Ten Industry Leaders Unite to Advance CGT Industrial Upgrading at Nanjing BioHub Event

"One person can run fast, but a group of people can go further."

On the afternoon of January 23, jointly hosted by HIEA, Hangzhou Xingcheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Yeasen, LePure Introduction, Hong Kong Austar Group, VectorBuilder, Life Biosciences, Danaher Corporation, and Legend Capital, and organized by VCBeat New Medicine.【No Need to Rush, Go Further】The third stop of the CGT Industry Upgrade Series - Park Tour was held at the Nanjing Biomedicine Valley.

This event was jointly initiated by a group of outstanding companies focusing on the CGT industry chain. It aims to exchange each company's core competitiveness and advantageous resources, ranging from the development of cutting-edge equipment, the selection and supply of high-quality raw materials, the provision of efficient consumables, to the design and optimization of excellent processes, and even rigorous and advanced testing technologies, etc., providing strong support and promotion for CGT innovative pharmaceutical companies in product development and industrial upgrading.

Dr. Liu Xiao, Vice President of Business & Marketing at Hangzhou Xingcheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. & Deputy Director of the MAH Committee of the China Pharmaceutical Enterprise Management AssociationServing as the host of this event, the activity delved into in-depth exchanges and discussions on multiple dimensions such as industry investment and financing trends, CMC optimization, and industrial development. It was not limited to one-way information delivery but was always filled with a heated atmosphere of discussion. The guests actively participated and spoke up enthusiastically, making the atmosphere at the scene particularly lively.

▲ Liu Xiao | Vice President of Business and Marketing at Hangzhou Xingcheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Deputy Director of the MAH Committee of the China Pharmaceutical Enterprise Management Association

This event has received attention and support from the leaders of the Nanjing Jiangbei New Area Life Health Office.Xu Shoumiao, Deputy Director of the Life and Health Office of Nanjing Jiangbei New AreaIntroduction to the Biomedical Planning, Layout, and Development of Nanjing Jiangbei New Area. The New Area has comprehensively laid out the biomedical industry chain, ranging from upstream small-molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients and life science tools and reagents, to midstream medical device CRO and CXO services, and further downstream to medical, educational, and research institutions, as well as public technology service platforms. Director Xu looks forward to more capital, entrepreneurs, and business leaders connecting and collaborating here to jointly advance the progress of the industry.

▲ Shoumiao Xu | Deputy Director of the Life and Health Office, Nanjing Jiangbei New Area

Gao Jinquan, Vice General Manager of Life Biosciences and General Manager of the Large Animal Model Development Department

"Consistency and stability are the highest pursuit and also the minimum requirement."

Key Points: In terms of experimental technology, Life Biosciences uses advanced techniques such as stereotaxic injection to precisely construct animal models of PD (Parkinson's disease), stroke, AD (Alzheimer's disease), and other brain-related conditions. These models ensure a high level of consistency and stability, allowing for the rapid provision of bulk models with varying symptom levels to customers. Additionally, Life Biosciences collaborates with multiple research institutions, offering comprehensive platforms and technical support in areas such as imaging analysis (e.g., CT and MRI), stem cell therapy, and AAV-based treatments.

In the process of drug evaluation, Life Biosciences collaborates with partners on radiopharmaceutical synthesis, drug-induced models, and utilizes stereotaxic injection technology to precisely deliver drugs to the lesion site, such as directly targeting the substantia nigra region in Parkinson's disease patients, to simulate clinical symptoms and effectively assess drug efficacy. Additionally, breakthroughs have been made in research on cerebrovascular diseases like stroke, where minimally invasive surgical methods are used to improve traditional modeling techniques, reduce trauma to animals, and enhance the accuracy and feasibility of drug evaluation—especially for stem cell therapies that require long-term observation of effects.

▲Gao Jinquan | Vice President of Life Biosciences and General Manager of the Large Animal Model Development Department

Danaher Life Sciences Senior Scientist Lingli Xu

"New Science, New Technology, New Applications."

Key Points: Danaher Life Sciences Platform is committed to providing comprehensive solutions for gene and cell therapy products from R&D to characterization and quality control, and has been continuously developing new technologies and products. For example, the newly launched CellXpress.ai Fully Automated Organoid Integrated Workstation integrates various functions such as organoid culture and imaging analysis, enabling a standardized 3D biology development process.

In addition, to address process management and compliance issues in drug development, the IDBS R&D Laboratory Information Platform launched by Danaher Life Sciences integrates multiple modules such as sample/inventory management, method analysis, advanced calculations, and QC review. It supports interface integration with mainstream data analysis tools, ensuring data integrity, audit trails, and permission settings in experimental processes comply with regulatory requirements, significantly improving the efficiency of bioanalytical method development.

▲Xu Lingli | Danaher Life Sciences Senior Scientist

In the Panel 1 session of this event, byDr. Liu XiaoHost,Cao Chenghao, Head of Upstream Process and Production at Hangzhou Xingcheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd.; Tan Guosheng, Key Account Director at Yeasen; Yuan Jun, Head of BioService at LePure and CTO of Quacell Biotechnology; Wang Jiewu, Technical Application Director at Austar Group; Gao Jinquan, Deputy General Manager and General Manager of the Large Animal Model Development Department at Life Biosciences; Ye Zhisheng, Deputy General Manager of Technology at VectorBuilder; Xu Lingli, Senior Scientist at Danaher Life Sciences.Discussion on "How to Collaborate to Assist CGT Companies from IND to BLA: Stable, Fast, and Cost-Effective?"

Regarding "stability," ensuring stable production processes and quality control is fundamental. By adopting chromatography-free processes and single-use consumables to reduce the risk of cross-contamination, consistency and stability between batches are guaranteed. Emphasis is placed on the importance of full-process quality monitoring for the smooth transition of the R&D workflow, as well as the critical role of validation services in ensuring drug quality and regulatory compliance.

When discussing "speed," animal experiments are crucial for evaluating drug efficacy and safety, particularly in establishing high-quality animal models to accelerate drug development and clinical trial phases. Additionally, "speed" is reflected in the rapid supply of products from suppliers, quick responses to customer demand upgrades, and the one-stop integration and application of bioprocessing solutions, which help companies save time and costs with efficient services, advancing project development and the implementation of results in the cell and gene therapy field.

When referring to "saving," the focus is not only on lower prices but also on improving supply chain efficiency, strengthening quality management, and providing comprehensive services to create value for customers. On the basis of ensuring stability and speed, companies can optimize production costs through detailed data validation, performance testing, and rational selection of material sources. This ensures projects are implemented economically and efficiently even during a capital winter, guaranteeing consistent product quality.

▲Panel 1 — How to Collaboratively Support CGT Companies from IND to BLA, Stably, Quickly, and Cost-Effectively?

On the topic of "Discussing Industrial Upgrading: Key Points and Solutions for Gene and Cell Therapy CMC,"CEO of Beiheng Bio, Jiangtao Ren; General Manager of Aoluo Bio, Shichao Sun; Quality Director of Xunlu Bio, Yijun Huang; Upstream Process and Production Director of Xingcheng BioPlasmid, Chenghao Cao; Key Account Director of Yeasen Bio, Guosheng Tan; Head of BioService at LePure Bio and CTO of Kangsheng Bio, Jun Yuan., inDr. Liu XiaoUnder the hosting, discussions were launched.

Three innovative companies emphasized the cornerstone role of product "stability," believing that while pursuing innovation speed and market responsiveness, it is essential to ensure reliable drug quality and a solid R&D process to avoid high rework costs. In terms of pricing strategy, production costs alone should not be the sole consideration; market demand, brand value, and patients' expectations for drug affordability must also be factored in.

The perspectives of the three supply chain enterprises acknowledge that, on the basis of "stability," they help clients achieve "quick" responses to market demands and "save" on unnecessary costs through technological innovation and service upgrades. At the same time, during the cooperation process, it is essential to deeply understand and meet the needs of the client’s development stage—providing stable supply chain support while flexibly adapting to changes in customer requirements, jointly facing risk challenges, and building a win-win ecological partnership.

Moreover, both parties agree that "stability, speed, and cost-effectiveness" is a dynamic balancing process that requires close collaboration from all parties.

▲Panel 2 — Discussing Industrial Upgrading: Key Points and Solutions for Gene and Cell Therapy CMC

Legend Capital Investment Manager Dong Ao

"After getting through this winter, a better spring will come."

Key Points: Facing the capital winter, industrial upgrading is imperative, especially amid the ongoing adjustments in the global capital market, strong risk-averse sentiment, and restricted IPO channels. This period will eliminate inefficient duplication of efforts and redundant capacity, driving the industry to focus on products and technologies that truly meet clinical needs, and nurturing companies capable of integrating into the global supply chain system.

At the industrial technology level, after a long period of exploration and accumulation in the past, China's innovative drug development has gradually moved from "Follow" to "true" innovation. Continuous exploration is underway in the processes of cell/gene therapy. At the policy level, the Chinese government has introduced a series of supportive and regulatory policies in recent years, promoting the CGT industry into a standardized and stable development phase. In terms of market transaction activity in China, BD transactions are gradually increasing, with Chinese companies emerging in international cooperation within the CGT field, and the scale of transactions showing an upward trend.

Overall, China's CGT industry is benefiting from a well-established regulatory environment, continuous technological advancements, and deepening international exchanges and cooperation, playing an increasingly important role in the global market. After the winter, the industry is set to welcome a spring of development.

▲ Dong Ao | Legend Capital Investment Manager

Assistant to the President of ETANA / Head of BD in China, Guo Zebiao (Bronson Koh)

"The huge potential of Southeast Asia's pharmaceuticals market still awaits our exploration."

Key Points: In terms of drug access and regulation, Southeast Asia accepts China's product development model and makes localized adjustments. New drug registration usually takes two to three years, but the review cycle can be shortened by collaborating with companies familiar with the local regulatory environment. Additionally, some ASEAN countries require a manufacturing country review for new drugs not yet approved locally, and high-quality documentation that meets international standards can significantly reduce approval times.

Since the pandemic, ETANA has successfully achieved local production and emergency use authorization of COVID-19 vaccines in Indonesia through close cooperation with Chinese companies such as Sinovac. It has also promoted technology transfer and facilitated the entry of other Chinese pharmaceutical products into the Indonesian market. Bronson specifically mentioned that when operating in a Muslim-majority country like Indonesia, halal certification must be considered to ensure product compliance and meet market demands. By deepening localization strategies, Chinese pharmaceutical companies are expected to achieve rapid growth in Southeast Asia's emerging healthcare markets.

▲Bronson Koh | Assistant to the President of ETANA / Head of BD in China (Online Sharing)

Yuanmai Bio CEO Chen Yijun, Yufang Bio founder Xu Xiao, Chengshi Bio CEO Xu Shi, Xingcheng Bio Commerce and Market Vice President & Deputy Director of the MAH Committee of the China Pharmaceutical Enterprise Management Association Liu Xiao, and moderator Dong Ao, Investment Manager at Legend Capital.To share on this topic.

Earning and spending money are two sides of the same coin; how you make money often depends on how you spend it wisely.

In the cold winter, we should abandon the past approach of simply telling stories and seeking quick monetization, and instead pursue breakthroughs in specific projects with certainty, rapidly realizing value through technical platforms. At the same time, adapting to the changing demands of investors, companies must demonstrate their ability to achieve predictable goals during the financing process, rather than blindly pursuing high valuations.

How to Spend Money Wisely in Adversity: Ensuring Basic R&D Investment While Seeking More Cost-Effective Solutions. The idea is to stretch every penny, but never cut corners on key aspects. Additionally, outstanding supply chain enterprises must understand how much capital different types of customers have at various stages, clarify the specific flow of each fund, and figure out how to help customers spend their money more effectively in order to realize their own business logic.

▲Panel 3 — Under the New Situation, How Can CGT Enterprises Effectively "Raise and Spend Money"?

Thus, the "【No Need to Strive, Go Further】 CGT Industry Upgrade Series - Park Tour Event, Station Three" has successfully concluded! The event facilitated more enterprises to connect, share resources, and engage in deeper collaborations. VCBeat's New Medicine will continue to collaborate with industry chain partners to host a series of events. Please stay tuned, and we hope to see you again at future events, working together to go further!

▲Group Photo of Guests

▲Wonderful Moments