The 20th Pharmaceutical and Medical Technology Business Development Summit Forum (BD Forum), themed “Breaking Boundaries · Symbiosis, A New Era of BD,” was successfully held in Shanghai on September 18.
Through 20 years of challenges and growth, the pharmaceutical BD industry has flourished—evolving from a little-known topic at the very first Forum into a hotly discussed field today. The number of professionals engaged in BD has expanded from just a handful to well over a thousand. As the largest “annual gathering” in the pharmaceutical BD sector, the BD Forum itself has also grown tremendously, bringing together industry elites and fostering collaboration. Marking its 20th anniversary, this year’s BD Forum was more grand and influential than ever, with high-profile topics and intensive exchanges. The organizers thoughtfully arranged a variety of activities, including pre-conference company meetings, live-streamed sessions from the main venue, industry awards, and a cultural gala dinner—offering rich benefits for all participants. Now, let’s follow the CHBD team in reviewing the highlights of this year’s Forum.
On the afternoon of September 17, the day before the main conference, some attendees visited the Shanghai office of Sinopharm Group to join a pre-conference session hosted by the company. Participants were first introduced to Sinopharm’s development history and current operations, and then engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as business models, innovation, and collaboration, gaining valuable insights. In the evening, they moved to a dinner venue arranged by HymonBio, where conversations continued in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere. Over fine food and drinks, industry peers shared personal career experiences and explored potential opportunities for cooperation, fostering close connections.
On the morning of the 18th, the main session of the event officially commenced. Ms. Wang Xin, Executive President of CHBD, took the stage to open the forum, followed by a welcome address from Mr. Ren Yu, Vice President of China Business Development at Pfizer Global BD. Though brief, their speeches vividly outlined the past and present of pharmaceutical business development, traced the industry’s growth trajectory, and highlighted the explosive potential that lies ahead.
Chapter One: Industry Trends, Breaking Boundaries
The first keynote presentation was delivered by Ms. Zhou Xi, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, on the topic “Innovation Trends in China’s Pharmaceutical Industry.” With comprehensive data and analysis, the audience gained a clear view of the vigorous wave of innovation, as well as the crucial role BD transactions play in driving and accelerating this momentum.
Next, Ms. Shen Rong, Head of Inflammation & Immunology Search & Evaluation and China Local Projects at Pfizer, presented “Pfizer Partnership,” followed by Mr. Luo Yongqing, CEO of Everest Medicines, who delivered an inspiring talk titled “The Role and Value of BD – Insights from Gilead to Everest Medicines.” Drawing on numerous big pharma case studies, both speakers distilled key reflections on BD practice, highlighting successes, lessons learned, and valuable insights that deeply resonated with the audience.
The morning concluded with a roundtable session, “BD Breaking Boundaries: Predictions,” moderated by Ms. Wang Xin, Director of Business Development, Asia-Pacific at Servier. Esteemed panelists shared experiences and case studies, engaging in a multi-dimensional discussion of the industry ecosystem from R&D through to commercialization, leaving participants with both a broad perspective and detailed takeaways.
Chapter Two: Sailing Abroad, Pharma Going Global
The second chapter of the forum opened with a keynote by Mr. Li Bin, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Institute of Immunology, titled “Artificial Intelligence and Personalized Immunotherapy.” His presentation immersed the audience in the beauty of scientific research while formally ushering in this new chapter.
This was followed by two insightful talks: Mr. Zhou Shuhua, Chief Analyst at Citeline, shared “China’s Innovative Drug Development and Collaboration in the Global R&D Landscape: Opportunities, Challenges, and Frontier Insights,” offering a broad perspective grounded in data and analysis. Then, Mr. Zheng Fan, Managing Partner at Affa Capital, delivered “Real-World Stories of China’s Outbound Transactions,” providing case studies and practical lessons that captured the realities of pharma going global.
As the session gained momentum, the spotlight shifted back to big pharma. Ms. Li Siyu, Director of Business Development at Bayer’s China Collaborate-to-Cure Innovation Center, presented “Collaborate to Cure: Partnering with Innovation in China,” highlighting Bayer’s approach to fostering cross-border innovation.
The chapter concluded with a roundtable discussion, “BD Symbiosis and Globalization,” moderated by Ms. Yu Li, Head of Transactions and Alliance Management at Pfizer China. With the participation of several distinguished panelists, the discussion explored R&D collaboration, global expansion of projects, and the pathways to international growth in a lively and engaging atmosphere.
Chapter Three: Capital Empowerment, Mutual Growth
After a short break, the forum moved into its third chapter. Ms. Xu Jia, Lead Partner for the Pharma & Healthcare Industry at PwC, delivered a presentation titled “A New Strategic Coordinate for Multinational Pharma and China’s Innovation.” This was followed by Mr. Guo Qiushan, Partner at the Shanghai Biomedical Fund, who shared “Trends in Global and China’s Innovative Drug Financing and Transactions.” Through incisive analysis and representative case studies, both speakers highlighted the boundless potential of China’s innovation and outlined its projected development pathways.
Adding a practical perspective, Mr. Huang Hao and Mr. Peng Yue, lawyers from Haofeng Law Firm, delivered content-rich talks: “Overview of Transactions in the Biopharma Sector” and “Compliance First: Key Data Compliance Considerations in Pharma BD Transactions.” Their insights provided attendees with a deeper understanding of deal structuring, compliance requirements, and legal risks in BD transactions.
The chapter culminated in a roundtable discussion, “BD Dancing with Capital,” moderated by Mr. Huang Ping, General Manager of Investment Banking at Essence Securities. Distinguished guests exchanged views closely tied to industry hot topics, engaging in both alignment and debate. The discussion generated valuable perspectives on how capital can drive industry growth—and how the industry, in turn, can reward capital.
After the three main chapters concluded, Mr. Zhang Jiguo, Honorary President of CHBD, delivered a full-day summary. He emphasized the Forum’s growing professional, vocational, and industry-oriented attributes, and encouraged everyone to engage deeply, foster project exchanges, expand networking opportunities, and fully enjoy CHBD as a shared spiritual home.
Afterward, all participants enjoyed the post-conference gala dinner. Accompanied by graceful music and elegant dancing, the atmosphere was filled with laughter, and the exchange of ideas blossomed into deep friendships. Amid the toasts and celebrations, the BD Forum’s awards were announced one by one:
- In China for Global BD Achievement Award: Pfizer
- BD Innovation Pioneer Award: Everest Medicines
- BD Going Global Award: CSPC
- BD International Service Award: Affa Capital
- BD Incubation Award: Bayer
- BD Good Partner Award: Haofeng Law Firm
Looking back on the entire event, from the passionate academic discussions and project collaboration talks to the warm greetings among friends, the excitement carried seamlessly from the conference hall to the gala dinner. Our reflections and laughter lingered throughout. In a heartfelt atmosphere of farewell, the Forum concluded successfully. Participants left enriched with valuable insights, ready to embark on new journeys. We look forward to meeting again next time.
With this, the conference came to a successful close. We look forward to the 21st BD Forum, to be hosted by Servier next year!
Acknowledgments: Our sincere thanks to all the guests, industry colleagues, and behind-the-scenes staff who made this event possible. Beautiful Shanghai will be remembered, and the 2025 BD Forum unforgettable.
Copyright Notice: This article is an original work by CHBD. All rights belong to the original author. The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent the position of CHBD. For reprints, please contact 13585635696 for authorization.
About YAFO Capital
Founded in 2013, YAFO Capital is a global boutique investment and BD advisory firm with professional teams across our offices in China, the U.S., Europe, and Southeast Asia. Our expertise spans four core business segments: transaction advisory and consulting, NewCo incubation, investment fund management, and partnering forums. Over the years, YAFO has built a strong track record, closing dozens of business development transactions with leading global pharmaceutical and biotech companies. For more information, please visit http://www.yafocapital.com.
雅法资本成立于2013年，致力于生物医药项目的跨境及国内授权交易、成立NewCo和并购交易。基于雅法在全球广泛的人脉与资源网络，在过去十二年成功推进了大量的海外项目进入中国市场并协助多个中国产品完成海外授权。雅法拥有经验丰富的全球交易团队，覆盖美国、日本、欧洲等全球主要医药创新区域。核心合伙人均为华尔街资深投行人士或具有跨国药企经历，为客户交易提供强力支持。雅法总部位于上海，在美国、欧洲、东南亚等地均设有分部。
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