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.

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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 [nadja.pahl@bih-charite.de](mailto:nadja.pahl@bih-charite.de)

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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/

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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