Jan 13, 2026
The 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPM 2026) concluded in San Francisco. During conference week, H7 BioCapital, in partnership with eChinaHealth, hosted the 4th H7 Life Science Investment Forum @ JPM 2026 and the China Night Cocktail Reception aboard the historic Klamath ferry at Pier 9 in San Francisco.
The events brought together global investors, industry leaders, and innovative biotech companies to exchange perspectives on investment opportunities and emerging trends in the life sciences.
4th H7 Life Science Investment Forum @ JPM 2026
The forum featured three focused panels on VC, BD, and Company Scaling and Exit Strategies, convening scientists, investors, founders and senior executives from leading healthcare organizations.
Opening Remarks
H7 BioCapital's Investment & BD, out-licensing Strategy
Dr. Ella Li, Founding Partner of H7 BioCapital, delivered the opening remarks at the forum by highlighting H7’s BD-driven investment strategy, which aligns its its investments with the licensing and M&A needs of global pharmaceutical partners. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, H7 invests in therapeutic companies from IND-enabling through clinical stages, across oncology, autoimmune, CNS, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases. |
Dr. Sophie Lin, Partner and BD head of H7 BioCapital, highlighted the growing importance of early BD planning. She has led multiple international out-licensing deals to partners including Eli Lilly, ArriVent Biopharma, and others, totaling over $300 million in upfront payments and potential milestones exceeding $4 billion; Drawing on her BD experience at Hengrui, Fuchuang Pharma, and Lepu Biopharma, she welcomed collaborations with high-quality preclinical and clinical-stage therapeutic companies with H7 BioCapital. |
Panel Discussion
Venture Capital in Life Science and Medtech
Moderated by Dr. Ella Li (H7 BioCapital), the VC panel included Linda Li (Cleveland Clinic), Dr. Deborah Kilpatrick (Sonder Capital), Dr. KT Moortgat (Dalena Capital) and Dr. Garrett Vygantas (Riverine Ventures). They shared perspectives on value creation across stages, highlighting healthcare-system-driven innovation, hands-on early-stage support, clinician-led validation, and the importance of scientific milestones and execution. There was strong consensus around opportunities in neurological diseases, driven by advances in biomarkers, non-invasive technologies, and AI-enabled data integration.
Business Development in Therapeutics
Moderated by Dr. Sophie Lin (H7 BioCapital), the BD panel brought together senior leaders Dr. Sam Bennett (Novo Nordisk), Aurore Bernier Gruson (Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals), Dr. Mike Zhao (ArriVent Biopharma), Dr. Alicia Yin (Formation Bio), and Patrick Zhang (BioMap) to discuss licensing strategies and partnership execution. Speakers emphasized trust, data quality, strategic fit, and early clarity on deal structure, with AI increasingly supporting diligence and R&D efficiency.
Scaling and Exit Strategies for healthcare companies
Moderated by Gregory Zoll (CBIZ), this session featured Michael Ryan (MGR Capital), Dr. Cindy Wang (GondolaBio), Dr. Ravi Kiron (BioPharm Strategy), and John Ashley (Auctus Surgical), and . Panelists focused on growth, financing, AI adoption, and exit readiness, underscoring that sustainable exits rely on real clinical value, disciplined capital planning, data integrity, and early engagement with potential acquirers.
Roadshow Pitch
Six companies pitched at the 4th H7 Life Science Investment Forum @ JPM 2026, receiving a strong audience response:
Hepanova Inc: A clinical-stage company developing First-in-Class drug candidates for MASH, IBD, HCC, MetALD and other unmet need indications.
Forlong Biotech: A clinical-stage biotech company focusing on developing transformative cytokine therapies for patients with severe unmet needs.
TangGene: Developing the first precision in vivo CD8⁺ Treg cell therapy to cure autoimmune diseases by restoring immune tolerance at the root.
Huitai Biomedicine: A clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing pan anti-fibrotic peptides through novel TGF-β technology.
Overture Therapeutics: Developing first-in-class antibodies for obesity, targeting metabolic pathways for safe, fat-selective, and lasting weight loss.
Heya Biotech: Liver-targeted siRNA therapeutics for HCC and PBC with strong preclinical data and promising early clinical safety and efficacy in PBC.
International Roadshow & China Night Reception
Following the forum, the International Roadshow Session showcased 11 selected life science startups, drawing strong interest from investors and strategic partners, with over 16,000 online viewers.
The evening concluded with the China Night Cocktail Reception, opening with a traditional Chinese lion dance, as guests from academia, investment, and industry gathered aboard the historic vessel to exchange insights and explore future collaborations—closing JPM week on a high note.