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The biotech industry
needs all of our support
By Lo Chih-cheng 羅致政
In April 2007, then-vice premier Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) approved an investment by
the National Development Fund in Yu Chang Biologics Co, a new biotechnology
company, in order to support Taiwan’s next key industry. In economic terms, that
has proven to be the right decision.
However, the future of the biotechnology industry was still uncertain at the
time and Yu Chang had problems raising funding. For the sake of Taiwan’s future,
Academia Sinica president Wong Chi-huey (翁啟惠), world-renowned AIDS researcher
David Ho (何大一) and F. Hoffmann-La Roche head of global technical operations
Patrick Yang (楊育民) stepped up to the plate.
Convinced by these scientists, Tsai — who had already stepped down from her post
as vice premier — raised the shortfall in capital from family members and served
as the company’s unpaid chairwoman. The scientists turned to Tsai because of her
image of neutrality and integrity as well as her experience as an international
negotiator.
That biotechnology company, now named TaiMed Biologics, is the driving force
behind Taiwan’s biotechnology industry, and it could yet invent the nation’s
first anti-HIV drug. In this context, the company’s significance to Taiwan by
far supersedes its business importance. Ho has said that if the company is
successful, its success would not be measured in monetary terms.
Unfortunately, those in power are doing all they can to attack Tsai for the sake
of the presidential election. In order to make their charges against her stick
and confuse the electorate, these accusations are being made not only against
Tsai, but also against Ho. Ultimately, the bloodymindedness of those in power
could seriously undermine Taiwan’s biotechnology industry.
Although there are countless talented Taiwanese biotechnologists around the
world, such vicious political attacks are likely to make them think twice before
deciding to return to Taiwan.
People often bemoan the fact that Taiwan cares only about short-term profits and
ignores the need to invest in fundamental research and development or the
production of patents. As a result, most backward companies are forced to engage
in original equipment manufacturing and earn meager profits, and are completely
dependent on others for their survival.
The investment in Yu Chang represents the efforts of these scientists and Tsai
to cultivate another lifeline for the long-term development and prosperity of
the nation.
In terms of the Yu Chang controversy, the complexity of regulations and business
maneuvers make it difficult for the public to gain a clear picture of the
situation. Not to mention that certain media outlets have neglected to report
the scientists’ defense of Tsai. Instead, they choose to question her
repeatedly, a situation that infuriates me and makes me deeply concerned for the
future.
That is why I decided to write this open letter to my former students. You are
all capable of distinguishing right from wrong in this case and are unlikely to
be deceived because you have access to a wide variety of information sources.
We need to support these scientists for the sake of Taiwan’s long-term future
and a burgeoning biotechnology industry. This is not a matter of any specific
political party or the pan-blue or pan-green camps; rather, it is about choosing
what is good and shouldering the responsibility of what it means to be an
intellectual.
Lo Chih-cheng is a legislative candidate for the Democratic Progressive
Party.
Translated by Eddy Chang
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