Global Biopharma Leaders to Shape Industry Outlook at BIO-Europe 2025

Editor's note: this story was originally published on BioPharmInternational.com.

With the 31st annual BIO-Europe conference set to take place in Vienna, Austria, from Nov. 3–5, 2025, the event is anticipated to gather more than 5700 attendees from more than 3000 companies across the global biopharmaceutical industry. Produced by EBD Group, the conference has established itself as one of the largest forums for collaboration, licensing, and investment discussions in drug development and manufacturing, according to a company press release (1).

Partnering around the event has been underway since Sept. 22, 2025, and organizers expect more 30,000 one-to-one meetings, reflecting the growing demand for structured platforms that enable technology-driven collaborations.

For those in the biopharma industry, the scale of BIO-Europe illustrates how early partnerships have become critical to drug manufacturing and commercialization strategies. The event’s discussions will explore how companies can adapt development pipelines, improve clinical success rates, and secure the investment needed to advance new therapeutic modalities.

What’s on the conference agenda?

The Vienna program features a range of sessions designed to address current industry challenges and future directions. The opening plenary session, titled “A symphony or a solo act? Europe’s role in biopharma’s future,” will bring together IPSEN CEO David Loew and Ovid Therapeutics CEO and Chairman Jeremy Levin to debate whether Europe can maintain its competitive edge in healthcare innovation or risk ceding leadership to other global regions.

The financing environment for biopharma will be explored in “From Roast to Billions: Biopharma Investment Landscape,” where panelists from Jefferies International, Angelini Ventures, and Novo Holdings will examine how companies can secure funding in a tightening capital market, from venture rounds and initial public offerings to mergers and acquisitions. Funding is of particular relevance for technology-driven companies that require significant investment to scale advanced manufacturing platforms.

Meanwhile, in the therapeutic space, the session titled “Scaling the melody of innovation for rare diseases” will focus on development and commercialization hurdles for ultra-targeted therapies. Panelists from Ipsen, TVM Capital, and DEBRA Research will address regulatory and patient access complexities that shape the economics of manufacturing for rare conditions.

Other program highlights include:

• “A day in the life of an experienced dealmaker,” featuring experts from Bayer, IPSEN, and Forbion on the current state of life sciences transactions
• “Longevity: Stirring up investment and healthcare innovation,” with WLAN Holding and Insilico Medicine exploring diagnostics, therapeutic pipelines, and the socio-economic realities of aging populations
• “Composing the next era of women’s health,” with representatives from Freya Biosciences, ReproNovo, M Ventures, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on the intersection of investment, technology, and clinical innovation

How does hybrid engagement expand access?

The conference will conclude its in-person program with a networking reception at Vienna’s Hofburg Palace, hosted in collaboration with LISAvienna. To extend engagement, BIO-Europe will also offer two days of virtual partnering on Nov. 11–12, 2025. This hybrid format continues to broaden accessibility and ensures that companies can connect beyond geographic limitations, strengthening opportunities for cross-border collaborations, according to EBD Group in its release.

The relevance of BIO-Europe extends beyond the immediate networking value. By convening leaders from pharma, biotech, and investment communities, the conference highlights how drug development is increasingly dependent on partnerships that bridge scientific innovation, manufacturing capabilities, and commercialization expertise (2). For professionals focused on advancing biopharmaceutical technologies, the meeting provides insight into where investment is flowing, which therapeutic areas are prioritized, and how companies are navigating technical and regulatory bottlenecks.

As biomanufacturing becomes more complex—driven by cell and gene therapies, exosomes, and highly targeted biologics—the role of strategic partnerships underscored at BIO-Europe remains central to the industry’s ability to deliver next-generation medicines (1,3).

References

1. EBD Group. BIO-Europe 2025: Vienna Prepares to Welcome Global Biopharma Leaders. Press Release. Sept. 24, 2025. https://informaconnect.com/bioeurope/
2. Wu, X.; Knockaert, M.; Blasi, P. Collaborative Innovation During the Drug Discovery and Development Process. Drug Discovery Today 2025, 30 (7), 104409. DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2025.104409
3. BIS Research. Cell and Gene Therapy Biomanufacturing Market—A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Product Type, Application, Usage, End User, and Region—Analysis and Forecast, 2025-2035. Market Research Report. 2025.