Sven Van den Berghe, CEO of Pantera on Overpromises in Isotope Marketing, Why Culture is the Company, and Discussions in RLT Development

In this episode, I talked with Sven Van den Berghe, CEO of Pantera, about his 25+ years in nuclear physics, from his early days at the Belgian Nuclear Research Center to stepping into the high-stakes world of radioisotope production.

Sven speaks openly about the toughest move of his career: leaving the safety of a government research institute to run a startup where pressure, governance disputes, and fundraising could make or break the company. He explains why independent boards are essential, how culture must be defined from day one, and why money and trust suddenly matter a lot more when you’re no longer in a state-funded environment.

He also shared the fine line between science and marketing in radiopharmaceuticals—the misleading claims, the half-truths about isotope supply, and how exaggeration risks turning investors and the public away from the whole field. Sven also gives a clear picture of Pantera’s mission to expand actinium-225 production, what real diversity in a team looks like, and why letting people go quickly can be the fairest option for everyone.

We also spoke about Sven’s view on recruiters—the practices that cross the line and what still makes collaborations worthwhile.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

• Governance clashes with corporate founders in Pantera’s early years
• Building a leadership team that complements each other’s strengths
• Sven’s frustrations with recruiter behavior

Timestamps

01:06 – Choosing a PhD and landing at the Belgian Nuclear Research Center

03:05 – The hardest step: leaving government research for startup life

04:49 – Governance disputes and the need for independent boards

06:32 – Lessons learned: business plans, money, and building trust in leadership teams

08:24 – Culture as the foundation of Pantera’s identity

09:02 – How hype and half-truths distort isotope marketing

10:50 – Why reliability, cost, and scale matter more than technical ability

12:13 – The danger of running down competitor isotopes

14:00 – What Pantera is building: actinium-225 supply today and long-term plans

22:22 – Hiring and why letting people go quickly can be the right call

24:08 – Sven’s frustrations with recruiter behavior

About Sven

Sven Van den Berghe is the CEO of PanTera, a company that aims to expand the supply of medical isotopes for cancer therapies. With a background in physics and a PhD in materials science, Sven spent more than two decades at the Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK CEN), where he rose through the ranks to become Institute Director. In 2021, he made the bold move from a secure government institute to leading a biotech startup—an inflection point he calls one of the hardest, but most rewarding, decisions of his career.

Throughout his career, Sven has combined deep technical expertise in nuclear research with leadership in complex organizations. Today, he leads Pantera in its mission to expand the global supply of medical isotopes, drawing on his background in science, governance, and international collaboration. 

Connect with Sven:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/svenvdberghe/ 
• Website: https://pantera-life.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ 
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ 

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.