How Syncona built a $1Billion Dollar NAV Portfolio - Roel Bulthuis
🤔 What does it really take to build a biotech that survives the clinical gauntlet and scales into a global business?🎬 This week on Leading Beyond The Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Roel Bulthuis, Managing Partner and Head of Investments at Syncona Limited. Roel has spent his career building, funding and scaling European biotech companies end-to-end, supporting high-performing teams from inception through clinical development, commercial launch and manufacturing scale-up. Along the way he references outcomes from portfolio companies such as Autolus Therapeutics and Beacon Therapeutics, showing how patient capital and conviction-led strategy compound over time.⭐️ Syncona has an impressive portfolio including,Autolus Therapeutics, Beacon Therapeutics, Spur Therapeutics, iOnctura, Quell Therapeutics, ANAVEON AG, MOSAIC THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, Resolution Therapeutics, Purespring Therapeutics, Forcefield Therapeutics, OMass Therapeutics, Kesmalea Therapeutics, Yellowstone Biosciences, Slingshot Therapeutics.🚀 In this episode, Roel dives into:- What defines a Syncona company and its unique model- Key lessons learned from both successes and setbacks- How to manage investor involvement without stifling progress- The challenges of leadership transitions within portfolio companies- Syncona’s strategic commitment to the European market- What drives Roel personally and what he enjoys most about his roleCheck out this episode if you want grounded insight into biotech venture building, long-term capital strategy and how scientific founders scale from the lab to patient impact. 🤝Follow ARTO!LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalentSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ngInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575Website: https://arto-talent.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@life_sciences Lawrence RoseCo-Founder + Talent Solutions Director at @ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/Role BulthuisManaging Partner @SynconaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roel-bulthuis-aa414a/Timestamps:01:10 What makes up a Syncona company?11:25 What were the main lessons learnt from previous failures/successes?15:06 Managing investor involvement & preventing counter productivity.22:14 The issues with exchanging leadership.31:07 Commitment to the European Market.42:20 What Roel enjoys about his job. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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CEO of LEO Pharma Reveals Their IPO Strategy: Christophe Bourdon
A once-in-a-century transformation, and the leader driving it.This week, in one of our biggest episode of Leading Beyond the Lab yet, we sit down with Christophe Bourdon, CEO of LEO Pharma, a company valued in the multi-billion-euro range and entering one of the most defining chapters in its 100-year history.With over 25+ years of global biopharma leadership experience, spanning pivotal roles at Amgen, Sanofi, and Orphazyme, Christophe brings a rare combination of commercial excellence, turnaround leadership, and global market insight. He also shares how senior leaders such as Murdo Gordon helped shape his approach to building high-performing, people-centric teams.In this episode, Host of Leading Beyond The Lab, @Lawrence Rose, discusses with Christophe how he’s reshaping a century-old European company into a modern, innovation-driven global leader, covering:Transforming LEO Pharma, from financial urgency to sustainable growth, cultural renewal, and long-term clarity.The Partner and Development model, and why global players like Gilead Sciences and Boehringer Ingelheim have chosen LEO as a trusted innovation partner.Leadership and culture at scale, transparency, conviction, rebuilding confidence, and empowering bold talent.Preparing for a future IPO, aligning profitability, growth, and a clear 5-year vision for employees, shareholders, and partners.Europe vs. the US in the next decade of biotech, why the US has become LEO’s largest affiliate and what this shift means for global competitiveness.This episode is a rare look at what it truly takes to modernise a legacy company while keeping innovation, collaboration, and leadership at the core.Be sure to check out this episode - one of our most important conversations to date.Follow ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalentSpotify: Leading Beyond The LabInstagram: Instagram (@arto.talent)TikTok: artotalent on TikTokApple Podcasts: Leading Beyond The LabWebsite: HomeYoutube: ARTO RecruitmentChristophe BourdonCEO of LEO PharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophe-bourdon-77a62b6/Lawrence RoseCo-Founder + Talent Solutions Director At ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/Timestamps:00:00 LEO’S Recent Achievements06:58 Shaping a Modern LEO Pharma16:30 LEO Pharma’s IPO Journey25:39 Christophe’s Leadership Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Building a High-Impact Biotech Investment Engine - Clare Terlouw
What does it take to shape a high-impact biotech investment portfolio - and do it under a medical charity mandate?This week we sit down with Clare Terlouw, Head of LifeArc Ventures, whose 20+ year career spans investment banking, biotech company building, and leading venture teams focused on health innovation. With a unique perspective at the intersection of science, capital, and patient impact, Clare shares a candid and optimistic view of the evolving biotech landscape in the UK and beyond.In this episode, Clare covers:- LifeArc Ventures’ mission: how a medical charity is driving returns while staying true to a patient-first vision.- Investing and scaling biotech: from early inflection points to Series B and beyond, what great companies get right.- Biotech in the UK: challenges in the current funding environment, the talent surge, and why optimism still holds.- Tech-enabled drug discovery: how AI, computational biology, and new business models are shaping investment priorities.- Clare's leadership lens: her personal drive, how she evaluates opportunity, and the power of staying focused on patient outcomes.Be sure to check out this episode if you're interested in the future of biotech investing, the rise of tech-enabled therapeutics, and how one venture leader is backing science that matters.Follow ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalentSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ngInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575Website: https://arto-talent.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@life_sciencesClare TerlouwManaging Partner at Life ArcLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-terlouw-b608aa17/Lawrence RoseCo-Founder + Talent Solutions Director At ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/Timestamps:00:00 Life Arc - Investments + Impact 09:44 Investing in and Growing a Company17:52 Biotech in the UK26:18 Tech Enabled Drug Discovery32:57 Clare Terlouw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Is Nuclear Medicine Becoming Next Big Breakthrough in Oncology Treatment? Danielle Meyrick
If you're not paying attention to nuclear medicine, Danielle Meyrick will change that in under five minutes.This week, we sit down with Dr. Danielle Meyrick, Director and Co-Founder at EPIC Theranostics, to explore the meteoric rise of nuclear medicine and radiotheranostics. With over 20 years of experience spanning academia, biotech, and hospital environments, Danielle is uniquely positioned as both a scientific pioneer and commercial strategist. Her career has spanned from launching radiopharmaceutical therapies in hospitals to shaping global strategies for biotech companies. If you're serious about understanding the future of oncology, this is the episode to watch. In this episode we cover:Why nuclear medicine is having a moment - and what makes radiotheranostics the most promising modality in oncology today.From PhD to MD – Danielle’s unconventional path to medicine, and how her dual perspective shaped her leadership style.What it takes to commercialise complex therapies – lessons from inside large pharma, mid-stage biotechs, and early-stage ventures.The clinical data that changed everything – and how early adopters leveraged compassionate use to gain momentum.What’s next for EPIC Theranostics – and why workforce readiness and isotope supply could make or break the sector.If you're in biotech, pharma, or medtech, this episode is a masterclass in strategic thinking and scientific depth. Watch now and get ahead of where oncology is going.Follow ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalentSpotify: Leading Beyond The LabInstagram: Instagram (@arto.talent)TikTok: artotalent on TikTokApple Podcasts: Leading Beyond The LabWebsite: HomeYoutube: ARTO RecruitmentDanielle MeyrickCo-Founder + Director At EPIC Theranostiocs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arndt-schottelius-md-ph/Lawrence RoseCo-Founder + Talent Solutions Director At ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/Timestamps:00:00 Career Beginnings06:12 Nuclear Medicine09:26 Characteristics of a Good Drug Developer14:13 Future of Radiotheranostics20:05 Approaching Challenges26:52 Advice29:25 Motivations30:56 Greatest Achievements#LeadingBeyondTheLab #ARTOTalent #Biotechnology Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Normunity's Breakthrough Cancer Drug the World Hasn't Seen Before
Two of the most influential minds in immuno-oncology walk into a biotech… and build something that could change everything.Dr. Rachel Humphrey (CEO) and Dr. Melinda Merchant (CMO) of Normunity are two of the most seasoned and respected leaders in oncology drug development, with a combined 45+ years of experience across big pharma, biotech, and translational science. Rachel led the development of Yervoy® (ipilimumab) at BMS, Imfinzi® (durvalumab) at AstraZeneca, and Nexavar® (sorafenib) at Bayer, before holding CMO roles at Black Diamond, Mirati, and CytomX. Melinda, an immunologist and dual board-certified pediatric oncologist, spent a decade leading clinical studies at NIH and Memorial Sloan Kettering, running early trials of ipilimumab, nivolumab, and novel cell therapies before moving to industry and leading clinical development efforts of multiple investigational new drugs. Together, they now lead Normunity, where they’re pioneering a bold new therapeutic category: immune normalizers - designed to unlock immune resistance and open up new frontiers in cancer treatment.In this episode, we cover:- How Normunity is redefining immuno-oncology with its first-in-class T-cell engager- What it takes to build scientific teams that challenge each other - and still move fast- Lessons from launching Yervoy, Imfinzi, Tazverik, and other breakthrough therapies- Why biotech culture needs both humility and ego to succeed- What’s next as Normunity prepares to enter the clinic with NRM-823If you're a life sciences leader, founder, or investor - this conversation is essential listening. Tap in to hear what it really takes to build, lead, and scale science that matters.Follow ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalentSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ngInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575Website: https://arto-talent.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@life_sciencesRachel HumphreyCEO at NormunityLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-w-humphrey-md-116b211b/Melinda MerchantCMO at NormunityLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-merchant-7b496a/Lawrence RoseCo-Founder + Talent Solutions Director At ARTOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/Timestamps:00:00 Career Beginnings16:58 Traits of a Drug Developer19:53 Leadership in Biotech27:28 Story Behind Normunity30:23 Normunity Culture32:28 Mindsets in Translational Science36:33 Personal Life#LeadingBeyondTheLab #ARTOTalent #Biotechnology Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Leading Beyond The Lab Podcast is hosted by Lawrence Rose, one of the Directors at ARTO, a talent solutions agency specialising in leadership roles within the Life Sciences sector globally.This podcast provides insightful discussions with industry experts, leaders and innovators, shaping the future in drug development and clinical devices. We talk with biotechnology and/or pharmaceutical executives, and find out from them their stories, personal career development and analyse their opinion on how to become successful in this space. We talk on a range of topics including soft skills, oncology, leadership, micromanagement, investment, cardiology, AI, dementia, addiction, hematology, dermatology, and much more.This podcast applies broadly to all types of connections in the Life Sciences Industry, and aims to educate and inspire those who want to excel in leadership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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