Wenjin Yang
Chief Scientific Officer
Healthcare
Foresee Pharmaceuticals
Taiwan
Biography
Dr. Yang has over 20 years of industry experience in drug discovery and pre-clinical development of small molecules related to target selection through development candidate selection for antiviral, anti-inflammatory, neuroscience, metabolic and oncology therapeutic indications. Prior to joining Foresee, Dr. Yang was Co-founder and VP of Research at Aldea Pharmaceuticals, where he led the efforts of raising series-A financing (US $11 MM), establishing the research team, setting up the company infrastructure and facility, and advancing the company’s lead program into clinical development. He also contributed in Aldea’s series-B financing (US $24 MM). He previously served as Vice President of Chemistry at Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, where he oversaw research and manufacturing functions. He also served as Director and Head of Medicinal Chemistry at Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, where he was responsible for scientific team management and multiple medicinal chemistry programs, including new technology development, hit identification, and lead optimization to development candidate selection. Before joining Sunesis, Dr. Yang was a Research Scientist at Gilead Sciences, responsible for the design and synthesis of antiviral and antiretroviral compounds, and a postdoctoral research associate at The Scripps Research Institute. Dr. Yang is inventor of 17 US issued patents and several additional pending patents. Dr. Yang received his B.S. in Chemistry from the Chinese Culture University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Riverside.
Research Interest
Dr. Yang has over 20 years of industry experience in drug discovery and pre-clinical development of small molecules related to target selection through development candidate selection for antiviral, anti-inflammatory, neuroscience, metabolic and oncology therapeutic indications. Prior to joining Foresee, Dr. Yang was Co-founder and VP of Research at Aldea Pharmaceuticals, where he led the efforts of raising series-A financing (US $11 MM), establishing the research team, setting up the company infrastructure and facility, and advancing the company’s lead program into clinical development. He also contributed in Aldea’s series-B financing (US $24 MM). He previously served as Vice President of Chemistry at Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, where he oversaw research and manufacturing functions. He also served as Director and Head of Medicinal Chemistry at Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, where he was responsible for scientific team management and multiple medicinal chemistry programs, including new technology development, hit identification, and lead optimization to development candidate selection. Before joining Sunesis, Dr. Yang was a Research Scientist at Gilead Sciences, responsible for the design and synthesis of antiviral and antiretroviral compounds, and a postdoctoral research associate at The Scripps Research Institute. Dr. Yang is inventor of 17 US issued patents and several additional pending patents. Dr. Yang received his B.S. in Chemistry from the Chinese Culture University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Riverside.
