BIO Asia–Taiwan 2026 Preview: AI Drug Discovery, CDMO and CGT Take Center Stage

BIO Asia–Taiwan 2026 will open next week, bringing together global biotechnology leaders, pharmaceutical executives, investors, and innovators to explore the future direction of the biomedical industry. In addition to a series of Plenary Sessions featuring international experts, this year’s conference will host multiple Innovation Forums focusing on critical technologies and market shifts shaping the global healthcare landscape.

From artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery and the transformation of pharmaceutical R&D models to CDMO supply chain strategies and the clinical translation of cell and gene therapies (CGT), the conference will highlight key areas driving the next wave of biomedical innovation. GeneOnline highlights three must-attend Innovation Forums, offering an early look at expert perspectives and emerging trends that are redefining the global biotech ecosystem.

Beyond the scientific and technological discussions, another major highlight of this year’s conference is the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s (HKEX) first participation in BIO Asia–Taiwan. Johnsee Lee, Committee Chair of BIO Asia–Taiwan, believes HKEX’s presence in Taiwan reflects international capital markets’ growing confidence in Taiwan’s biotechnology sector. He added that the move also provides an opportunity for Taiwan to reassess its capital market structure and regulatory environment to better support biotech growth.

AI x Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Drug Discovery

The “Session A-4 – AI x Medicine” Innovation Forum will take place on July 16 from 10:50 to 12:20. The session will be opened by Huey-Kang Sytwu, President of the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI), and will examine how AI and physics-based approaches are transforming modern drug discovery.

Speakers will discuss advances ranging from computational design and automated research platforms to global commercialization strategies. Karen Akinsanya, President, R&D – Therapeutics and Chief Strategy Officer at Schrödinger, will introduce the company’s “predict-first” strategy, which combines first-principles physics simulations with AI technologies.

Kevin Tsai, Vice President of XtalPi Inc., will share how AI-powered robotic automation is integrated into intelligent R&D platforms. Through data-driven iteration, the platform accelerates the entire drug discovery workflow, from hypothesis generation and molecular design to experimental validation. The approach aims to make pharmaceutical innovation more efficient, scalable, and reproducible.

Emily Fang, Chief Executive Officer of InFocus Therapeutics, will discuss AI-enabled drug development and global partnership strategies. Her presentation will highlight the importance of balancing scientific innovation with commercial execution, while exploring how international collaborations and capital strategies can support biotech growth.

The panel discussion will be moderated by Hsing-Pang Hsieh, Director of the Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research at NHRI. It will bring together the featured speakers and Alex Zhavoronkov, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Insilico Medicine, to discuss the next phase of AI-driven drug discovery and emerging opportunities across the pharmaceutical industry.

CDMO Strategies: Navigating Global Supply Chain Restructuring and Manufacturing Opportunities

Industry leaders have previously told GeneOnline that supply chain restructuring has been underway across multiple industries for years, driven initially by global trade tensions and further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in pharmaceutical supply chains worldwide, prompting governments to recognize that medicines are not merely commercial products but strategic resources essential to public health and national resilience.

Against this backdrop, the CDMO industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Customer expectations have shifted from simply seeking manufacturing services to finding long-term strategic partners capable of supporting innovation and growth.

For many emerging biotech companies with limited resources, CDMOs are no longer viewed solely as execution partners. Instead, they are increasingly expected to provide integrated support across early-stage development, manufacturing strategy, regulatory pathways, and even challenges associated with fundraising and commercialization.

Reflecting these industry shifts, the “Session A-5 – CDMO Strategies” Innovation Forum will take place on July 16 from 10:50 to 12:20. The session will be moderated by Portia Lin, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer at EirGenix, and will bring together global CDMO executives, pharmaceutical leaders, and biotechnology innovators to explore the evolving manufacturing landscape.

Featured speakers include George Yeh, Chief Executive Officer of Taiwan Liposome Company (TLC); Mallik Paranandi, Global Head of Biologics Drug Product Development & Manufacturing at Sanofi; Shigeru Kunii, Head of Business Development Asia at AGC Biologics; and Gary Hu, Senior Vice President of Asia Business Development at AmbioPharm.

Cell & Gene Therapy: Advancing Genome Editing, AAV Innovation, and Global Collaboration

The “Session A-6 – Cell & Gene Therapy” Innovation Forum will take place on July 16 from 14:30 to 16:00. The session will be opened and moderated by Ta-Tung Yuan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TFBS Bioscience, focusing on the latest advances in cell and gene therapy development, including genome editing, AAV-based therapies, and strategies for accelerating clinical translation.

Wuh-Liang Hwu, Distinguished Research Fellow at the Center for Precision Medicine, China Medical University Hospital and Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics at National Taiwan University, will discuss recent advances in adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy for rare neurological disorders.

His research team developed AAV2-hAADC, a gene therapy targeting aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has demonstrated restored AADC activity, while cerebrospinal fluid neurotransmitter analysis confirmed increased dopamine levels following treatment. The therapy has now reached global commercialization, marketed as Kebilidi in the United States and Upstaza in other regions.

Matthew Porteus, Sutardja Chuk Professor of Definitive and Curative Medicine, and Director of Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine (CDCM) at Stanford University, will explore precision genome editing approaches for developing stem cell-based medicines under the topic “Using the Precision of Genome Editing to Develop Stem Cell Based Drugs.”

His presentation will focus on how homology-directed repair (HDR)-based genome editing technologies are being improved to advance the development of stem cell therapies. These approaches could provide new treatment options for genetic disorders, cancers, and non-genetic diseases.

In addition, Toshihiko Doi, Director of the National Cancer Center Hospital East in Japan, will present “Shifting Early-Stage Development Between Japan and Taiwan into Second Gear: Innovation Support at the Kashiwanoha Campus.”

Doi will introduce how Japan’s Kashiwanoha innovation ecosystem integrates hospitals, research institutions, academic organizations, and industry partners to build a comprehensive platform supporting early-stage clinical development and healthcare innovation. He will also discuss how Japan–Taiwan collaboration could accelerate clinical translation and global expansion of innovative medical technologies.

What Taiwan’s Biotech Capital Market Can Learn from Hong Kong’s Listing Model

With the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) making its first appearance at BIO Asia–Taiwan this year, industry attention has focused on whether the move could encourage more Taiwanese biotech companies to pursue Hong Kong listings. Johnsee Lee emphasized that HKEX’s participation reflects international recognition of Taiwan’s biotechnology potential, rather than a weakness in Taiwan’s capital market. Instead, he sees it as an opportunity for Taiwan to further improve its financial ecosystem, regulatory framework, and support mechanisms for biotech innovation.

Lee noted that biotechnology requires long-term capital due to its high risks, lengthy development timelines, and substantial investment needs. Comparing Taiwan and Hong Kong’s listing systems, he explained that Taiwan has traditionally relied more on administrative review, while Hong Kong adopts a market-driven approach that requires international institutional investment and rigorous due diligence. He believes this mechanism provides valuable insights for Taiwan by allowing market forces to identify and support high-potential companies.

Citing PharmaEssentia as an example, Lee pointed out that even after successfully entering the U.S. market, biotech companies still need continuous capital to support global commercialization, market expansion, and clinical development. He added that Taiwan’s investment culture has historically favored shorter business cycles influenced by the success of the electronics industry, but biotechnology requires patience, long-term commitment, and tolerance for scientific uncertainty.

While short-term capital may increase market volatility, it also improves liquidity and helps company valuations better reflect market expectations. Lee called for a more flexible regulatory framework tailored to different biotech sectors, enabling capital markets to better support innovation and strengthen Taiwan’s position in the global life sciences ecosystem.

Author

Steven Chung

紅杏枝頭春意鬧固然是眾人所追求的風景，但我願意說，青蘿拂行衣更能湧生感嘆。 願在海量晦澀的生醫資訊中，為您點亮一座心燈塔。鐘煌翔