Imagine two scientists: one in Boston, another in Barcelona. Both driven by purpose, working on a molecule that could change lives. Yet between them lies not only the Atlantic Ocean, but layers of cultural nuance, regulatory divergence, and increasingly, political tension.
In my presentation to the Futuro Perfecto community last year, I posed a simple but essential question: Why do some biotech partnerships succeed while others quietly fail? The answer, as always, is multifaceted. But one reality has become sharper in 2025: for European biotech companies looking westward, the stakes are rising.
At LBBAL Alianza, we sit at the crossroads of this dynamic. Headquartered in Spain, our consultancy is deeply European in values and structure—yet grounded in two decades of direct experience advising and negotiating with US partners. We know the unspoken assumptions, the different meanings of “yes,” and how to translate not just language, but intention.
Today, when alliances are under more stress than ever, this translational skillset has become indispensable.
Beyond the Term Sheet: What Transatlantic Alliances Really Require
What I shared with Futuro Perfecto was not a how-to checklist, but a reflection on patterns we see in real deals. The term sheet may be tight. The science may be solid. But when timelines start slipping, when key information doesn’t flow, or when a decision gets delayed for the third time—then what?
We know from experience that four factors are decisive:
- Alignment: A common goal isn’t enough. Both parties need to see why that goal matters now.
- Capability fit: True complementarity—not just in science, but in operations.
- Commercial logic: Each party must see more upside together than alone.
- Trust infrastructure: This includes cultural compatibility, decision-making processes, and clarity of escalation paths.
When the collaboration is transatlantic, each of these becomes more complex.
Take timing: In the US, a regulatory milestone may drive urgency. In the EU, caution may be favored due to market access dynamics. Or communication: a US team might expect rapid-fire Slack updates; a European partner may prioritize documentation and formal minutes. These aren’t trivial differences. They become fault lines if left unmanaged.
The Political Climate Is Shifting. Are Your Alliances Resilient Enough?
In 2025, the geopolitical context is no longer a backdrop—it’s a front-row actor. The US election cycle, EU funding reforms, evolving export controls on health tech… all these factors now intersect with dealmaking.
For European companies seeking US partners (or vice versa), this means more than just due diligence. It means building resilience into the alliance structure from day one.
At LBBAL, we are seeing more clients ask:
- How do we safeguard our IP in a joint development program?
- What if a policy change disrupts the regulatory strategy mid-project?
- How do we escalate a disagreement without blowing up the collaboration?
These are not legal questions alone. They are strategic, operational, and human. That is where our cross-border alliance management expertise becomes vital.
From Deal to Execution: The Real Work Begins Post-Signature
A key theme of my talk was this: signing the deal is not the end—it’s the starting gun.
LBBAL has supported alliances where US and EU teams had entirely different assumptions about tech transfer timelines, or who would own the regulatory submission. We’ve stepped in when milestones were missed because parties weren’t aligned on the definition of “ready.”
That’s why we advocate for an early definition of success, a clear alliance governance structure, and regular joint reviews.
Our services go beyond advising on contract language. We help clients set up the right cadence of governance meetings, document joint decisions, track milestones, and even prepare internal teams to work with their transatlantic counterpart. In one recent case, a joint oncology project was rescued from derailment simply by implementing a shared tracker and setting up biweekly decision forums. These tools sound basic—but only if you’ve never needed them in a crisis.
Europe Looking West, Cautiously Bold
There is no doubt: for many European biotechs, the US remains the most strategic market and the most likely source of funding and commercialization muscle. But entering into partnerships blindly, or with assumptions that “we’ll figure it out later,” is no longer viable.
The path to innovation is increasingly collaborative, and increasingly cross-border. But collaboration does not mean assimilation. At LBBAL, we help European clients stay grounded in their values while navigating the expectations of US partners. We make the complex understandable, the opaque transparent, and the chaotic coordinated.
Because when it comes to building the future of biotech, the Atlantic should be a bridge—not a barrier.
Want to ensure your transatlantic alliance is built to last? Let’s talk.
