CCOA Therapeutics Founder Dr. Heyu Ni Delivers Keynote at the 17th National Hematology Conference of Chinese Medical Association

On September 25, 2022, Academician Ni Heyu, Chairman of XiXiOuAi Biopharmaceuticals, successfully delivered a special academic report titled “Platelets are Versatile Cells: New Discoveries and New Opportunities” at the main venue of the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. The session was co-chaired by Professor Yang Linhua, a deputy to the National People’s Congress and renowned hematologist, and Professor Hou Ming, an internationally recognized expert in immune thrombocytopenia. Additionally, Professor Hu Yu, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, President of Wuhan Union Hospital, President-Elect of the Hematology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, and Chairman of the Chinese Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, provided insightful commentary.

CCOA (Hangzhou) Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. was jointly established through the introduction by Zhejiang Puhua Capital, a well-known domestic investor, and Hangzhou Bay Area Digital Innovation Technology. As the Asia-Pacific operating entity of CCOA Therapeutics Canada, the company focuses on the research and development of innovative drugs for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, cancer metastasis, rare diseases, and hemorrhagic disorders. The company boasts more than ten products in its R&D pipeline, representing over two decades of technological achievements by Academician Ni. These are independently developed innovative products with distinct competitive advantages.

Academician Heyu Ni is a Member of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, Chairman and Founder of CCOA Therapeutics, Professor at the University of Toronto, Senior Scientist at Canadian Blood Services, and Director of the Hematology-Oncology-Immunology Research Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto. In 2021, he received the Outstanding Scientist Award in Cardiovascular/Cerebrovascular Disease and Hematology, jointly awarded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Canadian Society for Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (CSATVB), an honor bestowed upon only one recipient annually. In 2022, he was honored with the Richard G. Hegele Excellence in Research and Innovation Award from the University of Toronto. Academician Ni has long been engaged in basic and translational research in the field of platelet pathophysiology. Over the past decade, his academic achievements have ranked first across Canada, and he has led and participated in several international multicenter clinical trials. To date, he has published more than 160 SCI-indexed research papers in prestigious international journals, accumulated nearly 10,000 citations, and delivered hundreds of presentations.

At the conference, Academician Ni presented cutting-edge advances in platelet-related fields and academic achievements covering hot topics and innovative research on the role of platelets in hemostasis and thrombosis, immune responses, inflammatory reactions, tumor metastasis, stroke, COVID-19, and other conditions. He particularly highlighted the development progress of Xixiouai Biopharmaceutical’s global first-in-class novel drugs currently under active development for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke and the rare disease thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

As a key component of the 17th National Congress of Hematology of the Chinese Medical Association, this academic gathering was attended by thousands of domestic and international experts, scholars, and pharmaceutical R&D professionals in the field of hematology. The congress was hosted by the Chinese Medical Association and its Branch of Hematology, organized by the Shanghai Medical Association, and co-organized by Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University; and Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Professor Zhao Weili from Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, served as the Executive Chair of the conference. During the academic reporting sessions, Academicians Chen Zhu, Cao Xuetao, Chen Saijuan, Wang Zhenyi, Shi Yigong, Chen Guoqiang, and Shao Feng delivered outstanding academic presentations.

Finally, at the flag handover ceremony, Academician Ni stated, “I believe this is not merely a conference for China. At this congress hosted by Professor Zhao Weili, I have sensed that it is a global event, fully poised to lead the world. I hope that in 2024 we can bring scientists from around the globe together in Wuhan—a city traditionally known as the ‘thoroughfare of nine provinces,’ but one that should now serve as a hub connecting all five continents!”

Once again, we extend our sincere gratitude to Professor Zhao Weili and others for organizing this conference amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, thank the more than ten academicians for their active participation, and warmly congratulate the successful conclusion of this conference!

CCOA Therapeutics Inc. is a biopharmaceutical R&D company dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of next-generation cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (including acute stroke and acute myocardial infarction), cancer, rare diseases, hemorrhagic disorders, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Founded in 2016, the company is incorporated in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Among these, the lead candidate CA1001 antibody for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke features rapid onset of action and a high safety profile. It demonstrates synergistic effects when used in combination with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and mechanical thrombectomy, significantly enhancing the efficacy of tPA thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy, reducing the required dosage of tPA, preventing intracranial hemorrhage, extending the therapeutic time window for stroke patients, preventing recurrent infarction, treating reperfusion injury, and reducing mortality. These multidimensional benefits confer unique preclinical and clinical advantages, positioning CA1001 to fill an international gap in stroke therapy. Furthermore, CA1001 holds substantial potential for indication expansion, including the treatment of coronary heart disease and rare diseases, promising to benefit stroke and cardiovascular-cerebrovascular disease patients in China and worldwide.