Wuxi leads China's biopharma push

The 2026 Taihu Bay Future Healthcare Conference begins in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, on May 8, 2026. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

By gathering top scientists, investors, and industry leaders for the 2026 Taihu Bay Future Healthcare Conference, Wuxi in Jiangsu province is solidifying its biopharmaceutical sector in alignment with the Healthy China 2030 initiative.

Several projects — including the 300-million-yuan ($44.1-million) Jiaheng (East China) Cell Processing Center and a 2-billion-yuan biopharmaceutical accelerator fund established by Vivo Capital and Wuxi — were highlighted at the opening ceremony on May 8. The fund is aimed at supporting innovative drug candidates, international expansion, and talent attraction.

Three innovation platforms, including the Wuxi Biologics Raw Materials and Functional Foods Pilot Platform, and two key provincial laboratories were unveiled at the event to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical and industrial applications.

Additionally, the city introduced eight "AI + biopharmaceutical" application scenarios for 2026, covering drug discovery, clinical brain-computer interfaces, cell and gene therapy, and more.

Wuxi's capabilities as a premier biopharma hub have earned praise from industry leaders. James Deng, global senior vice-president of BD, noted the city's potential to bridge supply-side strengths with growing market demand, while Rogier Janssens, president of Merck China, described Wuxi as a "fertile ground to grow together in collaboration".

With a rapidly expanding industrial ecosystem, Wuxi has emerged as a fast-growing hub for next-generation biomedicine. Over the past five years, Wuxi's biopharmaceutical sector has grown over 12 percent annually, surpassing 200 billion yuan in scale with nearly 2,500 enterprises. The city hosts six Fortune Global 500 companies, 17 listed firms, and 66 industry funds totaling over 57 billion yuan.

The three-day conference features nine forums and six matchmaking events focused on innovation, clinical application, product commercialization, and ecosystem development — providing new momentum for Wuxi's ongoing role as a leading force in China's biopharma industry.