Flot.bio x Philip Hemme

Flot.bio

Watch the #1 Biotech Podcast in Europe to grow. Hosted by Philip Hemme. 25k monthly views. Free.

Guests include Antoine Papiernik @Sofinnova, Werner Lanthaler @Evotec, Ingmar Hoerr @CureVac, Bernat Olle @Vedanta, Johannes Fruehauf @BioLabs, Rodger Novak @CRISPR Tx, Agnete Fredriksen @Nykode, Mike Ward, Thomas Clozel @Owkin, Marc de Garidel @Abivax, Sander van Deventer @VectorY & Forbion, Jens Nielsen @BII, Edwin Moses, Bahija Jallal @Immunocore, and more. Your host Philip animates the conversation to dig out exciting, and sometimes contrarian, ideas.

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20 episodes
Updated July 6

Episodes20

Newest first

July 6 · 1 hr 14 min
Billionaire wild bets on Consumer Biotech, GLP-1s, and psychedelics | Christian Angermayer | E61
Christian Angermayer became a multimillionaire before turning 25 thanks to the merger of Alnylam with Ribopharma. We talk about his diverse investment appetite and the rise of consumer biotech and human enhancement.We talk about GLP-1s, the progress of AtaiBeckley, and why he thinks ‘going home and sleeping’ beats an all-nighter every time. ---Discover the best biotech companies in 🇪🇺 with the FlotBio Map at https://bit.ly/4nXmKjN--- ⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER Christian is the founder of Apeiron Investment Group, which manages around $7 billion across psychedelics, longevity, consumer biotech, crypto and media. He also co-founded big companies including AtaiBeckley and the Enhanced Games.Christian studied business in Germany at the University of Bayreuth but dropped out to co-found Ribopharma, which merged with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in 2003. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED Christian Angermayer LinkedIn profile — https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-angermayer/ Enhanced Games — https://www.enhanced.com/ Enhanced Games inaugural event press release — https://investors.enhanced.com/inaugural-enhanced-games-deliver-a-world-record-and-21-personal-bests-showcasing-that-living-enhanced-works/ David Nutt LinkedIn profile — https://www.linkedin.com/in/professor-david-nutt-82498025/ AtaiBeckley pipeline — https://www.ataibeckley.com/our-work/pipeline BBC weight loss drugs comparison — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c981044pgvyo David Nutt drug-harm chart — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HarmCausedByDrugsTable.svg Matthew Walker, *Why We Sleep* — https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-Unlocking-Dreams/dp/1501144316 Mayo Clinic report on resveratrol/red wine — https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/red-wine/art-20048281 CNBC — atai's 2021 Wall Street debut — https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/18/peter-thiel-backed-psychedelic-start-ups-shares-pop-in-wall-street-debut.html Fortune article on Angermayer's uranium bet — https://fortune.com/crypto/2025/05/27/christian-angermayer-uranium-digital-german-billionaire-tether/ Robert Nelsen, ARCH Venture Partners — https://www.archventure.com/team/robert-nelsen/ 📜 TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/christian-angermayer-glp-1s/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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 [00:02:38] Crazy Consumer Demand for Mounjaro, Zepbound and Ozempic [00:07:45] Clinical Trials and Side-Effects: Can GLP-1s Benefit Non-Obese People? [00:12:52] Prescriptions and Drug Risks [00:25:57] The Trade-offs of Weight Loss, Testosterone [00:33:18] Personal Optimization with Sleep and Diet [00:40:44] Consumer Biotech: Vanity, Muscle and Sex [00:47:12] AtaiBeckley and the Psychedelics Market [00:56:25] Christian Angermayer: Uni Dropout to Multimillionaire [01:03:53] Quick-Fire Questions
June 8 · 47 min
ImCheck ex-CEO on ASCO Oncology Trends, $1.2B Exit and French Biotech | Pierre d’Epenoux | E60
After ImCheck’s inception in 2015, Pierre took the helm through clinical development and guided the startup to a $1.2B buyout by Ipsen in 2025. In a session at the Kadans Oncology Summit, he talks about how the exit materialised and the oncology space, including highlights from ASCO 2026, ADCs, in vivo CAR-T & checkpoint inhibitors. He reveals some of the most shocking lessons he learned from his time at Imcheck. ---Learn more about Kadans’ Oncology Clusters, where oncology biotechs grow from start-up to global player: https://bit.ly/kadans-oncology--- ⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKERPierre has 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including 9 years at ImCheck and more than 3 years as EVP, Chief Strategy Officer at Theravectys. Prior to this, he also spent 10 years in senior roles in Sanofi and Baxter Healthcare. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED Kadans Oncology Summit — https://www.kadansoncologysummit.com/ ImCheck Therapeutics — https://www.imchecktherapeutics.com/ ImCheck ASCO data (2025) — https://www.imchecktherapeutics.com/all-press-release/news/imcheck-reports-high-remission-rates-in-aml-patients-with-ict01-combination-therapy-at-asco-2025/ ImCheck acquisition by Ipsen (2025) — https://www.ipsen.com/press-release/ipsen-to-acquire-imcheck-therapeutics-expanding-its-leadership-in-oncology-strengthening-its-pipeline-3170788/ Pancreatic cancer ASCO data (2026) — https://www.asco.org/about-asco/press-center/multi-selective-ras-inhibitor-nearly-doubles-survival-pancreatic-cancer Dominik Schumacher, Tubulis | Founder-led ADC Biotech | E19 — https://flot.bio/episode/dominik-schumacher-tubulis/ Ona Therapeutics raises $86.6M — https://ona-therapeutics.com/press-release/ona-therapeutics-raises-86m/ Moderna five-year cancer-vaccine data (2026) — https://www.merck.com/news/moderna-merck-announce-5-year-data-for-intismeran-autogene-in-combination-with-keytruda-pembrolizumab-demonstrated-sustained-improvement-in-the-primary-endpoint-of-recurrence-free-survival-i/ Sean Marett | BioNTech, Art of Dealmaking | E25 — https://flot.bio/episode/sean-marett-biontech-dealmaking/ Laurent Levy, Nanobiotix | Nanoparticles, Radiotherapy | E45— https://flot.bio/episode/laurent-levy-nanobiotix-nanoparticles-radiotherapy/ Marc de Garidel, Abivax | Ulcerative Colitis, Inflammation | E46 — https://flot.bio/episode/marc-de-garidel-abivax-ulcerative-colitis-inflammation/ Jeito Capital €1B fund — https://www.jeito.life/en/jeito-capital-record-eur-1-billion-fundraise-jeito-ii-fund-therapeutic-innovation/ ASCO 2026: ADC & In Vivo CAR-T Trends: ⁠https://flot.bio/pierre-d-epenoux-imcheck-adc-oncology/⁠ 📜 TRANSCRIPT Read the transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/pierre-d-epenoux-imcheck-oncology/ 💸 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 ⭐️ SPONSORSHIPReady to amplify your brand to influential leaders in biotech and biopharma? Contact nick@flot.bio 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/REVIEWDid 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 [00:02:43] Highlights from ASCO 2026 [00:07:48] ADCs and In Vivo CAR-T: the Next Wave [00:11:25] Pierre d’Epenoux Explains How to Stand Out in Oncology [00:15:45] Checkpoint Inhibitors and the Rise of Combination Therapies [00:21:23] ImCheck: from Inception to Ipsen Buyout [00:28:36] Pipeline Focus and French pharma: Why ImCheck Chose Ipsen [00:35:55] The Decision to Exit and Shocking Lessons [00:42:05] Why Checkpoint Inhibitors Disappointed Beyond PD-1 [00:43:48] Quick-Fire Questions
June 1 · 1 hr 1 min
CEO Jean-François Brepson on Scaling a CRO, and Selling to Charles River | E59 [Sponsored]
Founded in 2010, the Institut Pasteur spinout PathoQuest sold to top CRO Charles River for $70M this year, a product of years of collaboration and stepwise investments.Jean‑François tells us how the exit unfolded, as well as the importance of biosafety and CMC as pharma and biotech outsource heavily and cell and gene therapies mature. We also cover how animal testing is disappearing from CMC and how France must nurture its biotech ecosystem. ---For transparency, this episode has been sponsored by PathoQuest.--- ⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER Jean-François has more than 20 years of pharma leadership under his belt. Before his ten years at PathoQuest, he was a Senior Vice-President in charge of Ipsen’s GI-oncology and endocrinology franchise.He has an engineering degree and a master’s degree in Foreign Trade. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED CRL acquires PathoQuest (2026) — https://pathoquest.com/press-release-pathoquest-to-join-charles-river-laboratories-2/ Werner Lanthaler | Biopharma AI, CDMO, Antibody Optimization | E48 — https://flot.bio/episode/werner-lanthaler-biopharma-ai/ Charles River Laboratories and PathoQuest Expand Strategic Biologics Partnership (2018) — https://ir.criver.com/news-releases/news-release-details/charles-river-laboratories-and-pathoquest-expand-strategic Charles River and PathoQuest validate viral safety assay (2023) — https://ir.criver.com/news-releases/news-release-details/charles-river-and-pathoquest-announce-publication-head-head Philipp Baaske, NanoTemper | Bootstrapping in Biotech | E29 — https://flot.bio/episode/philipp-baaske-nanotemper-boostrapping-biotech/ Solexa acquisition by Illumina (2007) — https://investor.illumina.com/news/press-release-details/2006/Illumina-Signs-Definitive-Agreement-to-Acquire-Solexa/default.aspx PathoQuest US lab opens in Wayne, PA (2022) — https://pathoquest.com/pathoquest-announce-the-opening-of-its-new-u-s-facility/ Thomas Ybert, DNA Script | DNA Printing & Synthesis | E27 — https://flot.bio/episode/thomas-ybert-dna-script-dna-printing/ Pascal Touchon | Cell Therapy, Jeito, Kymriah | E49 — https://flot.bio/episode/pascal-touchon-jeito/ First FDA-approved CAR-T — https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-receives-first-ever-fda-approval-car-t-cell-therapy-kymriahtm-ctl019-children-and-young-adults-b-cell-all-refractory-or-has-relapsed-least-twice Marc de Garidel, Abivax | Ulcerative Colitis, Inflammation | E46— https://flot.bio/episode/marc-de-garidel-abivax-ulcerative-colitis-inflammation/ 📜 TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/jean-francois-brepson-pathoquest-cmc/ 📖 BLOGS: How Next-Generation Sequencing is Changing Biopharma Manufacturing: https://flot.bio/next-generation-sequencing-pathoquest/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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 [00:02:06] Big Pharma Is Heavily Outsourcing [00:07:05] The $70M Charles River Acquisition [00:11:18] CROs, PE and WuXI [00:18:35] Biosafety with the "Intel Inside" Model [00:23:50] Replacing CMC Animal Testing: How the FDA Is Boosting Business [00:32:00] Lessons from US Expansion [00:38:02] Biologics, Cell Therapy, and $15B of In Vivo CAR-T Bets [00:42:59] Jean-François Brepson: From Siberia to Startup CEO [00:56:14] Quick-Fire: Animal Testing, AI, China, Elon Musk
May 25 · 58 min
Ex-CEO of Incyte Hervé Hoppenot on 10x Growth, Biotech Cycles, and Breaking Bureaucracy | E58
When Hervé joined Incyte in 2014, the launch of lead product Jakafi in the US was choppy. By the time he left in 2025, he had grown their revenue from $300 million to a whopping $5 billion. We talk about the bureaucracy of Big Pharma, rare diseases, and why a biotech M&A supercycle isn’t as likely as you'd think. ---Discover the best biotech companies in 🇪🇺 with the FlotBio Map. https://bit.ly/4nXmKjN--- ⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER Prior to his time at Incyte, Hervé led the oncology business unit at Novartis and had leading roles at Aventis (now Sanofi). He is currently on the boards of companies including Incyte, Pierre Fabre, & Bicycle Therapeutics. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED Pascal Touchon | Cell Therapy, Jeito, Kymriah | E49 —https://flot.bio/episode/pascal-touchon-jeito/ Alessandro Riva, Transgene | Cancer Vaccines, Oncolytic Viruses | E50— https://flot.bio/personalized-cancer-vaccine-oncolytic-viruses/ Penn and Novartis CAR-T alliance (2012) — https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/university-pennsylvania-and-novartis-form-alliance-expand-use-personalized-t-cell-therapy-cance Incyte and Novartis deal (2009) —https://investor.incyte.com/news-releases/news-release-details/incyte-announces-major-collaboration-and-license-agreement-two Hoppenot steps down as Incyte CEO (2025) — https://investor.incyte.com/news-releases/news-release-details/incyte-announces-change-its-board-directors argenx leadership transition (2026) —https://argenx.com/news/2026/press-release-3212418 BioNTech co-founders leadership transition (2026) — https://investors.biontech.de/news-releases/news-release-details/biontech-and-co-founders-announce-plan-pursue-next-generation Incyte tumbles after combo therapy with Merck fails study (2018) — https://www.reuters.com/article/incyte-study/update-2-incyte-tumbles-after-combo-therapy-with-merck-fails-study-idUSL4N1RJ2HW/ Bristol-Myers Squibb receives accelerated approval of Opdivo (2014) — https://news.bms.com/news/details/2014/Bristol-Myers-Squibb-Receives-Accelerated-Approval-of-Opdivo-nivolumab-from-the-US-Food-and-Drug-Administration/default.aspx U.S. FDA approves Padcev (2025) https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/us-fda-approves-padcevr-plus-keytrudar-certain-patients Fabrice Chouraqui, Pharming | Transgenic Rabbits, Rare Diseases | E43 — https://flot.bio/episode/fabrice-chouraqui-pharming-transgenic-rabbit/ Isomorphic Labs secures $2.1 billion funding (2026) — https://storage.googleapis.com/isomorphiclabs-website-public-artifacts/ISOMORPHIC_LABS_FUNDING_12-05-26.pdf 📜 TRANSCRIPT Read the transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/herve-hoppenot-incyte-jafaki/ 📖 BLOGS: The $6 Billion Excel Illusion: Why Biotech Pipeline Forecasting is Broken: https://flot.bio/biotech-pipeline-forecasting-herve-hoppenot/ 💸 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 ⭐️ SPONSORSHIPReady to amplify your brand to influential leaders in biotech and biopharma? Contact nick@flot.bio 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 [00:02:59] Incyte legacy [00:12:12] Leadership transitions in Incyte, argenx and BioNTech [00:13:43] The JAK inhibitor market [00:19:36] Why forecasting in pharma is broken [00:29:17] Investor expectations & the Jakafi cliff [00:36:51] Biotechs trading under cash [00:40:01] Hervé Hoppenot’s EU roots [00:44:40] Big Pharma & bureaucracy [00:51:58] Quick-fire questions
May 11 · 1 hr 19 min
Christoph Lengauer, Curie.Bio | Biotech Founders, Venture Capital | E57
We admire the mountains of Austria with the co-founder of Curie.Bio, a founder-friendly fund that now manages $1.25B and backs 38 portfolio companies.We discuss Curie.Bio’s track record, with its most advanced portfolio candidate Forward Therapeutics in Phase I.We also talk about major bottom-up successes including argenx, Ascendis and Genmab, and how life sciences investing differs from tech investing.Christoph also explains his ‘rebel’ mindset and why founders shouldn’t accept the status quo. ---This episode is brought to you by Avance, where European biotech turns for trusted financial advice. Learn more at https://bit.ly/flot-avance--- ⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER Christoph co-founded of Curie.Bio in 2022, after serving as Partner at Third Rock Ventures for 6 years. He also had leading roles at Blueprint Medicines for ten years, and at MOMA Therapeutics for one year.He has also been an Adjunct Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University for more than 20 years, with past roles at Celsius Therapeutics, Sanofi, and Novartis. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED Curie.Bio — https://curie.bio/ Christoph Lengauer — https://www.linkedin.com/in/christoph-lengauer-75b7961b/ Sanofi to acquire Blueprint Medicines — https://www.sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2025/2025-06-02-05-00-00-3091541 Forward Therapeutics Announces $50 Million Series A Financing —https://forward-tx.com/press-release/forward-therapeutics-announces-50-million-series-a-financing/ Gilead to Acquire Tubulis — https://www.gilead.com/news/news-details/2026/gilead-to-acquire-tubulis-adding-potentially-best-in-class-antibody-drug-conjugate-and-next-generation-platform-to-further-strengthen-oncology-pipeline Dominik Schumacher, Tubulis 🇩🇪 | Founder-led ADC Biotech ⭐️ | E19 — https://flot.bio/episode/dominik-schumacher-tubulis/ Sander Slootweg, Forbion 🇳🇱 | European Biotech Investment, Venture Capital | E56 — https://flot.bio/episode/sander-slootweg-forbion-eu-biotech-investment/ 📜 TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/christoph-lengauer-curiebio-biotech-founders/ 📖 BLOGS BASED ON THIS EPISODE: The Biotech Equity Gap: Why Curie.Bio is Re-Writing the Founder Playbook: https://flot.bio/biotech-equity-founder/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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 [00:03:05] Curie.Bio: 38 portfolio companies in just three years [00:09:29] The four buckets of biotech venture capital [00:15:42] Why life sciences investing is harder than tech investing [00:28:28] Searching for European biotech innovation [00:38:00] Founder-friendly equity shares [00:55:15] argenx, Genmab and Ascendis: Bottom-up biotech successes [01:03:37] Blueprint Medicines: From struggle to a $9B sale [01:09:03] Christoph Lengauer the disruptor [01:13:37] Quick-fire questions
April 13 · 1 hr 6 min
Sander Slootweg, Forbion 🇳🇱 | European Biotech Investment, Venture Capital | E56
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. --- 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 [nadja.pahl@bih-charite.de](mailto:nadja.pahl@bih-charite.de) --- ⭐️ 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 & Azafaros, with previous board roles at NewAmsterdam Pharma, Replimune & 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/ Top 50 Investors in Biotech in 2026: Europe’s Most Active Life Sciences Funds: https://flot.bio/european-biotech-investors-2026/ 📜 TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/sander-slootweg-forbion-eu-biotech-investment/ 📖 BLOGS: How Europe could have more Biotech Champions like Argenx: https://flot.bio/argenx-model-vc-returns/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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 🎙️ 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 EU biotech VCs [00:09:25] Why EU pension funds overlook biotech VCs [00:17:36] Making EU 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] EU 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
April 8 · 1 hr 2 min
Solving Antimicrobial Resistance, Vaccines, Antibiotics | Immunethep 🇵🇹 | E55 [Sponsored]
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! --- For transparency, this episode has been sponsored by Immunethep. Learn more at https://bit.ly/flot-immunethep --- ⭐️ 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/ 📖 SHORT BLOGS BASED ON THIS EPISODE: Why Antimicrobial Resistance Is Bigger Than Cancer: https://flot.bio/antimicrobial-resistance-immunethep/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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
March 30 · 31 min
António Portela, Bial 🇵🇹 | Parkinson’s, Family-Owned Biotech | E54
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/ 📖 SHORT BLOGS BASED ON THIS EPISODE: Biopharma family succession: Bial CEO António Portela’s strategy: https://flot.bio/biopharma-succession-bial/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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
February 17 · 1 hr 10 min
Claus Crone Fuglsang, Novonesis 🇩🇰 | Biosolutions, Industrial biotech, Synbio | E53
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/ 📖 SHORT BLOGS BASED ON THIS EPISODE: How AI, AlphaFold and Digital Twins are Transforming Biosolutions: https://flot.bio/ai-biosolutions-claus-crone-fuglsang/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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
February 9 · 1 hr 24 min
Sten R. Sörensen, Cereno Scientific 🇸🇪 | Drug Repurposing, Retail Investors | E52 [Sponsored]
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 nick@flot.bio 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
February 2 · 1 hr
Fredrik Tiberg, Camurus 🇸🇪 | Opioid Crisis, Long-Acting Injections | E51
Founded in 1991, Camurus has grown into a $4B biotech with two products in the market, a rich pipeline, and 290 employees.Fredrik explains how Camurus’ long-acting injections — part of its FluidCrystal technology — breathe new life into generic drugs, making it easier for patients to stick to their treatment regimen. This has applications in many diseases, including hormonal disorders and obesity, with new formulations of GLP-1 agonists.He also discusses how long-acting versions of buprenorphine can help patients to overcome opioid addiction and tackle the global opioid crisis. --- Learn how YSDS helps move your most sensitive life sciences shipments worldwide, safely, on time, with full visibility at https://bit.ly/ysds-flotbio. --- ⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER Fredrik joined Camurus in 2002 as a member of the board and CEO in 2003. Before this, he was CEO of Heptahelix AB and a leading academic at Lund University and the University of Oxford. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED Camurus’ website - https://www.camurus.com/ Oczyesa’s approval - https://www.camurus.com/media/press-releases/2025/camurus-oczyesa-receives-marketing-authorization-for-treatment-of-acromegaly-in-the-eu/ Brixadi’s approval - https://braeburnrx.com/media/press-releases/braeburns-brixadi-buprenorphine-extended-release-subcutaneous-injection-ciii-receives-fda-approval-for-moderate-to-severe-opioid-use-disorder Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty - https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Pain-History-Sackler-Dynasty/dp/0385545681 Camurus regains worldwide development and commercialization rights to CAM2029 from Novartis - https://www.camurus.com/media/press-releases/2018/camurus-regains-worldwide-development-and-commercialization-rights-to-cam2029-and-related-product-candidates/ Camurus and Lilly enter collaboration and license agreement - https://www.camurus.com/media/press-releases/2025/camurus-and-lilly-enter-collaboration-and-license-agreement-for-long-acting-fluidcrystal-incretins/ Nitazenes: Super-strength opioids spreading across Europe and North America - UN - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crgge1ez0r2o 📜 TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/fredrik-tiberg-camurus-opioid-crisis/ 📖 SHORT BLOGS BASED ON THIS EPISODE: Camurus CEO Fredrik Tiberg on Long-Acting Opioid Treatment: https://flot.bio/camurus-generic-drugs-opioid-use/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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 [00:02:47] Camurus: the $4-billion powerhouse [00:08:25] The FluidCrystal technology [00:15:24] Buvidal tackles opioid addiction [00:26:05] Oczyesa’s commercial challenges [00:31:03] Metabolic programmes in progress [00:34:45] 4 years of profits [00:37:00] Solving the opioid crisis [00:46:44] Europe’s long-acting drugs scene [00:51:05] Fredrik Tiberg’s background [00:55:15] Quick-fire questions
January 12 · 1 hr 5 min
Alessandro Riva, Transgene | Cancer Vaccines, Oncolytic Viruses | E50
Founded in 1979, Transgene has transformed itself into a leading personalized cancer vaccine player. Alessandro talks about the transformation, his history in cell therapy and how Europe’s biotech space can rival those of the US and China. --- Learn more about Transgene: https://bit.ly/tg_flotbio --- ⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER Alessandro became Transgene’s CEO in 2023 after joining in 2022 as Chairman of the Board of Directors. He also played a key role in Gilead Sciences’ acquisition of Kite Pharma and the regulatory approval of the CAR-T therapy Yescarta. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED Transgene’s website - https://www.transgene.fr/ Transgene’s €105 million fundraising - https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/11/26/3195422/0/en/Transgene-Successfully-Completes-a-Fundraising-of-c-105-Million.html FDA approves neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembrolizumab for resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma - https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-neoadjuvant-and-adjuvant-pembrolizumab-resectable-locally-advanced-head-and-neck Gilead Sciences’ acquisition of Kite Pharma for $11.9 billion - https://www.gilead.com/news/news-details/2017/gilead-sciences-to-acquire-kite-pharma-for-119-billion Johnson & Johnson’s collaboration and license deal withLegend Biotech - https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/janssen-enters-worldwide-collaboration-and-license-agreement-with-chinese-company-legend-biotech-to-develop-investigational-car-t-anti-cancer-therapy 📜 TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/alessandro-riva-transgene-cancer-vaccines/ 📖 SHORT BLOGS BASED ON THIS EPISODE: Personalized Cancer Vaccines and Oncolytic Viruses: The Next Generation of Cancer Immunotherapy: https://flot.bio/personalized-cancer-vaccine-oncolytic-viruses/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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 [00:02:02] Transgene, the French biotech heavyweight [00:04:55] Standout personalized cancer vaccine [00:25:33] Transgene’s €105 million fundraising [00:32:05] Catalysts and oncolytic viruses
January 6 · 1 hr 14 min
Pascal Touchon 🇫🇷 | Cell Therapy, Jeito, Kymriah | E49
Pascal Touchon unpacks why the next CAR-T innovations, including allogeneic and in vivo therapies, are going to be so exciting. The cell therapy master outlines his central role in bringing two first‑in‑class cell therapies to patients: Kymriah, the first approved CAR‑T, and Ebvallo, the first approved allogeneic T‑cell therapy. We also explore his new position as an operating partner at Jeito and how we need to work harder to find Europe’s hidden biotech gems. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Get expert legal advisory support for growing your biotech from Osborne Clarke at https://bit.ly/oc-flotbio ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER With many years of experience in big pharma, Pascal had top-level positions at Novartis Oncology. He later served as CEO, and most recently Chairman, of Atara Biotherapeutics. Alongside his Jeito role, he sits on the boards of companies including Ipsen, Medincell, Catalym, Xylocor and CDR-Life. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED Jeito’s website: https://www.jeito.life/en/home/ Stefano Portolano, Azafaros | Rare Diseases, Small Molecules Revival | E40: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdaPW7xg_qk Otello Stampacchia, Omega Funds 🇮🇹 | Competition, Boston & Pasta | E18: https://flot.bio/episode/otello-stampacchia-omega-funds/ Fabrice Chouraqui, Pharming 🇳🇱 | Transgenic Rabbits, Rare Diseases | E43: https://flot.bio/episode/fabrice-chouraqui-pharming-transgenic-rabbit/ Laurent Levy, Nanobiotix 🇫🇷 | Nanoparticles, Radiotherapy | E45: https://flot.bio/episode/laurent-levy-nanobiotix-nanoparticles-radiotherapy/ Marc de Garidel, Abivax | How to make two Billion-dollar exits (“smoothly”) | E09: https://flot.bio/episode/marc-de-garidel-abivax-exit/ Top 50 Investors in Biotech in 2026: Europe’s Most Active Life Sciences Funds: ⁠https://flot.bio/european-biotech-investors-2026/⁠ 📜 TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/pascal-touchon-jeito/ 📖 SHORT BLOGS BASED ON THIS EPISODE: From Breakthrough to Maturity: How Cell Therapy Is Evolving: https://flot.bio/how-cell-therapy-is-evolving/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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 [00:02:40] The rise of Kymriah and Ebvallo [00:05:40] CAR-T: crazy innovations and valuations [00:20:35] Solid tumor challenges [00:23:18] Cell therapy manufacturing and in vivo CAR-T [00:31:38] Catching the innovation wave at Jeito Capital [00:39:29] VC models and European biotech gems [00:52:51] Biotech without borders [01:05:49] France’s rising pharma stars [01:08:30] Quick-fire questions
Dec 1, 2025 · 59 min
Werner Lanthaler 🇦🇹 | Biopharma AI, CDMO, Antibody Optimization | E48
Why have early AI drug-discovery companies often overpromised but underdelivered? Biology is still complex and hard to solve, Werner told Philip in Vienna.We revisit Werner in Vienna after he left Evotec and went on a sabbatical in 2024. We talk about his new missions as FairJourney CEO and founder of WLAN Holdings, and discuss the global CDMO scene and Europe’s competitivity in biotech.And while it's still early days yet, we find out AI will transform the way we work in biopharma going forward, with new generations of companies shaping their business models around it. ⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER Werner is the new CEO of FairJourney Biologics and invests with his holding. He served as CEO of Evotec from 2009 to 2024, expanding the company’s revenues and workforce. Prior to this, he was the CFO of Intercell in Austria for nine years. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED WLAN Holding’s website - [](https://tiltbio.com/) https://wlanholding.com/ Werner Lanthaler, Evotec | Leading AI in Biotech | E02 -- https://flot.bio/episode/werner-lanthaler-evotec-ai-in-biotech/ Antoine Papiernik, Sofinnova | Billion Investing with Balance | E01 — https://flot.bio/episode/antoine-papiernik-sofinnova-ebillion-biotech-investing-with-balance/ Alex Zhavoronkov, Insilico Medicine | AI Drug Development, Longevity | E39 — https://flot.bio/episode/alex-zhavoronkov-insilico-medicine-ai-drug-development-longevity/ 📜 TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/werner-lanthaler-biopharma-ai/ 📖 SHORT BLOGS BASED ON THIS EPISODE: Why AI in Biopharma Didn’t Live Up to the Hype: https://flot.bio/ai-drug-development/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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 [00:02:09] Werner Lanthaler: from Evotec to new roles [00:06:01] WLAN Holding and the benefits of a sabbatical [00:10:58] Inside the Evotec departure [00:13:13] Joining FairJourney Biologics [00:20:33] The job market in Europe [00:23:49] CDMO competition and China [00:28:07] Letting European biotech compete globally [00:34:50] How AI has overpromised in biopharma [00:48:09] Quick-fire questions
Nov 24, 2025 · 44 min
Thomas Lingelbach, Valneva | Vaccines, Lyme Disease | E47
Valneva now has three commercialized vaccines, and a Lyme disease candidate in Phase 3. Philip quizzes CEO Thomas Lingelbach about everything. They also discuss the current political turbulence with vaccines, especially in the US, and how it is impacting the industry. ⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER A veteran in the development of more than ten vaccines, Thomas has spent over 30 years in the vaccine space and has served in senior roles at the companies Intercell, Novartis and Chiron. Thomas was with Intercell since 2006 and was the CEO when the company merged with Vivalis to form Valneva in 2013. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED Valneva’s website - https://valneva.com/ Valneva’s Half Year 2025 Financial Results - https://valneva.com/press-release/valneva-reports-half-year-2025-financial-results-and-provides-corporate-updates/ Lovisa Afzelius, Flagship Pioneering 🇸🇪 | Company building, AI | E24https://flot.bio/episode/lovisa-afzelius-flagship-pioneering/ 📜 TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/thomas-lingelbach-valneva-vaccines/ 📖 SHORT BLOGS BASED ON THIS EPISODE: Why Vaccines Still Matter: Valneva CEO Thomas Lingelbach: https://flot.bio/vaccines-still-matter/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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 [00:03:09] Duck cell vaccines [00:04:55] The grandpa of French and Austrian biotech [00:15:09] Products for chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis and cholera [00:22:04] Valneva and Pfizer’s Lyme disease vaccine [00:29:46] Navigating US anti-vaccine turbulence [00:33:33] The stormy biotech investment market [00:36:32] Thomas Lingelbach talks financials [00:39:46] Quick-fire questions
Nov 17, 2025 · 53 min
Marc de Garidel, Abivax 🇫🇷 | Ulcerative Colitis, Inflammation | E46
When Abivax released stunning phase 3 results for ulcerative colitis, its 600% stock price surge froze Euronext for 45 minutes. Philip meets Abivax CEO Marc de Garidel in Vienna, Austria, to go behind the scenes of a remarkable biotech turnaround. Marc discusses the processes involved in executing the phase 3 trial that beat even Abivax’s own phase 2 data. He also talks about France’s biotech ecosystem and the importance of having the right team. ⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER Marc de Garidel joined Abivax as CEO in 2023. Prior to this, he led two biotech companies through billion-dollar exits (CinCor Pharma and Corvidia Therapeutics). He also served as CEO of Ipsen from 2010 to 2016, and has worked at the likes of Amgen and Eli Lilly. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED Abivax’s website - https://www.abivax.com/ Phase 3 results - https://ir.abivax.com/news-releases/news-release-details/abivax-announces-positive-phase-3-results-both-abtect-8-week $747.5 million public offering - https://ir.abivax.com/news-releases/news-release-details/abivax-announces-closing-7475-million-public-offering Marc de Garidel, Abivax | How to make two Billion-dollar exits (“smoothly”) | E09 - https://flot.bio/episode/marc-de-garidel-abivax-exit/ Chris Martin, Verona Pharma 🇬🇧 | Ohtuvayre, COPD, Execution | E34 - https://flot.bio/episode/chris-martin-verona-pharma-copd/ Christophe Bourdon, LEO Pharma 🇩🇰 | Biopharma Turnaround | E31 https://flot.bio/episode/christophe-bourdon-leo-pharma-biopharma/ Nanobiotix episode - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Krhyy6a-nw&pp=0gcJCQMKAYcqIYzv 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/marc-de-garidel-abivax-ulcerative-colitis-inflammation/ 📖 SHORT BLOGS BASED ON THIS EPISODE: Abivax's Record NASDAQ Stock Surge After Phase 3 Data: https://flot.bio/abivax-biotech-stock-phase-3/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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 0:44: Abivax’s crazy Ph3 data and stock price jump 4:06: Surging investor demand on NASDAQ and Euronext 8:58: Future directions 11:02: Executing a Phase 3 home run 17:20: Marc de Garidel's leadership style 21:58: Abivax: origins 34:51: France's billion-dollar biotechs 44:11: Quick-fire questions
Nov 10, 2025 · 50 min
Laurent Levy, Nanobiotix 🇫🇷 | Nanoparticles, Radiotherapy | E45
As Philip travels to France, Nanobiotix CEO Laurent Lévy discusses how the company broke into Europe’s exclusive $1 billion biotech club, alongside the likes of Abivax and Medincell. They also chat about what it means to partner with giants like Johnson & Johnson, and how Laurent’s leadership style has evolved over his long tenure. ⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKERLaurent Lévy co-founded Nanobiotics in 2003 and has served as CEO ever since. Before this, he worked in a variety of roles with companies including Altran Technologies, Valbiotis and Sanofi.He has a doctorate in nanomaterials-focused physical chemistry from the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED Nanobiotix website -- https://nanobiotix.com/ Nanobiotix's $71 million deal with Healthcare Royalty -- https://ir.nanobiotix.com/news-releases/news-release-details/nanobiotix-announces-strategic-royalty-monetization-agreement Nanobiotix's first phase 1 data -- https://ir.nanobiotix.com/news-releases/news-release-details/nanobiotix-announces-first-data-phase-1-study-evaluating-jnj 📜 TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/laurent-levy-nanobiotix-nanoparticles-radiotherapy/ 💸 DONATEWe 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 nick@flot.bio 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 [00:02:11] Soaring stocks with clinical results [00:04:08] Nanobiotix's history [00:07:39] Nanoparticles and radiotherapy [00:13:42] Developing NBTXR3 [00:25:02] Universal cancer radiotherapy enhancers [00:28:28] Few competitors [00:33:37] Biotech in France, Europe and the US [00:37:19] Laurent Lévy’s leadership style [00:42:16] Quick-fire questions
Oct 29, 2025 · 1 hr 24 min
Gerrit Sitters, LUMICKS 🇳🇱 | CAR-T therapy, Single-Cell Analysis | E44 [Sponsored]
As Philip tours Amsterdam, he visits the biotech tools startup LUMICKS. Founded in 2014, the firm offers products analyzing the binding interactions between molecules and cells, with applications in drug development, CAR-T therapies, and manufacturing. Philip sits down with co-founder Gerrit Sitters to discuss the company’s trajectory, the cyclic biotech investment market, and lessons from spinning the firm out from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. ---Explore how LUMICKS' technology helps develop biologics and cell therapies with unique cell avidity data — http://bit.ly/lumicks--- ⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER Gerrit co-founded LUMICKS in 2014 following a PhD at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and co-invented the technology behind LUMICKS’ main products. Gerrit now serves as Head of Product, where he aims to deploy the company’s products to tackle challenges in the life sciences. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED LUMICKS’ website - https://www.lumicks.com/ NanoTemper: https://flot.bio/episode/philipp-baaske-nanotemper-boostrapping-biotech/ DNA Script: https://flot.bio/episode/thomas-ybert-dna-script-dna-printing/ Adaptimmune: https://flot.bio/episode/adrian-rawcliffe-adaptimmune/ 📜 TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/gerrit-sitters-lumicks-car-t-therapy/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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 [00:02:09] The history of LUMICKS [00:08:33] Visualizing microscopic interactions [00:14:29] Improving drug development [00:20:33] AI and digital labs [00:29:53] Quality control and manufacturing applications [00:31:58] Single-cell analysis and CAR-T [00:46:13] LUMICKS’ future milestones [00:47:13] Cyclic biotech market [01:00:15] Gerrit Sitters’ career takeaways [01:18:01] Quick-fire questions
Oct 21, 2025 · 54 min
Fabrice Chouraqui, Pharming 🇳🇱 | Transgenic Rabbits, Rare Diseases | E43
We travel to the offices of Pharming Group in Leiden, the Netherlands, to chat with the newcomer CEO Fabrice Chouraqui. Fabrice discusses the fascinating history of Pharming, with its first commercial drug RUCONEST produced in the milk of transgenic rabbits. He also talks about the growth of Pharming from a protein therapy-focused biotech into a European multi-asset heavyweight, with a market cap of at least €800 million. ⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER Fabrice Chouraqui has been the CEO of Pharming Group since March 2024. Prior to this, he was a CEO-Partner at the US biotech venture capital firm Flagship Pioneering as well as CEO of the Flagship portfolio company Cellarity. He also served at Novartis and Bristol-Myers-Squibb for 10 years each, with his career beginning in R&D at pharmaceutical companies that were predecessors to today’s Sanofi. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED - Pharming Group’s website - https://www.pharming.com/ - Pharming Group’s second quarter and first half 2025 financial results - [https://www.pharming.com/sites/default/files/imce/Presentations/Pharming 2Q25_1H 2025 presentation_31JUL2025_website.pdf](https://www.pharming.com/sites/default/files/imce/Presentations/Pharming%202Q25_1H%202025%20presentation_31JUL2025_website.pdf) - Stefano Portolano, Azafaros 🇳🇱 🇨🇭 | Rare Diseases, Small Molecules | E40 -https://flot.bio/episode/stefano-portolano-azafaros-rare-disease/ 📜 TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/fabrice-chouraqui-pharming-transgenic-rabbit/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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 - [00:02:12] Kicking off at Pharming - [00:04:26] RUCONEST and transgenic rabbits - [00:06:57] Path to profitability - [00:13:43] Encouraging stock price trends - [00:17:39] The protein and small molecules portfolio - [00:28:13] Switching gear to commercialization - [00:33:40] European biotech success stories - [00:39:55] Lessons from Fabrice Chouraqui’s career - [00:47:29] Quick-fire questions
Oct 13, 2025 · 1 hr 7 min
Daniela Marino, CUTISS 🇨🇭 | Tissue Engineering, Skin Grafts | E42 [Sponsored]
Hot on the heels of CUTISS’ $60M Series C round, we catch up once more with CEO and co-founder Daniela Marino. We chat about the company’s mission to develop an engineered tissue therapy to reduce the need for skin grafts in patients with severe burns. She also explains the decentralization of tissue manufacturing with automation and the need for perseverance as a founder and CEO. ---This episode is sponsored by CUTISS, the only TechBio company in the advanced clinical stage of developing skin tissue therapies. Learn how you can support CUTISS on its path to Series C success: https://bit.ly/flotbio-cutiss--- ⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER In 2023, Daniela Marino was named as one of the 30 Rising Leaders in the healthcare industry, thanks to the impact of CUTISS, the company she co-founded as a spin-off from the University of Zurich. Here, she and her team have made waves for people suffering from severe skin injuries and defects through regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and skin pigmentation. 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED - CUTISS’ website – https://cutiss.swiss/- CUTISS’ Series C round – https://cutiss.swiss/cutiss-closes-chf-56m-series-c-round-and-signs-agreement-with-leading-european-burn-center/- CUTISS’ Phase II trial data – https://cutiss.swiss/phase-2-clinical-trials-update-from-cutiss/- Daniela Marino, CUTISS 🇨🇭 | Skin Tissue Therapeutics, TechBio | E33 – https://flot.bio/episode/daniela-marino-cutiss-skin-tissue-therapeutics/ 📜 TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/daniela-marino-cutiss-tissue-engineering/ 💸 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 nick@flot.bio 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] Investors in CUTISS’ Series C round [00:06:45] Expanding a hospital collaboration [00:08:34] Decentralized manufacturing drive [00:11:50] Tissue therapeutics vs skin grafts [00:24:35] Reimbursement and health economics [00:38:39] CUTISS’ partnering and exit options [00:47:54] Automation and artificial intelligence [00:56:32] Europe can show its strength in biotech [00:58:52] Daniela Marino answers quick-fire questions