CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc. (HKEX:1228) is a China and U.S.-based global biopharmaceutical company committed to the research, development and commercialization of transformative therapies for rare disease and rare oncology. CANbridge has a differentiated drug portfolio, with 3 approved drugs and a pipeline of 11 assets, targeting prevalent rare disease and rare oncology indications that have unmet needs and significant market potential. These include Hunter syndrome and other lysosomal storage disorders, complement-mediated disorders, hemophilia A, metabolic disorders, rare cholestatic liver diseases and neuromuscular diseases, as well as glioblastoma multiforme. CANbridge is also building next-generation gene therapy development capability through a combination of collaboration with world-leading researchers and biotech companies and internal capacity. CANbridge global partners include: Apogenix, GC Pharma, Mirum, Wuxi Biologics, Privus, the UMass Chan Medical School, the University of Washington School of Medicine, Scriptr Global and LogicBio.
We are led by a management team with significant industry experience in rare diseases, spanning R&D, clinical development, regulatory affairs, business development and commercialization. We are supported by a talent pool of 117 employees of which 15 have a Ph.D. and/or M.D. degree. And more than 80% of our employees have prior experience working at multinational biopharmaceutical
companies as of December 31, 2022. Our management team has a track record of successfully achieving approval and commercializing of rare disease therapies across the key markets, including China, the United States, Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia. We leverage this expertise to play an active role in advancing the rare disease industry and shaping the rare disease ecosystem in
China. For example, our founder, Dr. James Qun Xue (“Dr. Xue”), Ph. D., is currently serving as the Deputy Director General of China’s Alliance for Rare Disease (CHARD).
We received marketing approval for Hunterase® (CAN101) for MPS II in mainland China in September 2020.
We initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers for CAN106 in Singapore in February 2021; obtained the IND approval from the China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for a CAN106 study in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) in July 2021; and reported positive top-line
CAN106 Phase 1 data for the single ascending dose study in Singapore in February 2022. Results suggest complete blockade of complement function. CAN106 was shown to be safe and well-tolerated.
In addition, the Livmarli NDA for ALGS was accepted and granted priority review by NMPA in January 2022. The first patient was dosed in Livmarli Phase 2 Study in biliary atresia in China in July 2022. In addition, the first patient was dosed in CAN103 phase 1/2 trial for the treatment of Gaucher disease in China in July 2022 and the first patient was dosed in phase 2 trial for the treatment of Gaucher disease in China in January 2023.
In the rare oncology area, we are developing CAN008 for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In 2018, we completed a Phase 1 clinical trial for CAN008 in Taiwan in newly diagnosed patients. We received IND approval from the NMPA to commence first-line Phase 2 clinical trial of CAN008, dosed the first patient in a Phase 2 clinical trial of CAN008 for the first-line treatment of GBM patients in mainland China, in October 2021, and completed phase 2 clinical trial patient enrolment in March 2023.
In addition to biologics and small molecules, we are investing in next-generation technology for gene therapies. Gene therapies provide a potentially one-time durable treatment for rare genetic diseases that have limited treatment options. As of December 31, 2022, we are developing gene therapies for the treatments of Fabry disease and Pompe disease, which we licensed from LogicBio Therapeutics. The license is for the development of two gene therapy products. In January 2023, we announced that we have exercised our option to secure the exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize a novel second-generation gene therapy to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) from UMass Chan Medical School. In addition, we are internally developing an adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery platform targeting different tissues, such as the central nervous system (CNS) and muscle.
CANbridge established.
Acquires license for Apogenix's CAN008 for the treatment of glioblastoma in China
Receives approval for CAN008 GBM Phase I/II trial in Taiwan
Doses first patient in CAN008 GBM Phase I/II trial in Taiwan
Submits IND application for CAN008 GBM Phase II/III trial in China
Completes patient enrollment for CAN008 GBM Phase I trial in Taiwan
Receives approval to commence CAN008 GBM Phase II/III trial in China
Enters strategic partnership with WuXi Biologics for rare disease therapeutics development
Submits NDA for CAN101 (Hunterase®) for Hunter syndrome in China
Granted priority review for CAN101 (Hunterase®) in China
Enters research agreement with UMass Medical School for rare disease gene therapy
Enters into second research agreement with Umass Medical school for rare disease gene therapy
First CANbridge rare disease treatment marketing approval in China:
Hunterase®, the first enzyme replacement therapy for Hunter syndrome in the region
CANbridge Pharma announces strategic collaboration with LogicBio Therapeutics, securing licenses to gene delivery and editing platforms
Mirum Pharma and CANbridge Pharma enter into exclusive licensing agreement to develop and commercialize Maralixibat in Greater China for rare liver disease
Obtains CDE clearance from NMPA for an updated Phase II clinical first line trial application for CAN008 in China
Completes $98 million series D and $58 million series E financing
Begins commercialization of Hunterase® (CAN101) in mainland China
Reported Positive Top-Line CAN106 Phase 1 Data
First Patient Dosed in CAN106 Phase 1b/2 Trial for Treatment of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) in China
LIVMARLI® New Drug Application/Orphan Drug Registration (NDA/ORD) for Alagille Syndrome Accepted by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration
CANbridge-UMass Chan Medical School Gene Therapy Research Presented at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting
LIVMARLI® New Drug Application (NDA), for Alagille Syndrome, Accepted by China’s National Medical Products Administration
Forms Scientific Advisory Board to Guide Global Development of CAN106 in Complement-mediated Diseases
First Patient Dosed in LIVMARLI® (Maralixibat) EMBARK Phase 2 Study in Biliary Atresia in China
First Patient Dosed in CANbridge Pharmaceuticals CAN103 Phase 1/2 Trial for the Treatment of Gaucher Disease in China
CANbridge-UMass Chan Medical School Gene Therapy Research in Oral Presentation at the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT) 29th Annual Congress
Orphan Drug Designation Granted to CAN 106 for the Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis
Dr. James Qun Xue, Ph.D., M.B.A., has served as Chairman of the Board,Director and Chief Executive Officer since the inception of our Company in January 2018 and was re-designated as an executive Director on June 21, 2021. Dr. Xue is the founder of our Company and has been actively involved in the business, strategy and operational management of our Group since its establishment. Dr. Xue has over 22 years of experience in medical and pharmaceutical companies. Dr.Xue began his career as a scientist at Kosan Biosciences, Inc. from May 1998 to August 2000,where he dedicated himself to research in bioengineering. In 2002, Dr. Xue joined GenzymeCorporation, where he served in various positions with increasing responsibilities including,among others, the general manager of Genzyme China and senior director of business excellence, and accumulated extensive management experience there until 2011. Since June 2012, Dr. Xue has served as venture partner at Tullis Health Investors where he was principally responsible for providing advice on portfolio company investments and maintaining and enhancing company’s brand and market position.
Dr. Xue is deputy director general of the China Alliance for Rare Disease (中國罕見病聯盟), deputy director of the Shanghai Foundation for Rare Disease. He has been the vice chair of the R&D committee of the China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Research Development Association (PhIRDA) since May 2016 and a member of the Leadership Council of the Joint Institute of Peking University Health Science Center and University of Michigan Medical School since August 2017. Dr. Xue has also been a member of BayHelix Group, a non-profit organization of business leaders with a mission to shape the growth of the life sciences and healthcare industry and a mentor of the Termeer Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on connecting life science innovators and catalyzing the creation of new medicines.
Dr. Xue obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in pharmaceutical chemistry from Peking University School of Pharmacy in July 1992. He further obtained his Ph.D. in bioorganic chemistry from Brown University in April 1997. In addition, Dr. Xue received his postdoctoral degree in pharmaceutical chemistry and biochemistry from University of California in April 1998 and his Master of Business Administration from Darden School of Business, University of Virginia in May 2002.
Mr. Glenn Hassan was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer in April 2019. Mr. Hassan is responsible for overseeing the management of the Group’s finances.
Before joining our Company, Mr. Hassan served as director, healthcare investment banking at China Renaissance Securities Inc. since August 2018, where he advised various cross-border healthcare investments and capital raising activities. Prior to this, he was a public market healthcare investor, serving as portfolio manager and senior analyst at Leerink Capital Partners from March 2016 to January 2018 and working at Citadel LLC’s Surveyor Capital from June 2014 to February 2016. Mr Hassan started his investing career at Fidelity Management & Research Company where he served with increasing responsibilities from April 2008 to May 2014.
Mr. Hassan received his bachelor’s degree of science in business with finance concentration from Indiana University in May 2002. Mr. Hassan further obtained his master’s degree of science in global financial analysis and graduated with high distinction from McCallum Graduate School of Business, Bentley College in May 2004.
Prior to his work with CANbridge, Dr. Cox was Chief Medical Officer for Editas Medicine, in Cambridge, MA. Dr. Cox also had a long stint at Sanofi Genzyme, also in Cambridge, culminating as Vice President, Rare Disease Clinical Development, where he oversaw multiple global rare disease clinical development programs, including Cerdelga®; olipudase alfa; Hectoral®; Cerezyme®, Aldurazyme®, and Elaprase® in Asia, among others. Before then, Dr. Cox held several senior medical R&D positions at Genzyme and was the company’s first clinical geneticist recruited to oversee human clinical development programs for rare genetic diseases.
Dr. Cox is a board-certified clinical geneticist and pediatrician who trained at Boston Children’s Hospital, where he remains on staff and continues to see patients with genetic diseases. He earned an MD and PhD in Biology from the University of California at San Diego, and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, from Harvard College. He holds multiple patents and awards and has authored scores of peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and book chapters.
Marcelo Cheresky has nearly 20 years’ business leadership experience in the biotechnology industry. Most recently, he was Vice President, Emerging Markets at Bioverativ, a Sanofi company in Boston, MA. Before then, Mr. Cheresky was Executive Director of Routes-to-Care Strategy at Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals in Novato, CA, where he developed a strategy for improving patient treatment access and provided direction to the medical field team. Prior to that, he was Regional Vice President – Latin America, for Synageva Biopharma in Boston, MA, responsible for all Latin American operations, including clinical trial programs and regulatory affairs in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico, where he oversaw the regulatory submission and approval for Kanuma®. Mexico was the third country to gain Marketing Authorization for Kanuma® worldwide. Previously, Mr. Cheresky held multiple international positions at Genzyme Corporation in Boston, MA.
Mr. Cheresky holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School in Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Chris Chen has over 21 years of bio-pharmaceutical experience in HR management in multiple roles, including 11 years of professional experience in Human Resource Management at Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (Nasdaq GSM: SVA), during which time the staff size increased from 25 to more than 600 and Sinovac grew from one single company to a group with several subsidiary and JV companies. Immediately prior to coming to CANbridge, Ms. Chen was the HR Director of Huadu Biotech Ltd.
Ms. Chen has a master’s degree in Human Resource Management from RenMin University of China.
Bettie Li is our Head of Finance Operation and Controller. Prior joining to us, Ms. Li worked at Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP for 13 years as a senior audit manager, where she assisted local and foreign-invested enterprises in the IPO financing, mergers and acquisitions, annual audit and other businesses.
Ms. Li received her bachelor's degree with a major in Information Management and Information System from Fudan University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant (Member of CICPA and Australia CPA).
Dan Li is our Vice President of Business Development and is responsible for business development, alliance management and program management. Prior to joining CANbridge in 2014, Ms. Li was an business development professional at Pfizer, where she focused in mergers & acquisitions and corporate strategy.
Ms. Li holds a master’s degree in Applied Biotechnology from Uppsala University and a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Peking University.
Dr. Pauline Li brings to CANbridge a wealth of international clinical development experience, in both small molecule and biologic products, across multiple indications and markets. Most recently, she was at Connect Biopharma, where she held the position of Vice President of Clinical Development and was responsible for creating and implementing the clinical development strategy. She led the team to achieve five NMPA IND approvals, three FDA IND approvals, eight clinical trial initiations and six clinical trial completions. Before then, she was Executive Director of Clinical Operations at Shanghai Haihe Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd. Earlier, Dr. Li held multiple clinical development and medical roles at leading multinational pharmaceutical companies, including Medical & Scientific Affairs Director at Servier China, Medical Director at Takeda China, Head of the Medical Affairs at Bayer Healthcare, Senior Medical Manager at Xi’an Janssen and Medical Manager at Shanghai Roche. Dr. Li began her career as a cardiologist at Beijing Fuwai Heart Disease Hospital in Beijing, China.
Dr. Li holds an MBA degree from Peking University, a Master’s degree in Internal Medicine from Peking Union Medical College and a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Medicine from Beijing Medical University. She is also a licensed physician and pharmacist.
Qian Ma is our head of legal and compliance and serves as one of our joint company secretaries and the board secretary. Prior to joining us, Ms. Ma worked at King & Wood Mallesons where she facilitated our legal and compliance affairs as a designated external counsel. Ms. Ma has professional legal experiences in advising corporate general matters, investments and deals in medical and pharmaceutical industry.
Ms. Ma received her Juris Master degree and her bachelor’s degree in history and international studies from Peking University.
Stella Mao has rich multi department experience in the pharmaceutical industry, covering drug pricing, NRDL &PRDL access, drug registration, health policy research, National Major Scientific and Technological Special Project, drug intellectual property rights and other sectors. She joined CANbridge in 2020 as Director of Public Affairs and Director of Beijing Office. From 2010 to 2020, she worked at Nanjing Sanhome Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., successively serving as Director of Government Affairs, Director of Public Affairs and Director of Registration Department. During this period, she set up a government affairs platform covering both central and local governments for the company, and led the team to complete the excellent work of drug pricing, NRDL &PRDL and health-related List access. From 2018 to 2020, she and her team also provided the regular strategy support for all the pipeline products, and obtained 4 IND, 3 ANDA, 2 NDA applications from NMPA, and 2 IND applications from FDA. Since 2018, Stella has been working as a volunteer at the China Alliance for Rare Diseases (CHARD). She participated in organizing the training program of the National Rare Diseases Diagnosis and Treatment Collaborative Network, and also assisted in the preparation of the annual China Rare Diseases Conference.
Stella Mao holds a Bachelor of Marketing and a Master of Software Engineering from Beijing Institute of Technology. She is currently a member of the Medical Policy Committee of the China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Research Development Association (PhIRDA) and a member of the Committee of the Beijing Society of Rare Disease Clinical Care and Accessibility (BJCARD) .
Dr. Jeff Kou is the Head of Program Management & Clinical Operations. Dr. Kou has been dedicated on CMC development, portfolio and project management, and alliance management for more than 11 years. The full lifecycle management experience and achievements enable his integrated understanding in biologicals R&D from PCC to IND and NDA, including CMC, non-clinical and clinical development.
Dr. Kou holds PhD degree in Biochemical Engineering from East China University of Science and Technology, and EMBA from Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance, Shanghai JiaoTong University.
Ms. Shirley Yue has joined CANbridge in August 2021. Ms.Yue is responsible for the function of Procurement & Supply Chain.
Before joining our company, Ms. Yue served as purchasing director at Luoxin pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co., Ltd since August 2018 . Prior to that, she was purchasing director in Nanjing Sanhome pharmaceutical Co., Ltd with wide range coverage from infrastructure, equipment, material , outsourcing service to commercialization. Before that, she was Asia purchasing head at Futuris Automotive Interior Co., Ltd with rich experience in whole purchasing team management and cost control.
Ms. Yue obtained her bachelor’s degree of industry from Nanchang Institute of Aeronautical Technology in 1993.
Rebecca Zhang was the Head of Regulatory Affairs at I-Mab Biopharma Ltd. Co. prior to coming to CANbridge, where she focused on Oncology and Immunology. Under her leadership, I-Mab successfully achieved 6 IND applications and approvals in China and 1 IND approval in the US; she and her team also provided end-to-end regulatory strategy support for all pipeline products, from discovery to the post-approval stage. Before joining I-Mab, she had more than 20 years’ regulatory affairs experience in several multi-national corporations, including GSK, Sanofi, AZ, and Johnson & Johnson, where she led a large RA team to support business in China. Zhang started her career as a physician in the China-Japan Friendship Hospital.
Rebecca Zhang holds a Bachelor of Science from the Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine University.
Dr. Wei Zhang has 10 years’ experience in research and development of biologics. Before joining CANbridge, he worked at I-MAB Biopharma, responsible for the CMC lead of multiple projects. He managed activities in CMC and cross-function collaboration to ensure the whole projects’ goals and milestones were achieved. Previous experience also includes various roles at Innovent, Agilent Technologies, WuXi Biologics, and VIVA Biotech, leading and participating in activities for product development, business development, extended characterization of biologics, and biomarker discovery, respectively. His expertise is in CMC development, quality control, and project management.
Wei Zhang obtained his Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from Fudan University.
Dr. James Qun Xue, Ph.D., M.B.A., has served as Chairman of the Board,Director and Chief Executive Officer since the inception of our Company in January 2018 and was re-designated as an executive Director on June 21, 2021. Dr. Xue is the founder of our Company and has been actively involved in the business, strategy and operational management of our Group since its establishment. Dr. Xue has over 22 years of experience in medical and pharmaceutical companies. Dr.Xue began his career as a scientist at Kosan Biosciences, Inc. from May 1998 to August 2000,where he dedicated himself to research in bioengineering. In 2002, Dr. Xue joined GenzymeCorporation, where he served in various positions with increasing responsibilities including,among others, the general manager of Genzyme China and senior director of business excellence, and accumulated extensive management experience there until 2011. Since June 2012, Dr. Xue has served as venture partner at Tullis Health Investors where he was principally responsible for providing advice on portfolio company investments and maintaining and enhancing company’s brand and market position.
Dr. Xue is deputy director general of the China Alliance for Rare Disease (中國罕見病聯盟), deputy director of the Shanghai Foundation for Rare Disease. He has been the vice chair of the R&D committee of the China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Research Development Association (PhIRDA) since May 2016 and a member of the Leadership Council of the Joint Institute of Peking University Health Science Center and University of Michigan Medical School since August 2017. Dr. Xue has also been a member of BayHelix Group, a non-profit organization of business leaders with a mission to shape the growth of the life sciences and healthcare industry and a mentor of the Termeer Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on connecting life science innovators and catalyzing the creation of new medicines.
Dr. Xue obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in pharmaceutical chemistry from Peking University School of Pharmacy in July 1992. He further obtained his Ph.D. in bioorganic chemistry from Brown University in April 1997. In addition, Dr. Xue received his postdoctoral degree in pharmaceutical chemistry and biochemistry from University of California in April 1998 and his Master of Business Administration from Darden School of Business, University of Virginia in May 2002.
Dr. Gao joined CANbridge as the Advisory Board member for the gene therapy initiative collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Medical School in June 2020.
Dr. Gao is an internationally recognized gene therapy researcher who has played a key role in the discovery and characterization of new AAV serotypes. He is currently President of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, Director of Horae Gene Therapy Center and Viral Vector Core, Co-director of Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, and the Penelope Booth Rockwell Professor at UMass Medical School. He has authored 250+ research papers, six book chapters, four edited books, and holds 131 patents, with 221 more pending. Dr. Gao was ranked #4 of Top 20 Translational Researchers from 2013 to 2017 by Nature Biotechnology. He is also the co-founder of Voyager Therapeutics and Aspa Therapeutics.
Dr. Mark Goldberg has been a member of our advisory board since 2013 and served as our Acting Chief Medical Officer from 2015 to 2018, bringing over 30 years of clinical and industry experience as a seasoned oncologist, hematologist and corporate medical/regulatory strategist. Dr. Goldberg is a medical oncologist and hematologist on the faculty of Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, a veteran biotech executive, and long-time American Cancer Society (ACS) and ACS Cancer Action Network (CAN) volunteer. He is the past-chair of the Eastern New England Area Board of the American Cancer Society and currently serves as a member of its national board of directors. Dr. Goldberg previously served on the executive management team of Synageva Biopharma from 2011 to 2014, including as Executive Vice President, Medical and Regulatory Strategy. Prior to joining Synageva, Dr. Goldberg served in various management capacities of increasing responsibility at Genzyme Corporation from 1996 to 2011, most recently as Senior Vice President, Clinical Development and Global Therapeutic Head, Oncology, Genetic Health, and as Chairman of Genzyme’s Early Product Review Board。
Dr. James Qun Xue, Ph.D., M.B.A., has served as Chairman of the Board,Director and Chief Executive Officer since the inception of our Company in January 2018 and was re-designated as an executive Director on June 21, 2021. Dr. Xue is the founder of our Company and has been actively involved in the business, strategy and operational management of our Group since its establishment. Dr. Xue has over 22 years of experience in medical and pharmaceutical companies. Dr.Xue began his career as a scientist at Kosan Biosciences, Inc. from May 1998 to August 2000,where he dedicated himself to research in bioengineering. In 2002, Dr. Xue joined GenzymeCorporation, where he served in various positions with increasing responsibilities including,among others, the general manager of Genzyme China and senior director of business excellence, and accumulated extensive management experience there until 2011. Since June 2012, Dr. Xue has served as venture partner at Tullis Health Investors where he was principally responsible for providing advice on portfolio company investments and maintaining and enhancing company’s brand and market position.
Dr. Xue is deputy director general of the China Alliance for Rare Disease (中國罕見病聯盟), deputy director of the Shanghai Foundation for Rare Disease. He has been the vice chair of the R&D committee of the China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Research Development Association (PhIRDA) since May 2016 and a member of the Leadership Council of the Joint Institute of Peking University Health Science Center and University of Michigan Medical School since August 2017. Dr. Xue has also been a member of BayHelix Group, a non-profit organization of business leaders with a mission to shape the growth of the life sciences and healthcare industry and a mentor of the Termeer Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on connecting life science innovators and catalyzing the creation of new medicines.
Dr. Xue obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in pharmaceutical chemistry from Peking University School of Pharmacy in July 1992. He further obtained his Ph.D. in bioorganic chemistry from Brown University in April 1997. In addition, Dr. Xue received his postdoctoral degree in pharmaceutical chemistry and biochemistry from University of California in April 1998 and his Master of Business Administration from Darden School of Business, University of Virginia in May 2002.
Dr. Kan Chen (陳侃), Ph.D., was appointed as a Director in December 2020 and re-designated as a non-executive Director on June 21, 2021. Dr. Chen has served as director of CANbridge Life Sciences, our wholly-owned subsidiary, since January 2021. Dr.Chen is responsible for participating in formulating our Company’s corporate and business strategies.
Dr. Chen has been as a non-executive director of Antengene Corporation Limited (HKEX:6996) since March 2021 and a non-executive director of Connect Biopharma Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: CNTB) since December 2020. Dr. Chen has also been serving as a director of Jiangsu Yahong Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd. (江蘇亞虹醫藥科技有限公司), a company principally engaged in drug innovation with a focus on on urinary system tumors and other serious diseases, and Abbisko Cayman Limited, a company principally engaged in research of small molecule new drugs, since October 2020 and from March 2020 to June 2021, respectively. Dr. Chen has also been serving as associate and vice president and then as principal of Qiming Venture Partners, focusing on healthcare management, since February 2016. From September 2014 to January 2016, Dr. Chen had been the senior scientist of Janssen, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, responsible for drug discovery. From November 2012 to August 2014, he served as group leader of Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co.,Ltd. (SHA: 600276) responsible for drug discovery. From September 2009 to October 2012, he served as research fellow of immunology research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Chen received his Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences from Fudan University in July 2004 and his Ph. D. degree in cell biology from Case Western Reserve University in January 2009.
Dr. Derek Paul Di Rocco, Ph.D., was appointed as a Director in March 2020 and was re-designated as a non-executive Director on June 21, 2021. Dr. Di Rocco is responsible for participating in formulating our Company’s corporate and business strategies.
Dr. Di Rocco has served as the partner of RA Capital Management, L.P., or RA Capital, a multi-stage investment manager dedicated to evidence-based investing in healthcare and life sciences, since 2020. He joined RA Capital in 2013 and was previously a principal from 2017 to 2020. As representative of RA Capital, Dr. Di Rocco has served as a non-executive director for Achilles Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: ACHL) since September 2019, Werewolf Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOWL) since December 2020, Connect Biopharma Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: CNTB) since August 2020, iTeos Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITOS) since March 2020 and of 89bio, Inc. (NASDAQ: ETNB) since March 2018, respectively. Dr. Di Rocco received his bachelor’s degree in biology from College of the Holy Cross in May 2002 and his Ph.D. degree in pharmacology from University of Washington in August 2009.
Edward Hu has deep and varied C-level biopharmaceutical experience, having served as both Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer at WuXi AppTec before his current position of Vice Chairman, Global Chief Investment Officer, Executive Director, Strategy Committee Member. Before then, Mr. Hu was Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Office at WuXi PharmaTech. Prior to his roles at WuXi, Mr. Hu held multiple senior management roles, culminating in that of Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Tanox Inc., a NASDAQ-traded public company, which was acquired by Genentech. Prior to that, Mr. Hu served as business planning manager of Biogen Inc, and before then, as senior financial analyst at Merck. Mr. Hu is currently a non-executive director of CStone Pharmaceuticals. Previously, he also served as non-executive director of WuXi Biologics, as well as a director of Viela Bio Inc, which was acquired by Horizon Therapeutics in March 2021.
Mr. Hu has a bachelor’s degree in physics from Hangzhou University (currently, Zhejiang University), in Zhejiang province, China. He also has a master’s degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in business administration, both from Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Mr. James Arthur Geraghty, was appointed as an independent non-executive Director on July 18, 2018. Mr. Geraghty has served as an independent non-executive director of CANbridge Life Sciences, our wholly-owned subsidiary, since May 2017. Mr. Geraghty is responsible for supervising and providing independent judgment to our Board.
Mr. Geraghty has approximately 30 years’ management experience in business development, strategy and operations. Mr. Geraghty was an entrepreneur in residence of Third Rock Ventures from May 2013 to December 2016, where he was responsible for company formation and governance. Prior to this, Mr. Geraghty served as the senior vice president responsible for strategy and business development at Sanofi S.A. between April 2011 and December 2012. Mr. Geraghty worked with Genzyme Corporation from 1992 to 2011, with his last position being the senior vice president responsible for international development. From 1993 to 2007, Mr. Geraghty served as the chairman of board and the chief executive officer for Genzyme Transgenics Corporation. Prior to that, Mr. Geraghty started his career at Bain Capital, responsible for healthcare strategy consulting. Mr. Geraghty has been the chairman of the board of Orchard Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ORTX) and Pieris Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:PIRS) since May 2018 and since November 2017, respectively. Mr. Geraghty has also served as an independent non-employee Director of Fulcrum Therapeutics (NASDAQ: FULC) since October 2016, Voyager Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VYGR) since January 2014 and Idera Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IDRA) since July 2013, respectively.
Mr. Geraghty received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgetown University and received his Juris Doctor degree from Yale University Law School in May 1980.
Dr. Richard James Gregory, Ph.D., was appointed as an independent non-executive Director in April 2020. Dr. Gregory is responsible for supervising and providing independent judgment to our Board.
Dr. Gregory has over 30 years’ experience in research and development. Dr. Gregory has served as an independent non-employee director of Homology Medicines (NASDAQ: FIXX) since 2015 and is currently an independent director of ProMIS Neurosciences (TSX: PMN). Dr. Gregory was the executive vice president and the chief scientific officer of ImmunoGen Inc. from January 2015 to August 2019. Prior to that, since February 1989, Dr. Gregory had spent 25 years at Genzyme Corporation (NASDAQ: GENZ) in roles of increasing responsibility, including Vice President and senior Vice President, with his last position being the Head of Research and Development for Genzyme Sanofi. In early 1990s, he also worked with Canji, Inc., focusing on the field of molecular biology. In 1989, Dr. Gregory served as a postdoctoral fellow of the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology.
Dr. Gregory received his bachelor’s degree in Science in Biochemistry from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in June 1980 and his Ph.D. degree from University of Massachusetts Amherst in January 1986. Dr. Gregory has been a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering since February 2010.
Mr. Peng Kuan Chan (陳炳鈞), was appointed as an independent nonexecutive Director of the Company on June 11, 2021. Mr. Chan is responsible for supervising and providing independent judgment to our Board.
Mr. Chan has over 25 years of experience in corporate financing, investment banking, initial public offering, mergers and acquisitions as well as financial management. Mr. Chan has been serving as an independent non-executive director of Yincheng International Holding Co., Ltd. (HKEX: 1902) since February 2019. From October 2017 to May 2019, Mr. Chan was the chief financial officer of Elegance Optical International Holdings Ltd (HKEX: 0907), where he was responsible for corporate finance and financial management. Prior to this, from January 2012 to September 2017, Mr. Chan served as the chief operating officer of CITIC Merchant Co., Limited, responsible for formulating business strategies and executing business plans of the company. Between January 2011 and November 2011, Mr. Chan served as Head of Asia CIG and Cleantech of Piper Jaffray Asia Limited. Mr. Chan served as the managing director of corporate finance – Great China coverage department, and an executive director of corporate finance department of BNP Paribas Capital (Asia Pacific) Limited from July 2006 to January 2011 and from March 2005 to June 2006, respectively. Between August 2000 and December 2004, Mr. Chan served as an executive director of Sanyuan Group Limited (三元集團有限公司), a company delisted from the Stock Exchange in December 2009 (stock code: 140) which principally engaged in property investment and bio-pharmaceuticals, with the mission of restructuring its business activities and materialising its debt restructing plan. He served as an executive director of BNP Prime Peregrine Capital Limited from May 1994 to August 2000.
Mr. Chan received his bachelor’s degree in commerce from University of Canterbury in May 1989 and received his master’s degree in applied finance from Macquarie University in November 1998. He has been a Chartered Accountant of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand since November 1992. He has been a Certified Public Accountant of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“HKICPA”) since July 1993.
Dr. Hu has a rich background in healthcare investment, operations and administrative management and is a seasoned entrepreneur, having founded Beijing Amcare Women’s & Children’s Hospital Co. in 2004, where she also served as Director, Chairman of the Board and General Manager. Currently, she is the Chairman of the Board and General Manager of Beijing Amcare Medical Management Co., Ltd.; the Chairman of the Board of Beijing Meizhong Airui Tumor Hospital Co., Ltd.; the independent Director of Beijing Yida Shidai Technology Development Co., Ltd. and the Executive Director and General Manager of Beijing Xuanhe Yazhi Management Consulting Co., Ltd. Dr. Hu is a member of 12th and 13th Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a position she has held since 2013. From 2002-2004, she was an Investment Manager at JP Morgan Chase Bank.
Dr. Hu has a Ph.D. in medical sciences from Medical College of Ohio and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from The University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in medicine from Peking University, in Beijing, China.
