Nobel Laureate Dr. Erwin Neher Joins CrystalO Bio as Chief Scientific Advisor, Files Prospectus for Groundbreaking Ion Channel Drug Pipeline

Recently, Dr. Erwin Neher, Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine and a founding figure in the field of ion channels, has joined Jingdan Biotech as Chief Scientific Advisor at its invitation. Dr. Neher is a world-renowned scientist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his pioneering research on ion channels. He currently serves as Director Emeritus of the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences in Göttingen, Germany. Dr. Neher’s research has brought about revolutionary breakthroughs in life sciences, laying a critical foundation for the development of new drugs and disease treatments. This marks his first time serving as a scientific advisor to a Chinese enterprise.

Dr. Erwin Neher

Ion channels have become the second largest class of drug targets after GPCRs, representing an annual market of nearly $10 billion. They are critical therapeutic targets for neuropsychiatric disorders, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and malignant tumors. However, novel drug development targeting ion channels is notoriously challenging due to high barriers, classifying them as "undruggable" or "difficult-to-drug" targets. Jingdan Bio has long been dedicated to ion channel drug discovery. By leveraging its proprietary IonFire and BigC discovery platforms, the company has overcome the challenges associated with undruggable and difficult-to-drug ion channel targets and developed multiple pipeline candidates. Compared with traditional approaches, Jingdan Bio’s platforms significantly shorten drug development timelines and reduce costs.

Dr. Erwin Neher stated, “I am delighted to serve as the Scientific Advisor to Jingdan Bio. This is a wonderful legacy, and I am excited to see such a young and creative team in Shenzhen, China. Jingdan Bio possesses cutting-edge technology for the development of innovative ion channel therapeutics, with a product pipeline that is both unique and differentiated. I believe that Jingdan Bio will develop blockbuster ion channel drugs in the future, leading the next technological revolution. We will delve deeply into the mysteries of ion channels to develop more effective drugs and therapies, benefiting more patients.”

Dr. Zhang Jin, Founder of Jingdan Biology, stated, “Dr. Erwin Neher’s experience and wisdom will provide invaluable support and guidance for our research and development. His contributions extend beyond scientific research to include the mentorship and support of the next generation of scientists. His joining has infused our company with new vitality and energy. We are committed to continuously enhancing our R&D capabilities to bring greater benefits to patients. We believe that through our concerted efforts and Dr. Neher’s exceptional contributions, we will achieve more scientific breakthroughs and medical advancements, delivering significant value and contributions to the global healthcare sector.”

Shenzhen Jingdan Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd. (www.crystalobio.com) is dedicated to the R&D of innovative ion channel drugs for major diseases such as depression, pain, and chronic kidney disease, with the goal of becoming a globally leading enterprise in innovative ion channel drug development. The core team is led by high-level overseas talents and comprises PhDs from top research institutes and pharmaceutical companies, including Harvard University and the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica. The company has completed nearly RMB 100 million in financing across its angel and Pre-A rounds. Jingdan Bio boasts world-leading R&D capabilities in areas such as highly stable ion channel antigens and antibodies, structural elucidation, and structure- and artificial intelligence-based drug discovery and pharmacology.