On Thursday October 1st, Swiss HLG partnered with Gyrus Capital to host an engaging event on “Carve-outs in Pharma and Beyond”, bringing together investors, operators, and advisors to explore how carve-outs are increasingly shaping the life sciences landscape.
The evening opened with a market update from Elsa Torchet and Igor Heinzer of Deloitte, who highlighted the forces reshaping the broader life sciences industry: patent cliffs, increasing portfolio pressure, evolving innovation sources, and a growing need for companies to continuously reassess what is truly core to their business.
Etienne Jornod, Chairman of OM Pharma, then shared lessons learned from the OM Pharma carve-out journey. He reflected on the importance of governance, shareholder alignment and strategic focus, illustrating how businesses that are no longer central to a larger group's priorities can often thrive when given the independence, resources and attention to pursue their own growth trajectory.
Expertly moderated by Jean-Marc Séquier from Novartis, the panel explored carve-outs from operator, advisor, and investor perspectives. A recurring theme was that successful carve-outs are ultimately about finding the right owner: assets that are non-core for one company can often thrive under a more focused organization.
The overarching message of the evening: carve-outs are no longer viewed as tactical divestments. Increasingly, they are being used as a strategic tool to unlock value and place assets with the owners best positioned to grow them.
A sincere thank you to our speakers, panelists, moderator, and everyone who joined us for the thought-provoking discussions and networking apéro.
Swiss HLG/Roche Networking Event
The Future Oncology Portfolio: Build, Buy or Be Left Behind?
The oncology landscape is transforming at an unprecedented rate. Join industry leaders from Pharma, Biotech, and VC as they dive into strategic portfolio evolution, company creation, and investment trends shaping tomorrow's therapies.
Key themes will explore:
Building a New Entrant: The BeOne story
Investment & Innovation: Outlook and reflections on 15 years of investing in oncology
Expert Panel: Strategic approaches to building, scaling, and sustaining competitive oncology franchises
The evening will conclude with a networking apéro bringing together professionals from business development, licensing, R&D, and investment.
Featured Speakers
Building a new entrant in Oncology – the BeOne story - Giancarlo Benelli, Senior Vice President, Head of Europe at BeOne Medicines
Thilo Schroeder, Ph.D. has a passion for precision medicines in cancer with a focus on identifying first and best-in-class targeted therapies regardless of drug modality. Since 2012, Thilo has helped grow and shape Nextech as a leading oncology focused venture firm. Thilo began his biotech career at the pioneering cancer immunology company Micromet (acquired by Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN)) while studying at Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg, conducted research at the University of Sydney and obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Zurich, focused on protein engineering in the development of Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins (DARPins), a technology developed by Molecular Partners (SWX: MOLN).
Stefanie Granado rejoined Novartis in October 2024 as Therapeutic Area Head, Oncology International. Prior to returning, Stefanie was with Takeda, where Stefanie served as Head of the US Oncology Business Unit after leading the Oncology organization across Europe and Canada. Stefanie also held General Manager roles for Iberia (Spain and Portugal) and Switzerland at Takeda and Shire.
Earlier in Stefanie's career at Novartis, Stefanie led the Novartis Vaccines Division in Colombia and Venezuela and was responsible for Market Access and Public Affairs across Latin America. Stefanie holds a PhD in Cultural Epidemiology from the Swiss Tropical Institute, a Master of Arts from the University of Basel, and brings a background in management consulting.
Guillaume Cettou is Executive Director, Oncology Translational Medicine at GSK, where he leads portfolio strategy and precision diagnostics for the oncology pipeline. His work sits at the intersection of asset strategy, business development, translational science, and AI — using technology and data to advance precision medicine from early discovery through clinical development.
Before GSK, Guillaume held roles at SOPHiA GENETICS, Amgen, and McKinsey & Company, spanning business development, drug development, commercialization and strategy consulting. This trajectory gives him a distinctive vantage point on the healthcare ecosystem: from pharma R&D to commercial execution, supported by strategy and innovation.
Bruno Gomes is Global Head of Oncology Early Clinical Development at Roche, where he leads translational research and shapes the clinical portfolio strategy across multiple therapeutic modalities and mechanisms of action. With more than two decades of oncology drug development experience spanning large pharma, mid-sized companies, and biotech startups, Bruno is passionate about turning preclinical insights into testable clinical hypotheses and bringing innovative medicines to patients faster. He has built strategic collaborations and partnerships across the industry.
Earlier in his career, he led discovery groups and translational research programs for small molecules and biologics at Sanofi, Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals, and iTeos Therapeutics. He then joined Roche as Head of Oncology Biomarkers, later becoming Global Head of Discovery and Early Clinical Development for Oncology.
We look forward to welcoming you for an engaging evening of knowledge-sharing and networking.
For this event, we will welcome participants at Reception in Building 7. The reception desk for Auditorium 4 is located in Building 7, and attendees will be directed from there to the auditorium.
Swiss HLG and Nordic PLG Webinar
Seeing Value Where Others Saw Risk and How Strategic Conviction Leads to Competitive Advantage: The acquisition of the Swedish biotechnology company Abliva by Pharming
On the October 21st 2026, from 14:00–16:00 CEST we invite you to go behind the scenes of Pharming's acquisition of Abliva and gain unique insights from the executives who led this transformative transaction.
Hear firsthand from Ellen Wittmack Donnell former Chief Medical Officer of Abliva, Magnus Hansson,former Chief Medical Officer Ablivam who will share their unique insider insights on the Pharming-Abliva acquisition and the strategic decisions behind this transformative deal and. Dr. Alexander Breidenbach: Why Pharming Group pursued the acquisition of Abliva
- The strategic vision behind the deal - Key negotiation challenges and how they were addressed - Lessons learned throughout the acquisition process - How strategic conviction can unlock opportunities and create competitive advantage
This webinar is a unique opportunity for professionals in biotech, pharma, business development, corporate strategy, and M&A to learn directly from the dealmakers themselves.
Swiss HLG Startup Alumni & Community Event - great success!
We are very proud of our first Startup Alumni and Community event held on September 3rd ar Superlab Suisse in Zurich. It was a wonderful opportunity for our alumni to reconnect and take part in an insightful IP workshop delivered by HGF Limited
Eight startup alumni were selected to present their companies to guests from pharma and VC organisations, showcasing the strength and diversity of our growing community.
We closed the evening with a lively networking apéro, giving everyone plenty of time to exchange ideas, build connections, and continue the conversation.
A big thank you to everyone who joined us — what a fantastic start to our alumni community journey.
Join us for an exclusive evening co?hosted by Swiss Healthcare Licensing Group (Swiss HLG) and Gyrus Capital to explore one of the most powerful value creation strategies in healthcare and life sciences: carve-outs.
By separating non-core assets or businesses into independent companies, carve-outs can unlock hidden value, sharpen strategic focus, and create platforms for sustainable growth.
Keynote Speaker:
Etienne Jornod: Executive Chairman of OM Pharma, Former Executive Chairman Galenica and Vifor, Former Chairman NZZ and Director Alliance Boots (KKR), will share insights from the successful spin?out of OM Pharma from Vifor and the lessons learned from this transformative transaction.
Market and Strategic Insights:
Elsa Torchet: Director, Life Sciences, Strategy and Business Design, Deloitte
Igor Heinzer: Partner – Head of Valuation and Modelling, Deloitte
Investor and Operational Insights:
Anna Mattsson: Senior Partner at McKinsey
Becki Morison: CEO, Essential Pharma
Robert Watson: Co-founder, Gyrus Capital
Networking Apéro:
Continue the conversation over drinks and refreshments while connecting with peers from Switzerland's healthcare, biotech, pharmaceutical, and investment communities.
Schedule:
Doors open: 5:00 PM
Presentations: 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Networking apéro: from 7:00 PM
Bios
Etienne Jornod: Executive Chairman of OM Pharma, Former Executive Chairman Galenica and Vifor, Former Chairman NZZ and Director Alliance Boots (KKR)
Etienne Jornod has been the Executive Chairman and Co-owner of OM Pharma since October 2020. Mr Jornod founded Optimus Holding with the goal of buying OM Pharma along with other Swiss entrepreneurs and the Turkish pharmaceutical leader Abdi Ibrahim. The ambition is to further expand OM Pharma and invest in R&D to exploit the full potential of its bacterial extracts.
In order to do this, Mr Jornod stepped down as Executive Chairman of Vifor Pharma's Board of Directors early 2020, making a public offer for OM Pharma which was then a Vifor Pharma affiliate. To avoid any conflict of interest, the sales process was managed by Rothschild.
Mr Jornod spent all of his career at Galenica-Vifor Group, were he started as Junior Product Manager at the age of 22. In 1995, he became Chairman and CEO of the Galenica Group, which took the name of the Vifor Pharma Group in 2017. Under his management the Group grew from a wholesaler, solely reserved for Swiss pharmacists, to a global group focused on two main activities: Vifor Pharma (Global Speciality Pharma Company) and Galenica Santé (Pharmacy Chain with Services and Products). In 2017, the Vifor Pharma Group sold Galenica Santé on the stock market via an IPO. Both groups were valued at more than CHF14 billion on Mr Jornod’s retirement. For 10 years, until April 2023, Mr Jornod was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NZZ-Mediengruppe. During his career, Mr Jornod has also been a member of the board of numerous private and listed companies, such as AllianceUnichem (Footsee), AllianceBoots (KKR), Bieffe Medital, Bon Appétit and Vaudoise.
Mr Jornod holds a degree in business and economics from HEC Lausanne (lic. oec.) and graduated from the Senior Executive Program at Stanford University.
Elsa Torchet: Director, Life Sciences, Strategy and Business Design, Deloitte
Elsa is a Director in Deloitte’s Life Sciences practice with 10 years of experience working in a mid-size listed company and consulting. She advises executives on a diverse array of topics, including growth strategy, transformation, risk, and business development, with a particular focus on the precision medicine ecosystem. Elsa’s clients span regional, international, global, listed organisations, as well as privately owned and family businesses. In her advisory role, Elsa collaborates with her clients to navigate complex challenges, delivering innovative and high-quality services, and driving strategic market development.
Igor Heinzer: Partner – Head of Valuation and Modelling, Deloitte
Igor is a partner in Strategy & Transactions with more than 25 years of international experience and leads the Valuation and Business Modelling practice of Deloitte Switzerland. He has advised emerging growth companies and global leaders across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medtech, diagnostics and broader life sciences sector. His experience spans M&A and licensing transactions, intellectual property valuation, growth and scale-up strategies, fundraising, capital allocation, financial and tax reporting, and performance tracking. Igor regularly advises corporate development teams, C-suite executives and Boards on the financial and valuation implications of strategic decisions, investments and disruptive technologies.
Anna Mattsson: Senior Partner at McKinsey
Anna leads the Strategy & Corporate Finance Practice for Switzerland and co-leads our separation and spin-off service line worldwide. She is a globally recognized merger management and carve-out adviser specializing in supporting boards and management teams in designing, planning, and executing complex, cross-border integrations, separations, and alliances.
Anna has over 20 years of M&A experience and has supported more than 150 M&A deals, ranging from $200 million to $50 billion. She works across industries with a focus on Life Sciences, Consumer and Chemicals. She regularly lectures on M&A topics at business schools across Europe and has authored numerous studies and is co-author of the Divestiture chapter of the Valuation Book.
In addition to her work in M&A, she is also passionate about diversity and has served on multiple boards, e.g. as chairwoman of Advance, to further diversity and inclusion.
Becki Morison: CEO, Essential Pharma
Becki is a seasoned global executive with more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, spanning commercial leadership, market access, and large-scale organisational transformation. She is currently CEO of Essential Pharma, an international specialty pharma company. Over her career, Becki has held senior leadership roles at LEO Pharma and Eli Lilly, where she led global commercial functions, major therapeutic franchises, and country and regional organisations across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the US. She has a track record of leading businesses through periods of significant strategic change and building high-performing teams across markets.
Robert Watson: Co-founder, Gyrus Capital
Dr. Robert Watson is the co-founder of Gyrus Capital, a Geneva-based, healthcare-focused private equity firm, and has over 20 years of investment experience in the pharma and life sciences sector. Over his career, Rob has led healthcare and life sciences investments across Europe, the US, and Asia, holding senior roles at leading investment firms in New York, London, Geneva, and Paris, including as Managing Director at Altaris Capital Partners.
We look forward to welcoming you in Geneva.
Campus Biotech, Chem. des Mines 9, Chemin des Mines 9, 1202 Genève, CH
The Swiss HLG Start-Up Initiative is now in its fourth year. This is a program of four linked afternoon workshops that we offer free of charge to 30 start-ups each year to help them get ready for partnering, and it gets stellar feedback. As we now have around 80-90 alumni from the program, we thought it would be timely to bring them all back together.
This Start-Up Alumni event will take place on the afternoon of September 3 at Superlab Schlieren in Zurich and we would like to invite you to register to join and meet them - it is free of charge to our members.
The format is a private networking lunch for the alumni, followed by an educational IP workshop which you are invited to join from 14h. We will then hear stories from some of the alumni on their progress in recent years, followed by a networking apero.
A key part of the event is an IP workshop by our valued supporters HGF Intellectual Property Specialists, led by Neil Henry from HGF’s Basel office, focusing on practical IP challenges and real-world case discussions Intellectual property is a key driver of value in biotech and start-ups, especially so when it comes to funding, partnerships, and transactions/exits.
The session will highlight:
what IP is;
how to effectively prepare for the IP due diligence process
why IP matters;
what looks ‘good’ from an IP perspective;
what investors look for during IP due diligence; and
how to effectively prepare for the IP due diligence process
In addition to a refresher of the basics, the session will also provide practical real-world insights & advice on strengthening your IP position, avoiding common pitfalls, and ensuring your innovation is transaction-ready.
From 14:00 — Doors Open for External Participants
Registration and welcome coffee.
Program
14:30–16:30 — IP Workshop
17:00–18:30 — Alumni Presentations
From 18:30 onwards — Networking Apéro
We look forward to reconnecting with many of you in Zurich on September 3!
Free for Swiss HLG members CHF30 for Non-members
Looking forward to welcoming our Swiss HLG Startup Alumni Community and external guests for a vibrant afternoon of exchange and collaboration.
Successful Swiss HLG Conference 2026!
What an inspiring Swiss HLG Conference 2026 in Montreux. A heartfelt thank-you to all our speakers, panelists, moderators, partners, and over one hundred attendees for the energy, insight, and openness you brought to this year’s edition last week. Your contributions made the discussions across our three workstreams truly exceptional — from strategic partnerships and innovation models to market access and leadership in collaboration.
The theme “Partner or Perish” resonated strongly this year. With global fragmentation accelerating, collaboration is essential to turn scientific progress into real patient impact. The rise of China as an innovation powerhouse was a recurring topic — and a reminder that Europe and Switzerland must leverage their strengths with intention.
In the end, it’s international collaboration that will shape the future of healthcare innovation. With that in mind, we'd like to express sincere thanks to our supporters without whose valued contributions our conference and events would not be possible.
Save the Date: 23–25 May 2027, Montreux Swiss HLG Conference 2027 — see you there.
Swiss HLG Conference 2026 - Final Programme!
We are excited to reveal the full Conference 2026 Programme!
Under the theme “Partner or Perish? How Collaboration Can Sustain Healthcare Innovation in a Fragmenting World”we’re bringing together leaders across the U.S., Europe and Asia to explore how partnership drives resilience and growth in today’s shifting biotech landscape.
With China’s rapid rise, evolving U.S. policy, tightening capital markets, and looming patent cliffs, collaboration has never been more essential. Our sessions will deliver actionable insights, cutting?edge dealmaking strategies, and regional intelligence to navigate this complexity.
We look forward to welcoming an exceptional lineup of speakers and participants for two and a half days of learning, exchange, and meaningful connections.
