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.
Celebrate 20 Years of IPLS in Stockholm – Where Dealmakers Connect
Join business development leaders from across Europe in Stockholm for the 20th anniversary of IPLS, an international partnering event designed to spark ideas, deals, and lasting relationships.
Networking in the Nordics - meet top decision-makers and innovators from across Europe in one of the world’s most vibrant life science hubs
Partnering - identify new opportunities, strengthen relationships, and expand partnerships across Europe’s life science sector
Develop - what's the big deal? Gain fresh life science insights, market updates, and perspectives to support your business objectives
Connect - grow your international network by day, and continue the conversation at our exclusive evening social events, celebrating 20 years of IPLS in style at the Vasa Museum
You can still take advantage of our Early Bird offer, with a generous €300 savings on our standard rate. Availabe for registrations completed before 31 May 2026
Attended by senior Business Development professionals, including: Head's of BD, CEO's, Partners, Corporate BD Directors, Managing Directors, Chief Corporate Development Officers, Senior BD Managers
Swiss HLG Conference Preliminary Programme 2026
We are thrilled to announce that our speaker line-up for the Swiss HLG Annual Conference is nearly complete!
This year’s edition promises to be one of our most inspiring yet, once again taking in the breathtaking lakeside city of Montreux.
Dates: 10–12 May 2026
Location: Montreux, Switzerland Theme: “Partner or Perish? How Collaboration Can Sustain Healthcare Innovation in a Fragmenting World”
Bonus: Early registration includes complimentary access to our timely and highly relevant pre?conference workshop “Future proofing your deals in a more volatile world” — a perfect way to kick off your conference experience.
Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of another exceptional Swiss HLG gathering—where industry leaders, innovators, and deal?makers come together to shape the future of healthcare partnerships.
Join us on March 11, from 14:00 - 16:00 CET for "Expanding Your Funding and Partnership Toolkit" — a deep dive into the innovative financing models transforming the life sciences landscape. Discover how Royalty Financing and Sovereign Capital Partnerships are reshaping long?term growth strategies. Explore smarter, more strategic funding approaches that accelerate innovation while preserving value.
