The 8th Annual BFC Global Healthcare BD and Investment Conference was successfully held on January 12, 2025, at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco. The event attracted over 1,000 leaders and professionals from the global healthcare industry, who engaged in in-depth discussions on various topics related to business development and investment, while offering a comprehensive review and outlook on the opportunities and challenges facing the healthcare industry in 2025.

David Chen, Founder and Managing Director of BFC Group, opened the conference with a compelling speech that highlighted key trends and developments in the US and Asian biopharmaceutical capital markets. His insights provided attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the industry's current landscape and emerging opportunities.

David Chen, Founder & Managing Director, BFC Group

The first panel discussion of the conference, titled "Faith to Incubate: Global Biotech Investment Trends and Focus," focused on key trends and market dynamics over the past year that have shaped the investment in the biotech and medtech sectors, and how these factors have influenced strategic decision-making. During the discussion, the speakers offered comprehensive insights into diverse investment strategies, encompassing everything from capital allocation to exit planning, alongside their experiences in translating academic collaborative research into impactful outcomes. They further explored approaches to overcoming challenges in the innovation process, examined strategies for unlocking the latent value of assets, and discussed methods to effectively balance short-term returns with long-term innovation.

From left to right: Seamus Jiang, U.S./China Cross-border Deals Leader, Managing Director, PwC; Ming Fang, Managing Director, Redmile Group; Frank Nestle, Partner and CEO of 3DC, Deerfield Management; Jeff Zhou, Executive Director, J.P. Morgan; Ricky Sun, Partner, Bain Capital; Tony Liu, Chairman and CEO, AbelZeta Pharma

The second panel discussion, titled "Big Pharma, Big Synergy: Harnessing the Power of Strategic Collaborations," focused on exploring the business development strategies of large pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms. Panelists discussed how strategic collaborations in various therapeutic areas and regions drive innovation, expand pipelines, and foster company growth. They reviewed past transaction trends, China's role as a strategic partner, and the key qualities of an ideal collaborator in these deals.

From left to right: Thijs Spoor, CEO, Perspective Therapeutics; Dominic McDonald, Executive Director, Search & Evaluation – Oncology, R&D Business Development, GSK; Johan Verbeeck, Vice President Business Development, Oncology, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine; Marcel Reichen, Head of Search & Evaluation Radioligand Therapies at Corporate & Business Development, Novartis;   Matthieu Merlin, Head of Business Development General Medicines GBU, Sanofi; René Fuertig, Global Head CNS BD&L, Boehringer Ingelheim

The midday session, "Navigating the Complexities of Cross-Border Licensing in a Globalized Market," addressed the complexities encountered in current cross-border transactions. Panelists shared the roles investors play in these deals and their decision-making processes, explored the impact of shifting geopolitical landscapes on transaction and investment strategies, and discussed emerging trends such as innovative opportunities from China. The discussion concluded with a look ahead at future cross-border licensing trends and how will it shape licensing and investment strategies in 2025.

From left to right: Lila Hope, Partner, Cooley; Judith Li, Partner, Lilly Asia Ventures; Kevin Penghui Chen, Founding Partner, BioTrack Capital; Maha Radhakrishnan, Executive Partner, Sofinnova Investments; Marya Postner, Partner, Cooley; Ying Wang Schmidt, Senior Director, Business Development Project Leader, Roche

After a delightful lunch reception that provided attendees with a valuable platform for networking and meaningful conversations, the conference continued with a Company Road Show session. This session featured 24 pharmaceutical companies from both domestic and international markets, who showcased their latest pipeline platforms and R&D achievements. The presentations garnered significant attention from potential partners and investors, further driving collaboration and investment opportunities.

The final panel discussion, “Emerging Licensing Trends: The Impact of Game-Changing NewCos” explored the advantages and challenges of the NewCo model, its evolution over the past 3-5 years, and how it can transform to a sustainable strategy for both investors and biotech companies. Panelists discussed how the NewCo integrates into flexible deal structures, supporting early-stage innovation and commercialization. They then shared insights on structuring and valuing NewCos, as well as preparing for successful exits. The discussion also covered the impact of the NewCo trend on pharmaceutical companies' collaboration and investment.

From left to right: Yiming Liu, Partner, Cooley; Andrew Lam, Managing Director, Head of Biotech Private Equity, Ally Bridge Group; Birgit Reitmaier, Executive Director, Head of BD Asia Pacific, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany; Cory Freedland, Partner, Samsara Biocapital; Jeffrey Zechnich, Partner, PwC; Shaan Gandhi, Vice President and Head of Strategic Partnerships, Pfizer Ignite

The 8th Annual BFC Global Healthcare BD & Investment Conference successfully concluded with a comprehensive capital market review, four expert panel discussions, and a company road show featuring 24 organizations. The event attracted over 1,000 attendees, who engaged in vibrant exchanges of ideas in an environment that emphasized collaboration and innovation to advance the healthcare industry. BFC Group remains dedicated to providing a platform for fostering collaboration among biopharma companies and facilitating communication between companies and investors. We look forward to reconnecting in 2026!