You are cordially invited to attend 2025 Chinese New Year celebration party organized by the Chinese American Biopharmaceutical Society (CABS). Please come to enjoy music, singing, dancing, Guzheng (Chinese zither), martial arts and other entertainments performed by local Chinese dancers and artists, experience authentic Chinese foods, having fun solving riddles, prize draw and much more.
Please mark your calendar, and you have to make a donation to get a ticket for lunch. No ticket no lunch and no onsite donation accept. Your early online donation will be greatly appreciated.
We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating Year of the Snake together!
Fair Oaks Community Center, 2600 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA 94063
Call for Innovators and Entrepreneurs: Present at CABS’s Investor Forum During JPMorgan Week!
Are you ready to showcase your groundbreaking technology or program to a wide network of venture capitalists, business development professionals, and biotech executives?
CABS’s flagship Investor Forum during JPMorgan week is the perfect platform to connect with over 150 key decision-makers in the healthcare and biotech space. This is your chance to present your innovative ideas, gain exposure, and network with potential partners and investors.
Who Should Apply?
- Healthcare Innovators
- Seed and Series A Startups
- Biotech Entrepreneurs looking to scale and grow
Why Apply?
- Present to a Global Audience: Pitch your technology and programs to over 150 VCs, BD professionals, and biotech leaders.
- Exclusive Networking Opportunities: Connect with potential investors, partners, and collaborators who can help take your business to the next level.
- Visibility During JPMorgan Week: Showcase your innovation during one of the largest biotech and healthcare gatherings of the year.
How to Apply: To be considered for this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by December 12. All applicants will receive confirmation of their selection by December 15.
Don’t miss your chance to make a lasting impression on the industry’s top leaders. Apply today!
Submit Application
Morrison Foerster SF office @ 425 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94105
CABS is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization headquartered in San Francisco, committed to advancing the life sciences and biotech industry through education, collaboration, and networking.
The annual event, Investor Forum, held in conjunction with the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, has been a hallmark of CABS for nearly 15 years. This year's forum is scheduled to take place on January 15th, 2024, from 8:00 am to 15:00 pm at Morrison Foerster’s San Francisco office (425 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94105). Due to venue capacity restrictions, the forum will have both on-site and online attendance, expecting over 130 on-site participants and more than 100 online attendees.
Our hybrid format will include two insightful panel discussions covering essential topics such as entrepreneurship, investment trends, licensing, and strategic considerations, as well as new opportunities and challenges in life sciences.
2025 CABS Investor Forum Agenda
8:00-8:45AM: Registration
8:45-9:00AM: Welcome Remarks and Introduction of CABS
Kay Tong, President, CABS
9:00-9:30AM: Life Sciences in Transition: What the New Administration Means for the Industry
Brigid Bondoc, Partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP
9:30-10:30AM: Thriving in Uncertainty: Carving Out a Niche in the Life Sciences Jungle
Moderator: Janet Xiao, Partner, Morrison & Foerster LLP
Panelists:
Simone Song, Founder and Senior Partner, ORI Capital
Harry Stylli, Chairman and Co-founder of Karnelian X, Inc.
Shanshan Xu, Founder and CEO of Bambusa Therapeutics Inc.
Shengfang Jin, President and CEO, Ensem Therapeutics Inc.
10:30-10:45AM: Coffee Break and Networking
10:45-11:45AM: Alchemy of Success: Leveraging Commercial Deals to Drive Drug Development
Moderator: Alex Zhang, Founder and CEO, OneTwenty Therapeutics Inc.
Panelists:
Andrew Lam, Managing Director and Head of Biotech Private Equity, Ally Bridge Group
Matt Karlyn, Partner, Morrison & Foerster LLP
David Shen, Founder and CEO of Proteologix Inc.
Speakers Bio:
Brigid Bondoc
Brigid is a food, drug, and medical device lawyer who advises life sciences companies on a wide range of U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) pre- and post-market regulatory issues.
As a member of our FDA + Healthcare Regulatory and Compliance Group, Brigid works with medical devices, drugs, biologics, cell and gene therapies, food, cosmetics, dietary supplements, tobacco, diagnostics, and combination products. She also helps companies navigate products that don’t fit neatly into existing FDA categories.
Brigid regularly counsels innovative developers on FDA jurisdictional questions, approval strategies, and regulatory risk mitigation, supporting both established and start-up companies in life sciences, healthcare, and consumer products.
Janet Xiao
Janet focuses her practice on worldwide patent procurement, patent portfolio management, and strategic planning for life sciences companies. Janet’s clients range from large multinational biopharmaceutical companies to emerging startup companies. Recognized as being highly sought after for patent prosecution and strategy mandates, Janet develops and strengthens her clients’ complex patent portfolios to maximize commercial value. She is instrumental in developing strategies for multibillion-dollar patent portfolios for pharmaceutical clients. She also works extensively in performing IP due diligence reviews in the contexts of VC investments, technology transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and marketing and manufacturing clearance for biopharmaceutical products.
Simone SONG
Simone Song is the founder of ORI Capital, and the senior partner of ORI Healthcare Funds which focus on investing in early stage and innovative healthcare companies globally.
Simone is the architect of ORIzon, a big data driven AI research platform which enables ORI Capital to become a quantitative venture capital fund manager that combines quantitative analysis with fundamental research.
Simone serves on the boards of directors of various investee companies of ORI Healthcare Funds, including being the chairman of AffyImmune and being the directors of CG Oncology, Enable Injections, Pillar Biosciences.
Simone was the former Head of Goldman Sachs Healthcare Investment Banking for Greater China. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, she was a Managing Director of Cowen Group; a member of the advisory board of AXA Investment Managers, and an executive board advisor to AXA Asia Pacific Holdings.
Simone received a BA in Economics from Fudan University in China and a MA in Economics from Claremont Graduate School.
Harry Stylli
Shanshan Xu
Shanshan Xu is head of Global External Innovations at BioNTech, where she and her team look for best-in-class assets and technologies to transform BNT’s pipeline. Her team works to bring on board those with the research skills necessary to help management develop our vision and give the company a sneak peek at where the industry is headed next.
External Innovations’ accomplishments include the partnership of Duality and OncoC4 - both Tier 1 oncology programs. The team is constantly on the lookout for innovative medicines and transformative science and believes that open minds are crucial to finding the best and most innovative partnerships for BioNTech.
Originally from Harbin, China, Shanshan spent almost half of her life in Mainland China, where she received her medical degree. She also holds a Ph.D. from UC-Irvine and an MBA from MIT. She spent a few years working on Wall Street before getting a call from Ugur Sahin to join BioNTech in 2020.
Shengfang Jin
Shengfang is a co-founder, President and CEO, and Board of Director of Ensem Therapeutics. Prior to her role as CEO, she served as the President and Chief Scientific Officer, driving ENSEM’s strategic initiatives, technology platforms, and R&D. Previously, she was Vice President of Discovery Biology at Editas Medicine (EDIT), a clinical-stage gene editing company. Her teams pioneered the discovery of advanced CRISPR gene and cell therapies focusing on ophthalmology, neural diseases, and oncology. Earlier in her career, Dr. Jin was Senior Director of Biology at Agios Pharmaceuticals, leading the Small Molecule Cancer Metabolism and Rare Genetic Disease Portfolios that culminated in the approved & first-in-class products (IDHIFA®, TIBSOVO®, PYRUKYND®) and other clinical stage programs. She has also held roles of increasing responsibilities in other Cambridge drug discovery companies. Shengfang is a passionate & enthusiastic motivator, empowering team members to lead and shine.
Shengfang is co-author/co-inventor of over 80 peer-reviewed publications and issued patents. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Microbiology from Tufts Medical School (Boston) and obtained postdoctoral training in Oncology and Tumor Immunology at Harvard Medical School (Boston) as an NIH Fellow.
Alex Zhang
Dr. Zhang is the Founder and CEO of OneTwenty Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage iPSC-based cell therapy company. He was the Chief Scientist of Hanhai Holdings Group, and the CEO of Hanhai Silicon Valley, Inc., an early-stage investor and cross-border incubator for life sciences and deep tech startups based in San Francisco Bay Area. Prior to Hanhai, Alex was the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Enverest, LLC., a Silicon Valley based innovation solutions and investment advisory firm, with branch offices in China and Singapore. Prior to founding Enverest, Dr. Zhang spent over four years at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he held several senior business roles. From 2001 to 2009, Dr. Zhang was a Senior Scientist at Tularik Inc. (acquired by Amgen in 2004), where he led drug discovery endeavors in oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases therapeutic areas. Over the past decade, Dr. Zhang has been advising a number of successful biotech, MedTech and digital health startups and venture capital firms.
Dr. Zhang is currently a Board Member of the Chinese America BioPharmaceutical Society (CABS). He served a number of leadership roles in the Executive Council of CABS, including as the President in 2017-18. Dr. Zhang earned MBA degree at Cornell University, PhD in Organic and Analytical Chemistry at Texas A&M University, and BS in Chemistry at Shandong University. His research has led to the publication of 17 peer reviewed articles and 4 patents.
Andrew Lam
Andrew Lam is Managing Director, Head of Biotech Private Equity at Ally Bridge Group (ABG), a global healthcare investment firm focused on high-impact life science innovation. Andrew leads ABG’s private investments in therapeutics including Alumis (IPO 2024), CARGO Therapeutics (IPO 2023), CG Oncology (IPO 2024), Endeavor BioMedicines, ProfoundBio (acquired by Genmab 2024), RayzeBio (IPO 2023; acquired by BMS 2023), and Sonoma Biotherapeutics. He is a director currently serving on the board of Endeavor BioMedicines and previously of ProfoundBio. Andrew is a clinical pharmacist by training with over two decades of therapeutics-focused professional experience spanning late-stage venture investing, investment banking, equity research and functional roles within industry (i.e. medical affairs and business development). He received his Pharm.D. from Long Island University and his MBA from Drexel University.
Matt Karlyn
Matt Karlyn has 25 years of experience in working with companies in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, medical device, and technology industries on a wide range of commercial life sciences, licensing, and technology transactions.
Matt’s clients range from Fortune 100 companies to start-ups, and he regularly advises companies on matters involving IP commercialization, complex collaboration transactions, licensing initiatives, subscription-based economics, and business transactions related to the procurement, development, commercialization, and use of technology and life sciences products. He has also worked with a number of clients on corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, as well as private equity and venture capital financing.
David Shen
David W. Shen is a well recognized expert in the Biologic drug discovery and development, and his leadership at Proteologix, Inc., a company he founded three years ago. Under his guidance, Proteologix has made significant strides in developing innovative drugs targeting immunology and inflammation diseases (I&I), which culminated in its recent acquisition by Johnson & Johnson for a substantial $850 million, along with potential milestone payments. Before establishing Proteologix, David held several prominent positions, including Senior Vice President at NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Global Vice President at Teva Pharmaceuticals, and leadership roles as Biologics Department Head at Merck & Co. and Amgen. His academic credentials include a postdoctoral fellowship at the Whitehead Institute, MIT, and a PhD from the University of Toronto. David is also recognized as key inventor of several groundbreaking antibody drugs, such as evolocumab (Repatha) and romosozumab (Evenity) for cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis diseases respectively.
Morrison & Foerster LLP, 425 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Welcoming Sihong Zhou as President-Elect of CABS for 2025！
Dear CABS Members, Partners, and Friends,
It is with great pleasure that the Chinese American Biopharmaceutical Society (CABS) announces Sihong Zhou, Senior Scientist at Sutro Biopharma, as our President-Elect for 2025. With over two decades of experience in cancer drug discovery and development and a longstanding commitment to CABS, Sihong is well-prepared to guide the organization toward continued growth and innovation.
Sihong’s distinguished career highlights her expertise in advancing therapeutic candidates from early discovery to clinical development. A graduate of Shanghai Medical University (now Fudan University), she began her career at Chengdu Women and Children’s Hospital, gaining invaluable clinical experience. She later moved to Toronto, Canada, where she spent six years at the Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto.
In 2001, Sihong transitioned to the biopharmaceutical industry, working in key roles at leading organizations such as Genentech, Exelixis, AbbVie, X-Ceptor Therapeutics, Sea Lane Biotechnologies, and Sutro BioPharma. Her extensive knowledge of antibody and small molecule drug development has been instrumental in advancing innovative therapies for patients worldwide.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Sihong has demonstrated exceptional leadership within CABS. Over the past decade, she has contributed significantly to the organization, serving as Co-Chair of the Operational Office (2020–2023) and Social Life Co-Chair (2015–2019). Her outstanding contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including:
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2014: CABS President’s Outstanding Service Award
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2015: Outstanding Leadership and Service as SLC Co-Chair
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2018: Distinguished Leadership and Contribution to CABS
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2022: Ten Years of Extraordinary Leadership
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2023: Special Recognition for BioPacific Conference and Anniversary Receptions
Sihong’s dedication to CABS and her remarkable professional journey make her an ideal leader for the next chapter of our organization. Her vision and expertise will ensure CABS continues to thrive as a hub for scientific excellence and global collaboration.
In 2025, Sihong will serve as President-Elect alongside Kay Tong, who will be the President of CABS. Please join me in congratulating both Sihong and Kay on their new roles. We eagerly anticipate a dynamic tenure under their leadership and the continued growth of CABS through the collective efforts of our talented members and volunteers.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to CABS!
Sincerely,Jessica Sun, PhD
2024 President of Chinese American Biopharmaceutical Society (CABS)
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CABS 2025 Executive Council Application is Open! |
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Be part of the CABS 2025 team! Join us in supporting and leading the organization toward another impactful year. If you're interested, please complete your registration as soon as possible. Please note that only applications from active CABS members will be considered. If you are not already a member, be sure to join CABS before submitting your application. As a token of gratitude, once you become an EC member, your membership will be extended for another year. Learn more about who we are and what we do by clicking here: We look forward to welcoming dedicated individuals to our EC team. Together, let's continue to make CABS a thriving community! |
online
On November 9th, 2024, the CABS workshop brought together approximately 100 attendees, including industry professionals and aspiring scientists, for an engaging event at Hanhai Biolabs in Burlingame, CA. Themed “Journey from Discovery to IND to Early Development” the workshop provided a platform to explore the complexities of drug development through expert-led discussions on topics such as lead optimization, high-throughput screening (HTS), pharmacokinetics (PK), nonclinical safety, and regulatory challenges.
The event featured five distinguished speakers who shared their unique expertise:
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Dr. Zhonghua Pei (SVP, Neuron23): Opened with an overview of the drug discovery-to-development process, followed by an insightful talk on "Optimizing Lead Compounds: From Micromolar to Nanomolar Potency." Dr. Pei highlighted strategies like high-throughput and virtual screening and discussed challenges in achieving potency, selectivity, and safety, emphasizing the lower clinical success rates of small molecules compared to biologics.
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Dr. Yang Tian (SVP, AusperBio Therapeutics): Presented "The Evolution of High-Throughput Screening (HTS) in Drug Discovery," tracing its history from early low-throughput methods to modern AI-driven approaches. He emphasized the importance of data quality, reproducibility, and assay preparation while offering insights into future HTS considerations, including instrumentation and skillsets.
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Dr. Shichang Miao (Ex-VP, ChemoCentryx; Founder & President, PBSS): Delivered "Balancing Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics in Drug Discovery," underscoring the need to balance PK and PD parameters like clearance and bioavailability. Through case studies, he demonstrated how successful drug candidates often require a nuanced, flexible approach beyond conventional guidelines like Lipinski's Rule of Five.
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Dr. Xiaoting Wang (Director, Amgen): Focused on "Nonclinical Toxicology and Safety Assessments in Drug Development," detailing predictive tools, regulatory guidance, and study designs. She emphasized target liability assessments and thoughtful planning of toxicology studies, supported by real-world case studies.
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Dr. Ron Najafi (Founder & CEO, Emery Pharma): Concluded with "The Discovery and Implications of Nitrosamine Impurities in Pharmaceuticals," highlighting advanced analytical techniques to identify NDMA impurities and their links to specific manufacturing processes. He emphasized the importance of risk assessments to mitigate contamination and discussed regulatory and toxicological considerations.
The workshop spanned various therapeutic areas, including oncology, inflammatory diseases, and immunotoxicology, and fostered active engagement through Q&A sessions. Attendees gained practical insights and networking opportunities, enriching their understanding of modern drug development challenges.
This successful event was made possible by the invaluable contributions of the speakers, sponsors, attendees, and the dedicated efforts of the CABS team. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who made this workshop a success, underscoring the vital role of collaboration in advancing drug discovery and development.
A big thanks to our sponsors:
Hanhai Biolabs
Welcome to the “Journey from Discovery to IND to Early Development” workshop, taking place on November 9th, 2024, at Hanhai Biolabs, Burlingame, CA. This workshop brings together distinguished experts from the pharmaceutical and biotech industries to share their insights and experiences in drug discovery and development. Our esteemed speakers will delve into key aspects such as small-molecule lead optimization, DMPK, nonclinical safety assessments, and innovative approaches to high-throughput screening.
We are honored to have Dr. Zhonghua Pei of Neuron23, Dr. Shichang Miao of PBSS, Dr. Yang Tian of AusperBio Therapeutics, Dr. Xiaoting Wang of Amgen, and Dr. Ron Najafi of Emery Pharma, who will guide us through these topics. Their extensive backgrounds in oncology, inflammatory diseases, virology, immunotoxicology, and regulatory science promise a comprehensive and enriching experience for all attendees.
Let’s embark on this knowledge-packed journey together!
Speaker information:
1, Zhonghua Pei, Ph D., SVP of Chemistry & DMPK, Neuron23, Inc
Presentation titles:
(1) A Journey from Discovery to IND to Early Development, an overview; ~ 15 min;
(2) Small-Molecule Lead Optimization: the Joy and Challenges, ~ 35 min