Shrinking product pipelines and increasing generic competition has lead to a growing number of deals being struck between biotech companies seeking investment dollars and pharma companies seeking potential block-busters and new areas for expansion. In 2004 the contribution of licensed products towards the total sale of pharma products was 20% and forecast to increase to around 40% by 2010.  Furthermore there is a shift in the predominance of mid to late-stage deals giving rise to more early stage deals and adding vibrancy to the deal-making industry. During the 2002-2005 period, the late-stage deals decreased by 26% in value whereby the early stage deals grew from US$46.9 to US$73.1 million (Source: Frost & Sullivan).

At the same time some of the highest value individual deals between pharma and biotech companies have been recorded and some very creative deal structures are emerging to ensure minimal risk for both parties, involving early stage molecules or collaborative discovery and development focused on the specific targets and discovery platform tools. This is all good news for the emerging biotech companies as this places them in a better bargaining position than ever before.

Many multinationals are turning their attention to the Asia Pacific region as a source of innovative approaches and  new technologies and products to replenishing their pipelines. Partnership opportunities also exist for companies with diagnostic platforms, biomarkers for the development of theranostics and personalised medicine approaches towards healthcare, drug delivery devices, novel  expression systems, cell, tissue and gene therapies   as well as discovery and development tools and animals models to find licensing partners in order to generate cash flow and increase the value of their IP & product portfolios.

The Asian biotech power houses of India, China, Japan, Korea and Singapore have already attracted much attention from big pharmas and biotechs looking for innovative products and approaches to replenish their pipelines through partnerships and collaboration. Other Asian companies are not to be left behind and are proactively seeking suitable alliances by which they can obtain know-how, and license-in technologies and products to kick start their  national biotech drive in order to enhance economic growth and provide newer, better and cost effective  therapeutics for their populations.

Against this setting, BioLicensing Asia 2008 will provide the opportunity for emerging innovative companies in Asia Pacific to form alliances and create high value deals which will drive the commercialisation of their products and technologies and enhance the value of their companies. The event will also provides a forum for the world’s top companies to make their partnering needs and plans for new product development known.

BioLicensing Asia 2008 will bring together licensing & business development professionals from big pharmas, biotechs, start-up & spin-off biotechs and academics, licensing, legal & IP professionals from Asia and globally to share and learn best partnership models and strategies and discuss how the current global pharma-biotech, public-private licensing trends are affecting the deal-making process of establishing mutually successful partnerships