Autoimmune Therapeutics Symposium: Identifying the Next Blockbuster BD Targets and Molecules in the Era of Bispecifics and Multispecifics

Aug 11, 2025 19:16 CST Updated 19:16

BioPlus

Medical Products and Services Provider

Johnson & Johnson

Medical Device R&D and Manufacturer

Subject:Autoimmunity Seminar | In the Era of Bispecific/Multispecific Antibodies, the Next Big BD Target and Molecule

Organizer:BioPlus

Exclusive Support:Biointron

Media Cooperation:Medical Notes

Time:August 23, 2025 (Saturday) 14:00-19:30

Offline Address: Zhangjiang, Shanghai(Seminar location not disclosed, targeted notifications)

Offline Scale:30 people (Registration/Approval, Invitation Only);Only in the autoimmune fieldFounder of Biotech, Head of R&D/BD at Pharma, Clinical Doctor, Managing Director/Partner at Investment Institutions,No Walk-ins Please

【On-site Seat Application】

RegistrationChannel; Approval System

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Background Introduction

At present, the development of new drugs in the autoimmune field has become a sweeping trend across China and the globe.

The wave of autoimmune fever analyzed in the pharmaceutical notes is reflected in several directions: long-acting iterations, small molecule replacements, new targets/dual-target combinations, and the transition of CAR-T and TCE from hematological tumors to autoimmune diseases.

At the TCE level, Chinese players quickly become the darlings of the capital market.For example, between 2024 and 2025, Merck paid a $700 million upfront fee to introduce Tongrun Bio's CD3/CD19 bispecific antibody. Enmu Bio licensed its CD3/CD19/CD20 to GSK, while Genor Bio’s CD3/CD20 bispecific antibody, EpimAb’s BCMA/CD3 bispecific antibody, and Vibe Bio’s CD3/CD19/BCMA trispecific antibody were exported via NewCo. Additionally, Nona Bio and Ab Studio collaborated with Candid to develop novel autoimmune TCEs. The most recent development occurred in June this year, when Cullinan paid a $20 million upfront fee to bring in Zeragon Bio’s BCMA/CD3.

In the field of autoimmune dual antibodies, there have also been significant BD events.In 2024, Johnson & Johnson completed two autoimmune bispecific antibody acquisition deals, including the $850 million acquisition of Proteologix and the $1.25 billion acquisition of Yellow Jersey.In the first half of 2025, Sanofi acquired two TL1A bispecific antibody preclinical molecules from Huashen Zhiyao for an upfront payment of $125 million.

On August 23, 2025, BioPlus will host an Autoimmunity Seminar in Zhangjiang, Shanghai, aiming to bring together clinicians from the autoimmune field, multinational pharmaceutical companies, local pharmaceutical manufacturers, innovative biotech firms, and investors to discuss the next blockbuster BD targets and molecules in the era of bispecific/multi-specific antibodies.

The special guest for this fireside chat is David Shen (Founder/CEO of Proteologix). As a Chinese scientist renowned internationally as an antibody expert, he will share for the first time in China the story behind the creation of Proteologix, an autoimmune biotech company founded just three years ago, which was acquired by Johnson & Johnson for $850 million. What are the stories behind this?Stay tuned.

Agenda

14:00-14:30 Registration & Welcome Tea Break

14:30-14:40 Welcome Speech

Li Yuan: Founder of BioPlus

14:40-15:30 1v1Fireside Chat: Founded Only3Annual Self-Exemptionbiotech-Proteologix, acquired by Johnson & Johnson for8.5The Billion-Dollar Acquisition: What Are the Stories Behind It? The Next Stop for the Latest Startup: What New Iterative Strategies Does It Have?

David Shen: Founder&CEO, Propeller Bio

Xiao Liang: CEO of i-lncubator Medical Innovation Incubator (Host)

15:30-15:50 CROPerspective: Autoimmune Double/Multi-Drug Resistance Early Innovation Service Case

Lu Hai Song:BioPlus R&D Director

15:50-17:00 Group Discussion：Autoimmune Dual/Multiple Antibodies: Target Innovation and BD Strategy

Hongtao Lu:Co-founder & CSO of BioPlus(Host)

Discussion Guests:30 On-site Invited Guests

Clinical Perspective:
1. What autoimmune indications are worth developing? Are they suitable for developing bispecific/multi-specific antibodies?
2. TCE Indication Expansion: How to Breakthrough in SLE? Current efficacy data mainly remains at the IIT clinical stage, lacking validation from mid-to-late stage clinical data.

Target & Project Initiation Discussion:
1. How to choose TCE targets and epitopes? Does CD19 targeting have advantages over BCMA?
2. In the mid-to-late clinical stage, what are the significant clinical advancements in autoimmune bispecific/multi-specific antibodies?
3. Preclinically, what are the notable target combinations for dual/multi-antibodies in autoimmune diseases?

BD&Investment and Financing Discussion:
1.TCE BD Discussion: Has the hype passed? Are dollar funds and European and American partners still paying attention to TCE? What are the iteration strategies?
2. Which MNCs are focusing on autoimmune diseases? Specifically, which细分indications are they paying attention to?
3. AI+Antibody BD Case Discussion: $125 million upfront payment, Sanofi acquires two TL1A bispecific antibody preclinical molecules from Huashen Zhiyao; $51 million upfront payment, XtalPi custom develops molecules for Dovetree (partially involving autoimmune-related targets and antibody molecules).
4. Overseas pharmaceutical companies/partners, discussion on M&A trends in China
5. USD/Dual Currency: Investors' Strategies for Autoimmune Biotech Investments

17:00-19:30 Wine & Dinner Reception

Introduction of Guests

David Shen

Founder&CEO, Propeller Bio

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Dr. David W. Shen is an entrepreneur in Biotech and a leading expert in Biologics, with a proven track record of advancing drug pipelines from discovery to clinical proof-of-concept.

As Founder and CEO of Proteologix, he led the company’s breakthrough work in bispecific antibody therapeutics in immunology and inflammation, culminating in its $850 million acquisition plus additional milestone by Johnson & Johnson in June 2024.

Previously, Dr. Shen held executive roles from SVP, Global VP, Department Head and Site Head at NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Merck, and Amgen respectively. Throughout his career, he played a key role in advancing several antibody drug candidates from research to clinical development and regulatory approval, including multi-billion dollar market drugs like evolucumab (anti-PCSK9), romosozumab (anti-sclerostin) and denosumab (anti-RANKL).

Innovatively blending his scientific and industrial vision, he has discovered new technologies, holding more than 20 patents and also numerable peer-reviewed publications.

In February 2025, he embarked on his newest venture as Founder and CEO of Propeller Bio.

Xiao Liang

CEO of i-lncubator Medical Innovation Incubator

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Dr. Xiao Liang, currently serving as the CEO/CSO of i-Incubator Medical Incubator, is responsible for the incubation of innovative drug projects. He previously served as the Chief Operating Officer of Yilian Biologics (2021-2025) and Vice President of Biologics R&D at Kelun-Biotech (2013-2020). Dr. Xiao has led over 20 monoclonal antibody/bispecific antibody/ADC projects into clinical trial stages, including one ADC and one monoclonal antibody project that have been launched in China, one monoclonal antibody project and one ADC project that have submitted BLAs, one ADC project in Phase III clinical trials, and nine ADC projects in Phase I clinical trials. Under Dr. Xiao's leadership, multiple projects developed by his team have successfully reached global licensing agreements with several multinational companies, with a total cooperation value exceeding $16 billion.

Dr. Xiao holds a Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences from the University of Science and Technology of China and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Southern California. He has been honored with awards such as the Jiangsu Province Double Innovation Talent, the Gusu Major Leading Team Talent, and the Chengdu Special Expert.

Hongtao Lu

Co-founder & CSO of BioPlus

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Dr. Hongtao Lu is the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Shanghai Elpiscience Biopharma, Vice President of the Biomedical Branch of the Shanghai Association of Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, Deputy Director of the Molecular Immunology Branch of the Chinese Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Secretary General of the Biomedical Innovation Group (BIG). Dr. Lu led and developed the Macrophage Engager (Bi-specific Myeloid Engager, BiME) platform at Elpiscience Biopharma, which entered into a collaboration with Japan's Astellas in 2023 for potential development and commercialization milestones exceeding $1.7 billion. Dr. Lu is an immunology expert with 25 years of industry experience. He co-founded Zai Lab, a Nasdaq-listed company in the United States, and served as its Chief Scientific Officer. He also served as Senior Director and the first Global Head of the Neuroimmunology Department at the multinational pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

Dr. Lu graduated from Cleveland State University and Cleveland Clinic Foundation in the United States, and later completed postdoctoral research work related to T cell differentiation in the laboratory of Dr. Richard Flavell, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, in the Department of Immunobiology at Yale University.

Lu Haisong

Head of R&D at BioPlus

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Dr. HaiSong Lu, majoring in biopharmaceuticals, has nearly 20 years of experience in drug development and has participated in the preclinical development of multiple drugs. Four projects have successively entered clinical stages, involving disease areas such as oncology, cancer immunology, metabolism, and autoimmunity. Some of his work has been published in journals like Nature Medicine. He is currently the R&D head at BioPlus, responsible for the development of new platforms.