For emerging biotech companies, some of the most consequential decisions are made long before the first patient is enrolled. Choices around indication strategy, translational evidence, study design, regulatory positioning and clinical execution can shape the trajectory of an asset for years to come.

To help innovators navigate those decisions, IQVIA Biotech and Bayer Co.Lab have entered a new global strategic partnership that expands access to clinical development expertise and specialized support for early-stage life science companies.

Through this collaboration, Bayer Co.Lab tenants will have access to IQVIA Biotech subject matter experts and Centers of Excellence across a broad range of scientific and development expertise, including drug discovery, therapeutic areas, clinical development, regulatory strategy, translational medicine and asset valuation.

Bayer Co.Lab Berlin

Why early development decisions matter

Leaders in emerging biotech organizations know that speed alone is not the goal. The objective is to move efficiently while reducing avoidable risk. A promising asset can lose momentum if the development plan is not aligned with biology, patient population, regulatory expectations, operational realities and investor requirements.

External expertise can be especially valuable at critical inflection points: Whether preparing for pre-IND, assessing translational evidence packages, evaluating development and indication strategies, designing early clinical studies or identifying operational risks before they become costly delays, experienced outside perspectives can help companies make more informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.

"At IQVIA Biotech, we are passionate about supporting the innovators who are shaping the future of healthcare. Emerging biotech companies often face complex development decisions with limited access to specialized resources. Through this partnership with Bayer Co.Lab, we are expanding access to the expertise and global experience emerging biotech companies need to make critical decisions with greater confidence."
— Peter Ronco, President, IQVIA Biotech

Expanding access to specialized biotech support

Bayer Co.Lab's global life science incubator network supports promising science progress more effectively toward clinical and commercial impact by connecting founders with infrastructure, industry expertise, investors, and other partners. The no-strings-attached model opens the door to Bayer expertise, while preserving the start-up’s independence and autonomy to steer the business.

This partnership between Bayer Co.Lab and IQVIA Biotech complements the comprehensive incubation model by adding dedicated biotech clinical development experience, specialized teams and access to broader IQVIA capabilities. Together, the organizations aim to provide innovators with practical support as they navigate the transition from early discovery toward clinical development.

What this means for biotech clinical leaders

The value of partnerships like this is not simply access to advice. It is access to development thinking that is integrated, stage-appropriate and grounded in execution.

For founders, this can translate into more informed trade-offs:

• Which evidence gaps need to be addressed before entering the clinic?
• Which indication strategy offers the strongest path forward?
• How can potential operational challenges be anticipated earlier?
• And how can limited resources be focused on the activities most likely to advance a program?

By helping companies address these questions earlier, the partnership seeks to strengthen development planning at stages where decisions can have an outsized impact on future success.

“At Bayer Co.Lab, our goal is to support founders in bringing their brilliant ideas to life. Their success depends on making the right decisions at the right time, and by partnering with IQVIA Biotech, we are expanding the expertise available to Bayer Co.Lab tenants as they transition from scientific discovery toward clinical development."
— Friedemann Janus, SVP, Global Head of Bayer Co.Lab

Building stronger pathways from innovation to impact

Biotech innovation depends on more than breakthrough science. It requires the right expertise at the right time, with development strategies that connect scientific ambition to patient impact. By bringing together Bayer Co.Lab’s global innovation ecosystem with IQVIA Biotech's clinical development expertise, this partnership aims to help founders navigate complexity, strengthen decision-making and advance promising therapies toward the clinic and, ultimately, to patients.