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 [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) ---⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKERSander 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 MENTIONEDForbion 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-blindnessGSK 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_enCapital markets union — https://finance.ec.europa.eu/financial-markets/financial-markets-policy/capital-markets-union_enGimv discontinues activities for new Life Sciences investments — https://www.gimv.com/en/news/gimv-increases-focus-strategic-objectives-and-discontinues-activities-new-life-sciencesWhy the Strait of Hormuz matters so much in the Iran war — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78n6p09pznoAntoine 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/📜 TRANSCRIPTRead 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/💸 DONATEWe 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 [email protected] and unlock sponsorship opportunities in our podcasts!🫶 FOLLOW USNewsletter: http://eepurl.com/h_fnmHLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flot-bio/X (Twitter): https://x.com/FlotBio🙏 LIKE/FOLLOW/REVIEW🎙️ ABOUT FLOT.BIOFlot.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