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BIO Asia Award 2026 Honors Professor Masatoshi Hagiwara and AstraZeneca for Advancing Biotechnology Innovation and Public Health
The Individual Award recognizes Professor Masatoshi Hagiwara, Professor at the Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan. Image: The Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and Immunobiology (CCII) at Kyoto University.
Taipei, July 13, 2026 — The International Committee of BIO Asia–Taiwan today announced the recipients of the BIO Asia Award 2026. The Individual Award recognizes Professor Masatoshi Hagiwara, Professor at the Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan, for his pioneering contributions to translational medicine, innovative drug discovery, and biotechnology entrepreneurship. The Organization Award recognizes AstraZeneca for its leadership in pandemic response and its continued efforts to advance public health and healthcare innovation across Asia.
The BIO Asia Award stands among Asia’s leading international biotechnology honors. The International Committee of the annual BIO Asia–Taiwan convention nominates candidates, and representatives from multiple countries select recipients through a voting process. Now in its third year, the award recognizes individuals and organizations that have advanced biotechnology innovation, industry development, public health, policy initiatives, and regional collaboration, particularly across the Asia-Pacific region.
Professor Hagiwara’s Scientific Contributions
Professor Hagiwara is internationally recognized as a leader in translational medicine who has dedicated his career to connecting fundamental discoveries with clinical applications that improve patient outcomes. As the founder of the Japanese Society of Chemical Biology, he has helped advance chemical biology research and foster collaboration across Japan’s scientific community.
His research has focused on RNA splicing regulation and transcriptomics-driven drug discovery. Through these efforts, he has helped establish key scientific foundations for RNA-targeted small-molecule therapeutics and expanded opportunities for developing medicines against complex biological targets.
Professor Hagiwara has also translated scientific discoveries into pharmaceutical innovation. His research has contributed to therapeutic advances in areas including cardiovascular and neurological diseases, including work associated with compounds such as Takeda’s vinpocetine and Otsuka’s cilostazol (Pletaal).
Beyond academia, Professor Hagiwara has played a leading role in biotechnology entrepreneurship. He founded multiple biotechnology companies, including KinoPharma, HiLung, and BTB Therapeutics, which focus on therapeutic areas ranging from infectious diseases and central nervous system disorders to regenerative medicine using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), non-opioid pain management, and genetic diseases. He currently serves as Chief Scientific Officer and Chairman of BTB Therapeutics and is widely recognized as one of Asia’s most influential academic entrepreneurs.
BIO Asia Award Recognizes AstraZeneca
The Organization Award recognizes AstraZeneca for its rapid response during the COVID-19 pandemic and its long-term commitment to strengthening healthcare systems across Asia. The selection committee highlighted AstraZeneca’s ability to unite governments, academic institutions, healthcare providers, and industry partners to build more resilient healthcare ecosystems in the post-pandemic era.
During the pandemic, AstraZeneca supported global and regional health efforts through vaccine development, supply initiatives, non-profit pricing commitments, manufacturing partnerships, cold-chain distribution support, and participation in the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative. These efforts helped expand vaccine access and strengthen pandemic preparedness across the region.
Following the pandemic, AstraZeneca has shifted its focus from emergency response toward long-term disease prevention, management, and healthcare transformation. Through its Innovation Hub, the company works with governments, research institutions, healthcare providers, technology partners, and healthcare payers across Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and other Asian markets to develop integrated healthcare solutions.
By applying technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled screening and digital decision-support tools, AstraZeneca has supported initiatives in areas including lung cancer screening and chronic disease management. Several pilot programs have progressed into real-world clinical applications and aligned with national healthcare priorities.
“The BIO Asia Award aims to recognize exceptional individuals and organizations that advance biotechnology innovation, international collaboration, and public health development across Asia. Professor Hagiwara represents how scientific excellence can translate into meaningful healthcare impact. Through his contributions to drug discovery and biotechnology entrepreneurship, he has helped shape the future of medicine and create lasting benefits for patients worldwide,” said Dr. Johnsee Lee, Chairman of BIO Asia–Taiwan.
“AstraZeneca has demonstrated outstanding leadership not only through pharmaceutical innovation, but also through its commitment to global health initiatives, including COVAX, and its continued investment in healthcare transformation across Asia. Both recipients serve as inspiring examples for the biotechnology community, and their achievements deserve this recognition,” added Lee.
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