Practice 03 · BD and pharma licensing
A partnering path that pharma recognizes.
We map who would partner with or acquire your asset, how they evaluate it, and what a deal could look like, then prepare you for the conversations.
Bring us in when
- Pharma interest exists, but there is no plan to convert it
- You are planning for JPM, BIO or BIO-Europe
- A licensing or co-development discussion is starting
What we deliver
Partnering strategy
Which partners, why, and when to engage, based on how pharma screens assets.
Target map
Companies and functions (BD, search and evaluation, R&D) ranked by fit.
Partnering materials
A non-confidential deck and asset summary in pharma's language.
Deal comparables and terms
Comparable deals and term benchmarks to anchor expectations.
Conference strategy
Meeting plans and preparation for JPM, BIO and BIO-Europe.
Negotiation support
Term sheet preparation and deal structuring, alongside your counsel.
Ways to start
Fixed scope, clear deliverables.
Partnering Sprint
3 to 4 weeks
Partnering strategy, a target map, a non-confidential deck, deal comparables and a meeting plan.
Best for: Pharma interest, or a conference ahead
Strategic Advisory
90 days or more, limited availability
Ongoing work with a small number of companies at a time: strategy sessions, review of materials and models, and meeting preparation.
Best for: Senior counsel through a raise or a deal
The experience behind this practice
- Sourced and evaluated BD deals at Pfizer, and led BD and venture investments in the Office of the CEO at BeiGene.
- Co-led pharma partnering discussions as an operator at a therapeutics startup.
From Bio Founder GPS
Apr 26, 2026
How Tubulis turned a $22.8M license into a $5B exit
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Marc Appel on where Asia-Pacific can help you build a stronger biotech company
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Ashley Marín of Scirena BioVentures on the opportunity hiding in plain sight
(opens Bio Founder GPS in a new tab)Questions
Before we speak.
Other practices
Book a 20-minute call
Talk through your situation in 20 minutes.
You'll speak with Vadim Shepel
Founder and Principal, Bench2Bio
- 01
Where you are
Your stage, your science and what is coming next: a raise, a partner conversation or a decision.
- 02
What investors or partners will test
An honest read on the gaps that will matter most, even if we never work together.
- 03
Whether and how we can help
A recommended starting point, or a referral if someone else is a better fit.
Prefer email? vadim@bench2bio.com