DXY Insight Database Redefining Boundaries, Building a Shared Ecosystem: Insight InCity Brings Pharmaceutical BD Leaders Together in Beijing

August 31, 2026

As China's innovative pharmaceutical industry becomes increasingly connected to global markets, the nature of business development (BD) is evolving. Identifying the right opportunities is no longer simply about finding promising assets—it requires understanding strategic needs, assessing differentiated value and building partnerships that can work across markets.

Against this backdrop, the 2026 Insight InCity Pharmaceutical BD Forum – Beijing took place on August 27 at Zhongguancun Life Science Park in Beijing. Jointly organized by the DXY Insight Database and Zhongguancun Life Science Park Company, the event brought together representatives from multinational pharmaceutical companies, innovative drug companies and investment institutions to explore the theme “Redefining Boundaries, Building a Shared Ecosystem.”

Discussions focused on global collaboration in innovative medicines, the evolution of pharmaceutical BD and deal-making models, and approaches to evaluating the value of innovative assets.

As part of the Insight InCity series, the Beijing event continued its focus on in-depth discussion and targeted networking. Sessions covered market trends, BD strategies, project presentations and ecosystem development, with dedicated opportunities for companies to present their assets and showcase their BD needs. These sessions helped facilitate more efficient connections between asset developers, industry partners and investors.

Jacky Lu, Director of Pharmaceutical Strategy and Industry Development at the DXY Insight Database, served as the event moderator, welcoming guests and introducing the industry context and agenda for the forum.

During the keynote session,Paul Cui, Director of Commercial Operations for Greater China at IQVIA, delivered a presentation on “Global and China Market Development Trends.”

He provided a systematic overview of growth patterns in the global pharmaceutical market, the concentration of value among leading pharmaceutical companies and key therapeutic areas, and the opportunities for high-quality alternatives created by the approaching patent cliff. He also highlighted China's growing importance as a major source of global innovative drug R&D.

Drawing on developments in China's pharmaceutical market—including market size, evolving distribution channels, healthcare cost-containment policies and market access trends—he explored how Chinese pharmaceutical companies are moving beyond taking individual products overseas toward more systematic global expansion. He also highlighted opportunities for strategic upgrading through portfolio optimization and BD licensing transactions.

Peter Yi Lin Zhang, CFA, Partner at YFA, then delivered a presentation titled “MNC BD Priorities under Portfolio Pressure.”

Drawing on several cross-border transaction cases, he examined how patent expirations, pipeline gaps and capability gaps influence BD decision-making at multinational pharmaceutical companies (MNCs).

He noted that portfolio pressures shape what companies need from a transaction, while clinical and translational evidence influences how that transaction is structured. Depending on the circumstances, MNCs may pursue different pathways, including licensing, options, NewCo structures, asset acquisitions or company acquisitions.

Coca, Editor-in-Chief of BD Scholar, presented “How to Conduct an In-Depth Analysis of an MNC's BD Strategy.”

He introduced a six-dimensional framework for analyzing MNC BD strategies, emphasizing that BD should move beyond simply finding potential buyers and instead focus on identifying genuine strategic needs.

Using dimensions such as commercial gaps, combination therapy opportunities, internal pipelines, discontinued or deprioritized assets, historical BD activity and broader company developments, he explained how to assess an MNC's actual needs, the urgency of potential transactions and potential collaboration opportunities. This approach can help improve the success rate of matching innovative assets with relevant partners.

During the project presentation session, six companies—Senmiao Biotech, Qinghui Liannuo, Aisaipu, Anlong Bio, Fengzhang Bio and Iminokang—presented their projects in depth and engaged in interactive Q&A with potential partners, investors and industry participants.

The presentations covered project mechanisms, R&D progress, clinical value, differentiated advantages and partnership needs, providing attendees with a focused opportunity for in-depth project discussion and exchange.

The roundtable discussion was moderated by Lulu Cong, Vice President of DXY, and brought together Li Dapeng, Associate Director of the Merck R&D China Innovation Collaboration Center; Wang Xin, APAC Regional Director of Global Business Development at Servier; Jenny Yang, Head of External Innovation and Business Development for Asia-Pacific at Novo Nordisk; and Zhang Lei, Associate Director of Business Development at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. Together, they explored “The Evolution of Global BD for China's Innovative Medicines and the Reshaping of the Ecosystem.”

Drawing on their respective experience in pharmaceutical BD, external innovation, business development and cross-border collaboration, the speakers shared their perspectives on the changing industry landscape.

From the perspective of large multinational pharmaceutical companies, the discussion examined the types of innovative assets currently attracting the greatest attention. The speakers also explored how potential assets are evaluated across multiple dimensions, including scientific mechanisms, clinical differentiation, unmet medical needs, stage of development, data quality, global rights and the feasibility of potential partnerships.

The panel further discussed opportunities across technology platforms, therapeutic areas, asset types and collaboration models as the BD landscape continues to evolve.

Regarding the growing role of AI in drug R&D and BD transactions, the speakers agreed that AI can only create meaningful project value when supported by verifiable data, clearly defined use cases and demonstrable improvements in R&D efficiency or the likelihood of success.

In addition to the keynote presentations and roundtable discussion, the event featured open networking and targeted business matchmaking sessions.

Participants' BD needs and collaboration interests were shared during the event, while staff facilitated introductions and conversations among guests with relevant partnership interests. These interactions helped create more direct connections between high-quality projects, industry resources and investment capital.

As China's innovative pharmaceutical industry enters a new phase of global collaboration, the ability to identify the right opportunities—and connect the right partners—will become increasingly important.

Through the Insight InCity series, Insight will continue bringing together innovative drug companies, multinational pharmaceutical companies, investment institutions and industry partners to explore the trends, transactions and partnerships shaping the next chapter of pharmaceutical innovation.

By creating opportunities for deeper discussion and more meaningful connections, Insight aims to help turn promising ideas and assets into practical opportunities for global collaboration.