Leman Biotech and Meta Pharmaceuticals, Portfolio Companies of XtalPi, Jointly Nominated for 2026 Prix Galien USA 'Best Startup' Award

Aug 17, 2026 09:53 CST Updated 09:53

XtalPi

Computation-Driven Innovative Drug R&D Provider

Leman Biotech

Developer of Novel Tumor Immunotherapy Drugs

Signet Therapeutics

Developer of Innovative Targeted Cancer Therapies

BeOne

Developer of Molecular Targeted and Immune Anti-Tumor Drugs

Legend Biotech

Tumor Cell Immunotherapy Developer

Recently, the Prix Galien USA, known as the “Nobel Prize of the pharmaceutical industry,” announced its annual nomination list. XtalPi (2228.HK) Incubated EnterprisesLeman BiotechandMETABoth Shortlisted“Best Startup” Award.This follows 2025XtalPi-incubated Enterprise SIGNET Nominated for “Best Biotechnology Product Award”Subsequently, companies in the XtalPi ecosystem have been listed on the Galien Prize roster for the second consecutive year.

Three XtalPi-incubated companies have been nominated for the Galien Prize in succession within two years,representingInternational Authoritative Professional Review System’s Centralized Recognition of XtalPi’s AI + Robotics Drug Discovery Platform and Its Incubation Ecosystem.XtalPi Has Advanced from Individual Project Success to a New Phase of Systematic and Scalable Cultivation of Novel Drug Pipeline Assets, and continuously accelerate the translation of source scientific innovationPossessingAccelerating the Realization of Globally Competitive New Drug ProgramsClinical Validation and Industrial Translation.

The Galien Prize, established in 1970, aims to recognize outstanding scientific innovations that significantly improve human health and is one of the highest honors in the global pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. Its judging committee comprises Nobel laureates, internationally renowned scientists, and leading figures in the global pharmaceutical industry, focusing on evaluating the scientific innovation, clinical value, and health impact of candidate companies and products.

Historically, leading Chinese innovative pharmaceutical companies such as BeOne (zanubrutinib) and Legend Biotech (cilta-cel), along with their blockbuster innovative drug pipeline projects, have all received nominations for the Galien Prize.This underscores the award's professional influence in the global field of biomedical innovation.

From SIGNET’s nomination for “Best Biotechnology Product” in 2025 to the simultaneous shortlisting of Leman Biotech and META for “Best Startup” in 2026, the Galien Prize’s recognition of XtalPi’s incubation ecosystem is extending beyond individual innovative drug assets to encompass the overall innovation capabilities of its portfolio companies.The three companies pursue distinct R&D directions, all leveraging XtalPi’s AI- and robotics-powered drug discovery platform as a key technological foundation. This demonstrates XtalPi’s capability to deeply integrate cutting-edge biology, AI, and automated experimentation, while continuously incubating high-value innovative assets and ventures across diverse technological pathways.Meanwhile, the company can share in the long-term value of innovative assets through R&D income, pipeline rights and interests, and equity appreciation.

Leman Biotech:

Disruptive Metabolism-Enhanced CAR-T,

Expanding the Frontiers of Oncology and Autoimmune Therapy

Leman BiotechCo-founded by Professor Li Tang’s team at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and XtalPi, Leman Biotech focuses on metabolism-enhanced cell therapy. With investment incubation and R&D empowerment from XtalPi, Leman Biotech has built a unique platform centered on T cell exhaustion, a key bottleneck limiting the efficacy and durability of immunotherapy.“"Immune Metabolic Reprogramming" technology platform, and based on this platform, developed the metabolically enhanced CD19 CAR-T product META 10-19. In multiple investigator-initiated trials (IITs), META 10-19 Onlyat one-thousandth of the conventional dose, achieving positive efficacy in patients with relapsed or refractory leukemia and lymphoma; in studies on systemic lupus erythematosus, patients achieved drug-free remission under the DORIS criteria, demonstrating superior safety and efficacy advantages, thereby laying the foundation for making the traditionally “million-yuan-per-dose” CAR-T therapy affordable and accessible, and potentially included in medical insurance coverage.

Currently, Leman Biotech’s META 10-19 has achieved multiple clinical advancements in the fields of hematologic malignancies and autoimmune diseases, and has sequentially received Investigational New Drug (IND) approvals from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the indications of relapsed or refractory CD19-positive B-cell hematologic malignancies and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)/lupus nephritis (LN). Meanwhile, Leman Biotech is advancing its programs targeting liver cancer and glioblastoma,Gastric cancer and other cell therapy pipelines,Poised to continuously develop more efficient, safe, and affordable next-generation cell therapy solutions for key therapeutic areas in hematologic malignancies, solid tumors, and autoimmune diseases.。

META：

Novel Immunometabolism Platform Drugs,

Reshaping the Treatment Landscape of Autoimmune Diseases

METAFounded by a team from top institutions such as Weill Cornell Medicine, focusing on immunometabolismDomainFirst-in-class (First-in-class, FIC) small-molecule drug development.META has engaged in in-depth collaboration with XtalPi around multiple core pipelines, among which,The world’s first oral small-molecule lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) inhibitor, MP-5342, co-discovered by both parties, has entered the IND-enabling stage.This molecule boasts a safety window of over 600-fold, far exceeding the industry-standard threshold of 40-fold.MP-5342 by Modulating Immune Cell Metabolic StatusDemonstrating First-in-Class (FIC) and Best-in-Class (BIC) Potential。

Animal model validation demonstrates that,Onset of Action of MP-5342Mechanism ofUlcerative Colitis, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus Erythematosus, Crohn's Disease, Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Primary Biliary Cholangitis...and other diseases driven by excessive immune responses, demonstrating potential efficacy and broad prospects for indication expansion.This broad-spectrum characteristic of “multi-indication use” positions it as a promising next-generation platform blockbuster drug for autoimmune diseases.Previously, another drug from the collaboration between the two parties, META-001-PH, successfully received FDA orphan drug and rare pediatric disease designations. XtalPi and META are continuously translating cutting-edge biological discoveries in the field of immunometabolism into candidate drugs.

SIGNET:

The World’s First AI-Generated Molecule Nominated for the Galien Prize,

Sprint Toward Commercialization

Nominated for the 2025 U.S. Galien AwardSIGNET, a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative targeted oncology drugs using "organoid + AI" technology.Its core pipeline, SIGX1094, is developed by XtalPi andSIGNET Collaborative Discovery, not onlyIt is the world's first candidate drug propelled into the clinical stage by "organoid + AI" technology, and alsoThe First AI-Discovered Drug Molecule Nominated for the Galien Prize GloballyBenefiting from the AI empowerment and acceleration provided by XtalPi, SIGX1094 advanced from project concept to the clinical stage in less than four years. Currently, this pipeline has obtained IND approvals from the U.S. FDA and China's National Medical Products Administration, and has receivedFDA Orphan Drug Designation and Fast Track Designation,Conducting Phase I clinical trials and advancing preparations for Phase II clinical trials,Phase II clinical trials are expected to commence as early as the second half of this year.For non-small cell lung cancer, the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the National Medical Products Administration has also accepted the application for Phase II/III clinical trials of SIGX1094 in combination with existing therapies.

Future,SIGX1094'sThe indications are also expected to cover ovarian cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, mesothelioma, and fibrosis-related diseases associated with tumors.。Meanwhile, the second pipeline discovered through the collaboration between the two parties—Pan-TEAD inhibitor SIGX2649 has recently received early approval from the FDA for its Investigational New Drug (IND) application., with Phase I clinical trials planned to commence as early as the third quarter of this year.“AI + Organoid” Drug Development Strategy Continues to Gain Clinical Validation, with Successful Models Being Replicated。

Innovation Incubation Engine Gains Momentum,

AI + Biopharmaceutical Industry Cluster Accelerates Formation

Based on a review of the publicly released nomination list, Shenzhen has become the only city in China this year with four enterprises simultaneously nominated for the Galien Prize, leading the nation in the number of nominations.Half of which originate from the XtalPi incubation ecosystem, which collectively demonstrate the industrial achievements of Shenzhen in advancing the integrated innovation of “AI + biopharmaceuticals,” as well as the technological radiation and ecosystem-driving role of XtalPi as a core enterprise. Empowered by AI technology, the global competitiveness of China’s innovative drugs is transitioning from isolated breakthroughs to the synergistic advancement of multiple technological pathways, and from individual companies breaking through to the accelerated formation of innovation clusters.XtalPi’s AI- and robotics-powered drug discovery platform is emerging as a key engine driving the continuous emergence of source innovation, accelerating the clinical translation and global development of high-value pipelines.

XtalPi’s investments in incubated enterprises are not merely financial; rather, it provides end-to-end technical support through its AI- and robotics-driven R&D platform, covering the entire workflow from target validation and drug discovery to the identification of preclinical candidate compounds (PCCs).Establish a long-term value-sharing mechanism of “pipeline economic benefits + equity value appreciation” to deeply bind high-quality pharmaceutical assets.。

To date, XtalPi has invested in and incubated more than 30 startups, among whichJitai Technology (7666.HK), SIGNET, Leman Biotech, META, Xili Technology, and Yaosu Technology have achieved phased progress in product development, IND filings, clinical studies, out-licensing, and financing/IPO. XtalPi’s AI drug discovery platform and high-throughput experimental capabilities haveCovering diverse drug modalities, including small molecules, antibodies, peptides, nucleic acids, and molecular glues,The company has pipelines entering clinical trials or IND-enabling stages in the fields of oncology, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and chronic diseases.。

Looking ahead, XtalPi will further leverage the synergistic advantages of its AI-plus-robotics platform and innovation incubation ecosystem. By collaborating with global scientists, innovative enterprises, and industry partners, XtalPi aims to propel more foundational scientific achievements through critical milestones—including drug discovery, preclinical development, and clinical validation—thereby accelerating the global development and industrial translation of high-value innovative assets. As relevant pipelines advance from Investigational New Drug (IND) applications to clinical studies, out-licensing, and commercialization stages, XtalPi is poised to create sustained long-term value for patients, partners, and shareholders through multi-tiered pathways encompassing platform services, pipeline equity interests, and shareholding value.

● GuanatLemanBiology ●

Leman Biotech Co., Ltd. is a clinical-stage innovative company dedicated to the research and development of immunometabolic therapies. It was co-founded by Professor Li Tang’s team from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland and XtalPi. Leveraging its innovative technology platform that combines immunometabolic reprogramming (META 10) with cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI), the company focuses on developing metabolically enhanced tumor immunotherapies. The company’s core technology, META 10, has demonstrated significant potential for curing solid tumors. Related findings have been published in top-tier international academic journals, including Nature, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Immunology, and Lancet Haematology, and multiple PCT patents and Chinese invention patents have been filed. Since 2022, the company has secured over RMB 400 million in venture capital and project grants. It has received dozens of national, provincial, and municipal awards in the biopharmaceutical sector, including the highest award at the 2025 National “Disruptive Technology Innovation” Competition, and has been selected for the key special project on “Disruptive Technology Innovation” under the National Key R&D Program. Its clinical progress was featured as a Late-Breaking Abstract oral presentation at both the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT 2024) and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR 2024) annual meetings, marking the only such recognition in China.

● CloseatMETA ●

META Pharmaceuticals Inc. (META) is an innovative pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of therapies for autoimmune and metabolic diseases. Co-incubated by XtalPi, a pioneer in AI-driven drug discovery, Forcefield Ventures, and IMO Ventures, META has secured investment from Tiantu Capital, Yayi Capital, Fangyuan Capital, New Industry Venture Capital, Dexun Investment, and Bopu Capital. Leveraging cutting-edge emerging biological theories, META aims to effectively modulate immune system function and other physiological systems by regulating cellular metabolic vitality. The company is committed to developing safer and more effective treatments for autoimmune and metabolic disorders, with a focus on first-in-class novel drugs, thereby providing urgently needed medications for patients worldwide.

● GuanYu Xi Ge Life Sciences ●

SIGNET is a global pioneer in the “organoid + AI” drug discovery and development model. Recognized as a specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprise in Shenzhen, the company has also been certified as a National High-Tech Enterprise. Originally incubated at Harvard University, SIGNET officially established its operations in Shenzhen in late 2020 and has since secured nearly RMB 300 million in financing and project grants. Currently, the company maintains four drug pipelines. Its lead pipeline focuses on SIGX1094, the world’s first targeted therapy for diffuse gastric cancer. The drug has received Investigational New Drug (IND) approvals from both the U.S. FDA and China’s NMPA, as well as Orphan Drug Designation and Fast Track Designation from the U.S. FDA, and has entered Phase I clinical trials.SIGNET is not only a transliteration of "Signet," but also embodies the vision of "harboring hope and pursuing knowledge through the investigation of things." The company leverages the critical role of organoid disease models, which closely mimic patient genomic profiles, in efficacy evaluation and novel target discovery. By integrating AI-driven screening, synthesis, and optimization of small-molecule compounds, SIGNET develops first-in-class innovative targeted therapies. In April 2025, the U.S. FDA officially issued a statement explicitly supporting the gradual replacement of traditional animal experiments with organoid and AI technologies, fully validating the forward-looking and scientific nature of its technological strategy.