The 5th annual BIOSeedin Innovation Partnering Conference has reinforced China's position as a global biopharma innovation hub, attracting more than 2,000 registrants from 10 countries and facilitating 7,275 meeting requests across oncology, rare diseases, and next-generation therapeutic modalities. The event, held in June 2025, demonstrated the sector's rapid evolution from fast follower to protocol co-designer in global drug development.
China Emerges as Translational Research Powerhouse
Dr. Yi Zhu, Founder and CSO of Biokin Pharma, positioned China as a "translational research powerhouse" uniquely equipped to de-risk high-impact therapeutic modalities. "Our cost-efficient clinical execution enables rapid validation of novel ADCs and gene-editing platforms," he noted, citing Biokin's Phase II PD-1xLAG-3 bispecific antibody as evidence of China's capability to advance complex biologics. His emphasis on high-risk, high-reward assets gained particular traction as Chinese startups now contribute 38% of global ADC patents.
John Zhu, CEO of DualityBio, challenged conventional innovation metrics during the conference, asserting that "true differentiation isn't about target novelty but biomarker-driven clinical value." His presentation showcased DualityBio's tumor-activated ADC linker technology, addressing investor concerns about therapeutic crowding while highlighting China's precision medicine pipelines in NSCLC and triple-negative breast cancer.
Leveraging Domestic Validation for Global Expansion
Dr. Zhang Lianshan, EVP of Hengrui Pharma, emphasized the importance of domestic validation as a foundation for global success. "Globalization starts with domestic validation," he stated, detailing Hengrui's strategy to leverage China's 140 million cancer patient registry for accelerated oncology trials. His case study featured a Claudin 18.2-targeted therapy now advancing through global Phase III trials, illustrating China's transition from fast follower to protocol co-designer.
Jacky Jiang, BD Head at CSPC Pharma, outlined strategic asset curation principles, advising companies to "align R&D with unmet needs, technical strengths, and M&A agility." He referenced CSPC's recent acquisition of a CRISPR-Cas12Max delivery platform and predicted that non-viral gene therapies will dominate rare disease investments by 2026.
Breakthrough Modalities Drive Innovation Portfolio
The conference roadshow highlighted China's leadership in next-generation therapies, with 40% of showcased assets featuring breakthrough modalities. These included Phase II PD-1xLAG-3 bispecifics for NSCLC, preclinical Claudin 18.2xCD3 T-cell engagers, and tumor microenvironment-activated ADC linkers—technologies where Chinese firms now hold 32% of global patents.
Rare disease innovations encompassed non-viral CRISPR-Cas12Max therapies for retinal disorders demonstrating 90% efficacy in primate models, alongside Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapies. Metabolic and CNS advances featured dual GLP-1/GIP agonists outperforming competitors in weight loss trials and tau-targeting monoclonal antibodies for Alzheimer's disease.
Clinical Pipeline Demonstrates Advanced Development
The portfolio revealed significant clinical progress, with 50% of programs in Phase I/II stages, including 10 breakthrough-designated assets. Two Phase III candidates are approaching 2026 NDA submissions: a bispecific NSCLC antibody leveraging China's genomic databases and a non-opioid TRPV1-ATP analgesic. This development timeline underscores the sector's evolution toward patient-centric therapeutic engineering combined with cost-efficient development processes.
Global Collaboration and Future Expansion
Major multinational corporations including Merck & Co., Pfizer, and Bayer emerged as top partnership targets, with key accounts receiving over 50 meeting requests each. The strong industry interest reflects growing recognition of China's innovative capabilities and cost-effective clinical execution.
Building on this year's success, BIOSeedin 2026 will expand its global footprint with dedicated tracks for European and North American attendees. As Dr. Zhu Yi concluded, "China's biotech sector is not just catching up—it's redefining innovation. We invite global partners to join this journey, where collaboration transcends borders and accelerates patient-centric breakthroughs."
