Alex Lin Joins AstraZeneca China as Assistant Vice President to Lead Nephrology Franchise

AstraZeneca announced on May 30 that Alex Lin from Ping An Good Doctor will join AstraZeneca as Assistant Vice President of AstraZeneca China, responsible for the renal therapy area, effective June 3, 2019.

Prior to joining AstraZeneca, Lin Xiao served as Vice President of Ping An Good Doctor, the internet application business under the Ping An Group, where he was responsible for platform strategy, business development, and globalization.

Lin Xiao graduated from Zhejiang University with a degree in Computer Science and later earned a Master’s degree in Economics from Fudan University. He previously worked at Bain & Company, during which time he pursued an MBA at INSEAD. From 2013 to 2018, he served at Sanofi, holding positions as Head of Strategic Planning for Asia and Greater China, and Head of Marketing for the Core Products Business Unit at Sanofi China.

Earlier this year, AstraZeneca China announced the restructuring of its Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) Business Unit, formally dividing it into three therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, renal, and diabetes and metabolism. Zhu Tong joined AstraZeneca from Sanofi to serve as Head of Cardiovascular, leading the cardiovascular team. Liu Qian, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Commercial Strategy and Excellence at AstraZeneca, oversees the renal area, with Yang Shengbin, Head of Renal Therapy, reporting directly to him. The diabetes and metabolism area is led by Zhang Maosong.

On the 22nd of this month, Zhang Maosong, Head of Diabetes and Metabolism Business, officially stepped down. Guan Hong was transferred back from International Business to China to serve as the Head of Diabetes and Metabolism Therapeutic Area at AstraZeneca China.

Upon joining AstraZeneca as the Head of Renal Therapy, Xiao Lin will assume full responsibility for AstraZeneca China’s renal therapy business. He will lead the renal team to ensure the commercial launch of roxadustat and establish a dedicated team for Lokelma, a novel drug for hyperkalemia in kidney disease that serves as the second pillar product in AstraZeneca China’s renal therapy portfolio, driving its regulatory approval and commercial launch.