BIO-Europe Autumn 2025
3 - 5 November 2025 - Vienna, Austria
Meredith Manuel
Head of Business Development
This November, Scendea had the pleasure of attending BIO-Europe Autumn 2025 in Vienna, Austria.
The focus of BIO-Europe Autumn 2025 was gene therapy, precision medicine, funding strategies and challenges across the industry.
“BIO-Europe attracts a wide range of business leaders, including senior executives of leading biotech companies, business development teams from large and midsize pharmaceutical companies, investors and other industry experts”
From 3 - 5 November 2025, our Head of Business Development, Meredith Manuel, and Business Development Consultant, Al Mills, attended the highly anticipated BIO-Europe Autumn. Throughout the week, our team was delighted to take part in a series of productive partnering meetings, organised via the Informa Connect partnering platform, connecting with both new and longstanding clients.
We caught up with Meredith to reflect on the highlights of BIO-Europe Autumn 2025 and explore the key discussions and industry insights shaping this year’s event…
What stood out as the highlight of your international travels to BIO-Europe Autumn 2025?
BIO-Europe was one of the largest, most diversely attended, BIO meetings in several years. Scendea met with dozens of new and emerging biotech companies eager to drive innovation, seeking both funding and development support.
What key themes and emerging industry trends were most prominent in your discussions at the event?
The use of AI and new approaches to accelerate drug discovery were at the forefront of discussions. Much of the conversation centered around how to innovate development processes, shorten timelines, reduce costs, and explore creative funding strategies. Many emerging biotech companies were also focused on how the rapidly evolving FDA environment will influence global development plans.
A key theme this year was understanding the shifting regulatory landscape. With major agencies releasing new guidances, companies are increasingly seeking partners with deep regulatory expertise to support their programs. Topics such as accelerated pathways, surrogate endpoints, and the development of treatments for rare and orphan diseases featured prominently throughout the meetings.
How do events like BIO-Europe contribute to building relationships and fostering collaboration within the biotech community?
BIO meetings consistently serve as a powerful catalyst for collaboration and business growth. While competition is always fierce, there is an ongoing feeling of camaraderie and the desire to advance science and improving patient outcomes. Reconnecting with former colleagues and forging new relationships created a dynamic environment filled with creative scientific thinking and cutting-edge technology. Many discussions focused on first-in-class assets, underscoring that innovation across the industry remains vibrant despite the current funding climate.
Were there any emerging developments or innovations that particularly stood out to you during the conference?
While fundraising in recent years has been challenging, there was an overall sense of optimism and examples of wins. There was notable representation in reproductive medicine, women’s health and oncology.
How have the discussions and insights from BIO-Europe Autumn influenced your perspective, and what are you most looking forward to as we move into the new year?
Overall, there was a renewed sense of optimism as the industry looks beyond the financial and regulatory challenges of recent years. With a growing emphasis on accelerating pathways to approval through designations, innovative programs, the use of surrogate endpoints, and reduced non-clinical requirements, companies are embracing new approaches to advance their assets. Developers are thinking creatively and encouraging regulatory agencies to do the same.
Did you miss Scendea at BIO-Europe Autumn?