Membership & Benefits
Exclusive Networking & Social Events
Exclusive quarterly events such as CEO presentations, educational opportunities and social gatherings where focus is on deep-dives & analysis of biopharma deals and cutting-edge innovation
Nordic Pharma Licensing Networking
NPLG brings together the most relevant network of licensing professionals in the Northern European pharma & biotech industry
Premier Courses across Europe and Scandinavia
Opportunities to participate in high quality business development, licensing and fundraising courses offered by EPLG affiliates across Europe and in Scandinavia
European & International Pharma Licensing Group Access
What's The Big Deal?
NPLG introduces a fresh new concept - a deep dive into deal making far beyond what the headlines or press releases reveal
Quarterly meetings will feature a break down and examination by the CEO or deal maker into an intriguing deal, deal process, IPO or fundraising event, including the story behind the deal and the key lessons learned
What's The Big Deal?
Instinct and Experience: The Art and Science of Dealmaking Success
Date: April 8th, 2025
Time: 16:45
Venue: Gorrissen Federspiel, Axel Towers, Copenhagen
RSVP: For NPLG members only. To join Login/Signup
Our Ambition: Art of the Deal, Learning & Innovation
The Nordic Pharma Licensing Group (NPLG) is an exclusive networking and deal excellence platform open to current and aspiring leaders involved in partnering transactions, fundraising, licensing & business development. Our members are motivated to inspire and be inspired by innovative contemporaries in the pharmaceutical ecosystem.
The yearly membership fee is 175 € and includes many benefits.
NPLG Upcoming Event Registration
Biostock Global Summit NPLG Panel Discussion: Sealing The Deal! Lessons from Licensing with Big Pharma
Moderator: Tara Heitner, NPLG Co-Chair
Panel members:
Jesper Lykkesfeldt, Former Genmab, NPLG member
Eva Dahlén, Novo Nordisk
Jonathan Sjogren, AstraZeneca
Thomas Feldthus, Saniona
Lasse Holm Lauridsen, Genmab
Date: May 20, 2025
Time: 16:30
Venue: The Loop, Lund, Sweden
What's the Big Deal? Forward Pharma's IPO Adventure and Leo Foundation Investment Strategies
Presenters:
Claus Bo Svendsen, Former CEO,
Forward Pharma's 200 M IPO, litigation woes and cash settlement
Peter Kjeldsen Hansen, Head of Strategic Ownership and BD at the Leo Foundation.
Leo Foundations Strategy and BD Goals
Date: Sept 10, 2025
Time slot: 16:45
Venue: TBD
What's The Big Deal Winter 2026 TBD
Associate
Sound Bioventures
NPLG Co-Chair
Philip is a seasoned physician-scientist (cardiology) with end-to-end experience in life-science venture capital investments. He is eager to spar with deal makers, connect all stakeholders around the deal table, drive novel insights and be at the forefront of biotech deal making innovation. Philip holds board positions in several companies/organizations.
Philip joined NPLG as Co-Chair in 2024.
Philip Brainin
Founder and Principal
Heitner Biopharm Consultation
NPLG Co-Chair
Tara is an entrepreneurial business developer with a scientific background. She founded Heitner Biopharm Consultation in 2014 and has since supported over 14 biotech and pharma companies in deal making, strategy and commerical assessment. She enjoys the community learning and professional development as well as the chance to meet inspirational deal makers and entrepreneurs.
Tara joined NPLG and the Board in 2017.
Tara Heitner
Chief Executive Officer
Kurantis
NPLG Board Member
Tanja is an entrepreneur who beside running Kurantis, a Nordic pharmaceutical distribution company, is the owner of Makantia, a BD and licensing consultancy. She is also a partner in Solanum selling natural care and supplements for animals. Her passion as a board member is to empower innovation, networking and collaboration within the Nordic pharma and biotech ecosystem.
Tanja joined NPLG in 2016 and the Board in 2024.
Tanja Breum Nielsen
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The NPLG Board
Partner
Gorrissen Federspiel
NPLG Board Member
Martin co-heads Gorrissen Federspiel's top Life Sciences Practice Group, which provides leading advice to innovative international and national Life Sciences companies, including advisory and litigation support within regulatory, market access, transactions, capital markets/PE and product liability. Martin has decades of experience assisting Life Sciences companies at every step of the product life cycle. He is an internationally recognized expert within Regulatory Life Science, Product Liability and IP/Trade Secrets Litigation.
Martin has been on the NPLG Board since 2018.
Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn
Senior Principal
Angelini Ventures
NPLG Board Member
Thomas comes with extensive experience in venture capital and business development. Angelini Industries invests in life science, therapeutic medtech and digital health globally. Previously, Thomas worked for Lundbeck A/S as a Director for Corporate Business Development & Strategy, for UCB Pharma, as Associate Director for Global Business Development and at Sunstone Life Science Ventures, a Danish Venture Capital fund. Thomas currently holds Board positions in several biotech and life science companies in North America.
Thomas joined the NPLG Board in 2024.
Thomas Thestrup
Founder
MBIOx Consulting
NPLG Board Member
Mads has extensive experience as a drug hunter with a passion for life science business, innovation and strategy. He has held several R&D leadership and BD positions in pharma and biotech. Currently, he works with universities and startups in the life science space with a special focus on novel therapeutics. He is committed to help create an inspiring meeting place for like-minded professionals that are part of the vibrant northern european biotech and pharma ecosystem.
Mads joined the NPLG Board in 2024
Mads Aaboe Jensen
Mission
To empower pharmaceutical deal makers by providing a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and professional development, through exclusive social events with prominent keynote speakers and roundtable discussions of recent transactions
Vision
To be the leading network for healthcare deal makers in the Northern European region, fostering knowledge-sharing and collaboration to fuel the future of healthcare
Member Profile
NPLG aims to include professionals involved in transactions and deal making. Contact us using the form below for more information about membership.
Anu Balendran
Senior Licensing Director at Novo Nordisk
NPLG Board Member
Anu is an experienced drug hunter with extensive knowledge in business development. Passionate about fostering innovation through collaboration in life sciences, Anu brings nearly 25 years of experience in Pharma and Biotech. This experience spans from screening novel compounds to closing acquisitions of Phase-3 programs. Before joining Novo Nordisk, Anu spent 17 years at AstraZeneca in Gothenburg, working across the entire value chain and in Business Development. Following this, Anu spent 2 years at Alligator Bioscience, gaining insights from the sell side. At Novo Nordisk, Anu has been part of the transaction team and currently coordinates Due Diligence for the Research and Early Development organization. Anu is eager to share knowledge with the wider community and is passionate about bringing big pharma experience to biotechs, helping them position themselves for successful deals.
Anu joined NPLG as a board member in 2025.
Nadine Maalouf
Managing Director Corporate Finance
Van Lanschot Kempen
NPLG Board Member
Nadine is a seasoned executive with a long standing experience in Life Sciences and Healthcare. Before joining Van Lanschot Kempen in 2018, Nadine has held several M&A, BD, Sales and Marketing positions in pharma. Her core responsibility at Van Lanschot Kempen is to assist Life Sciences companies to fulfill their ambitions in M&A and Equity Capital Markets transactions. Nadine is committed to raise awareness about the high level of innovation within the Nordics and Benelux regions and favor deal-making through connecting emerging life sciences companies with key stakeholders of the investment community.
Nadine is President of the Benelux Health Association and joined the NPLG Board in 2025.
Johan Emisson
CEO Sprint Bioscience
NPLG Board Member
Johan is a life sciences executive with a strong background in business development, strategy, and drug discovery. As CEO of Sprint Bioscience, he leads the company’s efforts in developing small-molecule cancer therapies and driving strategic partnerships. Combined with prior experience from Ferring Pharmaceuticals, he has a track record of advancing drug development programs and fostering global collaborations.
Johan joined NPLG as a board member in 2025.
Resources
IPLS Events and Links
IPLS Members - Global list
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IPLS ICP Briefing Flyer Draft.pdf
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