Corporate News

09:00 UTC+8, 2023-09-29, Shanghai Free Trade Zone

The Shanghai FTZ, which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary today, has become “a place to be” for many firms that have placed their trust in the pilot zone with numerous “first” initiatives. Shanghai Daily spoke with the Wang Liqun, founder, chairman, and CEO of Neukio Biotherapeutics to find out how the company was doing since he established a presence in the zone and the benefits of operating from there.

Q: Can you give us a brief introduction of yourself and your company?

Wang: I returned to Shanghai after 24 years — completing my graduate studies and working for various MNCs in the United States. My work experience has primarily been in the pharmaceutical industry, with a strong emphasis on biomedical research and development. It is the vibrant innovation environment and a personal ambition to contribute to China’s thriving biopharma industry that led to my return. I had the privilege of working with teams and some wonderful people at Fosun Kite to launch the first NMPA-approved CAR-T cell therapy in China, which has given hope to hundreds of lymphoma patients. Knowing the limitations of current autologous cell therapy, I founded Neukio in 2021 with a goal of developing allogenic cell therapies with scalable manufacturing and potential to benefit a much larger solid tumor patient group at an affordable cost.

Q: How long have you been at the FTZ? What has been the biggest change in the zone over the past decade?

Wang: When looking for a place to set up Neukio, I chose FTZ’s Life Science Park. Not only because it is a modern new park with floor height suited for clean rooms and GMP manufacturing, but also because the FTZ has particular incentive policies and programs that provide significant help to startups. The FTZ has developed as a new biotech bed nurturing innovation and revolutionary medicinal products from the traditional logistics and supply chain management-focused business.

Q: Can you summarize the most outstanding feature of the free trade zone? And why?

Wang: Service-oriented governance and management of the FTZ have been outstanding features, with favorable trade policies and tax benefits rolled out on a regular basis. These initiatives have allowed startups to hit the ground running quickly and spend less time on administrative tasks. financial openness and innovation.

Q: What changes have taken place in your life since you moved into the free trade zone?

Wang: I’ve been more productive and effective working on company development now that I know I can talk to people and obtain help on operational concerns.

Q: What are your thoughts on the development of the FTZ, and how does it compare with similar zones elsewhere in the world?

Wang: I believe that FTZs, like other high-tech parks across the country, are still establishing its infrastructure and competitive advantages. It is too early to declare which is the best; different businesses may have different requirements. Customers will finally be won by those who consistently update their service model and focus on assisting company success.

Q: What advice do you have for the FTZ?

Wang: We expect the Shanghai FTZ to accelerate the implementation of new enterprise-friendly policies, particular-ly in the areas of talent attraction and infrastructure development, as well as financial assistance to enterprises developing and commercializing innovative products.

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