Flot.bio x Philip Hemme

After ImCheck’s inception in 2015, Pierre took the helm through clinical development and guided the startup to a $1.2B buyout by Ipsen last year.
In a session at the Kadans Oncology Summit, he talks about how the exit materialised and about the oncology space, including highlights from ASCO 2026, ADCs, in vivo CAR-T and checkpoint inhibitors.
He also 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/
📜 TRANSCRIPTRead the full 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
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🙏 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

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/
💸 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

When Hervé joined Incyte in 2014, the launch of lead product Jakafi in the US was a little choppy. By the time he left in 2025, he had grown their revenue from $300 million to a whopping $5 billion. We also talk about the bureaucracy of Big Pharma, rare diseases, and why a biotech M&A supercycle isn’t as likely as you might think.
---Discover the best biotech companies in 🇪🇺 with the FlotBio Map. Use discount code FLOT20 before June 26 to get 20% off the pro version at 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, and 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 full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/herve-hoppenot-incyte-jafaki/
💸 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] Hervé Hoppenot’s 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 so broken
[00:29:17] Investor expectations and the Jakafi cliff 
[00:36:51] Biotechs trading under cash
[00:40:01] Hervé Hoppenot’s European roots
[00:44:40] Big Pharma and bureaucracy
[00:51:58] Quick-fire questions

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/
💸 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

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)

---

⭐️ 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/

💸 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 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