CANbridge Life Sciences

CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc. (HKEX:1228) is a global biopharmaceutical company established in 2012 with a strategic foundation in China, dedicated to developing and commercializing therapies for rare diseases and rare oncology. The company was founded by Dr. James Qun Xue, who serves as Chairman and CEO. Dr. Xue's career trajectory, including a pivotal tenure at Genzyme under the mentorship of orphan drug industry pioneer Henri Termeer, profoundly shaped the company's mission. Tasked with building Genzyme's presence in China, he recognized the significant unmet need for rare disease treatments in a country with an estimated 20 million patients. This experience led to the creation of CANbridge, the first domestic pharmaceutical company in China to focus on the end-to-end development and commercialization of rare disease products. Dr. Xue holds a Ph.D. in bioorganic chemistry from Brown University and an MBA from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business.

The company's business model centers on addressing the underserved rare disease market by building a diversified portfolio through a combination of in-house research and strategic global partnerships with entities like GC Pharma, Mirum, WuXi Biologics, and UMass Chan Medical School. Revenue is generated through the sale of its approved pharmaceutical products. The company has successfully brought three drugs to market: Hunterase® for Hunter syndrome (MPS II), Livmarli® for cholestatic pruritus in patients with Alagille Syndrome (ALGS), and Gaurunning® for Gaucher disease. A key milestone for the company was its initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in December 2021, which raised approximately HK$604 million to advance its clinical pipeline.

CANbridge's portfolio includes a robust pipeline of assets at various stages of development, targeting conditions such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), hemophilia A, and various lysosomal storage disorders. The firm is also significantly invested in next-generation gene therapies for genetic conditions like Fabry disease, Pompe disease, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, developed at its Next-Generation Innovation and Process Development Facility. This forward-looking approach is exemplified by its development of CAN106, a monoclonal antibody for complement-mediated disorders, and CAN103, an enzyme replacement therapy for Gaucher disease developed in collaboration with WuXi Biologics. The company focuses on obtaining regulatory approvals and achieving commercialization in Greater China and other global markets, navigating the complexities of market access and reimbursement to make treatments available to patients.

Keywords: rare disease therapeutics, orphan drugs, biopharmaceutical, gene therapy, oncology, lysosomal storage disorders, Hunter syndrome, Gaucher disease, Alagille syndrome, enzyme replacement therapy, monoclonal antibody, clinical trials, drug development, commercialization, China healthcare, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, James Xue, CAN106, Livmarli, Hunterase, Gaurunning, Pompe disease, Fabry disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, hematology, metabolic disorders, neuromuscular diseases, cholestatic liver disease