From China to Global: Partnering Strategies for the Next Wave of Biotech Innovation

Max Kirkby spent 35 years in the Pharma industry. An experienced drug development leader, leading both global cross-function drug development teams, development functions and R&D organisations.

During his development career Max brought to market a number of new medicines across multiple therapy areas. Within oncology he has led teams through approvals with US FDA, EMA, PMDA and NMPA including assets with companion diagnostic registration requirements.

Max has lived and worked in UK, USA, Sweden and China and managed development teams globally and R&D organisations in China and Japan. He is an engaging leader who puts a strong emphasis on high-performing teams, individual development, cross-functional working and good governance to drive successful drug development.

Max has more than 14 years experience living and working in China in both global and local leadership roles and is passionate about the importance of including China and other Asian countries like Japan and S Korea in global development from an early stage. This enables both the diversity of expertise from these important countries to be hanced within the global development strategy as well as ensure their patients can access new treatment options at the same time as those in the US and Europe.

Gary currently serves as Vice President and Head of Clinical Development at Laekna, with over 20 years of industry experience specializing in clinical development and portfolio management. Has accumulated extensive experience in clinical development and trials across metabolic diseases, oncology, and immunology. Previously worked in R&D at multinational pharmaceutical companies including AstraZeneca, and Novartis. Currently he serves as a member of the Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Clinical Drug Research Committee at the China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Research Association (PhIRDA). He completed undergraduate through doctoral studies at Fudan University.

Mr. Bingguang YU is a Senior Partner of AllBright Law Offices, based in Shanghai Headquarter. He is also a permanent representative of AllBright Law Offices (London) Limited, Room 108, No.12 New Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1JP, Phone: +44 (0)20 3848 5721, Fax: +44 (0)20 7583 304.

Mr. Yu has rich experience on providing capital market legal services, such as IPO, M&A, funds, PE financing, FDI etc. Mr. Yu has provided legal services for hundreds of Chinese and foreign businesses in terms of investment and financing, establishment of new companies, inbound and outbound M&As, restructuring and asset restructuring, domestic and overseas IPOs, Asset-backed Securitizations, PE financing and funds-related legal services. Mr. Yu was engaged as permanent and/or project legal counsel for many companies. He is also invited to act as senior expert legal counsel by many renowned institutions, such as CGGT (China Going Global Think Tank), Senior Legal Services Think Tank, Yangtze River Delta Capital Market Base, ShangLian Think Tank, Elite V-Next Alliance, LinGang Innovation Management Institute, Shanghai State-owned Assets Journal and The Chamber of Commerce of Liaoning Province etc.

Mr. Yu graduated from the University of Westminster and obtained his MA Degree in Bilingual Translation, furthered his studies in the University College London（UCL）and obtained his LLM Degree in International Commercial Law and Corporation Law. Some of the works published by Mr. Yu including:

Bilingual Translation and Legal Writing; Labor Management of Foreign-invested Enterprises

Analysis on Legal Issues in Syndicated Loans; Project Finance and Risk Analysis

London AIM, an Ideal Listing Place for Chinese Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises

Comparison and Analysis on Costs and Latest Requirements on IPOs in Hongkong, USA, UK and Australia

Legal Risk Prevention Along the Belt and Road Countries for Investment in the UK

Detailed Analysis on the New Listing Rules of Hongkong

The Latest Changes and Application of Supervision and Administration Policies for VIE Overseas Listing

Approaching London Shanghai Stock Connect

Mr. Yu is fluent in both English and Chinese language.

Dr. Ming Fang is Senior Director, Business Development at GSK, responsible for exploring licensing and M&A opportunities in Chinese market. Before GSK, she served as Director of Global Business Development & Licensing at Merck Healthcare KGaA, spearheading access to external innovation and fostering collaborations with biopharma/biotech companies in China and the APAC region. Ming has led several licensing partnerships and multiple research and clinical collaborations with local innovators.

Prior to joining Merck, Ming served as the Head of Business Development at Elpiscience Biopharma, leading business development and strategy efforts. In this role, she led the closure of significant licensing deals and collaborations. She also held positions at Zailab and Novartis, focusing on external collaboration and oncology R&D.

Ming completed her Ph.D. training at the Curie Institute in Paris and holds both Ph.D. and Master’s degrees in Cancer Biology and Genetics with honors from Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris, France.