2026 Taiwan Biotech Forum Shines in San Diego, Spotlighting Precision Medicine Innovations

On June 21, 2026, the highly anticipated Taiwan Biotech Forum officially opened its doors in San Diego, shedding a bright light on the future of healthcare. Hosted by the Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB), primarily sponsored by the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT), and co-organized with GeneOnline and Biocom, the event focused deeply on “Innovative Therapeutic Modalities in Precision Medicine”.

This warm and engaging gathering successfully brought together top-tier experts from the United States and Taiwan to engage in thoughtful dialogues. Through a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and business showcases, attendees explored the latest breakthroughs in pulmonary antisense drugs, photoimmunotherapy, versatile nanoparticle delivery platforms, and mucosal vaccine delivery.

Entering a Transformative Biopharmaceutical Era, Unlocking Pulmonary Antisense Drug Technologies

The forum commenced with an inspiring, heartfelt welcome from Dr. Shiing-Jer Twu, Chairman of the DCB, who warmly greeted the international audience. He emphasized with genuine optimism that the global biopharmaceutical industry is currently stepping into a truly transformative era, propelled by remarkable, groundbreaking advances in genetic medicine, RNA therapeutics, targeted immunotherapy, and sophisticated nanoparticle delivery systems.

Dr. Twu highlighted that as precision medicine continues to contribute significantly to global healthcare, cross-border and interdisciplinary innovation has become more essential than ever. He pointed out Taiwan’s expanding capabilities in drug development, translational research, and advanced manufacturing. He expressed a sincere hope that this collaborative platform would strengthen the critical, deeply rooted connections between Taiwan and the global biotech community, fostering meaningful conversations on emerging technologies and strategic partnerships.

Following the opening, Dr. Alexey Revenko, Vice President of Pulmonology and Immunology at IONIS Pharmaceuticals, delivered a compelling presentation on inhaled antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) for lung diseases. He explained that delivering ASOs directly to the lungs offers high local exposure while keeping systemic toxicity remarkably low. Dr. Revenko mapped out the lung’s incredible complexity, noting ASO activity in ciliated cells, goblet cells, and Type 1 alveolar cells, though Type 2 cells remain somewhat resistant.

However, traditional phosphorothioate (PS) ASOs sometimes triggered pro-inflammatory effects and complement activation in sensitive species like monkeys. To gracefully overcome this hurdle, IONIS rigorously screened hundreds of chemical backbones, ultimately discovering Mesyl Phosphoramidate (MsPA). Dr. Revenko shared that MsPA-modified ASOs dramatically mitigate these unwanted immune responses while extending the drug’s duration of action, smoothly paving the way for convenient monthly or quarterly inhalation dosing.

Shedding Light on Novel Oncology Treatments, Advancing Rakuten Medical’s Photoimmunotherapy Platform

The spotlight then gently turned to the oncology field, with Carlos A. Garcia, Chief Technology Officer and US Divisional Officer of Rakuten Medical, detailing the company’s pioneering Alluminox photoimmunotherapy platform. Founded in 2010 as Aspyrian Therapeutics, the company has grown into a global force with operations in San Diego, Tokyo, Taiwan, and Switzerland. This innovative approach brilliantly combines the molecular specificity of monoclonal antibodies with a light-activated photosensitizer dye known as IR700.

Once the antibody-drug conjugate binds to specific receptors on cancer cells, physicians apply a precise 690-nanometer red light. This focused illumination triggers rapid, localized tumor necrosis. Beyond merely destroying the tumor cells, Garcia passionately noted that the therapy releases neoantigens that transform the tumor microenvironment from “cold” to “hot,” effectively recruiting T cells and macrophages to mount a robust, systemic immune response against the cancer.

Sharing deeply encouraging clinical updates, Garcia highlighted the success of their lead asset, ASP-1929, which previously secured conditional approval in Japan for head and neck cancer. Based on strong early-phase data, Rakuten Medical is currently advancing a massive global Phase 3 registration trial (Study 381) that gracefully combines ASP-1929 with pembrolizumab, targeting 412 patients.

He also touched on promising real-world data in nasopharyngeal cancer, showing a staggering 70.6% complete response rate in 14 patients, though he cautioned about serious risks like carotid artery rupture. Acknowledging the manufacturing complexities of such light-sensitive drugs, Garcia candidly described past production as a “nightmare”. Yet, the team triumphed by developing a highly stable lyophilized formulation. This crucial freeze-dried advancement successfully prevents heat and light degradation, maintaining monomer purity above 96%, thereby ensuring the therapy can reliably reach patients across the globe.

Mastering Targeted Genetic Medicine Delivery, Nitto BioPharma’s Lipid Nanoparticle Innovations

Transitioning to the delicate, vital challenge of drug delivery, Dr. Philip L. Sheridan, Senior Director of Business Development at Nitto BioPharma, presented their highly versatile lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform. He observed that humanity is currently embracing a “golden age of genetic medicine,” marked by milestones like the 1990 discovery of mRNA injection, the 1998 ASO drug approval, and the 2020 Nobel Prize for CRISPR-Cas9. Yet, safe and reliable delivery remains the ultimate hurdle. 

Nitto BioPharma, operating labs in San Diego and Japan, has lovingly built a massive proprietary library containing over 1,000 unique lipids. Dr. Sheridan proudly pointed to their legacy siRNA programs, which were rigorously tested in over 300 patients across nine clinical trials without eliciting significant adverse events. Impressively, these proven legacy formulations utilize a lyophilized dosage form that securely maintains a shelf life extending far beyond five years.

Dr. Sheridan then vividly illustrated the LNP platform’s remarkable versatility across different organs and tissues. For cystic fibrosis patients, Nitto carefully developed nebulization-stable LNPs that effectively deliver full-length 5kb CFTR mRNA directly to lung club cells. In rigorous in vitro tests using primary patient cells within Ussing chambers, this approach successfully restored chloride channel function to levels equivalent to or even better than the current standard-of-care, Trikafta.

Beyond the lungs, the platform is expanding into active, cell-specific targeting for systemic treatments. Dr. Sheridan detailed their breakthrough in vivo CAR-T therapy, using CD8-targeted LNPs to deliver CAR mRNA directly to T cells inside the body, successfully inhibiting B-cell lymphoma growth in mice. Furthermore, the LNPs accurately delivered Cas9 mRNA to the liver, achieving highly specific, dose-dependent gene editing of the TTR gene with only transient liver enzyme impacts.

Revolutionizing Public Health with Oral Vaccines, Expanding Taiwan’s Biotech Industry Ecosystem

Addressing the ongoing, deeply personal challenges of global infectious diseases, Dr. Sean Tucker, Chief Scientific Officer at Vaxart, introduced a revolutionary room-temperature stable oral tablet vaccine platform. Built on a non-replicating adenovirus vector combined with a clever double-stranded RNA hairpin adjuvant, these easy-to-swallow pills aim to significantly boost lagging public vaccine uptake while targeting pathogens directly at their entry points. 

Dr. Tucker emphasized that oral delivery beautifully generates protective, highly cross-reactive mucosal IgA antibodies in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. In a human challenge study for influenza, Vaxart’s oral vaccine achieved a 49% relative reduction in infection rates, smoothly outperforming the market-leading injected Fluzone. Furthermore, thrilling hamster studies evaluating COVID-19 variants demonstrated that mucosal IgA not only protects the host but also drastically reduces viral shedding, effectively stopping disease transmission to healthy companions in their tracks.

Taiwan Biotech Shines: Bridging Global Ecosystems with Precision Medicine

Following a morning dedicated to rigorous scientific validation and data-rich presentations, the afternoon Business Showcase at the 2026 Taiwan Biotech Forum gracefully shifted the spotlight toward Taiwan’s impressive homegrown capabilities. This carefully curated session illuminated how the island is actively transforming its rich research and development potential into tangible, global solutions. Far from a standard corporate presentation, the showcase felt like an open invitation for international collaboration, bringing clinical-stage innovations and manufacturing excellence to the forefront. By highlighting specialized contract manufacturing, integrated preclinical ecosystems, and next-generation targeted therapies, the event underscored a collective ambition to tackle some of the industry’s most pressing bottlenecks. It was a clear demonstration of Taiwan’s readiness to serve as a reliable, highly advanced partner in the worldwide pursuit of precision medicine, effectively embedding its robust infrastructure deep into the global pharmaceutical supply chain.

Pioneering Decades of Manufacturing Excellence, Yung Shin Pharma’s Comprehensive End-to-End Solutions

Stepping up to highlight Taiwan’s manufacturing fortitude, Dr. Theresa Zhou introduced Yung Shin Pharma (YSP) as a deeply experienced partner ready to support global pharmaceutical ambitions. Founded in 1965, the company brings nearly six decades of deeply rooted expertise to the table, far exceeding the twenty years of international GMP experience often cited in standard overviews. Operating with strict adherence to rigorous US FDA and Japanese PMDA standards, YSP has built a formidable reputation as a highly trusted CMO and CDMO. Their comprehensive, end-to-end services gracefully guide innovative drug companies all the way from early Phase 1 clinical trial materials through to full-scale commercial production. Currently supporting diverse healthcare markets across more than thirty countries, YSP’s deeply established global network actively ensures supply chain resilience and mitigates the complex risks naturally associated with drug development.

Beyond its impressive historical footprint, YSP is actively embracing the future by seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technologies into its core operations. The company proudly showcased its profound capabilities in handling highly complex formulations, including precise peptide manufacturing, injectable liposomes, microspheres, and delicate high-potency products. To further accelerate timelines and deeply enhance decision-making, YSP has thoughtfully implemented an advanced, AI-enabled development platform. This sophisticated system, featuring tools like AIPLEX and AITOX, smoothly supports vital processes such as target evaluation, safety assessment, and delicate formulation development, ensuring that science is brilliantly augmented by data-driven precision. By combining this forward-looking AI infrastructure with their extensive manufacturing capacity—producing billions of oral solid tablets annually—YSP firmly positions itself as a reliable, future-ready partner dedicated to turning innovative therapeutic concepts into commercial realities.

Revolutionizing Global Preclinical Research Pipelines, T.CROSS Unveils Integrated One-Stop Platform

Addressing the critical and often agonizing transition from discovery to clinical trials, Dr. Genie, Hsian-Jean Chin, presented a paradigm-shifting approach through the Taiwan Contract Research One-Stop Service (T.CROSS). This uniquely collaborative initiative represents a government-supported preclinical ecosystem formed by a strategic alliance of five top-tier Taiwanese research institutions, including the National Health Research Institute and the Development Center for Biotechnology. T.CROSS serves as a highly efficient, single-entry point for global developers, offering an uninterrupted pipeline of services that beautifully spans from early discovery right through to IND-enabling studies. By thoughtfully bridging world-class academic research with strict GLP-certified facilities, this integrated platform aims to significantly lower the immense costs and time constraints typically associated with new drug innovation, providing comprehensive scientific validation.

What truly sets T.CROSS apart is its heartfelt commitment to modernizing the preclinical toolbox through the thoughtful integration of novel technologies. Aligned closely with the Taiwan 3R initiative, the platform beautifully harmonizes traditional animal models with sophisticated New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). This includes the advanced use of AI simulations, microfluidics, and patient-derived xenograft organoid banks to carefully create highly accurate biological avatars for disease modeling. Supported by a dedicated project management group that offers expert, IND-oriented study design consultation, T.CROSS ensures that every nuanced project meets stringent regulatory compliance while gracefully maximizing cost-performance. This holistic ecosystem not only enhances translational success rates but also warmly welcomes international developers to confidently leverage Taiwan’s advanced infrastructure for their critical early-stage research.

Targeting Resilient Cancer at Its Roots, AcadeMab Advances Novel Antibody Therapeutics

Shifting the afternoon’s focus to cutting-edge drug discovery, Dr. B. Jin Lee brought a profound sense of hope with AcadeMab Biomedical’s targeted therapeutic pipeline. Operating as a nimble, clinical-stage biotech company, AcadeMab is fiercely dedicated to eradicating the heartbreaking cycle of tumor recurrence. Their strategy is elegantly simple yet scientifically profound: thoughtfully develop therapies that target not just the rapidly dividing cancer cells, but also the highly resilient cancer stem cells that sadly often evade standard treatments. Their first-in-class lead candidate, AN92A (AM-928), perfectly embodies this compassionate approach. Currently navigating Phase 1 and 2 trials, this multifunctional humanized antibody has already demonstrated deeply encouraging preliminary efficacy, achieving notable tumor shrinkage in 26.7% of evaluated colorectal cancer patients, offering a much-needed lifeline to those battling this aggressive disease.

AcadeMab’s scientific prowess is firmly anchored by a remarkably robust suite of four core antibody development platforms, reflecting years of dedicated research. By skillfully utilizing hybridoma technology, fully human scFv phage display libraries, single B cell technologies, and human antibody transgenic mice, the deeply experienced team is capable of accelerating the discovery of high-affinity therapeutics. Beyond their flagship AN92A program, the company is also making exciting strides with next-generation bispecific antibodies and an innovative ADC drug, A8928, which has successfully achieved beautifully tumor-free outcomes in adenocarcinoma animal models. Furthermore, their ambitious exploration into precise mRNA-LNP delivery systems, vividly showcased by a promising dengue vaccine candidate, beautifully illustrates Taiwan’s explosive original scientific capabilities and their unwavering readiness to forge meaningful global partnerships.

Fostering Resilient Global Biotech Ecosystems, A Vision for Future International Collaborations

As the deeply inspiring afternoon gently drew to a close, Dr. Tsai-Kun Li, President of the Development Center for Biotechnology, took the stage to deliver a warm and deeply resonant closing summary. Reflecting thoughtfully on the immense wealth of knowledge shared, he emphasized how the groundbreaking innovations discussed—from inflammation-reducing chemical backbones in antisense oligonucleotides to tumor-reversing photoimmunotherapy, targeted lipid nanoparticles, and cross-protective mucosal vaccines—are actively reshaping the very boundaries of medicine. Dr. Li beautifully noted that these remarkable advancements, backed by exceptionally solid scientific evidence and rigorous clinical data, collectively declare that the next wave of precision medicine is not just a distant dream, but a rapidly unfolding reality. He expressed profound, heartfelt gratitude to the brilliant minds and strategic partners who made the gathering intimately possible.

Stripping away the superficial gloss often found in corporate events, this year’s Taiwan Biotech Forum fearlessly and honestly confronted the industry’s most critical technical bottlenecks. Dr. Li proudly highlighted that the event successfully embedded Taiwan’s remarkable clinical science and deeply reliable biomanufacturing advantages right into the heart of the global supply chain. By doing so, it gracefully constructed a highly resilient, forward-looking bridge specifically designed to facilitate deep US-Taiwan cooperation in translational medicine, technology licensing, and commercial scale-up. Looking ahead with palpable excitement, Dr. Li warmly announced that next year’s forum will purposefully relocate to Philadelphia, a strategic move thoughtfully intended to further strengthen intimate ties with major US biotech hubs. This ongoing commitment guarantees that the deeply rooted partnerships forged today will continue to beautifully flourish, driving life-saving precision medicine forward for patients worldwide.

Author

Oscar Wu

Fostering knowledge sharing to create a more fluid and transparent information landscape.