For the first time in its 29 years, the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference will include a track focused specifically on China. On Wednesday, January 12, fourteen China-based life science companies will present their plans to interested investors. The special track gives implicit recognition by this important US conference that China has become a critical part of international biopharma.

The J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference provides a forum for life science companies, most of which are publicly held, to make their business cases to investors. It is a “must attend” event for most life science executives, and that now includes leaders of China-based companies. The Conference will be held January 10-13 in San Francisco at the Westin St. Francis Hotel.

In addition to the presenting companies, the China track also includes a panel that will discuss the theme “The China Healthcare Market Operating Environment.”

The following is the preliminary list of companies presenting in the China track:

• Golden Meditech Holdings, Ltd. (HKEX: 801)
• Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (NYSE: SCR)
• Hutchison MediPharma Ltd. (AIM: HCM)
• Concord Medical Services Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: CCM)
• Sinopharm Holding Co. Ltd. (HKEX: 1099)
• Bicon Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd. (privately held)
• China Resources Medications Group Ltd. (privately held)
• 3SBio Inc. (NSDQ: SSRX)
• ShangPharma Corp. (NYSE: SHP)
• Eddingpharm Inc. (privately held)
• China Kanghui Holdings (NYSE: KH)
• Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) (SHEX: 600196)
• Chindex International, Inc. (NYSE: CHDX)
• Novast Holdings, Ltd. (privately held).

Representatives of ChinaBio® will be attending the Conference and are available to discuss China’s life science sector. (Please email jpm2011@chinabiollc.com.) Greg Scott, ChinaBio’s CEO and founder, will also be speaking on Thursday, January 13, at the New Paradigms conference on funding opportunities in China and elsewhere in Asia (http://www.theconferenceforum.org/NewParadigms-Overview.html).

Disclosure: none.