On November 4, 2025, Mondaq, a U.S.-based legal content aggregation platform, officially announced the winners of its 2025 Autumn Thought Leadership Awards (https://awards.mondaq.com/Home/Topics/16/10). Recognized for his outstanding professional performance in the field of Food, Drugs, Healthcare, and Life Sciences, Aaron Gu of Han Kun Law Offices has once again received the award following his 2023 recognition, ranking first in China in the same field this year.
Award-winning Article
Six Key Insights into China Biotech's NewCo Model
Overview of the Award-Winning Article
As the global pharmaceutical market continues to evolve, the NewCo model, as a flexible and forward-looking strategic choice, is garnering increasing attention from the industry. Whether through the steady progression of traditional models or the flexible innovation of non-traditional approaches, the NewCo model provides Chinese pharmaceutical companies and external investors with expanded opportunities in the global market. Having advised many NewCo projects, Aaron Gu's team has gained a deep understanding of their strategic value, commercial opportunities, and associated risks. Drawing on the team's practical experience and client needs, this article provides a concise overview of recent developments in the NewCo model and offers an in-depth analysis of its key practical aspects. This article includes strategic considerations for Spin-off, comparisons with traditional out-licensing deals, the non-traditional NewCo model, and other factors to consider when establishing a NewCo, aiming to support pharmaceutical companies and investors in achieving innovation, mutual growth, and sustainable development in the global market.
About Mondaq
Mondaq is a well-known U.S.-based legal content aggregation platform dedicated to providing global users with in-depth insights and high-quality articles from professional legal service providers worldwide. The Mondaq Thought Leadership Awards are announced twice a year, in Spring and Autumn, to recognize the authors whose articles have achieved the highest cumulative readership across multiple countries and practice areas over the previous six months, highlighting their outstanding influence within the industry.
Aaron Gu's Profile
Mr. Gu specializes in corporate, regulatory compliance, and transactional services for life sciences, biopharmaceutical, medical and healthcare industries, including biosecurity and human genetic resource issues, clinical trial matters, product marketing authorizations, GxP compliance, Spin off-NewCo transactions, drug licensing and collaboration, as well as regulatory issues involved in venture capital and private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions, and foreign and outbound investments in the life sciences industries. Specifically, Mr. Gu's services cover a full range of products including drugs, medical devices, IVDs, cosmetics, general foods, special foods, animal drugs, animal foods, etc.
Mr. Gu has extensive experience representing various types of companies in the life sciences industry, including renowned multinational pharmaceutical companies, leading Chinese innovative drug and biotechnology companies, and top domestic and international investment institutions. Mr. Gu has co-authored the China section of Chambers Life Sciences Global Practice Guide (2022-2025) and other publications. His outstanding and professional services have earned him numerous accolades from prestigious institutions such as Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, China Business Law Journal, Lexpress, LegalOne, Lex Falcon Global Awards, Asian Legal Business (ALB), Legalband and Mondaq. Furthermore, Mr. Gu has been interviewed by 36Kr, Blue View, Caixin, China Business Network, Dutch Financial Daily, Economic Observer, Faxian Magazine, Financial Times, Healthcare Executive, International Pharmaceutical News for China, Jiemian, Southern Weekly, Thomson Reuters and other media (in alphabetical order).
