TRANSCRIPT
Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/sten-sorensen-cereno-drug-repurposing/
💸 DONATE
We welcome donations from individuals and businesses to support our podcast and allow us to create even more content: https://www.paypal.me/PhilipHemme
⭐️ SPONSORSHIP
Ready to amplify your brand to influential leaders in biotech and biopharma? Contact [email protected] and unlock sponsorship opportunities in our podcasts!
🫶 FOLLOW US
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/h_fnmH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flot-bio/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/FlotBio

🙏 LIKE/FOLLOW/REVIEW
Did you enjoy the episode? Please hit the like and subscribe button. Also, please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
🎙️ABOUT FLOT.BIO
Flot.bio is a show to watch the best Europeans in biotech to help you grow. Hosted by Philip Hemme. 25k monthly views. Free.
⏰ TIMESTAMPS
[00:00:00] Intro
[00:02:04] Cereno's Phase2A results
[00:21:59] Phase2B
[00:32:41] Cereno's pipeline
[00:40:56] The finances of running a Phase2B
[00:45:07] Investor base of Cereno
[00:50:42] A strong team is crucial for Cereno
[00:55:41] The Swedish biotech ecosystem
[01:02:54] Sten Sörensen's background
[01:10:39] Success in drug repurposing
[01:16:03] Quickfire