Zhihua Sui

Zhihua is an experienced drug hunter and a leader in drug discovery in both big pharma and biotech. He is VP, Head of Chemistry and Head of Strategic Outsourcing at Agios Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, MA. Before joining Agios, Zhihua spent a couple decades at Janssen Pharmaceutical R&D of Johnson & Johnson, rose through the scientific and management ranks to Sr. Scientific Director/Janssen Fellow and led various medicinal chemistry teams as well as platform chemistry. Over the years, Zhihua’s teams advanced more than 20 compounds into clinical stage for treatment of cancer, rare genetic diseases, reproductive disorders (men’s and women’s health), inflammation and diabetes. Zhihua has extensive experience in drug discovery platforms such as SBDD, FBDD and mechanism-based designs and protein degradation. Zhihua is a co-author or co-inventor on more than 300 publications in peer-reviewed journals, invited lectures and patents. Zhihua is experienced in diligence of external assets and in outsourcing management. Zhihua did postdoctoral research at UCSF, received Ph.D. from Heidelberg University in Germany and MS/BS in China.