Dajun Yang, MD, PhD

Chairman and CEO at Ascentage Pharma

Dr. Dajun Yang is Chairman and CEO of Ascentage Pharma, concurrently served as professor and Ph.D. supervisor of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, and Vice-Chairman of the Drug R&D Specialty Committee of China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Research Development Association. Dr. Yang devotes himself to apoptosis and innovative drug R&D for nearly 30 years. In 2009, he co-founded Ascentage Pharma and made a major breakthrough in the field of new target drug R&D for apoptosis and autophagy dual-channel regulation. Ascentage Pharma is the only company in the world that researches and develops innovative drugs covering multiple targets in this field. Eight potential “First-in-class” or “Best-in-class” innovative drug candidates now are in phase I-II clinical development in China, the United States and Australia. Dr. Yang has undertaken nearly ten National Science and Technology Major Projects such as National High-tech R&D Program (863 Program) and Major innovative drug Developments. Dr. Yang leads the team to win the awards such as Jiangsu Major Innovation Team and Suzhou 2018 Major Innovation Team, the First Jiangsu Innovation Competition Team Award, and R&D Achievement of the Year 2017 from the BayHelix Group. Dr. Yang was awarded as 2018 “Dushu Lake Prize” Most Influential People in Drug R&D. Ascentage Pharma has extensive influence in the field of innovative drug R&D. Dr. Yang was the president of Chinese Biopharmaceutical Association-USA from 2005 to 2006.