Asia desk / Hong Kong & Shanghai
Greater China to World
Late-stage clinical assets, ADCs, bispecifics, and cell therapies originated in China for global development. Increasing pace and quality of innovation.
Hong Kong (HQ)ShanghaiZurichChicago
Services / In-Licensing
Service / 01 / 04
Acquire innovative therapeutics for your pipeline.
Partner with Vision Lifesciences to identify, evaluate, and secure innovative therapeutics and technologies from global sources. We advise pharma and biotech buyers across the in-licensing lifecycle from sourcing and due diligence through negotiation and deal execution.
Engagement
Partner-led
Typical Mandate
4 - 9 months
Geographies
3 Continents
What we deliverv.2026
- Global AccessSource assets from innovators across Asia, Europe, and the USA.
- Due DiligenceComprehensive scientific, commercial, IP, and regulatory evaluation.
- Competitive TermsNegotiate optimal deal structures aligned to your portfolio.
- Risk MitigationIdentify and address potential challenges early in the process.
- End-to-EndFrom sourcing through tech transfer and integration.
Why us
What buyers gain by engaging Vision Lifesciences.
Three things that are difficult to build internally: cross-border reach, an unsentimental scientific filter, and execution discipline through close.
01
Cross-border reach
Direct relationships with biotechs, academic spin-outs, and pharma BD teams across Asia, Europe, and the USA. Sourced bilaterally, not screen-scraped.
02
Unsentimental filter
Joint scientific, clinical, regulatory, and commercial review. We say no to assets that look right and aren't - and explain why in writing.
03
Execution discipline
Critical-path management from term sheet through definitive. Weekly principal touchpoints. No mid-deal handoffs.
Approach
How our in-licensing process works.
From opportunity identification to deal execution, we guide you through every step of the in-licensing journey.
01
Opportunity Identification
We scan the global landscape to identify assets that match your strategic priorities and therapeutic focus.
02
Asset Evaluation
Comprehensive due diligence including scientific assessment, IP review, competitive analysis, and commercial potential.
03
Negotiation
Structure and negotiate terms including territory rights, milestones, royalties, and development obligations.
04
Deal Execution
Manage contract finalization, regulatory handover, and technology transfer for seamless integration.
Diligence framework
Six lenses on every asset, before terms are tabled.
A buyer should never sign a term sheet on partial information. Our diligence is run by domain leads and signed off by the engagement partner.
/ 01
Scientific
Mechanism, target validation, preclinical translatability, and platform robustness.
/ 02
Clinical
Trial design, biomarkers, patient population, and standard-of-care benchmarking.
/ 03
Regulatory
FDA, EMA, NMPA pathway, approval risk, and global filing strategy.
/ 04
IP & Freedom
Patent estate, expirations, freedom-to-operate opinions, and co-ownership risk.
/ 05
Commercial
Indication sizing, pricing, payor environment, and competitor pipeline.
/ 06
Operational
Technology transfer, CMC, manufacturing capacity, and supply-chain readiness.
Sourcing
Where the assets come from.
Inbound corridors we work most actively. Geography shapes both opportunity and execution complexity; we account for both.
Zurich desk
Europe to World
Specialty therapeutics, rare disease, and platform technologies from EU academic and biotech ecosystems. Strong regulatory and IP discipline.
Chicago desk
USA to World
Early- and mid-stage assets from US biotech, often paired with NewCo formation, co-development, or option-to-license structures.
Structures
Deal architectures we commonly advise on.
Each structure is shaped to clinical risk, geography, and the buyer's portfolio strategy. Splits below are illustrative; bespoke structures are common.
Late-stage / approved
Upfront-weighted
A larger share of value at signing. Used for de-risked assets where the buyer wants certainty and the seller wants liquidity.
Phase II / III
Milestone-weighted
Modest upfront with substantial development and regulatory milestones. Aligns incentives across approval risk.
Approved / commercial
Royalty-led
Limited upfront, sliding-scale royalties on net sales. Common for territory-licensed approved products.
Pre-clinical / platform
Equity / hybrid
License coupled with equity in a NewCo or seller. Used to align long-term and access carry-back economics.
Coverage
Therapeutic areas where we operate.
Coverage spans modalities and indications. The intersections below are where our deal flow is most active.
Oncology
Immunology
Metabolic
CNS
Rare
Devices
Small molecule
Biologics
ADC / Bispecific
Cell & Gene
mRNA / Vaccines
Devices & Dx
Illustrative engagements
What a Vision Lifesciences mandate looks like.
Anonymized vignettes drawn from past in-licensing engagements. Specific counterparties, indications, and economics are confidential and subject to NDA.
Greater China / ADCCONFIDENTIAL / NDA
Mid-cap pharma / oncology pipeline gap
BriefBuyer needed a late-stage ADC for an underserved oncology indication with a 12-month internal deadline.
Our roleSourced and triaged 14 candidate assets across China, prioritized 3, ran scientific and IP diligence on top 2, and negotiated bilateral term sheet through definitive.
OutcomeDefinitive signed within timeline; technology transfer underway.
EU / Academic spin-outCONFIDENTIAL / NDA
Specialty pharma / rare disease
BriefSpecialty player seeking a differentiated rare-disease therapeutic compatible with existing commercial infrastructure.
Our roleIdentified a spin-out from an academic medical center, structured an option-to-license with development milestones, and supported integration planning.
OutcomeOption exercised on Phase II readout; commercial readiness initiated.
USA / NewCo carve-outCONFIDENTIAL / NDA
Emerging biotech / platform technology
BriefBiotech seeking access to a cell-and-gene platform without on-balance-sheet acquisition risk.
Our roleDesigned NewCo structure with the platform inventor, sourced co-investor syndicate, and negotiated cross-license terms across territories.
OutcomeNewCo formed; first program now in IND-enabling studies.
Engagement model
What "partner-led" means here.
A small number of clients, accountable principals, no rotation between mid-deal teams. The way senior strategic advisory should run.
Single point of accountability
One engagement partner is your principal contact from term sheet through close, and remains so post-signing. Decisions are made on calls - not relayed up a chain.
Weekly principal touchpoint
A standing weekly call with the partner. Not an associate readout - substantive review of the critical path, risks, and decisions ahead.
No mid-deal handoffs
The team that starts your mandate is the team that finishes it. Continuity through diligence, negotiation, and close.
Post-close retention
Engagement extends through first joint-steering and technology-transfer milestones. Hand-offs happen only when value has transferred.
Frequently asked
What buyers ask before engaging.
01How long does a typical in-licensing engagement run?+
From mandate to signed definitive, four to nine months is typical. Sourcing-only mandates are shorter; complex multi-jurisdiction structures can run longer. We agree a critical path with milestone dates at engagement start.
02How is engagement priced?+
Engagements are structured as a retainer plus success-based component aligned to deal close. Fee structures are bespoke and discussed at first conversation. There is no charge for initial scoping.
03How do you handle confidentiality?+
All discussions are NDA-first. Counterparty identities, asset names, and economics are not disclosed externally without written consent. Internal information barriers separate teams across mandates with potential conflicts.
04How do you manage potential conflicts?+
Active conflict screening at engagement start across asset, indication, and counterparty axes. Where mandates touch the same therapeutic space, we either decline or operate behind written information walls with explicit client consent.
05What geographies do you cover most actively?+
Inbound corridors from Greater China, the EU, and the United States are most active. We source bilaterally - directly from BD teams, not via brokers - across all three.
06Do you support post-close integration?+
Yes. Engagements typically extend through the first joint-steering committee and technology-transfer milestone. We do not disengage at signing; value transfer continues for months after.
Engage
Discuss a specific pipeline gap under NDA.
Share the indication, target profile, or therapeutic area you are pursuing. A partner will respond within one business day with a confidential first conversation.
RESPONSE WITHIN 24 HOURS / NDA-FIRST