Zhidong He, Ph.D.

Irpagratinib & FGFR Program: ● Mechanistic Validation: Executed pivotal assays confirming EGFR inhibition circumvents FGFR4 resistance in HCC, contributing as a co-author to a publication in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. ● Combination Strategy: Designed and validated novel drug combinations; successfully advanced one of the synergistic regimens into clinical development. ● Resistance Elucidation: Established gene-knockout and site-directed mutagenesis cell models to link pan-FGFR resistance to PIK3CA/TSC1 mutations, resolving a critical clinical development bottleneck. Pimicotinib (CSF-1R Program | Out-licensed to Merck | Dual US/China Breakthrough Therapy Designation): • Regulatory Submissions: Co-authored critical translational medicine reports to resolve United States FDA regulatory inquiries (Information Requests), ensuring smooth global clinical progression. • Pipeline Expansion: Evaluated the therapeutic potential and clinical feasibility of Pimicotinib for non-oncology indications, delivering strategic rationale to support decision-making for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Platform Construction & Digital Innovation: • R&D Platform: Co-developed a comprehensive Breast Cancer platform focused on unaddressed clinical gaps (e.g., brain-penetrant therapies) to guide pipeline prioritization. • Bioinformatics: Collaborated on cross-functional workflows to integrate automated data analysis and AI-driven methodologies into bioinformatics pipelines, accelerating target discovery.