Thomas Eldered
Flerie
Episode 289
M2M ENCORE: Zero to a billion… A CDMO original
In this special encore episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Thomas Eldered, Executive Chairman of Flerie.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, revisits one of Molecule to Market’s most fascinating founder stories, bringing together Thomas’ original two part conversation into one episode charting the journey from a small Swedish contract manufacturer to a global CDMO powerhouse.
Raman and Thomas discuss the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain, covering:
• How a series of failed plans eventually led to the creation of a CMO before the term was widely used
• Building Recipharm from a local Swedish manufacturer into an international CDMO employing more than 9,000 people across 10 countries
• Why having cash during the financial crash created an opportunity to accelerate growth through M&A
• The decision to take Recipharm public when very few Swedish businesses, and virtually no CDMOs, were pursuing an IPO
• Why selling Recipharm after 26 years was one of the hardest decisions of his career
• How the divestment of Cobra Biologics led Thomas back into ownership, and how the gene therapy boom transformed the fortunes of the business
• Choosing passion rather than pension after his exits, and continuing to build and invest through Flerie
• The mindset, timing and calculated risk taking behind one of the most remarkable journeys in the CDMO sector
Thomas Eldered co-founded Recipharm in 1995 and helped grow the company from a local Swedish contract manufacturer into one of the world’s leading CDMOs before leaving the business in 2021.
He founded Flerie in 2011 and today serves as Executive Chairman. Flerie is a long term life science investor focused on developing companies built around scientific innovation and unmet medical needs. Thomas also serves as chairman and board member across a number of life science businesses. (Flerie)
Thomas holds an MSc in Industrial Engineering and Management from Linköping University.
Connect with him on LinkedIn.
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