- Gijs van den Brink brings over two decades of experience in drug discovery, development, and strategic leadership to Forbion, having previously held senior leadership roles at Roche and GSK
- As Operating Partner, his focus will be on supporting Forbion’s portfolio companies, leveraging his expertise to accelerate innovation and bring transformative therapies to patients
Naarden The Netherlands – 12 December 2024 - Forbion, a leading global life sciences venture capital firm with expertise in Europe, is delighted to announce the appointment of Gijs van den Brink, MD, PhD. as an Operating Partner. With an exceptional career spanning academia and industry, he brings unparalleled expertise in drug discovery and development across multiple therapeutic areas, further strengthening Forbion's leadership in advancing innovative healthcare solutions. Gijs’s addition to Forbion underscores the firm’s commitment to leveraging world-class expertise to identify, support, and guide transformative biotech companies.
As an Operating Partner at Forbion, Gijs will play a crucial role in identifying, supporting, and driving the success of life sciences investments. By leveraging his extensive expertise in biotechnology and venture capital, Gijs will work closely with portfolio companies to enhance operational strategies, accelerate innovation, and achieve sustainable growth.
Gijs joins Forbion from Roche, where he has served as a member of the Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) leadership team since 2019. In his role as Senior Vice President and Global Head of Immunology, CVM, Infectious Diseases, and Ophthalmology Discovery and Early Development, he drove transformative initiatives that enhanced R&D productivity, strengthened cross-functional collaborations, and supported strategic acquisitions, including the integration of metabolic disease specialist biotech, Carmot Therapeutics.
Prior to Roche, Gijs held the position of Senior Vice President and Global Head of Immunology discovery, early and late-stage clinical development at GSK, where he led a global team spanning the UK and US. He made significant strides in improving R&D efficiency, optimizing portfolio management, and fostering stronger synergies between research and commercial teams.
We are thrilled to welcome Gijs to the Forbion team. He will be a fantastic addition to our already exceptional team of Operating Partners, who play a crucial role in driving the success of our firm. His extensive experience in drug development, combined with his deep scientific expertise and leadership capabilities, will be instrumental in advancing our mission of bringing transformative therapies to patients. Gijs’ ability to bridge scientific innovation and commercial strategy aligns perfectly with our approach to building and guiding impactful biotech companies.
Sander Slootweg
Managing Partner at Forbion
Commenting on his new role, Gijs stated, "I am excited to join Forbion as an Operating Partner, contributing to their mission of driving meaningful innovation in biotech and healthcare. With a shared passion for turning science into impactful medicines, I look forward to supporting Forbion's portfolio companies in delivering transformative solutions for patients worldwide."
Before transitioning to the biopharmaceutical industry, Gijs earned his MD and PhD from the University of Amsterdam Medical Center and completed specialized training in internal medicine and gastroenterology at leading institutions in Amsterdam, Geneva, and Leiden. He served as a board-certified gastroenterologist and Professor of Experimental Gastroenterology at the University of Amsterdam, where he led groundbreaking discovery and translational research in inflammatory bowel disease. Throughout his career, Gijs has co-authored over 150 peer-reviewed scientific publications.