Zhiwen Yao

Dr. Zhiwen Yao received his M.D. from Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Science, Guangzhou, China, and an MPH degree in cancer epidemiology from UCLA. Dr. Yao has over 28 years in the biopharma industry, principally in the R&D and clinical development and the main focus on anti-diabetes and anti-cancer treatment.

In 1989, Dr. Yao began working with Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong which led to Dr. Yao participating in the world’s first human encapsulated islet cell transplantation in a type 1 diabetes patient as well as the development of the anti-cancer drug Abraxane®. In 2000, Dr. Yao also successfully led the clinical trials, registration, and marketing of Abraxane® in China.

In 2010, Dr. Yao joined ConjuChem USA, as a General Manager. Currently, Dr. Yao is Senior Vice President at ConjuChem and leads a joint venture pharmaceutical company with Hebei Changshan Biochemical pharmaceutical to co-develop anti-diabetes and anti-cancer drugs.