BioAsia 2026 Draws Record Participation with Focus on AI-Driven Life Sciences Innovation

Asia's premier life sciences and health-tech forum BioAsia concluded its 23rd edition in Hyderabad on February 18, drawing record participation with over 4,000 delegates from across the world and participation from more than 500 companies worldwide. The two-day event at HITEX, inaugurated by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy alongside Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu on February 17, marked a sharp year-on-year rise from the 2025 edition which hosted around 3,000 delegates.

Themed 'TechBio Unleashed: AI, Automation & the Biology Revolution', BioAsia 2026 spotlighted the convergence of artificial intelligence, automation, and biological sciences. The event featured over 175 exhibitors across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medtech, digital health and advanced manufacturing. Specialised platforms included a Startup Pavilion with 40 emerging startups, an Innovation Pavilion featuring 16 exhibitors showcasing breakthrough technologies, and participation by 22 MSMEs, reflecting continued support for small and medium enterprises.

The conference hosted keynote sessions by Bruce Levine, Howard Y. Chang and Pushmeet Kohli, with discussions centred on AI-driven drug discovery, advanced biomanufacturing, and next-generation therapeutic modalities. Global pharmaceutical and life sciences majors such as Novartis, Eli Lilly, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Sanofi, MSD and Miltenyi Biotec featured prominently, alongside Indian leaders including Dr. Reddy's Laboratories and Biocon Biologics.

A homegrown deep-tech startup emerged as a powerful example of India's growing biotech strength at the event. The founder and CEO of BioVaram (officially known as UR Advanced Therapeutics) unveiled a pioneering innovation that blends artificial intelligence with regenerative medicine. Founded in 2020, with formal operations beginning in 2022, BioVaram focuses on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The company is developing AI-integrated peptides as alternatives to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, the essential "cement" that holds cells together in the human body.

At the heart of the company's innovation is its first commercial product, the Dynamic Apoptosis Detection (DAD) Kit. Designed for research use, the kit detects and quantifies apoptosis, a natural and inflammation-free process of programmed cell death. This process is critical in cancer drug development, as effective therapies aim to eliminate cancer cells without triggering harmful inflammation. Traditionally, detecting apoptosis involves multi-step procedures with complex reagents and lengthy timelines. BioVaram's DAD Kit simplifies this into a single-step, highly accurate method that provides absolute quantification of dying cells.

The breakthrough replaces a large 320-amino-acid protein with a precisely engineered 15-amino-acid peptide, a six-year journey of research and refinement. The innovation places BioVaram among a very small number of global players in a niche market valued at approximately $200 million. The product is already in commercial use, being distributed across India and Southeast Asia, with expansion into Europe underway.

BioVaram is also addressing a critical logistical challenge within India's research ecosystem. Imported reagents typically take six to eight weeks for delivery. BioVaram can supply its DAD Kit anywhere in India within two working days, significantly accelerating drug discovery projects for researchers and pharmaceutical companies.

Recognised as one of the top five startups at BioAsia 2024, BioVaram leveraged the platform to expand globally. Building on this momentum, the company recently signed an MoU with the Telangana government to establish a Centre for Excellence at Future City. The centre aims to undertake high-risk, high-impact scientific projects that could redefine regenerative medicine and biotechnology over the next five to ten years.

The summit positioned itself as a pivotal platform for catalyzing global investments and accelerating innovation through artificial intelligence-enabled drug discovery, convening pharmaceutical leaders, biotech startups, research institutions, and international investors. With Hyderabad's Genome Valley strengthening its position as a premier life sciences hub, the event is expected to foster strategic collaborations, unlock new funding avenues, and reinforce India's growing leadership in next-generation healthcare innovation. Every year during BioAsia, multinational companies announce billions of dollars in investments for Telangana, reinforcing the state's position as a premier global life sciences and biotech hub.