Working with global partners’ state-of-the-art automated AI drug discovery platform and other emerging technologies, GT Apeiron aims at accelerating the development of novel drugs via new pathways to tackle high impact therapeutic targets and providing drug optimization, with an initial focus on oncology.
Apeiron is targeting the cancer cell cycle with a portfolio of next generation CDK inhibitors and harnessing synthetic lethal interactions in anti-cancer drug discovery.
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Dr. Mingxi Li is an investor and entrepreneur specializes in identifying and commercializing early-stage life science innovation, with extensive experiences in cross-border investments and project incubation.
Dr. Li is the partner of GT Healthcare Capital Partners and the CEO of Apeiron Therapeutics, he has a deep understanding of the Chinese and global healthcare industry and aims to build Apeiron a world-class biotech company. He started his career at Jiuding Capital, focusing on healthcare investments in China and later joined Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, focusing on global early-stage pharmaceutical investments. Dr. Li graduated from Tsinghua University and received his Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.gn.
Dr. Fred Aswad is the Senior Vice President of Biology at Apeiron Therapeutics. He has over 15 years of research and development experience in the biotechnology industry. He began his career at Bayer, where he played a leadership role in developing the immuno-oncology portfolio and development of novel drug discovery platforms. After Bayer, he went on to become Senior Director of Biology at Ideaya Biosciences where he focused on the discovery and development of targeted small molecule therapies at the intersection of immuno-oncology and synthetic lethality. Dr.Aswad received his Ph.D. in Immunology at the University of Southern California and a J.D. from the Santa Clara University School of Law with a focus on intellectual property.
Dr. Xiao-hui Gu is the Senior Vice President of Chemistry at Apeiron Therapeutics. Dr. Gu has over 20 years research and development experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Gu has been engaged in the research, development and management of novel drugs at several pharmaceutical companies and CROs, including X-Ceptor, Exelixis, ShangPharma, Otsuka and Pharmaron. Prior to joining GT Apeiron, Dr. Gu was Senior Director of R&D at the Simcere Pharmaceutical Group. Dr. Gu received his doctorate degree in organic chemistry from Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He completed his postdoctoral trainings at National Institutes of Health (NIH) with Dr. Kenner C. Rice as well as at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, with Professor John L. Neumeyer.
Dr. Jim Joseph is the Executive Director of Biology at Apeiron Therapeutics. He has over 15 years of small molecule oncology drug discovery experience leading research teams supporting preclinical activities ranging from new target identification and validation to translational biology supporting ongoing clinical trials. Most recently Jim was an Associate Director at Ideaya Biosciences where he led the new target identification and validation activities. Prior to Ideaya, Jim directed the in vitro biology activities for the androgen receptor (Erleda®) and estrogen receptor antagonist programs at Aragon and Seragon Pharmaceuticals, respectively. Jim completed his Ph.D. in Pharmacology at Duke University and is an author on over 25 publications and patents.
Dr. Yisong Xiao is the Senior Director of Chemistry at Apeiron Therapeutics. He has over 18 years of research and development experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Xiao has worked on a wide array of novel small molecule drug discovery projects, including kinase inhibitors, ion channels, GPCRs and anti-viral therapeutics. He was also a member of the team that discovered and developed Sofosbuvir, the first NS5B inhibitor. Dr. Xiao has authored over 20 patents and patent applications. Prior to joining Apeiron, he served as a director of medicinal chemistry at WuXi AppTec. He received his Ph.D.in organic chemistry from Zhejiang University.
Yanfeng is the Senior Director of CMC at Apeiron Therapeutics. He has over 15 years experience in drug discovery and non-clinical development with a focus on CMC. Prior to joining Apeiron, he served as the R&D director at 2Y-Chem Co., LTD., where he made significant contributions and led several programs through the non-clinical development phase and into phase 1 clinical trials. Moreover, Yanfeng has developed and supported several IND and ANDA applications. Yanfeng obtained his master degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from China Pharmaceutical University.
Dr. Weifeng Mao is the Director of Biology at Apeiron Therapeutics. He has more than 18 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He has deep expertise in building and optimizing in vitro screening and characterization platforms to discover novel drugs. Prior to joining Apeiron, Dr. Mao worked at WuXi AppTec where he established several in vitro screening platforms. Dr. Mao has also held several project leader responsibilities at international companies, including HutchMed and Everest, leading efforts across a range of functions within drug discovery and non-clinical development. Dr. Mao received his Ph.D.in physiology at the East China National University.
Dr. Minghua Wang is the Director of AIDD at Apeiron Therapeutics. He has over 15 years of small molecule drug discovery experience. Minghua has worked at different biotech companies, applying computational chemistry to drug design in many drug targets, spanning from enzymes to receptors. Most recently he worked on membrane protein targets in neuroscience diseases at Cerevel Therapeutics. Minghua completed his Ph.D. at Chinese Academy of Sciences and is an author on over 25 patents and publications.
Lucy Yu is the Human Resources Director at Apeiron Therapeutics. She has over 14 years of human resources experience in the pharmaceutical and financial industry. Prior to joining Apeiron, Lucy worked for Sanofi, Citibank and AMS where she gained extensive experience in talent acquisition, organization development and talent development. Lucy received her Master degree of Business Administration from the University of Canberra.
Mr. David Norwood graduated with a degree in history from Keble college, Oxford and went on to establish the IP Group in England focused on seed-stage investments and licensing of IP stemming from academic institutions. He was the former CEO of the Oxford Science Innovation (OSI) fun, one of the largest funds worldwide focused on early stage investments. David is also a world-renowned chess player having won the title of chess master at the age of 16. He is also one of the leading designers of the famous chess AI program “Deep Blue”.
Mr. Ruilin Song holds a bachelor degree in law from the China University of Political Science and Law and an MBA from the China Europe International Business School. He is now an executive chairman of the China Association for the Promotion of Pharmaceutical Innovation and deputy executive director of the National Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Industrial Development at China Pharmaceutical University (CPU). Prior to his post at CPU, Mr. Song was deputy director-general of the Department of Science, Education, Culture, Health and Legal Affairs of the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council. In 2008, he participated in the establishment of the Medical Policy Research Center of the Chinese Medical Association. In the same year, Mr. Song also served as the deputy leader of the Drug Policy Research Group of the “The Strategic Plan of Chinese Health in 2020”. He is also the member of the Capital Health Policy Advisory Committee of Experts and the Beijing Medical Reform Committee of Experts.
Professor Lo has experience in many fields such as biotechnology, corporate management, academic research and community service. He is the independent non-executive director of Luye Pharmaceuticals(HKEX:2186) and CSPC(HKEX:1093), independent director of Sinovac Biotech(Nasdaq: SVA), director of Hong Kong Baptist University, executive vice president of Asia College, and Lo’s Associates’ chairman. Professor Lo is currently the Food and Environmental Hygiene Consultant of the Hong Kong Government. He has been a member of the Research Fund Committee of the Hong Kong Government, the honorary chairman of the Biotechnology Organization under the Hong Kong Industrial and Technological Development Committee, and the chairman of the Innovation and Technology Fund Biotechnology Project Evaluation Committee. Professor Lu’s leadership and professional contributions have been widely recognized. He was awarded the title of “Global Outstanding Chinese” in 2008. Besides, he was awarded the title of “The Top Ten Financial and Smart People” in China in 2007 for his contribution to China’s economic development and business innovation. In 2000, he was the first person to be awarded the honorary academician by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in recognition of his contribution to the biotechnology industry of Hong Kong.
Dr. Honggang Bi is the Global Vice President and General Manager of China at Covance.
Dr. Bi provides executive oversight of both operations and customer relationships, representing Drug Development business lines, as well as LabCorp’s emerging Diagnostics presence in Asia Pacific (except India). Dr. Bi drives enterprise growth strategies in the region, leveraging the Power of the Combined, with a particular focus on expansion in Japan, South Korea and other key markets in APAC region, in addition to China.
Dr. Bi reports to Dr. Paul Kirchgraber, CEO of Drug Development and serves on the Drug Development Executive Committee and Global Operations Committee. Dr. Bi works closely with global executives and country leaders to accelerate company’s commercial strategy, creating and building relationships with local customers as a priority. He strengthens a differentiated “one company” culture that provides continued opportunities for employees.
Since joining the company in 2007, Dr. Bi has led the business growth in China, which has gained momentum in recent years, expanding services for local, regional and global customers. Prior to joining Covance, Dr. Bi served as CEO of Frontage Laboratories. Since the early 1990s, Honggang has grown his career, with increasing responsibilities at biopharma companies such as SmithKline Beecham, Parke-Davis and Pfizer. Honggang brings a demonstrated track record of strong performance to the role, leveraging his unique mix of business acumen, scientific expertise and passion for people.
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Exscientia is the leading pharmatech company and the first to automate drug discovery. As a full stack AI drug discovery company, we generate our own data before combining the analytical power of AI with the creativity and expertise of our world-class scientists. This allows us to shorten the pre-clinical drug discovery stage by at least three-quarters and, in turn, substantially accelerate the delivery of new treatments to patients worldwide.
Established in December 2000, WuXi AppTec provides a broad portfolio of R&D and manufacturing services that enable companies in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries worldwide to advance discoveries and deliver groundbreaking treatments to patients. As an innovation-driven and customer-focused company, WuXi AppTec helps our partners improve the productivity of advancing healthcare products through cost-effective and efficient solutions. With industry-leading capabilities such as R&D and manufacturing for small molecule drugs, cell and gene therapies, and testing for medical devices, WuXi AppTec’s open-access platform is enabling more than 3,900 collaborators from over 30 countries to improve the health of those in need – and to realize our vision that “every drug can be made and every disease can be treated”.
Founded in 2004, Pharmaron is a cutting-edge, fully integrated pharmaceutical R&D service platform supporting the life science industry. The company has invested in its people and facilities and established its comprehensive service offerings throughout the pharmaceutical R&D lifecycle. With operations in China, the US and the UK staffed by more than 10,000 employees, Pharmaron has an excellent track record in delivering end-to-end R&D solutions to its partners globally and enabling them to accelerate their novel drug discovery and development process.
