Current Trends and Insights in Cross-Border Bio-Pharmaceutical Transactions

On October 31, 2026, the event "Cross-Border Transaction: Opportunity and Risk" — featuring a kayaking experience and a closed-door sharing session — organized by BioCruiser Club and co-hosted by BioIPolaris and Pharma DJ, concluded successfully in Pudong, Shanghai. 

Ms. Lily Wang, Founder of BioIPolaris, introduced the positioning and vision of BioCruiser Club to old and new friends alike: bringing together founders and executives from the biopharma industry to accompany Chinese biopharma companies on their journey to globalization through sports, socializing, and intellectual exchange.

Ms. Helen Chen, Managing Partner at LEK, systematically outlined the latest trends in cross-border biopharma transactions (licensing, M&A, and joint ventures). She pointed out that Chinese innovative drug assets continue to gain momentum in the international market, while buyers' demands for data quality, differentiation, and depth of due diligence are also rising steadily. 

Mr. Raymond Zhu, China Tax Director at EY, addressed common tax pitfalls in cross-border transactions from the perspectives of tax structuring and compliance. His analysis covered transaction structure selection, foreign income tax credits, transfer pricing, and key compliance requirements under recent policy updates, providing practical guidance for transaction execution.

Roundtable Discussion: Opportunities and Risks Under New Policies, Intellectual Property, and Compliance 

The roundtable discussion, moderated by Mr. Tony Chen, Partner at Jones Day, brought the event to its high point. The panelists included:

- David Flores – Co-Founder, President & CEO, BioCentury Inc.

- Helen Chen – Managing Partner, LEK

- Raymond Zhu – China Tax Director, EY

- Frank Yan – Chairman & CEO, K2 Medicines

- Kent Hawryluk – Serial Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of MBX Biosciences and Avidity Biosciences

The guests engaged in a vibrant discussion around three main themes: the new policy landscape, intellectual property strategy, and compliance risks. Topics ranged from the impact of geopolitics and policy shifts on transaction structures, to the critical role of patent protection and FTO due diligence in licensing Chinese innovative assets overseas, to ownership stipulations and risk allocation in transaction terms. Mr. David Flores shared his observations on the revaluation of Chinese assets from an international market perspective, while Mr. Frank Yan candidly drew on his own experiences going global to share practical insights from negotiations with multinational pharmaceutical companies. The discussion was filled with insightful remarks, and attendees left wanting more.

As a sponsor of this event, our company has consistently focused on the high-quality development of the cross-border trade industry and actively builds platforms for industry exchange. Moving forward, the company will continue to leverage its strengths and collaborate with industry partners to help enterprises rationally seize cross-border market opportunities, establish robust risk management systems, and achieve stable and sustainable growth in their cross-border businesses.