Resources
ABD Life Sciences & Partners tailor make the best team depending on your scope and preferences.
Asia
Dr. Björn Hammarberg, Ph.D., Dipl. BA
Managing Director & Founder, ABD Life Sciences Ltd
Asia expert, project management, cross-border / cross-cultural bridge building and collaborations. East to West & West to East.
Business development of biotech, pharma/biopharma, diagnostics and medical devices. with in depth knowledge of molecular biology, protein chemistry, bioprocessing, GMP & large scale manufacturing, and commercialisation.
Bjorn is a structured team worker with an entrepreneurial mind and in-depth business cultural experiences from Asia, Europe and US. He utilises holistic problem-solving based on extensive cross border business exposure from more than 20 years in Asia.
Bjorn’s focus is on international collaborations and deal making between East and West and their implementation. His strengths are in project management and coordination with a broad experience in business development, market access, R&D, regulatory affairs, GMP-manufacturing (bioprocess development, facility design & engineering and audits), distribution, and commercialisation.
Bjorn has a work history from Germany, Sweden, US, Hong Kong, and Japan in academia and industry. The latter at both larger companies such as Siemens and Pharmacia Biotech/Amersham (now Cytiva) and smaller ones such as Pharmadule, with turn-key modular GMP-facilities, Oncopeptides, and multiple consulting projects in biotech, pharma/biopharma, cell & gene therapies, diagnostics, medical devices and human & animal vaccines.
Bjorn was awarded an M.Sc. in Biochemical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden. He was a Post Doc. fellow in Chemical Engineering at RIKEN, Wako-shi, Saitama, Japan. Later he earned a Diploma in Business Administration International Marketing at the Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden. For several years Bjorn was a Sr Visiting Lecturer at University Colleage London, at the Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering and its MBI courses.
Beijing
Dr Xiao Shu, Ph.D.
Partner, co-founder and Head of Medical Investment, Ascendin Fund, Beijing, China, ascendinfund.com
China expert with in-depth knowledge of drug development and medical device development, as well as VC-financing
Business development, market assessments, cross-boarder investments, M&A, etc.
Xiao has a strategic thinking for global healthcare industry and a keen judgement for new biomedical technologies and products worldwide. He has previously served as the financial advisor and Chief Investment Officer of Chengdu Jinkai Biotech Co. Ltd, co-founder and deputy General Manager of Ketai Medical Device Co, Business Development Manager at Sinopharm Group Co. Ltd and Sr Bus. Dev. Advisor to Salubris Co Ltd.
Xiao has led and closed numerous equity investment deals including Medbanks, Oriengene Biotech, Leo Medical, Burning Rock, etc., He has expertise and extensive experience in investment and financing, project management, business development, management consulting and capital operations built upon a deep understanding for medical needs, therapeutic practices, regulatory requirements and real market conditions in China.
He has successfully supported several public listed pharma and med-tech companies with their R&D strategy and pipeline development.
Xiao received his Ph.D. in metabolic biology at University of California at Berkley and has a B.Sc. from Tsinghua University.
Tokyo
Mr Johan Westblad, MBA
Managing Director & Founder, Aurora Partners KK aurorapartners.jp
Japan expert
Clinical trials (FIM, Phase I, II and III), regulatory affairs (PMDA) and cross border business development & alliance management of pharma/biopharma, and med-tech.
Johan has close to 20 years of experience from the medical industry in Japan. In 2014 he established Tokyo-based Aurora Partners K.K. It’s a life science consulting company focused on cross-border exchange with Japan. The client base covers a broad range of companies including biotech, pharma/biopharma, CROs, diagnostics, and medical device with services including clinical trial advice, regulatory affairs (such as PMDA consultations), licensing, alliance management and M&A. Recently, Johan initiated and led a BD-team to negotiate and close one of the largest licensing deals in the last decade between a Japanese pharma company and a North American biotech company having a potential deal value of more than USD500M and double digit tiered royalties.
Previously, Johan worked for Quintiles focused on business development activities including driving the development of In-country Clinical Caretaker services and regulatory strategies for foreign biopharmaceutical companies to enter the Japanese market. Johan’s first assignment in Japan was for the Swedish government agency Invest Sweden at the Swedish Embassy in Tokyo, being responsible for inward investment in the life science area.
Johan has an MBA with finance specialisation from Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University and a Master of International Business from the School of Economics, Commerce and Law, Gothenburg University. Johan is fluent in Japanese including reading and writing.
Seoul
Prof Eun Kyu Lee, Ph.D.
Professor Emiritus, Dept of Bionanotechnology, Graduate School, Hanyang Univ., Ansan, South Korea.
CTO, Immunoforge Inc. (part time).
Korea expert
Business development, biotech, nano-biotechnology, bioprocess and biopharma development, regulatory affairs and GxP.
Prof Lee has a vast net-work in the Korean life science industry, academia and public affairs, with in depth knowledge of bioprocess & biopharma development and registration. He has served as a senior advisor to several Korean biopharmaceutical companies as well as the Korean government, including KFDA/MFDS. Between 2006 and 2018, he was a member of Pall Life Science’s Biopharm Global Advisory Board. Prof Lee has spearheaded regional R&D collaborations with India, Japan, Taiwan and others, in downstream processing as well as analytical miniaturisation and other frontier projects in nano-biotechnology.
During 2012-2013 Prof Lee was the head of Basic & Medical Research division at the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea leading allocations of roughly USD1 billion in grants per year. He has also been VP Kwung Won University, Professor & Head of Gachon Bio-Nanotechnology Research Institute, Seoul, Korea, leading a team of ten professors and more than 100 staff in the field of nano-biotechnology.
Early on in his career Prof Lee spent nearly 10 years in the US biotech industry after earning his Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering at Drexel University in Philadelphia, USA.
Mumbai
Dr Ravi Rayanade, Ph.D.
Director, Biosciences Consultancy & Services Co Ltd
India expert
Business development, drug & vaccine development, bio-manufacturing and distribution, diagnostics and viral safety.
Ravi has a Ph.D. in Microbiology (Virology) with close to 30 years of experience in microbiology, cell biology and immunogenetics, R&D and laboratory operations. He has substantial knowledge in areas such as laboratory designs, clean room facilities, viral safety, viral clearance studies, bioassay development, cell banking and cell characterisations, diagnostics, vaccines, antiviral and anticancer drug development. Ravi has also wide experience in business development, negotiating deal closures between European / US and Indian companies as well as sound understanding of the life science industry and market in India. He has a strong network with Indian biopharma industry, academic institutes and universities in India and abroad.
Ravi co-founded the Biosciences Consultancy & Services firm to provide consulting services to biotech and pharma companies in the area of product development, project management, and business development.
As Business Consultant Ravi has been involved in spearheading business analysis & strategy development for growth, product portfolio expansion, new technology identification and tech transfer, JV, due diligence and diversifying the business activity of the companies making a foray into life science.
Stockholm
Mr Otto Skolling, M.Sc.
Pharmor AB, Independent consultant and Founder.
Covers EU and US as an independent business development consultant. Extensiv experience bringing projects from West to East.
Otto has 30 years experience from the pharma and medical device industry. He has been working with operations, business and product development at MNC:s such as Novozymes, Pharmacia & UpJohn (now Pfizer) and Siemens Life Support Systems. Otto gained extensive experience of bringing projects from West to East, tech transfer and cross border collaborations.
During the last 15 years Otto has been on the investment side helping to raise funds, nurturing innovative start-ups until they are ready and able for licensing and collaboration deals from either in the BD-function or at a board of directors position representing Karolinska Development and other investors in various portfolio companies such as Athera, NeoDynamics, Umecrine, Umecrine Mood now Asarina, Xspray and OssDsign. Otto also acts as Head of Business Development for several Scandinavian Biotech SMEs among them Nanexa, in Sweden.
Otto has a M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm.
Lund / Copenhagen
Dr Michael Dho Spangfort, Ph.D., MBA
Managing Director, NBL AB
“Greater China”, Japan and Korea expert
Business development, regulatory Development (EMA, USFDA, NMPA, Hong Kong Health Authority, PMDA, Taiwan FDA and Korean MFDS), clinical trials for biopharma, pharma, and med-tech. Diagnostics development, drug delivery, etc.
Michael has spent close to 20 years in Hong Kong travelling extensively in China for first ALK A/S a Danish allergy focus specialty pharma and diagnostic company and the last 4 years for a Western MNC and its diagnostic division helping to get their products approved and commercialised in China.
Michael has extensive knowledge of NMPA regulatory affairs, local clinical trials and product approvals in China. During his time in Hong Kong Michael has carried out market access studies covering China, Korea and Taiwan as well as managed collaboration with Japanese pharma companies.
Prior to coming to Asia Michael was Global Director Research at ALK managing strategic partnerships with biotech and pharma companies. He established an R&D laboratory in Guangzhou and managed the development of an independent diagnostic business unit.
Michael has a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Lund University, Post Doctor fellowship in structural biology at Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt and Executive MBA, Lund University. Michael has published 69 peer reviewed article and is listed on 4 patents.
Stockholm
Mr Magnus Jahnsson, M.Sc.
Director, Training & Courses, Key2Compliance
GxP education & training expert, global regulatory affairs with in depth knowledge of mainland China.
PIC/S, USFDA and EMA expert in quality risk management, risk based GMP-assessments, QMS as well as a QMS-trainer. Commissioning & validation work, GMP-audits, advice and support.
Magnus has more than 20 year’s pharmaceutical industry experience, including Scientific Administrator in the Inspection Department of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), responsible for GMP and GLP inspections, quality defects and mutual recognition agreements. Magnus was also first Researcher and then a Project Manager Operations at Astra Zeneca in Sweden for more than five years.
He is a certified Lead Auditor by IRCA and has deep knowledge in GMP and GLP requirements for Quality Management Systems (QMS), as well as experience with ISO 9001, 14001 and OHSAS 18001.
Magnus has a M.Sc. in Materials Engineering from Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, a University Certificate in Psychology and a University Certificate in Ethics both from Stockholm University.
Manila
Mr Jan Lilja, BA
Expert in the Philippines and other ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam as well as China and Taiwan
Biotech, pharma and med-tech strategic business development, local establishment and start-ups.
Jan has 40 years’ experience from management positions in life science companies in Asia, Europe and USA. He has been involved in establishing life science companies in 10 countries including six Asian JVs.
For eight years Jan was Regional and Managing Director for Gambro and Electrolux in Southeast Asia, South Korea, and mainland China as well as for local med-tech and pharma companies. He has ten years experience at Pharmadule AB, Sweden, then the leading modular project execution turn-key company as Director of Business Development responsible for biotech and pharmaceutical clients in Pharmerging Markets, prior to this he was Regional Director Asia.
Jan has over ten years with KeyPlants AB in Sweden as founding member & partner working as Commercial Director. From 2020 Jan is acting as Regional Manager SEA & MENA om a consultancy basis.
Furthermore, Jan has been extensive experience from Board Director’s works in companies such as Gambro Korea Inc., Optisol Sdn Bhd., Malaysia, Haemodynamics, Taiwan Inc., Perimed AB, Sweden, Transmedic Holding GmbH, Austria, Electrolux-Yadu J/V Ltd., China, KeyPlants AB, Sweden, Secura International inc., Philippines, PhilVac inc., Philippines, MediPharms OY, Estonia.
Jan is particular strong in strategic business planning with feasibility studies for biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical and med-tech start-ups having worked in many cross border, cross cultural analysis and tech-transfer project advisory roles.
Hong Kong
Dr Vincent Xie, Ph.D.
Expertise in Hong Kong and mainland China
Business Development, pre-clinical and clinical development of biologics, CMC, Regulatory Affairs NMPA and EMA, QA & QC, and GxP
Independent consultant and advisor, Hong Kong.
Vincent has 20 years of biopharmaceutical experience from senior management positions with local and Chinese companies in Hong Kong and mainland China, as well as advisory roles including adjunct professor at a Guangzhou-based biomedical translational research institute. He has vast experience from, R&D positions at both biotechnology start-ups and publicly listed biopharmaceutical companies such as the Hong Kong and Shenzhen listed Livzon Pharmaceutical Group Inc. as Director of CMC at Livzon MabPharm Inc. and the Nasdaq-listed China Biologic Products Inc. as Director of R&D. Vincent led both preclinical and clinical development of monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, plasma derivatives, oxygen-carrying biologics, and DNA therapeutics, conducted technology transfer and collaboration with European partners, interacting closely with the Chinese NMPA and the European EMA preparing registration dossiers. In addition, Vincent is an inventor on 6 granted patents.
Vincent obtained his B.Sc. in biochemistry from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, and Ph.D. in physiology from New York Medical College, followed by postdoctoral training in oncology at the University of Hong Kong.
Uppsala
Mr Jan Berglof, M.Pharm, Dipl. BA
Lead Consultant & Project Manager, JHB Consulting AB, Sweden
Business development, marketing & sales, bioprocess development and biomanufacturing. Plasma fractionation expert.
Jan is an entrepreneur with job experience in several areas of the Life Science Industry. He has led development of downstream processes in the areas of human blood plasma products, recombinant proteins and mAbs, viral vaccines, plasmids for cell and gene therapies and other biotech products. He has been involved in product development and marketing both in management roles and project management roles.
Between June 1974 – June 2005 Jan was employed at GE Healthcare now Cytivia legacy Amersham Biosciences / Pharmacia Biotech / Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology / Pharmacia Fine Chemicals) in several different positions and functions.
Jan is co-founder of Bio-Works Technologies AB (BIOWKS Nasdaq First North) founded 2006, where he had operational responsibilities as well as leading the Sales & Marketing in Asia and North America. He retired in June 2022. Bio-Works is developing and supplying novel agarose resins for downstream processing in the biotech and biopharma industry.
Jan is an author of 9 publications in scientific journals and books and co-author of 4 patents.
Beijing
B-Core Consulting
The key team-members have financial and business administration background from local or global consulting and accounting firms.
They have decades of experience of commercial due diligence and fundamental market research and analysis of listed companies as well as cross border acquisitions and transactions in biotech, pharma and med-tech.
Business development, market assessments, KOL & patient interviews, price & reimbursement, due diligence, etc.
The company provides consulting service regarding market assessment and analysis, KOL interviews, due diligence, etc., for investment, M&A and new market development to SMEs, MNCs, PE-funds, and hedge funds. The market research experience is not only in healthcare, but B-Core has also the expertise to carry out projects in education, consumer goods, retail, and IT.
The B-Core research team comes from the customisation research team of BCC (Business Connect China), which was established in 2009.
Stockholm & Copenhagen
Key2Compliance
Consulting and Training.
Regulatory Affairs, Electronic Quality Managment Systems, Quality Assurance for Pharma and Med. Tech
Key2Compliance® is a Stockholm headquartered Consulting, Regulatory Affairs and Training company covering pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The company offering services and advice covering biological evaluation & toxicology, clinical development, QMS and QA for Pharma and Medical Devices, regulatory affairs, training & courses.
London, UK
George James Ltd
is providing Consulting, Training and Recruitment services to the Life Science sectors and other high tech industries.
UK-based Consulting, Training and Recruitment company.
george james, established in 1999 and headquartered in the UK, is a professional services firm offering Consulting, Training and Recruitment Services to the global B2B Life Sciences, Scientific, Technology and Enterprise Application Software markets. Their global customer base come from both SME’s and major corporations. They enjoy above average repeat and referral business and many of their customers engage them for multiple services.
The george james consulting division core services include the formulation and implementation of Accelerated Growth and Internationalisation strategies. The Company have evolved a unique business model to deliver high quality, expert led, and value for money internationalisation consultancy services.
This unique model is founded on their extensive global network of senior commercial managers and leading technical experts that is utilised to provide targeted resources for each assignment. george james has been building up this network since the Company’s incorporation in 1999. At the beginning of 2017 it consisted of over 16,000 industry contacts and is continually growing and developing. In addition to george james’ corporate database they have over 20,000 professional LinkedIN contacts.
This global network is used to assist companies to gain market access whether they are going from West to East or from East to West.
For more details on the Company and its services please go to the george james web site; www.georgejamesltd.com