Fernando Royo MD

(UAM, Madrid, 1980), MBA (INSEAD, Fontainebleau, 1992).

After a couple of years working as a physician at the Spanish National Healthcare System, my interest in research led me to join the Medical Dpt. of Boots Pharmaceuticals in 1982. Until 1993, I held various management positions in Boots, Boehringer Ingelheim, Grünenthal and Baxter.

I initiated the activities of Genzyme in Spain in 1993. In 2008 I was appointed VP of International Government Affairs and Chair of Fundación Genzyme, a Spanish non-for-profit entity aimed at supporting and improving, through various philanthropic & CSR activities, the scientific and medical knowledge, diagnosis and treatment of rare and other severe diseases. I held these positions until May 31st 2016, when I my working relationship with Genzyme (now a division of Sanofi) was terminated due to internal restructuring.

I’ve always been quite active in associational activities, co-founding the Spanish Biotechnology Association (ASEBIO), chairing it between 2001 and 2005, and being a Board member until 2014. From 2007 until 2014 I also served at the Board of Europabio. Since 2013 until June 2016, I represented ASEBIO at Europabio/EFPIA’s Joint Task Force on OMPs. This has allowed me to be closely involved in applied research and innovation policies in biotechnology and healthcare, with a special interest in topics such as orphan drugs/rare diseases, advanced therapies, personalized medicine and health economics.

With respect to ICORD, I’ve participated at most of its conferences, and been -directly or indirectly- closely involved with their organization and/or funding. I’ve served in its Board since 2016, first as member-at-large, and during 2019, a “transition year” -in which the Association has been transposed from Sweden to Spain-, as Treasurer.