Why does the perception of facts matter when talking to investors?

How do you attract a US-based chair to a European company’s board?

And what are the advantages of running a virtual biotech with no labs of its own?

Today, I’m joined by Victor Bustos, CEO of Refoxy Pharma. Refoxy is a "virtual biotech" located in Cologne, Germany, and is developing small-molecule drugs for the treatment of age-related disease.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction: The Leadership Journey

1:24 - From Academia to Entrepreneurship

6:00 - Early Leadership Challenges: Truth vs. Perception

7:24 - Communication Skills & Stakeholder Management

10:37 - Peer Learning & Strategic Thinking

12:05 - Building Your Board: Attracting US Talent to Europe

13:29 - Virtual Biotech Model: Advantages & Strategy

16:26 - Due Diligence in CRO Partnerships

18:09 - The Science: Targeting Age-Related Disease

20:01 - Strategic Indication Selection: IPF Case Study

22:01 - Ecosystem Collaboration & Regulatory Landscape

23:31 - The Future of Longevity Medicine

25:25 - Leadership Philosophy: Leading by Example