Dual Winners Crowned at 'Star Launchpad' 2025: Dituo Biopharma and Westlake YunGu Zhiyao Emerge as Top Innovators

The Winning Team Stands on the "Star Starting Point"

Hangzhou Dituo Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd(Hangzhou Dituo Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd, or "Dituo Biopharm") was founded by Dr. Hai Jiang2023Founded in [Year]. Since its establishment, Hangzhou Dituo Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has always focused on molecular glue degraders (MGDs) discovery and development, relying on its proprietary molecular glue screening platform——DEFUSE™, committed to breaking through the key bottleneck of the lack of systematic and scalable high-throughput screening methods in traditional molecular glue drug research and development, for“Undruggable”Provide innovative solutions for pathogenic proteins or drug targets.

Dr. Hai Jiang

Founder of Hangzhou Dituo Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Dr. Hai Jiang said in his speech that, in the past7Over the years, their team has validated this system in fields including cancer, inflammation, and some metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, and has conducted research on nearly200An important target protein has established a cell line for molecular glue screening. "We are very grateful for Novo Nordisk's support and recognition, and hope to become a hub in the field of early discovery with efficient technology, contributing to the industry."

Westlake Genetech(Hangzhou)Gene Technology Co., Ltd.(Abbreviation“Westlake Genetech”) was established in2021Year, it is a commercialization project from Dr. Ma Lijia's laboratory at the School of Life Sciences, Westlake University. The company focuses onAITechnical Depth Empowers Gene Therapy, Developing Self-Researched Gene Therapy Products with Differentiated Advantages, Focusing on Breakthroughs in Gene Therapy Based onAAVThe core bottleneck of tissue-specific delivery systems.

Dr. Lijia Ma

Founder of Westlake Genetech

Professor Ma Lijia said: "We sincerely thank Novo Nordisk for their support and recognition. In the future, we will rely onAIdit-CAPSID™Delivery Platform, Further ExpansionAAVThe application boundaries of gene therapy, bringing more patients accessible and efficient gene therapy solutions, and contributing our technological strength.”

Light Up More Rising Stars

The "Star Start" Innovation Competition has built a unique platform that effectively bridges Novo Nordisk and China's local innovative forces, helping to discover and support biopharmaceutical and biotechnology projects with significant transformation potential.

Dr. Han Dan

President of Novo Nordisk China R&D Center

Dr. Han Dan, President of Novo Nordisk China R&D Center, stated："Novo Nordisk is always committed to addressing the severe challenges posed by chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. We firmly believe that only through collaboration can we achieve this ambitious goal. By closely working with Chinese startups, we are dedicated to transforming early-stage innovative ideas into disruptive therapies, helping to overcome key bottlenecks in drug development. Our heartfelt thanks go to all the entrepreneurial teams who actively participated in the 'Star Start' initiative and submitted proposals. Through collaboration with Novo Nordisk colleagues globally and..."ATLATLThrough the collaboration with the Darts Innovation Center, we can provide comprehensive and professional support and assistance to startups. With an open, respectful, and mutually beneficial attitude, we look forward to working hand in hand with all parties to jointly promote the continuous advancement of the healthcare field.”

Dr. Pengcheng Zhu

Founder and CEO of ATLATL Innovation Center

ATLATLDr. Pengcheng Zhu, founder and CEO of the Darts Innovation Center, said：“ATLATLThe Dart Innovation Center offers not only advanced R&D space but also a comprehensive full-chain R&D support system covering technology, resources, and services. By integrating diversified R&D modules, we are committed to advancing the engineering of life sciences, achieving designable biotechnology, and building a sustainable incubation industry model to realize organized, institutionalized innovation. In the future, we will continue to empower more startups, incorporate their cutting-edge ideas and forward-looking perspectives, connect with high-quality global resources, assist scientists in efficiently validating concepts, and accelerate the transformation process from inspiration to outcomes. We are deeply honored to collaborate with Novo Nordisk. We believe that through the "Star Start" program, both parties will jointly discover and nurture more locally innovative projects with breakthrough potential, injecting continuous vitality into the biopharmaceutical field.

Looking for the Next Breakthrough in Metabolic Disease Innovation Drugs! "Star Starting Point" Competition Recruitment Begins

2025-04-03

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