The topic of discussion was Biologics and Pharmaceutical Innovations. The first speaker of the day was Dr. Jay Short, Chairman and CEO, BioAtla, LLC. Dr. Short discussed BioAcclerating Drug Development, specifically the changing and challenging economic climate that has resulted in his Company adapting a unique partner risk-sharing model that reduces costs. Dr. Wolfgang Noe, VP of Technical Operations Agensys/Astellas Pharma US, Inc. gave a very enlightening presentation on the evolution and many unique challenges of biotherapeutics. Dr. Jerry L Hefner, Partner at Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP then discussed ‘Developing an International Intellectual Property（IP）Strategy that Includes Biotherapeutic technologies’. Dr. Hefner stated that as an entrepreneur you must protect your Biotherapeutic with IP with an International worldwide filing strategy that covers biosimilars and to maximize the term early in the filing.

The morning panel discussion entitled ‘Biotherapeutics’ was chaired by Dr. Hui Li of BioDuro/PPD. Dr. Li compared biologics and small molecules：With biologics the success rate is higher, a longer patent exclusivity and opportunity to expand the target space. The challenges are that biologics work on extracellular targets, are challenged in their delivery route and have a higher manufacture cost. The panelists were Dr. Kevin Chen, co-founder of Innovent biologics, Dr. Xuehai Tan, Founder, CEO and President of HD biosciences and Dr. Xiaodong Yang, Apexigen CEO. All had individual business models and strategies for developing biologics globally.

The afternoon session turned to innovation. Dr. Melissa M. Fitzgerald, Head of Strategic Research Partnerships of External R&D Innovation（ERDI）of Pfizer opened her talk with a quote emphasizing "This is a time of extraordinary opportunity" and gave an overview on Pfizer’s external R&D and Asia strategy. The second talk was given by Dr. Peng Wang, CSO of Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, a NYSE listed company representing one of China’s most innovating biopharmaceuticals, with its SFDA filing for INDs over the last five years ranked second within China. A very active panel discussion on Pharmaceutical Innovations was moderated by Dr Sergio Gurrieri of Tech Coast Angels. The panelists included Dr. Ming Guo, Co-Founder & COO of Ascentage Pharma, Xifu Liu of Zensun USA, Inc., Dr. Chunlin Chen, CEO of Medicilon, Dr. Tina Huang, the general manager of the preclinical service arm of Pharmaron and Dr. Larry Wang, President of Genscript. They provided great insights on the current developments of biopharmaceutical industry across the Pacific Rim.

SABPA would like to thank the attendees for turning out in the rain, the sponsors for their general support, the speakers and panelists as well as all of the volunteers for their hard work and team spirit for providing this platform for discussion of the challenging and rapidly changing developments in drug development.