Biotech Investing Course
A student-run course taught by the Stanford Biotechnology Group
SBG is excited to offer our student-run course, BIOS 319: Analysis of Public Companies in the Life Sciences (formerly INDE 209), every Fall Quarter. This course is taught by members of the SBG leadership team as well as invited guest lecturers.
Biotechnology companies, and companies which generally engage with the life sciences, are often valued using a different methodology than companies in other industries. This course will teach students how to analyze a publicly traded life science company using widely available online materials including 10-K, 13-F, conference calls, and financial & technical analysis.
Course Framework: In Fall 2026, this course meets Thursdays 5:30-6:20pm at CCSR 4205. Most lectures will be given by expert guest lecturers either in-person or over Zoom. In addition to attendance at all lectures (please let a TA know if a scheduling conflict arises), students will be expected to complete several small homework assignments. These assignments encourage students to make incremental progress towards their final project: a 1-page investment memo covering a public biotech company with an upcoming catalyst.
Instructor team is Javier Romanelli and Celeste Diaz
Previous highlighted speakers include:
Joe Jimenez (Co-founder of Aditum Bio, former CEO of Novartis)
Carol Karp (former Chief Regulatory Officer at Prothena)
Badreddin Edris (Co-founder of EdgeWise Tx, former COO of SpringWorks Tx)
Chen Yu (Founder and Managing Partner of TCGX)
Jeff Pootoolal (Partner at Sixth Street)
Teaching Team
Instructors
Javier Romanelli
Ethan Garvin
Shawn Dhillon
Enrollment Information
Stanford students may enroll via Axess. Registration details can be found on Stanford’s Explore Courses. Auditors are welcome!
Course Framework
This course meets Mondays and Thursdays at 5-6:30pm. Majority of lectures will be given by expert guest lecturers either in-person or over Zoom. In addition to their attendance at all lectures (please let a TA know if a scheduling conflict arises), students will be expected to complete several small homework assignments. These assignments, several of which are group assignments, are intended to encourage students to make incremental progress towards their final project. The class culminates in a group presentation of an investment pitch to a panel of professional biotech investors.
Auditing
We welcome Stanford Postdocs and Staff to audit the course. If you are a Stanford Undergraduate or Graduate Student, you may also audit, although we would encourage you to formally enroll. If you are not affiliated with Stanford University, you may also audit the course, please contact us for more details.
Auditors (both Stanford-affiliated and external) may attend all lectures. Additionally, auditors are welcome to participate fully on the final project, as long as they are willing and able to commit to being on a team. Generally teams will meet outside class for 1-2 hours a week.