António Portela, Bial 🇵🇹 | Parkinson’s, Family-Owned Biotech | E54

We dive into Bial’s meteoric journey from a small pharmacy in Porto to Portugal’s biggest biopharma company, all while still being 100% family owned.

We cover Bial’s pipeline, including treatments for epilepsy and Parkinson’s, and why Bial’s multigenerational leadership story is nowhere as dramatic as HBO’s “Succession.”

---Avance is where European biotech turns for trusted financial advice. Learn more at https://bit.ly/flot-avance.---

⭐️ ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Prior to leading Bial, António worked at Roche in the UK as a Medical Sales Representative and a Market Analyst. While he worked at Roche, he also launched a Hepatitis C drug.António holds a degree in Economics from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Porto and an Executive MBA from the Porto Business School.

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED

• Bial’s website — https://www.bial.com/en
• Bial 2024 financials — https://downloads.ctfassets.net/oyx9uzi3vj2y/XTmSUhXd7ggVEnpJLx0Ch/7a22a851246d910c517e064fca4b6968/Consolidated_Management_Report_BIAL_Holding_2024.pdf
• Bial launches KYNMOBI in Portugal and Spain — https://bial.com/en/media/news/bial-launches-kynmobi-in-portugal-and-spain
• Succession TV show — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7660850/
• BIO-Europe Spring — https://informaconnect.com/bioeurope-spring/

📜 TRANSCRIPT

Read the full transcript here: https://flot.bio/episode/António-Portela-BIAL-parkinsons-biopharma/

💸 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
• [00:02:31] Bial’s humble beginnings
• [00:05:59] Behind the scenes of the Portela family
• [00:12:45] A CNS innovator pipeline
• [00:18:42] From small molecules to biologics
• [00:21:17] Sourcing Portuguese talent from overseas
• [00:24:14] Manufacturing critical for gene therapy
• [00:26:21] António Portela’s dynamic leadership
• [00:27:38] Quick-fire questions