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Meeting highlights:
- Strategic Vision & Goals: Scale the Iberia subsidiary and successfully launch novel autoimmune treatment. Work towards Vision 2030; reach 50,000 patients globally, treat 10 diseases, and have 5 new molecules in phase III trials.
- Portfolio & R&D Focus: Emphasis on a "pipeline-in-a-product" strategy in autoimmune diseases, with a treatment launched for generalized myasthenia gravis, expanded to CIDP, and additional indications expected soon.
- Spain as a Hub for Clinical Excellence: 36 clinical trials in Spain, across 17 diseases and 191 hospitals. Portugal is also contributing significantly to our R&D efforts, with 10 active trials across 7 autoimmune diseases, across 21 hospitals.
- argenx’s Innovative Approach: Strong Immunology Innovation Program working with top scientists and internal antibody engineering experts, 45% of net revenue (over €1B in 2024) reinvested in R&D, emphasis on precision therapies with patient-centric development.
- argenx’s patient-centric approach: Provided over €10 million in early access to gMG patients in Iberia and extended free access for CIDP patients before full commercialization.
- Value Beyond Product: Using digital health for remote monitoring in neurology in collaboration with healthcare professionals and patient organizations.
- Talent & Culture: argenx’s 5 pillars rooted in Innovation, Excellence, Empowerment, Co-creation and Humility.
EF: What mission did you set for yourself when you first joined the company, and what are your current priorities, particularly for the Iberia region?
MG: I joined argenx in February 2024, and it was immediately clear how important it would be to scale up the subsidiary and ensure a successful launch of our first brand. In 2025, our priority is to consolidate the rollout of our efgartigimod alfa antibody fragment, FcRn-targeting IgG, which reduces IgG levels in autoimmune diseases. Our first launch in 2023 for generalized myasthenia gravis was highly successful. Now, we’re focused on building on that success and preparing the market for our next wave of innovation.
Innovation is a core pillar at argenx. This year, we’re preparing to launch a subcutaneous formulation of the treatment, delivered via a prefilled syringe. This will allow for easier self-administration and marks a major step forward for patients with gMG.
We’re also expanding into new indications. On June 20, the European Commission approved our FcRn-targeting IgG antibody for use in CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy). That approval was announced just a few weeks ago, and access planning is already underway in Spain and Portugal.
EF: Given that argenx is a niche company focused on specialty diseases, how can we build a stronger, faster access system in Spain?
MG: We believe access goes beyond reimbursement. It’s about ensuring the right patient gets the right treatment at the right time, regardless of geography. In Spain, with 17 regions, that means navigating both geographic and socioeconomic complexities.
For us, access also means partnering closely with the healthcare system, building trust, and sustainably implementing early access programs. For instance, last year we proactively offered early access to patients before commercialization. In generalized myasthenia gravis, we provided over 10 million euros worth of free treatments, and we’re now doing the same for CIDP. Our goal is to build long-term, sustainable partnerships across the healthcare ecosystem with a clear patient-centricity
The good news is that access in Spain has improved significantly over the last two years. The innovation is being approved faster. While some restrictions remain, the overall pace is picking up, which is a positive step forward.
EF: argenx is growing rapidly across Europe, expanding its portfolio and reaching more patients. As the company looks ahead to 2030, how does Spain and the broader Iberian region fit into this long-term strategy, both in terms of innovation and contributing to greater European self-sufficiency in immunological care?
MG: argenx is a European biotech company developing precision medicines that target key components of the immune system. Our approach is unique: we identify targets relevant across multiple autoimmune diseases and create therapies that aim to set new treatment standards for people living with debilitating conditions.
We follow a pipeline-in-a-product strategy. Once we identify a promising molecule, we explore its potential across several indications, allowing one active principle to address different diseases.
Our innovation is driven by the Immunology Innovation Program, where we collaborate with leading scientists renowned for their expertise in disease biology. They contribute deep knowledge of specific pathologies, while we bring antibody engineering capabilities to develop targeted therapies.
At our Ghent facility, our antibody engineering team works closely with external scientists. Together, they function as one team with a shared goal: developing precision therapies for diseases with high unmet needs.
Our portfolio includes a range of innovative therapies at various development stages. Our flagship product is, as mentioned, the efgartigimod alfa antibody, already commercialized for generalized myasthenia gravis in most major markets.
We’re now advancing our next wave of innovation with Empasiprubart, a C2 inhibitor being developed for multiple autoimmune diseases, including multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) and CIDP.
Our third asset, ARGX-119, is a muscle-specific kinase agonist with potential in diseases like congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS.
It is interesting to see how argenx has evolved. We started as a pure R&D company, and traditionally, a company like ours would have licensed its commercial operations to big pharma. But our founders made the decision to build the commercial capability ourselves. Even with that shift, R&D remains at the core of our company. In 2024, we generated 2.2 billion euros in product net sales, and we reinvested 1 billion euros into R&D. That is 45% of our revenue going directly back into innovation. That commitment is what enables us to deliver real value to patients and continue driving innovation.
EF: Beyond developing innovative therapies, how is argenx working to bring additional value to patients?
MG: Most pharmaceutical companies say they focus on patients, but at argenx, you can truly see it in practice. Patients are included very early in the development process. We gather their insights, understand their challenges, and also involve caregivers. Their voices help shape clinical protocols right from the start.
One of argenx’s core pillars is innovating in everything we do. Whether we are launching a product or opening a new office, we always aim to do things differently. Digital transformation is not a separate project; it is embedded across the organization to accelerate access and improve patient outcomes. We use advanced tools, including AI, to boost productivity in all areas, from regulatory and commercial to R&D.
Because we are a lean team, we focus on enabling people to spend time on high-value decisions rather than repetitive tasks that machine learning can manage. We are making great progress, but we also remain humble. Like others in the industry, we are still testing and learning what works best with these new technologies.
In Iberia this year, we are exploring digital health tools to support early diagnosis, especially in rare diseases where delays are common. This is particularly important in Spain, with its 17 regional systems. We are also working on remote monitoring in neurology. For example, we help track disease progression in myasthenia gravis, partnering closely with healthcare professionals and patient organizations.
EF: Could you elaborate on the importance of these clinical trials and the ecosystem that Spain is building to actively support innovation in rare diseases?
MG: We’re very proud to highlight the impressive work being done in clinical trials; not just by argenx, but across the broader Spanish and Iberian ecosystem. As a Spaniard, I can say this is something we take real pride in.
Clinical research is a strategic pillar for argenx. Iberia stands out not only for its scientific and clinical excellence, with leading experts across multiple pathologies, but also for its growing ability to accelerate access and drive innovation. Access has historically been a challenge in Spain, but we’re clearly moving in the right direction.
At argenx, we’re here for the long term. We’re building lasting partnerships with neurology communities and healthcare systems in both Spain and Portugal. Our Iberia subsidiary reflects that commitment: in under a year and a half, we’ve grown from just four people to a team of 22, and we’re still growing.
Early access is a key part of our mission. In generalized myasthenia gravis, we provided more than 1500 vials, representing over 10 million euros in free treatment. We plan to do the same for CIDP patients, continuing free access until full commercialization.
From a clinical research perspective, Spain plays a vital role in advancing our pipeline. We currently have 35 active clinical trials across 17 disease areas, involving nearly 200 hospitals—191 active sites, to be exact. These include 25 phase 3 and 11 phase 2 trials in areas such as CIDP, multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), immune thrombocytopenia, ocular myasthenia gravis, thyroid eye disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, and myositis.
Portugal is also contributing meaningfully, with 10 active trials across 7 autoimmune diseases, 7 in Phase III and 3 in Phase II, across 21 hospitals. It’s a true regional effort, and one we’re deeply proud of. Together, Spain and Portugal have become a high-performing research and access hub within Argenx’s global ecosystem.
Looking ahead to our Vision 2030, all of this supports our goal of reaching 50,000 patients globally with transformative therapies.
EF: What do you think are the most critical skills and mindsets people need to succeed in a company like Argenx?
MG: At argenx, we are building a distinctive culture. As a lean organization, we operate around five key pillars: innovation, excellence, empowerment, co-creation and humility.
Humility is particularly important to us. We seek out talented people who are also open, collaborative, and eager to learn from others. We believe that while you may go faster alone, you go further and achieve better results when you work together.
Today, it’s becoming easier to attract top talent. argenx is gaining recognition, our pipeline is strong, and people are genuinely excited to make a meaningful impact. We’re bringing in individuals who not only have the expertise but also the motivation to leave a lasting mark and contribute with purpose.
We are incredibly proud of the team we’ve built. My manager often says we’ve assembled a “dream team” in Spain, people who are deeply connected, collaborative, and willing to go beyond their roles to support the company’s mission.
There’s a strong sense of ownership across the team. All of us are shareholders, which naturally deepens our natural commitment.
EF: What do you hope to achieve within the next five years for argenx in Spain? How do you envision the company evolving and consolidating itself as a long-term partner in the region?
MG: As part of our Vision 2030, our goal is to reach many more patients. We aim at a global level to treat 50,000 people across 10 different diseases and have five new molecules in phase 3 trials. The momentum is strong, and we intend to keep it that way. In Spain, we don’t want to fall behind; we know we have what it takes. This is a country with a strong innovation mindset, and as we’ve mentioned, the level of science and scientific talent here is exceptional. We want to be fully aligned with that potential and ensure every new indication is approved in Iberia.
Beyond building our neurology franchise, we’re also expanding into areas like rheumatology and hematology, and we plan to be ready to secure timely access across all of them.
Looking ahead, our focus is on continuing to drive progress and helping the company achieve its 2030 vision, with Spain playing a central role. We want Iberia not just to participate, but to stand out as a truly strategic, results-driven contributor within argenx’s global ecosystem.
