Every Friday, The Leadership Edit looks at the people taking new roles across European biotech and what their moves may tell us about the companies they join. We’ll follow chief executives, scientific and medical leaders, and other appointments that mark a change in direction or a new stage of growth. For this first edition: a new CEO for Bavarian Nordic, launch preparations at Abivax and an AI push at ProQR.
Aptadir secures €40M for gene-reactivating RNA drugs
Latest NewsAptadir Therapeutics has raised €40 million in seed funding to advance an RNA therapy designed to reactivate the gene silenced in Fragile X syndrome.
Breye raises €67.5M for diabetic eye disease trial with Novo Holdings backing
Latest NewsDanish biotech Breye Therapeutics has raised €67.5 million to advance an oral eye disease drug candidate into a Phase 2 clinical trial.
Novo pays up to $2.6B for Hengrui’s once-weekly obesity pill candidate
Latest NewsNovo Nordisk will pay China’s Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals $300 million (€264 million) upfront, in a deal worth up to $2.6 billion (€2.3 billion), for rights outside Greater China to HRS-1596, an experimental obesity and diabetes pill that the companies say could be taken once a week.
Six Spanish biotech startups to watch in 2026
Background, Latest NewsThe 2025 AseBio Report shows a Spanish biotech ecosystem that is not only expanding, but attracting capital at a new scale: Spain counted 1,119 dedicated biotech companies in 2025, up 10.4% year on year, while 39 new biotech firms were created in 2025.
FDA keeps Newron’s evenamide trial on hold in U.S.
Latest NewsNewron Pharmaceuticals will expand its Phase 3 evenamide trial outside the U.S. after the FDA decided to maintain a hold on enrollment at American sites.
Addex regains rights to addiction drug candidate from Indivior
Latest NewsSwiss biotech Addex Therapeutics has regained global rights to a GABA-B drug portfolio from Indivior, including a candidate for substance use disorders that has completed studies needed before a Phase 1 trial. Indivior ended the collaboration as it reorganizes R&D ahead of its proposed merger with Supernus Pharmaceuticals.
Novo licenses Nanexa’s long-acting injection platform in €1.165B deal
Latest NewsSweden’s Nanexa has granted Novo Nordisk a global license to use its PharmaShell drug delivery technology in up to five programs targeting obesity, type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic diseases. The agreement could bring Nanexa as much as €1.165 billion.
Bavarian Nordic names new CEO; Abivax and ProQR add key leaders
Latest NewsEvery Friday, The Leadership Edit looks at the people taking new roles across European biotech and what their moves may tell us about the companies they join. We’ll follow chief executives, scientific and medical leaders, and other appointments that mark a change in direction or a new stage of growth. For this first edition: a new CEO for Bavarian Nordic, launch preparations at Abivax and an AI push at ProQR.
Roche signs two deals worth about $3.5B in one day
Latest NewsRoche signed two research partnerships on Sept. 24: one with Atavistik Bio to discover drugs for cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases, and another with Earendil Labs to develop cancer antibodies. Together, the agreements have a potential value of more than $3.47 billion (€3.05 billion). Roche is paying $125 million (€110 million) upfront.
Nine pharma companies urge Europe to invest more in medicines
Latest NewsEuropean biotech and clinical-research figures broadly agree with nine major drugmakers whose chairs signed a letter urging governments to reward new medicines better, but say the fixes go well beyond price.