Vanessa joined Forbion in 2022 and serves as a Principal, where she focuses on driving investments and company-building efforts across various therapeutic areas and modalities.
She currently serves as a director on the board of VectorY Therapeutics and holds observer positions on the boards of AIRNA, Orbis Medicines, Sitala Bio, and a stealth mode company. Previously, Vanessa played a key role in leading due diligence and was a board observer for Mariana Oncology, which was acquired by Novartis in 2024.
Before joining Forbion, Vanessa was at PharmaVentures, where she focused on transaction advisory and corporate strategy projects. Earlier in her career, she worked as a scientist and co-Principal Investigator at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), contributing to a translational drug development project. She also brings significant experience mentoring early-stage healthcare startups through business accelerators such as MassChallenge and Bench2biz, supporting aspiring entrepreneurs in science and technology.
Vanessa holds a BSc in Biotechnology from the University of Pavia (Italy), an MSc in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (Germany), and a PhD in Chemical Biology with a focus on macrocycle drug discovery from EPFL (Switzerland).
At Forbion, I have the opportunity to help shape the future of biotech by partnering with exceptional companies and founders to drive bold ideas forward. What excites me most is the ability to take real ownership across the investment lifecycle—from scientific diligence and deal execution to taking board roles and actively supporting companies post-investment. The entrepreneurial and collaborative culture at Forbion empowers me to contribute meaningfully and operate with autonomy, while being part of a deeply experienced team united by a shared commitment to advancing science and improving patient outcomes.
Portfolio
Companies worked on by Vanessa Carle
