Shanghai: Dark Horse Consulting Group (DHCG), a life sciences consulting firm, has opened an office in Shanghai to expand its advisory services to biotherapeutic developers in China.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the opening follows DHCG's formation of Dark Horse Consulting China in August 2026 and the appointment of Kang Liu as Senior Director and Head of China, as stated by the company in a press release. DHCG mentioned that the new practice will assist biotherapeutic developers in leveraging China's contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) and contract research organisation (CRO) infrastructure, as well as regulatory pathways for first-in-human (FIH) studies, highlighting China's growing role in generating clinical data.
Anthony Davies, DHCG Founder and Chief Executive Officer, affirmed that the Shanghai office underscores the company's belief in China's significance for Western biopharmaceutical developers. Dark Horse Consulting China is set to advise clients throughout the investigator-initiated trial (IIT) process, covering aspects such as regulatory strategy, manufacturing and controls (CMC) planning, CDMO and CRO selection, hospital and principal investigator selection, supply chain management, fundraising, and asset licensing strategies.
DHCG emphasized that China's life sciences sector has cultivated advanced manufacturing and contract research infrastructure. The evolving regulatory frameworks and the IIT pathway present developers with potential routes to generate FIH data. The company also noted that lower clinical costs and shorter timelines have spurred interest in China IITs among innovative biopharmaceutical companies, with China's ecosystem of CDMOs and CROs supporting global development programs.
Kang Liu highlighted the growing opportunity to generate clinical data in China and accelerate global development programs. He stated that DHCG China aims to offer clients a clear and executable path. The Shanghai office opening ceremony witnessed the presence of DHCG leadership, representatives from the Shanghai Center of Biomedicine Development, CDMOs and CROs, and members of the regional life sciences community.