In a captivating conversation, Stephanie Sirota, CBO and Partner at RTW Investments, shares how her background in journalism shaped her bold approach to biotech investing. She delves into the evolution of biotech financing, the exciting potential of GLP-1 drugs, and RTW's strategic response to changes in U.S. healthcare policy. Topics also include how they source opportunities and evaluate risk, emphasizing the importance of deep research and long-term conviction in a volatile market. A must-listen for anyone intrigued by the future of medicine!
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Stephanie's Bold Investing Roots
Stephanie Sirota grew up in an investing family with a legacy of bold business moves like pioneering an LBO in Florida.
She transitioned from journalism back to finance and ultimately joined RTW Investments when it managed only $27 million.
insights INSIGHT
Biotech Financing Landscape Today
Biotech financing involves pharma M&A, specialist investors like RTW, and generalist capital pools, with the US leading VC efforts.
Generalist capital has retreated since 2021, despite biotech's transformative potential for patients and society.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Cautionary Investment Flags
Avoid investing in crowded spaces where many firms chase incremental improvements.
For genetic medicines, carefully select targets to ensure they address diseases with few options and justify patient risk.
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Synopsis:
What happens when a former journalist becomes one of biotech’s boldest investors? Meet Stephanie Sirota, Chief Business Officer and Partner at RTW Investments, who helped grow the firm from $27 million in assets to a global biotech force. In this engaging conversation with host Rahul Chaturvedi, Stephanie shares her unconventional path into the industry, and how a mission-driven, science-led investment strategy has guided RTW’s approach across public markets, private deals, and company creation.
Stephanie reflects on the evolution of biotech financing, why GLP-1 drugs are just getting started, and how RTW is preparing for changes in U.S. healthcare policy. She also unpacks how the firm sources opportunities, evaluates risk, and sticks to long-term conviction even in volatile markets. For Stephanie, great biotech investing starts with deep research, strong science, and a relentless focus on patient outcomes.
Whether you're an investor, operator, or simply curious about the future of medicine, this conversation is packed with insights on building bold bets—and the staying power behind them.
Biography:
Stephanie leads a team at RTW overseeing business development, strategic partnerships, communications, and investor relations.
Her background in investment banking and expertise in financial markets has helped position the firm as both a partner to life sciences companies and a steward of investors’ capital. Stephanie also manages RTW’s relationships with key partners including banks, academic institutions, corporations, investors, and NGOs. She has led the firm’s entry into the UK and European markets and serves as a director of the RTW Biotech Opportunities Ltd, a publicly traded investment fund listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Prior to joining RTW, she served as director at Valhalla Capital Advisors, a macro and commodity investment manager. Stephanie also worked in the New York and London offices of Lehman Brothers, where she advised on various Merger & Acquisitions, IPOs, and capital market financing transactions with a focus on cross-border transactions for the firm’s global corporate clients.
Stephanie graduated with honors from Columbia University and also received a Master’s Degree from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.
She serves as president of the RTW Foundation; and co-chair of Council of the New York Philharmonic.
Biotech 2050 Podcast 
