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NextCell Pharma AB: NextCell Selected for EU-Japan Biotech Business Mission and Strengthens Presence in Hong Kong
NextCell Pharma AB ("NextCell" or the "Company") has been selected as the only Swedish company to participate in the EU-Japan Biotech Business Mission 2026. In parallel, the Company is strengthening its local presence in Hong Kong by establishing an office and becoming a member of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP), effective 1 September. NextCell will also participate as a Founding Partner in the Nordic Future Health Pavilion at BIOHK 2026, held 9-12 September.
The EU-Japan Biotech Business Mission focuses on business development and partnering between European and Japanese life science companies. The programme begins in September with digital business training, market intelligence and online partnering. The focus will be on activities in Japan 5-9 October, including the EU-Japan Biotech & Pharma Partnering Conference in Osaka and participation in BioJapan in Yokohama.
The selection follows NextCell's participation in the first round of the Japan Entry Acceleration Program (JEAP), initiated and funded by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). NextCell was one of only ten companies globally, and the only Swedish company, selected for the programme's first cohort. Following the completion of JEAP, NextCell was encouraged by JETRO to apply for the EU-Japan Biotech Business Mission.
NextCell's activities in Japan have provided the Company with access to industry and regulatory stakeholders and a deeper understanding of potential development pathways for NXTCL-T1D. Discussions with, among others, the PMDA, regulatory advisors and industry stakeholders have also provided greater clarity on potential models for future development and commercialisation, including the possibility of retaining manufacturing outside Japan.
In Hong Kong, NextCell has previously established the wholly owned subsidiary NextCell Hong Kong Limited as part of the Company's strategy for Asia. NextCell is also a member of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Sweden. The office and membership in HSITP now represent a further step in strengthening the Company's local presence.
"Over the past year, we have implemented our Asia strategy step by step. Our activities in Japan and Hong Kong have provided us with concrete regulatory and industry contacts, strengthened our network and clarified potential pathways for further development and commercialisation. The next step is to translate these efforts into partnerships for NXTCL in Asia," says Mathias Svahn, CEO of NextCell.