Established in 2012, CANbridge is a leading China-based, global rare disease-focused biopharmaceutical company committed to the research, development and commercialization of transformative therapies.
We are led by a seasoned management team with significant industry experience in rare diseases, spanning R&D, clinical development, regulatory affairs, business development and commercialization, supported by a pool of talent of 151 employees where 22 had a Ph.D. and/or M.D. degree and more than 80% of our employees had experience working at multinational biopharmaceutical companies as of June 21, 2021. Our management team collectively has a track record of successfully commercializing rare disease therapies across the key markets including China, the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Leveraging our management’s expertise, we play an active role in advancing the rare disease industry and shaping the rare disease ecosystem in China. For example, our founder Dr. Xue is currently serving as the Deputy Director General of China’s Alliance for Rare Disease (CHARD).
As of June 21,2021, we had developed a comprehensive and differentiated pipeline of 13 drug assets with significant market potential targeting some of the most prevalent rare diseases as well as rare oncology indications, including three marketed products, three drug candidates at clinical stage, two at IND-enabling stage, two at preclinical stage and another three gene therapy programs at lead identification stage.
In the rare disease area, we have seven biologics and small molecules products and product candidates for the treatment of Hunter Syndrome (MPS II) and other lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs), complement mediated disorders, hemophilia A, metabolic disorders, and rare cholestatic liver diseases including Alagille syndrome (ALGS), progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC), and biliary atresia (BA). Among these, we obtained the marketing approval for Hunterase®(CAN101) for MPS II in mainland China in September 2020. We are conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers for CAN106 in Singapore, and received an IND acceptance notice from the NMPA for CAN106 in April 2021 for a Phase 1 study.
In the rare oncology area, we are developing CAN008 for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). As of June 21,2021,we also obtained marketing approval for two other oncology products, CaphosolTM (CAN002) in mainland China and Nerlynx® (CAN030) in Greater China.
In addition to biologics and small molecules, we are investing in next-generation technology for gene therapies. We are using AAV sL65 capsid vector licensed in from LogicBio Therapeutics to develop two gene therapy products for the treatment of Fabry disease and Pompe disease, with options to develop two additional indications using the same vector and a clinical-stage gene editing program for the treatment of methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) pursuant to our collaboration agreements with LogicBio Therapeutics. We are also working with our research partner UMass on sponsored research programs to develop gene therapy solutions for neuromuscular disorders, with the exclusive option to license-in the assets for development. 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
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.
Dr. Yunxiang Zhu (朱雲祥), Ph.D., was appointed as Vice President and Head of Global Research in September 2020. Dr. Zhu is responsible for overseeing overall business operations and company-wide budgeting and expense for R&D.
From May 2018 to September 2020, Dr. Zhu served as senior vice president at Shenogen Pharma Group, responsible for company strategy in drug discovery and development. Prior to that, from February 2001 to May 2018, he served over 17 years at Sanofi Genzyme, progressing through various positions including staff scientist (level II), senior scientist, principal scientist, fellow, distinguished fellow, and senior director in charge of muscle disease research. During this period, he was responsible for scientific research in specialty care. From August 1988 to August 1990, Dr. Zhu served as research associate at Fudan University.
Dr. Zhu received his bachelor’s degree of science in chemistry from Zhejiang University in June 1984. Dr. Zhu further received his master of science in biochemistry from Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica in July 1988. He obtained his Ph.D. in cell biology from University of Miami School of Medicine in February 1996 and conducted his post-doctorate training in cell biology at Washington University School of Medicine from February 1996 to February 2001.
Mr. Yijun Lu (陸義駿), was appointed as General Manager of CANbridge China in November 2020. Mr. Lu is responsible for overseeing our commercial business operations in the PRC.
Before joining our Company, from April 2020 to November 2020, Mr. Lu served as head of hemophilia and rare disease at Takeda (China) Holdings Co. Ltd, where he led the launch and development of certain products related to rare diseases, such as Replagal, Vpriv, Takhzyro and Firazyr. From July 2018 and April 2019, Mr. Lu was the franchise head of hematology at Shire Bioscience (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., where he led the hemophilia business development in China. From April 2017 to July 2018, he served as head of value demonstration and access at Shire Bioscience (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., during which he received the CEO Award and the APAC Best Value Demonstration and Access Award. Mr. Lu also served as national sales head at Baxalta Bioscience (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. from January 2016 to April 2017 and as marketing manager at Baxter China Investment Co. Ltd. from February 2014 to December 2015. From October 2012 to February 2014, he served as associate marketing manager at Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. Since July 2011, he served as senior regional sales manager at Bayer Healthcare Company Ltd. Mr. Lu served at Beijing Novartis Pharma Ltd. as senior regional sales manager and regional sales manager from July 2006 to July 2011 and as senior district sales manager from February 2005 to July 2006. Before that, he served in the sales team at the Shanghai Representative Office of Eli Lilly Asia Inc. in 2002. From July 1996 to February 2000, Mr. Lu served as oncologist at Shanghai No.1 People’s Hospital.
Mr. Lu obtained his bachelor’s degree in clinical medicine from Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine in August 1996. He received his certificate of Beijing International MBA Course from Peking University in April 2009.
Mr. Lau has over 20 years of extensive experience in pharmaceutical finance management and operations. Prior to joining CANbridge, he was with Sanofi China for 5 years, most recently as Senior Director, Head of Business Controlling, China Pharma & CHC at Sanofi China, where he partnered with country GM and BU heads, implemented systems and processes to ensure business growth, and provided decision support. Prior to Sanofi, Jeff worked in finance at GlaxoSmithKline, focusing on operations in Hong Kong and China, leading multiple business units.
Mr. Lau holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in the U.S. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (Member of AICPA and HKICPA).
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.
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.
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) .
Has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and sales from Northeastern University in Boston, MA.
Ms. Tao spent 13 years at GE Healthcare (Shanghai) prior to coming to CANbridge, where she led the team responsible for managing drug release activities and quality procedures in accordance with applicable regulatory and customer requirements, including complying with EU GMP, US cGMP, and approved corporate standards and procedures.
Ms. Tao holds a MS from the East China University of Science and Technology.
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.
Chris Chen has over 17 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.
Isabella Zhao has more than 10 years of experience in the China Healthcare sector. Prior to joining CANbridge, she was the senior healthcare analyst at CDPQ in Hong Kong, where she helped to construct and manage the second-largest Canadian pension fund's investments in the China Healthcare Sector. Before then, she was the head of the Greater China Healthcare research team at JPMorgan in Hong Kong, Prior to her time at JPMorgan, she was at Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong, where she was the leading healthcare analyst. Ms. Zhao began her career as an investment analyst at Oppenheimer Fund in New York.
Ms. Zhao has an MBA from New York University in New York and an Honorary Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada.
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.
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.
Mr. Mark Bamforth has been a member of our advisory board since 2019. Mr. Bamforth has an industry experience of over 30 years in manufacturing complex biological products including viral vector manufacturing for gene and cell therapies. Mr. Bamforth founded Arranta Bio to build a microbiome CDMO in 2019. Previously, Mr. Bamforth founded Brammer Bio, a viral vector CDMO for cell and gene therapies. In 2010, Mr. Bamforth founded a biologics CDMO, Gallus BioPharmaceuticals, and acquired a world-class facility and team. Mr. Bamforth previously spent over 20 years in the UK and the U.S. at Genzyme, latterly running the 12-site global manufacturing operation and a pharmaceutical CMO business and serving as a corporate officer for 9 years.
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.
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: PIRS) 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. 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.
Mr. Xiao Le (樂霄) was appointed as a Director on December 2020 and was re-designated as a non-executive Director on June 21, 2021. Mr. Le is responsible for participating in formulating our Company’s corporate and business strategies. Mr. Le currently has been serving as non-executive director of Ambrx Biopharma Inc.(NYSE: AMAM) since November 2020 and as director of corporate development and investment at WuXi AppTec (HKEX: 2359). Prior to that, Mr. Le served at 6 Dimensions Capital (previously known as Frontline BioVentures), a company whose principal business is equity investment, as an investment professional since May 2016.
Mr. Le received his bachelor’s degree in chemical and biomolecular engineering from Johns Hopkins University in May 2013 and his masters’ degree in finance from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in June 2015.
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.
