October 31, 2026 · Pudong, Shanghai · Biyun Kayaking Club → Zhangjiang Shang Campus
On October 31, 2026, the “Cross-Border Transaction: Opportunity and Risk” Kayaking & Closed-Door Event, organized by the BioCruiser Club and co-organized by BioIPolaris and Pharma DJ, came to a successful close in Pudong, Shanghai. The event was proudly supported by Zhangjiang Shang and Biyun Kayaking Club.
Built around the theme of “setting sail,” the day wove together sport, community, and professional insight: paddling on the water at Biyun, a lively closed-door discussion at Zhangjiang Shang, and candid conversation over dinner — all mirroring the spirit of Chinese biotech going global.
First Stop: Kayaking at Biyun — Feeling the “Going Global” Spirit on the Water
At 1:00 PM, guests gathered at Biyun Kayaking Club. Guided by professional instructors, they donned life vests, grabbed paddles, and pushed off into open water. Kayaking looks easy but demands balance, direction, and teamwork — much like expanding overseas, where staying on course matters as much as braving the waves.
For many, it was a first-time experience. From wobbly starts to synchronized paddling in formation, laughter and cheers echoed across the water. In just ninety minutes, guests not only got a workout but also experienced the team spirit of riding the wind and breaking the waves — the perfect warm-up for the afternoon's discussions.
Second Stop: Zhangjiang Shang Campus Tour & Closed-Door Sharing
At 3:00 PM, all guests arrived at Zhangjiang Shang, a vibrant biopharma innovation campus integrating R&D, office, and industry ecosystems. A guided campus tour offered by Mr. Shen, GM of Zhangjiang Shang, a close-up look at the momentum of Pudong's biopharma scene.
▶ Introduction to BioCruiser Club
Lily Wang, Founder of BioIPolaris, welcomed old friends and new, sharing the club's mission: to bring together founders and executives in the biopharma industry and accompany Chinese biotech companies on their journey to the global stage through sport, community, and idea exchange.
▶ Cross-Border Transaction Trends & Insights
Helen Chen, Managing Partner at LEK, mapped out the latest trends in biopharma cross-border deals — licensing, M&A, and joint ventures. She noted that Chinese innovative assets continue to heat up in international markets, while buyers are demanding ever-higher standards of data quality, differentiation, and depth of due diligence.
▶ Tax Compliance of Cross-Border Transactions
Raymond Zhu, China General Tax Lead at EY, unpacked common tax pitfalls in cross-border deals, covering deal structuring, foreign tax credits, transfer pricing, and key compliance points under the latest policies — offering practical guidance for deal execution.
Panel: Opportunities & Risks under New Policies, IP and Compliance
The panel discussion, moderated by Tony Chen of Jones Day, brought the event to its peak. Panelists included:
David Flores - Co-Founder, President & CEO, BioCentury Inc.
Helen Chen - Managing Partner, LEK
Raymond Zhu - China General Tax Lead, EY
Frank Yan - Chairman & CEO, K2 Medicines
Kent Hawryluk - Serial entrepreneur, Co-Founder of MBX Biosciences and Avidity Biosciences
The discussion centered on three threads: the evolving policy landscape, intellectual property strategy, and compliance risk. Panelists explored how geopolitical shifts are reshaping deal structures, why patent protection and freedom-to-operate diligence are critical when out-licensing Chinese assets, and how ownership terms and risk allocation should be negotiated. David Flores offered an international perspective on the revaluation of Chinese biotech assets; Frank Yan shared candid, first-hand lessons from negotiating with multinational pharma. The audience left wanting more.
Dinner: Continuing the Conversation
After the panel, DJ, Founder of Pharma DJ, wrapped up the day with heartfelt thanks to organizers, partners, and guests — and an invitation to the next gathering.
At dinner, conversation flowed as freely as the day's paddling. From deal terms to technology platforms, from market headwinds to confidence in going global, the exchange continued around the table. Many guests remarked that the “sport + closed-door sharing + dinner” format made professional networking warmer and built deeper trust among fellow travelers.
Closing
One paddle stroke across the water of Biyun; one evening of insight on crss-border deals. BioCruiser will continue building a high-quality platform for industry networking and knowledge sharing, accompanying Chinese biopharma companies as they ride the waves toward the global market.
Our sincere thanks to the organizers, co-organizers, supporting partners (including sponsors: Golyic Pharma and Lean in & Listen Tea), and every guest. See you at the next voyage!
About BioIPolaris Consulting
BioIPolaris - A one-stop management consulting platform (COE) for biopharma and medtech innovation. As a new strategic partnership platform with global IP resources, BioIPolaris provides high-quality IP innovative total solution for innovative clients with effective cost, across the full patent lifecycle, global patent portfolio strategy, technology transfer, and commercial transformation. BioIPolaris is committed to becoming a pan-intellectual-property integrated platform, safeguarding its clients, creating value, and benefiting patients worldwide, aiming to become the Polaris for Bio-IP technology "coming in and going global".
About PharmaDJ
PharmaDJ is a vertical biopharma media platform founded in 2014 by seasoned industry journalists and editors, and has grown into one of China's more influential diversified information and research platforms for the pharmaceutical industry. Its coverage spans the entire drug lifecycle, including scientific translation, early-stage R&D, clinical development, commercial pricing, market access, and communications strategy, with dedicated columns on clinical trials, global BD, investment and financing, and regulatory policy. Its full-media matrix reaches audiences across Chinese- and English-language channels including its website, WeChat official account, Xueqiu, Toutiao, and LinkedIn, with editors and contributors based in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Suzhou, the United States, and Japan. Beyond news, PharmaDJ also offers industry summits, research reports, communications consulting, and training.
About BioCruiser
On the water and beyond — BioCruiser is a cross-disciplinary community for biopharma professionals, anchored in the Zhangjiang waters of Pudong. Its positioning is "using water sports as a setting to connect pharmaceutical innovation, BD and overseas expansion, investment, and internationalization." It combines the precision, collaboration, and tenacity of pharmaceutical people with team-oriented sports such as rowing and kayaking, creating a more relaxed and authentic space for industry exchange than conventional industry events.
BioCruiser has already delivered a series of events, including a Hua Mu rowing experience with the BayHelix Group, a kayaking experience at Qiandao Lake, a Disney family rowing experience and youth sports challenge, sessions on BD globalization, intellectual property, cross-border transactions, and a PreBioCentury Gathering — organized by BioIPolaris and PharmaDJ. Looking ahead, BioCruiser will continue to launch a rolling series of aquatic-sports programs to support innovation and overseas expansion, advancing international collaboration, and building a compact, well-curated long-term community IP that brings together "industry exchange + sports + globalization."
