WALNUT CREEK, California & SHANGHAI, China, August 11, 2026
Dark Horse Consulting Group (DHCG), a life sciences consulting organization specializing in advanced therapies, has announced the formation of Dark Horse Consulting China and the appointment of Kang Liu, Ph.D., as Senior Director and Head of China. The new Shanghai-based operation represents a strategic expansion of DHCG’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region and is designed to help biotherapeutic developers navigate China’s rapidly evolving life sciences ecosystem. The company said its China practice will focus on supporting developers across cell and gene therapy, clinical development, regulatory strategy, manufacturing, and commercialization, while helping international companies capitalize on China’s expanding CRO and CDMO infrastructure.
DHCG Establishes Shanghai-Based China Practice
The establishment of Dark Horse Consulting China comes as China continues to strengthen its position as a major global hub for biopharmaceutical research and development. According to DHCG, the country has developed advanced CRO and CDMO capabilities, increasingly mature regulatory frameworks, and clinical development pathways that may offer developers opportunities to generate first-in-human data. The company’s China practice is intended to help Western and global biotherapeutic developers evaluate these opportunities and develop strategies for conducting programs in China while aligning them with broader international development plans. DHCG said its expansion reflects a shift in the global biotechnology landscape in which China is becoming an increasingly important consideration for companies developing innovative therapies. The firm will support developers through multiple stages of China-based clinical development, including strategic fit assessment, regulatory planning, CMC strategy, CDMO and CRO selection, hospital and principal investigator selection, supply chain management, fundraising, and asset out-licensing strategies. DHCG said its existing relationships with industry partners will further support clients seeking to establish development and manufacturing pathways in China.
Kang Liu to Lead China Life Sciences Strategy
Kang Liu, Ph.D., brings more than 13 years of experience spanning business development, product marketing, operations, CRO and CDMO services, and cell and gene therapy. Before joining DHCG, Liu served as Director of Business Development, Asia, at AGC Biologics, where he led business development activities across China and expanded responsibilities across Singapore, India, and Australia and New Zealand. During his tenure, he supported customer programs involving biologics and autologous and allogeneic CAR-T therapies for global clinical trials, including China BLA submissions. Previously, Liu served as Director of Business Development, China, for the CDMO division of GenScript Biotech, now ProBio CDMO. His experience included drug discovery, CMC, GMP manufacturing, and licensing, as well as strategic partnerships involving ADCs, bispecific antibodies, allogeneic CAR-T, TCR-T, and mRNA therapies. His background positions him to lead DHCG’s China practice as the company expands its advanced therapy consulting capabilities across the region.
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China Gains Importance in Global Biotech Development
DHCG’s expansion comes as biotechnology companies increasingly evaluate China for clinical development, manufacturing, and strategic partnerships. The company highlighted the country’s growing CDMO and CRO infrastructure, clinical research capabilities, and developing regulatory environment as factors contributing to its increasing importance in global drug development. DHCG also pointed to the potential of Investigator Initiated Trials (IITs) as a pathway for generating early clinical data, particularly for innovative therapies seeking efficient routes toward first-in-human studies. The launch of Dark Horse Consulting China strengthens DHCG’s broader APAC expansion strategy, which also includes its planned expansion through the acquisition of Tokyo-based CJP. With operations across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, DHCG provides consulting services spanning strategy, operations, quality, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, supply chain, commercial launch, and business optimization. The establishment of its Shanghai practice further strengthens the company’s ability to connect global biopharmaceutical developers with China’s growing advanced therapy ecosystem.
Source: Dark Horse Consulting Group press release
