COMPANY

Founded in 2019, Zenitar is a late-stage clinical biotechnology company focused on developing highly differentiated small-molecule therapies with FIC or BIC potential. Leveraging three integrated R&D platforms – structural biology, AI-powered drug design, and clinically relevant disease models – we aim to address major unmet medical needs across Hem/Onc, CNS, and I&I. Our pipeline spans clinical and preclinical programs, with two lead assets currently in Phase 3 registrational development, alongside multiple programs advancing toward global clinical development.


We have established three highly synergistic technology platforms. The structural biology platform enables rational small-molecule design through in-depth understanding of disease-relevant targets, protein structures, and key molecular interactions. The AI-powered drug design platform integrates computational chemistry, molecular modeling, and data-driven algorithms to accelerate lead optimization and clinical candidate selection. The clinically relevant disease model platform emphasizes translational in vitro and in vivo systems to validate mechanisms of action and predict efficacy and safety, improving the probability of clinical success.

In hematology, one of our lead assets, flonoltinib maleate (FM), is being developed to establish a new standard of care for myeloproliferative neoplasms. FM is a proprietary JAK2/FLT3/CDK6 inhibitor designed to address key disease drivers in myelofibrosis, with the goal of delivering durable spleen and symptom improvement while maintaining a manageable safety profile across a broad patient population. FM has demonstrated competitive efficacy and safety signals in multiple clinical studies and is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 registrational trial in China, alongside ongoing overseas clinical and regulatory interactions.


In oncology, purinostat mesylate (PM) represents another late-stage lead asset of us. PM is a highly selective, next-generation HDAC I/IIb inhibitor enabled by a differentiated molecular design, aimed at enhancing antitumor activity while improving tolerability. PM is primarily being developed for B- and T-cell malignancies and multiple myeloma, where it has shown promising efficacy and a predictable, manageable safety profile in early- and mid-stage studies, and has been granted conditional approval pathway in China. We have continued to advance PM’s development while exploring its potential in combination regimens and additional oncologic indications.


Senior Management

Our Founder
Lijuan Chen, PhD

Chairman, CEO & CSO

  • Founder, Chairman, CEO, and CSO of Zenitar
  • Former Chief Scientist of Guangdong Zhongsheng Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (002317.SZ), with 20+ years of experience in innovative drug R&D
  • Level 1 Professor at West China Hospital, Level 2 Professor at Sichuan University, and Deputy Director of the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy
  • Has led or participated in the development of 10+ innovative drug programs in hematology, oncology, diabetes, and pulmonary fibrosis, including 2 assets in Phase 3, 3 in Phase 2, and 4 in Phase 1
  • Has led multiple major national projects for innovative drug development under China’s 11th, 12th, and 13th Five-Year Plans of the Ministry of Science and Technology
  • Has published more than 430 SCI papers as corresponding author in journals such as Nature Communications, Science Advances, Clinical Cancer Research, and Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.
  • Nominated “Most Highly Cited Chinese Researcher” and included in Stanford University’s global top 2% scientists list in 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025
  • Holds more than 60 granted Chinese and international patents, including those granted in the US, Australia, and Japan.
Executive Team Clinical Advisory
  • Haoyu YeVice President, Preclinical R&D

    PhD

  • Taijin WangVice President, Head of Drug Design

    PhD

  • Rui LiangDirector of Clinical Development

    MMed

  • Xiaowei ZhangDirector of CMC & API Development

    MS

  • Jeff RyelExecutive Director, Clinical Operations

    RN, BSN

  • Ke TanDirector of Clinical Medicine and Biostatistics

    DrPH

  • Tao JiaDirector of Medicinal Chemistry

    PhD

  • Yan Yu, CFABoard Secretary

    MS

  • Neil WangChief of Staff & Director of BD

    MS & MFin

  • Xiaoyan LiuDirector of Pharmacology and Toxicology

    PhD

  • Prof. Weili ZhaoPrincipal Investigator
    Professor and PhD supervisor, Vice Dean of Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, Distinguished Young Scholar, and Changjiang Scholar. Executive Vice Director of Shanghai Blood Research Institute, and Vice Chair of the Hematology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association.
  • Prof. Ting NiuPrincipal Investigator
    Director of the Department of Hematology, Professor, and Chief Physician at West China Hospital, Sichuan University.
  • Prof. Zhijian XiaoPrincipal Investigator
    Deputy Director, Institute of Hematology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Director, MDS and MPN Diagnosis and Treatment Center; Director, Hematopathology Diagnostic Center; Tenured Professor, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Hematology Vice Chair, Chinese Medical Association
  • Prof. Jun MaClinical Advisor
    Director, Harbin Institute of Hematology and Oncology; Chief Physician, Professor, and PhD Supervisor.
    Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO); Vice Chair, Asian Society of Clinical Oncology; Chair, CSCO Leukemia Expert Committee; Head, Expert Panel for the National Lymphoma Specialty Capacity-Building Program, Capacity Building and Continuing Education Center (National Health Commission); Editor-in-Chief, Leukemia & Lymphoma (journal); Former Chair, CSCO; Former Vice Chair, Hematology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association.
  • Prof. Lei ZhangPrincipal Investigator
    Deputy Director, Institute of Hematology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Deputy Director, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases; Deputy Director, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology; Director, Key Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Editor-in-Chief, Global Medical Genetics; Editorial Board Member, Chinese Journal of Hematology
  • Prof. Herui YaoPrincipal Investigator
    Professor, Chief Physician, and PhD Supervisor, Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University; Vice President (Deputy Hospital President).
    Vice Chair, Oncology Multidisciplinary Diagnosis and Treatment Committee, Chinese Medical Doctor Association; Vice Chair, Precision Medicine Branch, China Hospital Association; Standing Committee Member, Oncology Branch, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association; Standing Committee Member, Tumor Clinical Research Management Branch, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association; Standing Committee Member, Onco-Cardiology Branch, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association; Standing Committee Member, Breast Specialty Committee, Chinese Research Hospital Association.
  • Prof. Xian JiangPrincipal Investigator
    Chair, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University; Director, Dermatology Research Unit, Institute for Immunology and Inflammation, Sichuan University Frontier Center; Founder of the Aesthetic/Disfiguring Dermatoses Subspecialty, West China Hospital, Sichuan University.
    Standing Committee Member, 16th Committee of the Chinese Dermatology Association (Chinese Medical Association), and Head of the Laser Group; Standing Committee Member, 6th Committee of the Chinese Dermatologist Association (Chinese Medical Doctor Association), and Head of the Geriatrics Group.
    With over 30 years of experience in clinical practice, teaching, and research in dermatology, with deep expertise in clinical and specialty development.
  • Prof. Yongsheng WangPrincipal Investigator
    Professor of Oncology; PhD Supervisor.
    Deputy Director, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University; Chief Health Expert of Sichuan Province; Academic and Technical Leader recognized by the National Health Commission.
    Chair, Committee on Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine for Novel Anticancer Drug Research, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association; Vice Chair, Committee on Clinical Research, China Association of Biotechnology; Standing Committee Member, CSCO Expert Committee on Immunotherapy; Standing Committee Member, CSCO Patient Education Committee.

Corporate Culture

Our Philosophy

Exploring the unknown
Pioneering new frontiers

Our Mission

To translate scientific breakthroughs into life-saving therapies

Our Values

Innovation
Pragmatism
Win-win collaboration

Our Aspiration

Co-creation
Shared success
Harmonious growth