Dr. Len Schleifer, CEO of Regeneron: Betting on Science and Saving a President
On this episode of inSpired, Mike Rockefeller, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Woodline, sits down with Dr. Leonard Schleifer, Co-Founder, President & CEO of Regeneron, at its headquarters in New York.
Len reflects on the 38-year journey of building Regeneron alongside co-founder Dr. George Yancopoulos, the company's deep pipeline, and the extraordinary story of treating President Trump for COVID-19.
They explore the growth runway for Eyela and Dupixent, its late-stage pipeline spanning obesity, multiple myeloma, anticoagulation, and the C5 franchise, as well as the Regeneron Genetics Center, curing genetic deafness, AI in drug discovery, and the company's disciplined M&A philosophy.
A candid take on science-first drug development and what it takes to succeed in the biotechnology industry going forward.
This is inSpired.
Recorded May 6, 2026.
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00:00 inSpired with Dr. Leonard Schleifer
01:49 Founding Regeneron in 1988
08:04 Working with Dr. George Yancopoulos
11:44 Top Moments and the EYLEA Approval
15:05 Treating President Trump for COVID
19:22 EYLEA and EYLEA HD Today
20:18 Dupixent and the Type 2 Franchise
23:20 Next Generation Immunology
29:39 Obesity: A GLP That Lowers Cholesterol
33:42 Lynozyfic in Multiple Myeloma
34:50 Factor XI Anticoagulation
39:46 The C5 Franchise
42:48 The Regeneron Genetics Center
48:06 Curing Genetic Deafness
50:03 AI in Drug Discovery
52:17 M&A Philosophy
55:47 Succession and Advice for the Next Len
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Mike Rockefeller is the Co-CIO of Woodline® Partners LP ("Woodline"), manager of the Woodline | Spire funds. All opinions expressed by Mike and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of Woodline.
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Episode Credits:
Directed by & Artwork Designed by: Brian Thompson / BT Design & Creative [https://www.btdesignandcreative.com/]
Produced, Edited, and Mixed by: Dillon Mortensen Films [https://dillonmortensen.com/]
Music Licensed through: Epidemic Sound