Nobel Laureates and U.S. National Academy of Sciences Members Convene in Chengdu to Explore Global Opportunities in New Drug Development

On May 9, the 2nd Tianfu International Biopharmaceutical Commercialization High-Level Dialogue was held in Chengdu. The event was jointly organized by the Sichuan Provincial Economic Cooperation Bureau, GF Securities Co., Ltd., and the Global Drug Commercialization Center, under the theme “Integrating Global Wisdom, Building an Innovation Ecosystem.”

The conference attracted nearly 500 attendees, including a Nobel laureate and member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, multiple Harvard University professors and experts, as well as guests from domestic and international enterprises and investment institutions, universities and research institutes, industry organizations, and local governments. Provincial, municipal, and district leaders, including Zhao Zhenxi, Standing Committee Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Vice Chairman of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the CPPCC; Liu Xiaoliu, Deputy Mayor of Chengdu; Wu Yanxiang, Party Leadership Group Member and Secretary of the Organ Party Committee of the Sichuan Provincial Economic Cooperation Bureau; and Yu Hui, Director of the Administrative Committee of Chengdu High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, attended the event to welcome the participants.

Professor Ferid Murad, 1998 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine

At this high-level dialogue, Professor Ferid Murad, the 1998 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, delivered the keynote address. Professor Murad was awarded the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of the beneficial and preventive effects of nitric oxide on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, a finding that played a pivotal role in the development of the new drug “Viagra.” Additionally, Dr. Arlene Sharpe, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Chair of the Department of Immunology at Harvard Medical School, and an undisputed leader in the field of T-cell co-stimulation within the immune system, shared insightful perspectives on cancer therapy.

Furthermore, distinguished experts and scholars delivered insightful speeches at the conference, including Dr. Dennis Kasper, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, recipient of Harvard University’s highest professorial honor, and Tenured Professor of Biology and Immunology; Mr. Isaac T. Kohlberg, Chief Technology Development Officer at Harvard University; and Dr. Don D. Sin, Canada Research Chair in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

At the high-level dialogue, representatives from the research, investment, and corporate sectors of the domestic and international healthcare industries shared their valuable insights and engaged in intellectual exchanges on three key topics: “Innovation-Driven Opportunities for the Development of the Healthcare Industry,” “Investment and Financing Logic and Commercialization Pathways in Biopharmaceuticals,” and “Opportunities and Challenges in New Drug Development from a Global Perspective.”

In 2017, Ms. Karimah Es. Sabar, former President of the Canadian Drug Research and Development Centre (CDRD) and a leader in Canada’s life sciences industry, introduced the Global Drug Commercialization Center (GDCC) to China, selecting Chengdu Tianfu International Bio-Town as its first overseas expansion site.

Ms. Karimah Es. Sabar, CEO of the Global Drug Commercialization Center (GDCC)

GDCC boasts a Scientific and Commercial Committee composed of more than 20 globally renowned scientists and business leaders. Dedicated to identifying breakthrough and innovative technological projects worldwide, GDCC partners with GF Securities in China to drive project R&D and commercialization through diverse capital operations. This initiative aims to achieve localized commercial operations for cutting-edge technology projects, foster an industrial ecosystem, and continuously facilitate the adoption and implementation of global innovation outcomes.

Mr. Lin Zhihai, President of GF Securities Co., Ltd.

As one of the top five securities firms in China with a long-standing focus on the biopharmaceutical industry, GF Securities boasts nationwide leadership in capital operation expertise and resources among listed companies in China’s biopharmaceutical sector, making it a strong partner for GDCC to expand its business in China.

To date, GDCC has introduced research achievements from world-class laboratories such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology to China’s biopharmaceutical community. These achievements span multiple fields, including biopharmaceuticals, high-end innovative medical devices, and smart healthcare, covering a wide range of products such as novel antibiotics, gene therapies, radioisotopes, tumor immunotherapies, targeted drugs for bladder cancer, valve-less cardiac shunts, and implantable smart chips. These products have already secured investment from overseas capital firms, with some establishing collaborations with leading international pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers. Introduced to China for the first time through GDCC, these projects have garnered significant attention from domestic investors and the pharmaceutical industry, with support from GDCC and GF Securities. To date, six projects have been successfully implemented in China, with an additional four to five projects expected to be launched within the year.

Ms. Karimah Es. Sabar, CEO of GDCC, stated that GDCC and GF Securities will remain grounded in the industry, serve its needs, and actively promote think-tank dialogues. It is reported that the Tianfu International Biopharmaceutical Commercialization High-Level Dialogue has been held for two consecutive years. The 2018 High-Level Dialogue was themed “Accelerating Commercialization Cooperation to Boost the Development of Emerging Industries.” Building on the key topics of the previous edition, this year’s High-Level Dialogue further focused on issues such as building a biopharmaceutical ecosystem and implementing commercialization pathways. It provided a communication platform for global R&D institutions, investment firms, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, and industrial bases to explore ways to enhance R&D efficiency, unlock capital potential, and drive high-quality development.

Over the past two years, the Tianfu International Biopharma Commercialization High-Level Dialogue has gradually evolved into a premier platform for connecting and implementing cutting-edge global technological achievements. Participants have acknowledged that this high-level dialogue has played a significant role in fostering cooperation between Chinese and foreign biopharmaceutical industries and promoting synergistic development. These accomplishments not only highlight the success of the dialogue but also serve as a vivid testament to the innovation, collaboration, and mutual benefit characterizing the global biopharmaceutical sector.