Bayer Co.Lab Co-Creation Platform Launches in China, Partnering with Shanghai Pharmaceuticals to Empower Early-Stage Innovation

ShanghaiNovember 7, 2023PR Newswire -- Bayer and Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd. (SPH) today jointly announced at the 6th China International Import Expo that they have reached a cooperation agreement to jointly build the Bayer Co.Lab innovation platform. This initiative aims to promote cutting-edge innovations in areas such as cell and gene therapies, support and accelerate the industrial transformation of scientific research achievements. By fostering capabilities in new drug R&D and commercial operations, and connecting with global pharmaceutical industry networks and resources, the platform will empower the development of local startups. This not only marks the first time that Bayer Co.Lab will be established in China, but it will also become the largest co-creation platform set up by Bayer in the Asia-Pacific region.

Under the joint witness of relevant leaders in Shanghai, Bayer has reached a cooperation with the Shanghai Biomedical Frontier Industry Innovation Center on the Co.Lab co-creation platform.

According to the cooperation agreement, Bayer and SPH will jointly build a co-creation platform for frontier fields such as cell and gene therapies and oncology at the soon-to-be-completed SPH Biomedical Industry Base (located at No. 88 Zhangjiang Road, hereinafter referred to as the SPH Base). Leveraging the innovative incubation platform and integrated solutions of the SPH Base, the Co.Lab co-creation platform will fully utilize Bayer's global innovation and collaboration network, as well as its technical expertise in cell and gene therapy, alongside SPH’s resource network within China and the innovative ecosystem of the Shanghai Biomedical Frontier Industry Innovation Center. This initiative aims to nurture the growth of local startups, accelerate the transformation and industrialization of early-stage innovations, establish a brand focused on China’s cell and gene therapy innovations, and assist local enterprises in connecting with global resources while expanding their business development both domestically and internationally. The project is expected to officially commence operations in the second half of 2024.

Bayer AG's Global Executive Vice President of the Pharmaceuticals Division and President of China, and Greater China President of Bayer AG, Zhou Xiaolan, stated, "As a multinational company deeply committed to China's development over the long term, Bayer is highly optimistic about the rapidly emerging source innovation in China. We are very pleased to collaborate with SPH to build the Bayer Co.Lab platform, nurturing local early-stage innovation and startups. Leveraging the strengths of both Bayer and SPH, we aim to enhance Shanghai’s capacity for scientific and technological innovation in cutting-edge fields such as cell and gene therapy, connect to a global resource network, empower the local innovation ecosystem and the entire industry chain, and realize the vision of 'Rooted in China, linked to the world, helping local innovation reach the global stage.'"

Zhou Jun, President of Shanghai Industrial Holdings and Chairman of Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd. (SPH), stated: "As a large pharmaceutical industry group listed in both Shanghai and Hong Kong, SPH is based in Shanghai and benchmarks itself globally. It not only shoulders the important responsibility of safeguarding public health but also actively serves national strategies while building its industrial characteristics, promoting high-quality development to advance Chinese-style modernization. Regarding the platform of Shanghai Frontier Innovation Center, our primary goal is CGT and gene editing. We will increase investment in these fields, hoping to foster more cutting-edge and influential scientific research achievements."

The cooperation between Bayer and SPH in creating this joint platform not only demonstrates their active response to the "Healthy China 2030" plan and the "Innovation-Driven Development" strategy advocated by the Chinese government, but also aligns with the policy directions of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government: "Accelerating the construction of a globally influential science and technology innovation center," "Promoting the coordinated development of gene therapy and cell therapy, speeding up the creation of a ‘nuclear explosion point’ for biopharmaceutical science and technology innovation and an ‘agglomeration area’ for industrial development, and driving the transformation of innovative achievements."

On November 7, under the witness of relevant leaders of Shanghai Municipality, Ulrich Stefer, Chief Financial Officer of Bayer Group Greater China, and Zhang Lin, Director of SPH, Director and Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Biomedical Frontier Industry Innovation Center, signed a cooperation agreement on the aforementioned project at the CIIE venue. Leaders from the Shanghai Office for Advancing the Construction of a Science and Technology Innovation Center, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Shanghai Municipality, and the Jinqiao Administration Bureau of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, as well as Dr. Friedemann Janus, Senior Vice President of Bayer Prescription Division and Head of Global Regional Business Development and Open Innovation, attended the signing ceremony.

Representatives of the cooperating parties signed the cooperation agreement at the CIIE venue.

Zuo Min, Chairman of the Shanghai Biomedical Industry Equity Investment Fund and Chairman of the Shanghai Biomedical Frontier Industry Innovation Center, stated: "The Frontier Industry Innovation Center brings together the advantageous resources of top universities, renowned hospitals, and leading enterprises, building a bridge between basic scientific research, applied scientific research, and industrial transformation. It aims to create an ecosystem for original innovation in biomedicine, continuously developing innovative drugs and devices that truly meet clinical needs and address major human diseases, thereby making China's contribution to global health. The Frontier Innovation Center has partnered with Bayer to establish a co-creation platform focused on CGT, promoting China’s original innovations globally while introducing global innovations to China, and sparing no effort for the advancement of human health."

Bayer Co.Lab Collaborative Innovation Platform Focuses on Global Innovation Hotspots and Continues to Expand Worldwide. The Cambridge, U.S. Co.Lab commenced operations in May this year. While announcing the upcoming launch of Co.Lab in Shanghai, Bayer also announced that Co.Lab has expanded to Kobe, Japan, with the Berlin Co.Lab set to launch in 2024. These strategic initiatives not only broaden Bayer's external innovation network and reinforce the critical role of early-stage incubation but also increase Bayer’s access to innovations. Additionally, they provide biotech startups with physical facilities and comprehensive support, ensuring an environment conducive to their growth.

"We are very much looking forward to joining hands with SPH to welcome China's highly innovative start-ups to embark on an exciting journey of future collaborative development with us," said Dr. Juergen Eckhardt, Head of Global Business Development, Licensing & Open Innovation at Bayer AG’s Pharmaceuticals Division. "The continuously expanding Co.Lab network is an essential part of Bayer's innovation strategy. We are committed to finding solutions to severe health challenges and unmet medical needs through collaboration. With the Bayer Co.Lab platform, we can identify and catalyze early-stage innovations, turning the best ideas into reality."