BIO International Convention 2026: practical advice from former Evotec CEO Werner Lanthaler

This week we preview the BIO International Convention, starting next week in San Diego. This is the key partnering event of the year where biotechs connect with pharmaceutical companies and investors in partnering meetings, all to advance and fund innovative therapies.My guest is Werner Lanthaler, Founder and CEO of WLAN Holding. Werner spent 15 years as CEO of Evotec SE, scaling the company from 200 employees and €40 million revenue to over 5,000 staff and €800 million. He previously served as CFO of Intercell AG, overseeing its IPO and vaccine launch and today he leads investments and advisory in high-tech life sciences.Werner explains why partnering events like BIO are critical to advancing science in biopharma. He shares practical advice on how biotechs can prepare before the event, succeed on site, and follow up to turn meetings into partnerships. He offers clear, actionable strategies to optimize your BIO experience.01:36              Meet Werner Lanthaler06:48              The power of partnering08:55              Uncovering unexpected value13:43              Irreplaceable in-person trust17:06              Smart pre-event planning21:00              Strategic targeting24:02              Relationship-first meetings30:18              The importance of prompt, persistent follow-upInterested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletterTo dive deeper into the topic: Special Episode: The 2025 BIO International ConventionThe ABC of biotech partnershipsHow to optimize your biotech company for partnering, licensing, and business success