Joao Incio, MD PhD

João Incio, MD, PhD, is a co-founder and general partner at Biovance Capital, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage biotechnology investments in Portugal and Southern Europe. With over 15 years of experience in the biomedical sector, he has held various significant roles in both the pharmaceutical industry and venture capital.

Education and Training

João Incio completed his Doctor of Medicine (MD) at the Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto and pursued his doctoral studies in Molecular Medicine and Oncology at the same institution. He furthered his research at Harvard Medical School, where he earned his PhD and worked as a postdoctoral fellow specializing in molecular medicine, immunometabolism, and cancer biology.14

Professional Experience

Before co-founding Biovance Capital, Incio held several prominent positions:

• Principal at Sensyne Health: He contributed to clinical product development and regulatory submissions.
• Associate Medical Director at Vertex Pharmaceuticals: He co-led the medical strategy for cystic fibrosis and managed global medical affairs.
• Consultant at L.E.K. Consulting: Focused on strategy management in healthcare and biotech.
• R&D Advisor at Little Inca: Providing insights into research and development.13

Biovance Capital

At Biovance Capital, Incio is instrumental in shaping the investment strategy, focusing on disruptive drug development companies. The firm recently announced the first closing of its Biovance Capital Fund I, raising €51 million, marking it as the first healthcare-specialized fund in Portugal. Incio emphasizes the importance of empowering visionary scientists to drive innovations in medicine.234

Vision and Impact

Incio is passionate about leveraging new technologies to transform healthcare and improve patient outcomes. His work aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical applications in the medical field, thereby fostering an ecosystem of innovation in biotechnology.123