The AI for Pharma Business Development & Licensing Course
With Dr Carlos Velez
Course Details
THE CONTENT
AI is increasingly being used in Business Development & Licensing, supporting activities such as opportunity scouting, due diligence, and deal preparation. At the same time, many BD professionals are still evaluating how to use these tools in a structured and reliable way, and where they genuinely add value.
This course provides a practical overview of how AI can be applied across the BD&L process. The focus is on real workflows and concrete use cases, rather than on AI concepts or theory. Participants will see how AI tools can support partner identification, asset evaluation, diligence structuring, and negotiation preparation.
Throughout the day, participants work on realistic BD scenarios, using AI tools to analyse information, structure their thinking, and support decision-making. The programme combines short, focused input sessions with hands-on workshops, allowing participants to test different approaches and compare outcomes.
The objective is to understand how AI can be used as a support tool within existing BD practices, improving efficiency and helping to structure analysis, while recognising its limitations and the continued importance of professional judgement.
THE EXPERT
This course is led by Dr Carlos Velez, a highly experienced expert in pharma and biotech business development and licensing.
Dr Velez is the Founder and Managing Partner of Lacerta Bio, an international consultancy specialising in in- and out-licensing of prescription and non-prescription product candidates and commercial products across multiple therapeutic areas and markets.
He has held senior business development roles at Penwest Pharmaceuticals, Lantic Therapeutics, Forest Labs, and Genencor (now Danisco), where he has been directly involved in multiple partnering transactions.
Dr Velez is also the author of Partnering for Growth – Business Development and Licensing in Pharma and Biotech (2025), a comprehensive and practice-oriented guide reflecting his experience in the field.
As a trainer, he is consistently appreciated for his clear, structured approach and his ability to translate BD&L concepts into practical applications, supported by real-world examples.
To get a flavour of Carlos’ expertise and teaching style, watch this recent educational webinar:
THE AUDIENCE & INTERACTIVE LEARNING FORMAT
This course is designed for Business Development & Licensing professionals in pharma and biotech, as well as professionals involved in strategy, commercial assessment, or partnering decisions.
It is particularly relevant for those who already have experience with BD&L processes and want to explore how AI can support and enhance their existing ways of working.
No prior experience with AI tools is required.
The course follows a practical and interactive format, combining short input sessions with group exercises, case discussions, and plenary debriefs. Participants work in teams on realistic BD scenarios and use AI tools throughout the day to support their analysis.
This approach allows participants to compare different approaches, assess the impact of AI on their own workflows, and understand how to apply these tools in a BD&L context.
By the end of the course, participants will have a clear and realistic understanding of how AI can be integrated into their BD&L activities, and where professional judgement remains essential.
How AI can be applied across the BD&L process, from opportunity scouting to deal preparation and negotiation.
How to use AI tools to support partner identification, asset evaluation, and strategic fit assessment.
How to strengthen your due diligence by using AI to surface gaps, risks, and key questions faster.
How to use AI to support deal positioning and prepare for negotiations.
Key principles of effective prompting tailored to BD&L use cases.
How to assess and challenge AI output, and use it with confidence alongside your own expertise.
| Welcome & General Introduction (~30 min) |
| Prompting that Works: Getting High-Quality Output from AI (~30 min) |
|
| Workshop I: Smarter Scouting with AI (~45 min) |
| Working in licensor and licensee teams, participants use AI tools to build structured partner and asset profiles based on a realistic BD scenario. The exercise focuses on identifying strategic fit, key priorities, and potential concerns, and translating AI-generated output into actionable BD insights. Findings are compared and discussed in plenary. |
| AI for Due Diligence: Structuring Insights and Identifying Gaps (~30 min) |
|
| Workshop II: AI-Supported In-Licensing Decisions (~1 h) |
| Participants take the role of a licensee and evaluate one of several in-licensing opportunities using AI tools. Working in small groups, they structure their analysis, assess strategic fit, and develop a recommendation. Outputs are compared in plenary, with a focus on differences in approach, interpretation, and the role of human judgement. |
| Lunch Break |
| From Data to Decisions: Using AI as Your Data Processor (~30 min) |
|
| AI Agents in BD&L: From Manual Workflows to Automation (~30 min) |
|
| Workshops IIIa & IIIb: From Deal Strategy to Live Negotiation (~1 h 45 min) |
| Participants are introduced to a new case and work in teams representing licensor and licensee. In the first part, they build a structured negotiation position, defining priorities, trade-offs, and walk-away points with support from AI tools. In the second part, participants engage in a live negotiation, using AI in real time to test arguments, explore alternatives, and refine their positions. Key observations and outcomes are discussed in plenary. |
| Debrief: What AI Can (and Cannot) Do in BD&L (~30 min) |
|
| Key Takeaways & Q&A: Applying AI in Your BD Practice (~30 min) |
|
UPCOMING DATES & FORMATS - FEES
9 September 2026
Live online
Early bird € 1 570
(until 07/08/2026)
(Full fee € 1 770)
8 December 2026
Live online
Early bird € 1 570
(until 06/11/2026)
(Full fee € 1 770)
TIMING & LOCATION
Live Online: Zoom sessions between 9 AM and 5 PM CET (Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris time).
All practical details will be shared upon registration. For any questions, please contact Margherita Mutto or call +32 472 03 11 38 .
GROUP DISCOUNTS
Team discounts can be offered to 2 or more delegates from the same company.
Email Annelies Swaan for more details.
HOW TO REGISTER
Click the green “Register” button on your preferred course session.
The registration wizard will guide you through the process.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Credit Card: You’ll receive a secure payment link with your invoice (no immediate payment required).
Bank Transfer: Details provided with your invoice.
For help with registration, email Annelies Swaan or contact her by phone at +32 486 98 52 49.
INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION FEE
Access to a highly interactive, small-group online course (max 20 participants)
Course materials in both digital and hard copy format
Certificate of attendance signed by the experts and CELforPharma
VAT INFORMATION
Prices exclude VAT. VAT application depends on course format and your location:
Face-to-Face in Belgium: 21% Belgian VAT applies
Live online courses: The applicable VAT depends on your invoicing address. Contact your local VAT office for refund procedures where applicable.
TRANSFER & CANCELLATION POLICY
Flexible Transfer
If a registrant is unable to attend the scheduled course, they can avoid any cancellation charges by providing a suitable replacement participant.
Alternatively, the registrant may transfer once, on a 'space-available' basis and at no extra cost, to another course of the same value held within one year of the original course date, provided this is done at least three weeks prior to the event.
Registration Cancellation
Less than 14 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay the full invoiced registration fee.
Between 15 and 30 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay 50% of the invoiced registration fee.
More than 30 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay a cancellation fee of € 450 per registrant.
If a registrant postpones their participation to a future course and subsequently cancels again, no refund will be issued for the registration fees.
People attending this course are typically also interested in the below courses.
Need help to find the right course? Email Inge Cornelis or call +32 473 65 15 77.
Course Details
Upcoming Session
9 September 2026, Live online
Early bird € 1 570
(until 07/08/2026)
(Full fee € 1 770)
Prices are excl. VAT
THE CONTENT
AI is increasingly being used in Business Development & Licensing, supporting activities such as opportunity scouting, due diligence, and deal preparation. At the same time, many BD professionals are still evaluating how to use these tools in a structured and reliable way, and where they genuinely add value.
This course provides a practical overview of how AI can be applied across the BD&L process. The focus is on real workflows and concrete use cases, rather than on AI concepts or theory. Participants will see how AI tools can support partner identification, asset evaluation, diligence structuring, and negotiation preparation.
Throughout the day, participants work on realistic BD scenarios, using AI tools to analyse information, structure their thinking, and support decision-making. The programme combines short, focused input sessions with hands-on workshops, allowing participants to test different approaches and compare outcomes.
The objective is to understand how AI can be used as a support tool within existing BD practices, improving efficiency and helping to structure analysis, while recognising its limitations and the continued importance of professional judgement.
THE EXPERT
This course is led by Dr Carlos Velez, a highly experienced expert in pharma and biotech business development and licensing.
Dr Velez is the Founder and Managing Partner of Lacerta Bio, an international consultancy specialising in in- and out-licensing of prescription and non-prescription product candidates and commercial products across multiple therapeutic areas and markets.
He has held senior business development roles at Penwest Pharmaceuticals, Lantic Therapeutics, Forest Labs, and Genencor (now Danisco), where he has been directly involved in multiple partnering transactions.
Dr Velez is also the author of Partnering for Growth – Business Development and Licensing in Pharma and Biotech (2025), a comprehensive and practice-oriented guide reflecting his experience in the field.
As a trainer, he is consistently appreciated for his clear, structured approach and his ability to translate BD&L concepts into practical applications, supported by real-world examples.
To get a flavour of Carlos’ expertise and teaching style, watch this recent educational webinar:
THE AUDIENCE & INTERACTIVE LEARNING FORMAT
This course is designed for Business Development & Licensing professionals in pharma and biotech, as well as professionals involved in strategy, commercial assessment, or partnering decisions.
It is particularly relevant for those who already have experience with BD&L processes and want to explore how AI can support and enhance their existing ways of working.
No prior experience with AI tools is required.
The course follows a practical and interactive format, combining short input sessions with group exercises, case discussions, and plenary debriefs. Participants work in teams on realistic BD scenarios and use AI tools throughout the day to support their analysis.
This approach allows participants to compare different approaches, assess the impact of AI on their own workflows, and understand how to apply these tools in a BD&L context.
By the end of the course, participants will have a clear and realistic understanding of how AI can be integrated into their BD&L activities, and where professional judgement remains essential.
How AI can be applied across the BD&L process, from opportunity scouting to deal preparation and negotiation.
How to use AI tools to support partner identification, asset evaluation, and strategic fit assessment.
How to strengthen your due diligence by using AI to surface gaps, risks, and key questions faster.
How to use AI to support deal positioning and prepare for negotiations.
Key principles of effective prompting tailored to BD&L use cases.
How to assess and challenge AI output, and use it with confidence alongside your own expertise.
| Welcome & General Introduction (~30 min) |
| Prompting that Works: Getting High-Quality Output from AI (~30 min) |
|
| Workshop I: Smarter Scouting with AI (~45 min) |
| Working in licensor and licensee teams, participants use AI tools to build structured partner and asset profiles based on a realistic BD scenario. The exercise focuses on identifying strategic fit, key priorities, and potential concerns, and translating AI-generated output into actionable BD insights. Findings are compared and discussed in plenary. |
| AI for Due Diligence: Structuring Insights and Identifying Gaps (~30 min) |
|
| Workshop II: AI-Supported In-Licensing Decisions (~1 h) |
| Participants take the role of a licensee and evaluate one of several in-licensing opportunities using AI tools. Working in small groups, they structure their analysis, assess strategic fit, and develop a recommendation. Outputs are compared in plenary, with a focus on differences in approach, interpretation, and the role of human judgement. |
| Lunch Break |
| From Data to Decisions: Using AI as Your Data Processor (~30 min) |
|
| AI Agents in BD&L: From Manual Workflows to Automation (~30 min) |
|
| Workshops IIIa & IIIb: From Deal Strategy to Live Negotiation (~1 h 45 min) |
| Participants are introduced to a new case and work in teams representing licensor and licensee. In the first part, they build a structured negotiation position, defining priorities, trade-offs, and walk-away points with support from AI tools. In the second part, participants engage in a live negotiation, using AI in real time to test arguments, explore alternatives, and refine their positions. Key observations and outcomes are discussed in plenary. |
| Debrief: What AI Can (and Cannot) Do in BD&L (~30 min) |
|
| Key Takeaways & Q&A: Applying AI in Your BD Practice (~30 min) |
|
UPCOMING DATES & FORMATS - FEES
9 September 2026
Live online
Early bird € 1 570
(until 07/08/2026)
(Full fee € 1 770)
8 December 2026
Live online
Early bird € 1 570
(until 06/11/2026)
(Full fee € 1 770)
TIMING & LOCATION
Live Online: Zoom sessions between 9 AM and 5 PM CET (Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris time).
All practical details will be shared upon registration. For any questions, please contact Margherita Mutto or call +32 472 03 11 38 .
GROUP DISCOUNTS
Team discounts can be offered to 2 or more delegates from the same company.
Email Annelies Swaan for more details.
HOW TO REGISTER
Click the green “Register” button on your preferred course session.
The registration wizard will guide you through the process.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Credit Card: You’ll receive a secure payment link with your invoice (no immediate payment required).
Bank Transfer: Details provided with your invoice.
For help with registration, email Annelies Swaan or contact her by phone at +32 486 98 52 49.
INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION FEE
Access to a highly interactive, small-group online course (max 20 participants)
Course materials in both digital and hard copy format
Certificate of attendance signed by the experts and CELforPharma
VAT INFORMATION
Prices exclude VAT. VAT application depends on course format and your location:
Face-to-Face in Belgium: 21% Belgian VAT applies
Live online courses: The applicable VAT depends on your invoicing address. Contact your local VAT office for refund procedures where applicable.
TRANSFER & CANCELLATION POLICY
Flexible Transfer
If a registrant is unable to attend the scheduled course, they can avoid any cancellation charges by providing a suitable replacement participant.
Alternatively, the registrant may transfer once, on a 'space-available' basis and at no extra cost, to another course of the same value held within one year of the original course date, provided this is done at least three weeks prior to the event.
Registration Cancellation
Less than 14 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay the full invoiced registration fee.
Between 15 and 30 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay 50% of the invoiced registration fee.
More than 30 days prior to the course date: The registrant is liable to pay a cancellation fee of € 450 per registrant.
If a registrant postpones their participation to a future course and subsequently cancels again, no refund will be issued for the registration fees.
People attending this course are typically also interested in the below courses.
Need help to find the right course? Email Inge Cornelis or call +32 473 65 15 77.