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Stage Set for Inaugural BIO China International Conference

The BIO China International Conference will offer attendees numerous opportunities to develop and strengthen relationships with the Chinese government and biotech community, as well as bring together western and Chinese life sciences companies for networking and deal-making.

BIO China will include three keynote sessions, featuring Elaine Chao, Former Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor; Dr. Jörg Reinhardt, CEO, Bayer HealthCare; and Qiyu Chen, Chairman of Fosun Pharma. The BIO China conference program includes four tracks: Health and Regulatory, Intellectual Property (IP), Vaccines and Global Health, and Business Development.

Health and Regulatory sessions will focus on pre-clinical and R&D considerations and implementation of China’s 12th 5-year plan. China is in the process of aggressively implementing its five year plan for economic and social development. The government has increased funding for research and development, expanded the talent pool and strengthened intellectual property to encourage and protect innovation by implementing the recent Drug Registration Resolution Draft for drugs under development. The implementation of the 5-year plan holds great hope for opening up business development opportunities within China.

BIO China also will feature a track dedicated specifically to intellectual property and patent protection, which will give attendees a broad understanding of the challenges and opportunities that exist within the current regulatory system in China. Sessions include panels focused on patent enforcement and a comparison between IP protection in China, the U.S. and the E.U., among other topics.

IP and patent protection are of significant importance in China right now as they can help to strengthen the growth of a robust biotechnology sector. The strength and predictability of the patent system is critical for China as the country seeks to boost its biotech sector.

China’s IP system has been improved in recent years, and most of the critical policy frameworks are in place. China could augment these advances by working with other nations to harmonize approaches on clinical trials and the data packages that are needed to gain regulatory approval.  

Emerging companies are particularly dependent on government laws and regulations that encourage and reward innovation. In addition, biotech products must receive timely and high quality reviews that ensure the safety and efficacy of the products while expediting the delivery of new therapies and technologies to patients and into the marketplace.

Vaccines and Global Health sessions include panels on public-private partnerships and the development of vaccine platform programs. With more than one-fifth of the world’s population, China is an important market for vaccines. Vaccines help prevent and treat some of the most deadly diseases, and can increase life expectancy, reduce costs of care and avoid immeasurable suffering. Partnerships hold the key to tapping into this vast market and potential for improving the health and well-being of China’s immense population.

The environment for partnerships between west and east is fertile, and will only improve in the coming years. Many biotech companies have taken a strong interest, but are unsure of how to engage in business development activities in China. The Business Development track will highlight key issues and perspectives on major trends within M&A and drug development deals, and explore China’s IPO boom.

In addition and perhaps most importantly, the BIO China conference will facilitate partnering and deal making discussions that will create opportunities for companies to expand into China.

The western biotechnology industry is committed to encouraging China to strengthen its support for biotech innovation and taking steps to enhance greater investment and collaboration with companies in China. BIO Member Companies stand ready to work with leaders in China to create an environment that will support and encourage innovation, and enable boundless growth in biotech.

To learn more about the BIO China International Conference, including registration and up-to-date program information, please visit here.  Advance media registration is available here. Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the media. 

BIO China is organized by BIO and co-organized by Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park. For more information on BIO China, please visit http://www.bio.org/biochina/.