Strengthening Biotech Ties: Highlights from the BioConnect Forum and Future Collaboration between Taiwan and Australia

On October 28, the “BioConnect: Australia-Taiwan Biotech Forum” held in Melbourne, Australia, was a powerful showcase of a shared vision for biotech. The event co-hosted by the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries Promotion Office (BPIPO), the Southern Taiwan Science Park Bureau, the Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB), and the Australian Office in Taipei gathered numerous biotech enterprises from Taiwan and Australia, fostering bilateral exchanges and showcasing Taiwan’s potential in regenerative medicine, biotechnology, and digital health. Michael Huang, the Director of BPIPO and the Vice President of DCB, led the Taiwanese delegation, aiming to promote close collaboration between the biotech sectors in Taiwan and Australia.

Building a Sustainable Biotech Ecosystem for Taiwan and Australia

Dr. Rick Guei-Sheung Liu, principal investigator at the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), expressed that Melbourne is full of biotech innovation vitality, and CERA is focused on ophthalmic research, including novel diagnostic and treatment methods. CERA actively participates in international collaboration, including engagements with Taiwanese biotech companies, driving the advancement of global ophthalmic research. Victoria is known as a biotech hub, with several well-known universities and research institutions in Melbourne being ideal venues for biomedical collaboration.

Hsiu-Chen Lin, Deputy Director-General of the Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) Bureau, discussed the plan to jointly establish the “Australia-Taiwan Biopharma Association”, hoping to fully leverage biomedical collaboration between the two countries. Lin pointed out the rapid progress in Taiwan’s biomedical innovation and believed that this forum would build lasting ties and drive bilateral growth.

Ray Ming-Tse Lu, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Melbourne, highlighted Taiwan’s strengths in regenerative medicine and digital health. He noted the similarities between Taiwan and Australia in clinical trials and biomedical research, and pointed out opportunities for collaboration in immunotherapy and vaccine development, which could address severe diseases and further promote the development of precision medicine. He suggested that Taiwan and Australia could work together to create a more sustainable and innovative biomedical ecosystem, benefiting the public in both countries. Lu noted that Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, has long been a vital hub for Australia’s biotech industry. These collaboration areas are key components of President Lai Ching-te’s “Trillion Dollar Industry Plan,” which aims to foster robust biotech growth.

Biotechnology: One of Four Key Cooperation Areas

Recent years, biotechnology cooperation has been a focal topic of the Taiwan-Australia Economic Consultation Meeting, reflecting the long-term efforts of both sides to deepen collaboration. To this end, Douglas Yu-Tien Hsu, Taiwan’s representative at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia, signed the “Taiwan-Australia Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement” in May with Robert Fergusson, representative of the Australian Office in Taiwan. Biotechnology is one of the four key areas of cooperation outlined in the agreement. In recent years, industries from both countries have continued interactions, with delegations attending the “BIO Asia-Taiwan” and “AusBiotech” annually. This year, 21 Australian companies visited Taiwan, while 11 Taiwanese biotech companies participated in the conference in Melbourne.

Several well-known Taiwanese companies, including ACRO Biomedical, HONYA MEDICAL, KriSan Biotech, and UnicoCell, attended this event. According to the latest data from the Southern Taiwan Science Park Bureau, the park’s revenue reached NT$1.5855 trillion in 2023, with the biotech industry’s revenue surpassing NT$12.1 billion. This growth underscores the potential of international cooperation in Taiwan’s biotech sector. BPIPO and DCB also further consolidated Taiwan’s international status as a biotech research and manufacturing center.

Natural Collagen Scaffolds, Stem Cell Therapies, and CDMO Innovations Among Biotech Advances

From an industry perspective, Katherine Martin, Senior Advisor at Austrade, provided an overview of Australia’s biotech landscape, underscoring Australia’s world-class medical infrastructure and strong government support. With over 1,300 medical and biotech companies and extensive funding initiatives, including a substantial Medical Research Future Fund and generous tax incentives, Australia offers a fertile environment for clinical research and development. Additionally, Australia’s robust clinical trial infrastructure, which benefits from quick start-up times and a diverse population for recruitment, has made it one of the top-tier destination for trials. Martin noted that recent investments by major pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and BioNTech reflect the appeal of Australia’s collaborative ecosystem.

Charles Lu, General Manager of ACRO Biomedical, shared the company’s experience in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Founded more than ten years ago, ACRO is committed to developing biological scaffold technologies using natural collagen, utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide extraction technology to create highly compatible biomaterials for regenerating human tissues and organs. He shared achievements in bone grafting and corneal reconstruction, emphasizing the potential of stem cell therapy in addressing the challenges posed by an aging population in Taiwan and beyond.

Jackson Liu, Chairman of HONYA Medical, stated that the company continues to invest in the development of stem cell therapies, focusing particularly on cardiovascular and renal diseases. After successfully proving the efficacy of treatment in cardiac patients through clinical trials, the company is actively planning future R&D expansion globally, with hopes to launch clinical trials in Australia.

Ariel Lin, Business Development Manager at KriSan Biotech, introduced the company’s extensive capabilities and expertise in small-molecule manufacturing, positioning itself as a comprehensive service partner for new drug development. They offer 122 compounds, providing services from initial research to commercial-scale production for small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and highly potent drugs as a specialized CDMO provider.

Yipei Hung, General Manager of UnicoCell, shared the company’s progress in regenerative medicine, focusing on treatments for osteoarthritis, kidney diseases, and retinal degenerative diseases. She noted that UnicoCell’s products emphasize stability and efficacy, meeting international quality standards, and expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Australian companies.

Gene Therapy, Allogeneic Cell Drugs, and CAPRI Cell Therapy Driving Next-Generation Biotech Revolution

Keith Martin, Managing Director of CERA, emphasized the organization’s dedication to combating blindness through innovative technologies such as gene therapy, cell reprogramming, and hyperspectral imaging for next-generation AI diagnostics. CERA’s pioneering work in tissue-engineered corneas and the development of telehealth platforms has established the institute as a driver in translational research.

Silviu Itescu, CEO of Mesoblast, highlighted the company’s advancements in allogeneic cellular medicines for inflammatory diseases, showcasing their platform’s unique ability to target multiple inflammatory pathways and discussing potential partnerships for late-stage clinical development.
Dr. Afsar Ahmed, CSO of Aeterna, presented Aeterna’s CAPRI cell therapy, designed to overcome limitations in cellular immunotherapy by modifying patient-derived cells to enhance effectiveness in targeting cancer cells. He also announced plans to expand trials in Asia to expedite clinical development.

Dr. Patricia Vietheer, Senior Director at Biointelect, discussed Biointelect’s role as a strategy consulting firm and CRO, guiding biopharma projects from development to market access. With expertise in navigating regulatory pathways and economic modeling, Biointelect has facilitated vaccine distribution partnerships, including work with Novavax. Closing the session, Luis Silva, Regional BD Manager at Acclime, elaborated on Australia’s R&D tax incentive framework, which enables foreign-owned subsidiaries to benefit from significant financial incentives, strengthening the case for international companies to establish research and development initiatives in Australia.

Additionally, Professor Guei-Sheung (Rick) Liu, president of the Taiwanese Scholars Association in Australia and head of genetic engineering research at the Australian Centre for Eye Research, played a key role in the event. Liu mentioned ongoing discussions with the Australian industry to establish a “Taiwan-Australia Biotech Industry Association”. This initiative aims to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry and create more opportunities for international biotech innovation. In his speech, Lu expressed hopes that future Taiwan-Australia collaboration would foster mutual advancement in academia and industry. He emphasized a desire to create a model that integrates industry, government, and academia to promote biotech development.

BPIPO and DCB Continue to Drive Taiwan-Australia Industry-Academia Collaboration

The event concluded with reflections on the day’s discussions, led by Michael Huang, Director/Vice President at BPIPO/DCB, who highlighted the shared commitment between Taiwan and Australia to achieving greater biopharma progress. Taiwan’s strengths in manufacturing and cell therapy, combined with Australia’s clinical research capabilities, promise a mutually beneficial partnership. Expressing gratitude to all participants, Huang looked forward to expanding future delegations and continuing the momentum of collaboration for both countries’ advancements in healthcare innovation.

AusBiotech 2024 opened on October 30, featuring several distinguished VIPs at the Taiwan Pavilion for the opening ceremony of the Taiwan Southern Science Park. This event aims to further enhance the platform for Taiwan-Australia biotech exchanges and foster collaboration in the biotechnology sector.

Author

Bernice Lottering