Biotechnology in Asia: Show Me The Green!

Biotechnology is playing an increasingly important role in the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare in general. It is the source of major medical breakthroughs for treatments marketed to both the developed and developing world. Although often overshadowed by traditional manufacturing and other high technology industries, biotechnology is viewed with promise by many in Asia. Asian Tigers, such as Singapore, view this high technology, high value-add industry as a key growth sector. Since 1996 the government of China has invested over 1.5 billion Yuan ($180M) in biotechnology and it plans to invest another 5B Yuan by 2005. Today in China there are an estimated 50 biotechnology start-ups and 300 publicly funded laboratories.

What are the opportunities and challenges of starting and/or investing in a biotechnology company in Asia? How will the current economic climate impact the growth of biotechnology in Asia and what does the future hold? To what extent is there a connection between the Asian and US biotechnology communities? Our panel, which consists of several VCs with extensive experience in Asian Biotechnology investment, will discuss these and other interesting topics.

Featured Panelists:

• Todd Morrill, Chief Business Officer, Trellis Bioscience, Panel Moderator
• Deepa Chitra, Ph.D., CEO, Bio-Ved Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  
• Kenneth Fong, Ph.D., Chairman, Kenson Ventures
  
• Frank Kung, Ph.D., Managing General Partner, Bio Asia Investments
  
• Zhi Yang, Ph.D., General Partner, BioVeda Capital