Over 40 Industry Experts Participate in Zhongguancun Life Science Technology Platform Innovation Summit

As China’s biopharmaceutical industry and its supporting sectors gradually reach an innovation inflection point, driven by strengthening innovative capabilities and continuous breakthroughs in key biotechnologies, the biopharmaceutical industry has ushered in an era of significant growth.

To promote the further improvement and deep integration of the upstream and downstream segments of the biopharmaceutical industry chain, Zhongguancun Life Science Park has joined forces with multiple biotechnology innovation platforms to jointly create“2023 Zhongguancun Life Science Park Technology Platform Industry-Research Innovation Summit”and onMarch 24Successfully held in Beijing.

This summit is organized byUnder the guidance of the Administrative Committee of Zhongguancun Life Science Park, by Zhongguancun Life Science Park Company, Zhongguancun Life Science Park Incubator Company, and Changfa Development CompanyJointSix Core Biotechnology Innovation Platforms: Zhongguancun AI Drug Discovery Platform, Beijing Life Science Park Institute of Biotechnology, Cryo-Electron Microscopy Platform, High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Omics Platform, Biopharmaceutical Evaluation Platform, and Integrated Biological Services CRO PlatformHosted by VCBeat, the initiative aims to tap into the core segments of pharmaceutical R&D, unlock industry potential, and drive high-quality development in the field of life sciences and technology.

At the summit, more than 40 distinguished guests—including national academicians, heads of regulatory agencies, leading academics, executives from multinational pharmaceutical companies, directors of Grade A tertiary hospitals, and seasoned investors—gathered alongside industry peers from the six sectors of government, industry, academia, research, healthcare, and investment. Together, they focused on hot topics in biopharmaceutical technology, seeking optimal medical solutions in niche areas of life sciences.

Yang Renquan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Changping District Committee of the Communist Party of China and Executive Deputy District MayorIn his address, he outlined the future blueprint for Changping District’s life and health industry. “Zhongguancun Life Science Park is a national base for the biomedical industry and plays a crucial supporting role in the development of Beijing as an international center for scientific and technological innovation. We must aim for world-class standards, focus on developmental needs, and enhance the quality of planning and construction. All stakeholders should fulfill their respective responsibilities and collaborate closely to foster an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem characterized by government support, confident capital investment, bold entrepreneurship, and proactive scientific endeavor. Our goal is to build a globally competitive hub for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, achieving breakthrough improvements from inception to excellence, and making greater contributions to high-quality development.”

Yang Renquan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Changping District Committee of the Communist Party of China and Executive Deputy District Mayor

Wang Ying, Chairman of Beijing Zhongguancun Life Science Park Development Co., Ltd.This reflects the industry’s aspirations for the development of the life sciences sector. She noted that Zhongguancun Life Science Park has established a complete industrial chain spanning basic research, pilot-scale R&D, production and distribution, and end-user healthcare services. Furthermore, it has built an industrial cluster covering new drug development, precision diagnostics, medical devices, cutting-edge biotechnologies, and healthcare services. In light of the long product development cycles and high risks inherent in the biopharmaceutical industry, Zhongguancun Life Science Park is actively collaborating with innovative technology platforms to promote deep integration across upstream and downstream segments of the industrial chain, ultimately driving high-quality upgrading of the entire value chain.

Wang Ying, Chairman of Beijing Zhongguancun Life Science Park Development Co., Ltd.

The permeation of biotechnology has injected momentum into every stage of pharmaceutical R&D, including basic research, target discovery, pilot-scale development, and drug analysis, ushering the biopharmaceutical industry into a golden age. At the main forum, industry leaders from leading enterprises, medical institutions, and research institutes delivered keynote speeches on hot topics such as drug development and delivery technologies, presenting an industrial discourse that captured the pulse of life sciences development.

Li Ning, Chief Physician; Deputy Director of the National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; and Executive Deputy Director of the National Center for Quality Evaluation and Promotion in Clinical Research (Oncology Field)He outlined the key points, challenges, and strategic focal points in establishing a national-level clinical research platform for innovative drugs. He argued that the domestic environment for innovative R&D and the criteria used to evaluate such innovation are significant factors contributing to the disparity in oncology treatment standards between China and other countries. In light of this, China must devote greater research efforts and human resources, strengthen its capacity for independent innovation, and strive to catch up with, or even surpass, international research advancements. Furthermore, translating basic research innovations into clinical applications represents a major hurdle that scientists must overcome during the clinical research process. He also expressed hope that a communication and exchange platform could facilitate the rapid clinical adoption of innovative projects with demonstrated clinical value.

Li Ning, Chief Physician; Deputy Director of the National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; and Executive Deputy Director of the National Quality Evaluation and Promotion Center for Clinical Research (Oncology Field)

Pan Hong, General Manager of Lonza ChinaThis article explores CMC strategies for the development, market launch, and global expansion of innovative pharmaceuticals. Pan Hong stated that with the rapid development of China’s pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, an increasing number of innovative molecules, after years of R&D and clinical studies, have entered the commercialization and internationalization stages. This trend has brought significant development opportunities to biopharmaceutical CDMO companies. In his view, “Reliability” is the core competitive element in the life system of biopharmaceutical CDMOs, which can be specifically summarized as market-validated technical capabilities, quality assurance systems that meet high international standards, and supply chain continuity.

Pan Hong, General Manager of Lonza China

Yu Li, Professor at the School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, and Founder of Magson BioInterpretation of a Novel Migrasome-Based Delivery SystemMigrasomes are organelles generated by cells during migration, serving as mediators of intercellular signaling. Magson Biotech aims to develop platforms for disease diagnosis and drug delivery by analyzing, editing, and engineering migrasomes, thereby treating diseases caused by either excessive or insufficient migrasome production. According to Yu Li, Magson Biotech has identified certain diseases associated with migrasome abnormalities, using these as breakthrough points for early-stage R&D, while gradually developing the delivery system as a strategic focus for mid- to long-term growth.

Yu Li, Professor at the School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, and Founder of Magson Biotech

Huang Song, Deputy Director of Administration at the National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing (NIBS), and Co-founder and President of HuaHui AnjianHe shared the journey of research, development, and translational commercialization of macromolecular antiviral drugs. Building on two major scientific breakthroughs by Dr. Li Wenhui’s team—the world’s first discovery of the coronavirus receptor ACE2 and the hepatitis B virus (HBV) receptor NTCP—HuaHui Anjian has developed HH-120, a broad-spectrum anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug with a novel target and mechanism of action, and HH-003, a new drug for hepatitis B. Leveraging the resources and support of the Zhongguancun Life Science Park, HuaHui Anjian has also established a process development platform for macromolecular biologics, jointly enhancing process development capabilities for innovative drugs and accelerating the translation and commercialization of groundbreaking original therapeutics.

Huang Song, Deputy Director of Administration at the National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing; Co-founder and President of Huahui Anjian

After years of in-depth research, many innovative biotechnologies have achieved significant breakthroughs, driving the biomedical industry to transform from a high-tech sector with development potential into a thriving pillar industry. So, under the leadership of biotechnology, where will the future healthcare industry head? InHuang Song, Deputy Director of Administration at the National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, and Co-founder and President of HuaHui AnjianUnder the moderation of [Host's Name], four industry leaders and innovators from the forefront of the life sciences sector engaged in a vigorous exchange of ideas, giving rise to numerous new insights.

As a representative of original innovation,Professor Yu Li, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University; Founder of Magson BiotechIt is worth noting that early-stage original innovation projects carry significant scientific uncertainty and face a series of challenges related to drug formulation, mechanism of action, and manufacturing processes. Precisely because they represent entirely new entities, the regulatory policies and review and approval frameworks for such early-stage projects are still being refined, leading to numerous difficulties. However, once these truly clinically valuable original innovation projects succeed, they will have a profoundly positive impact on both the nation and enterprises.

As a bioanalytical CRO with leading scientific capabilities and internationally advanced testing platforms, Junke Zhengyuan has a clear understanding of the current healthcare landscape.JunDong Jing, Executive Director of Kezhengyuan, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Committee for Pharmaceutical and Biological Analysis, and Head of the Pharmacokinetics Platform at the National Engineering Research Center for Protein DrugsIntroduction: With the rapid development of novel biotechnological drugs and therapies, higher demands have been placed on the knowledge reserves, technical expertise, platform development, and hardware infrastructure of CDMO/CRO enterprises, necessitating a series of internal upgrades and iterations. Leveraging extensive project experience, Junke Zhengyuan has identified new opportunities in service efficiency, scope, and quality. The company has established a multidimensional, interdisciplinary analytical platform to formulate superior testing and evaluation strategies and implementation plans for novel biotechnological drugs and therapies.

Jiahua Yaorui is a functional proteomics technology platform that empowers precision medicine and new drug development. If cancer is likened to a black box, Jiahua Yaorui is dedicated to using its core patented PCT technology to shine a spotlight into this black box.Jiahua Yaorui DeepKinase Founder & CEO Zheng NaizhongHe likened the company’s business to “adding high-definition cameras at the molecular level to drug development.” He elaborated on three levels—targets or biological mechanisms, drug design mechanisms, and collaboration mechanisms—to explain how new technologies can enhance information acquisition during preclinical and clinical stages, thereby better guiding post-clinical outcomes.

Chi Ying, CEO/CTO of Jiaojing BiologyUsing ChatGPT as an example, the changes brought by artificial intelligence to new drug development were shared. Chi Ying believes that the recent release of ChatGPT 4.0 holds significant reference value in terms of improved accuracy, broader coverage of target scenarios, and the potential for smooth expansion in biological language processing. However, from a biological perspective, the core algorithms currently available in the industry, such as open-source AI architectures, are far from meeting the stringent requirements of critical phases in pharmaceutical development. Meanwhile, comparing the current development status in China and the United States, while the U.S. market offers relatively greater profit margins, its efforts in AI-driven drug R&D are comparatively conservative. In contrast, China’s trend of overtaking competitors on the curve is already becoming evident.

To maximize broad coverage of cutting-edge topics and strengthen resource integration, thereby outlining the full landscape of biopharmaceutical technologies, this summit has specially organized four thematic sub-forums, each focusing on“Production-Education-Research-Application” Collaborative Innovation in Biobanks, AI-Empowered Innovative Drug R&D, Breakthroughs in Undruggable Targets, and Evaluation of BiopharmaceuticalsFour Major Dimensions: A Heated Discussion on the Pathways and Strategies for Innovation and High-Quality Development in Biopharmaceutical Technology

This ForumFocusing on High-Quality Development and Sustainable Growth of Biobanks, delving into the relationships among different stakeholders in biobanking, such as sample collectors, users, and biobank managers, to better explore new models for collaborative innovation and development across the “production–academia–research–application” spectrum of biological sample resources. In the context ofBeijing Institute of Life Sciences Biotechnology ResearchAt the sub-forum hosted byWang Xi, Director of the Beijing Municipal Office for Laboratory Animal Management (Beijing Municipal Office for Human Genetic Resource Management), directors and experts of biobanks at multiple Grade 3A hospitals in Beijing, as well as representatives from the industryDayoak Technology and Beikang Medicalattended the conference and delivered an excellent keynote speech. The conference also receivedShanghai Yuanneng Equipment Service Co., Ltd., Iceberg Songyang Biotechnology (Dalian) Co., Ltd.strong support.

As AI technology continues to permeate every stage of biopharmaceutical development, industry stakeholders must also re-examine the disruptive impact of AI on new drug R&D. In light of this,Zhongguancun AI New Drug R&D PlatformHosted this sub-forum，InvitedAlibaba Cloud, InnoCare Pharma, Insilico Medicine, and other industry players, as well as the National Institute of Health and Medical Big Data at Sun Yat-sen University and the Beijing Institute of Life Sciencesand other research institutions,Focusing on How AI Technology Empowers Drug Development in the New Era...and other hot topics, exploring industry development trends from multiple dimensions.

The development of therapeutics targeting "undruggable" targets has long been a major challenge and bottleneck in drug research. Currently, numerous issues persist in the study of undruggable and difficult-to-develop targets. As competition intensifies around popular targets, their resource value has significantly declined, prompting an increasing number of companies to explore druggable opportunities among previously undruggable targets. Based on this,Shuimu Future, Jiahua Yaorui, Beijing Ice Bioscience Inc.Co-hosted this sub-forum and invitedMr. Cheng Yifan, Member of the National Academy of Sciences, Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Professor at UCSF, and Scientific Advisor to Shuimu Future Sciences, as well as biomedical experts from universities, investment institutions, and industry-leading enterprises, to jointly discussCases and Explorations in New Drug Development Driven by Innovative Technologies。

As biopharmaceutical R&D enters a period of rapid growth, pharmaceutical analytical research—spanning the entire chain of drug discovery, development, registration, manufacturing, and commercialization—has also witnessed significant advancement. With continuous breakthroughs in biotechnological drugs and novel therapies, how to make optimal decisions at key stages during non-clinical and clinical evaluation has become a focal concern for industry stakeholders. Against this backdrop,Junke ZhengyuanHost the Biotech Drug Evaluation Forum, bringing together experts from academia, industry, healthcare, and investment sectors—Director of the National Beijing Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research at the Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences; Director of the Clinical Research Ward at Beijing Friendship Hospital; Co-founder of Jingda Biology; Founding Partner of Fangfu Venture Capital; and multiple senior experts from Junke Zhengyuan, togetherExploring the Latest Advances in Drug Development and Evaluation。

With this, the Zhongguancun Life Science and Technology Platform Industry-Research Innovation Summit, comprising a total of five forums, has come to a close. Distinguished attendees included members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, professors from universities and research institutes, hospital directors, enterprise founders, experts from investment institutions, and innovators in the biopharmaceutical industry. They analyzed the biopharmaceutical sector from multiple perspectives, including government, scientific research, industry, and capital, and ensured comprehensive coverage of various sub-sectors as well as in-depth research content by integrating multidisciplinary insights. In this era of significant development in life sciences, they have ridden the waves of the times, revealing grandeur through meticulous detail.