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LianBio
LianBio is a biotechnology firm founded by Yizhe Wang in 2019 that licenses late-stage therapies from Western partners for the Chinese market.
LianBio
LianBio was founded in 2019 by Yizhe Wang, who previously led the China operations of Perceptive Advisors and held roles at Goldman Sachs. The company emerged from a partnership with Perceptive Advisors, which provided seed capital and strategic backing (per public record). LianBio's strategy centers on in-licensing Phase 2 and Phase 3 stage assets from biotechnology companies in the US and Europe, then advancing them through clinical development and regulatory approval in China and other Asian markets. The company's pipeline includes treatments for cardiovascular disease, oncology, and inflammatory conditions. In November 2020, LianBio closed a $310 million Series B round co-led by Perceptive Advisors and RA Capital Management (per the firm, November 2020). LianBio has publicly disclosed collaborations with Bristol Myers Squibb and BridgeBio Pharma (per public record). LianBio maintains dual headquarters in Shanghai, China, and Princeton, New Jersey, reflecting its cross-border operating model. The company had approximately 60 employees as of early 2022 (per public record). A structural differentiator is LianBio's fully integrated China platform, which combines Western scientific sourcing with local clinical development, regulatory affairs, and commercial capabilities — a model that competes with both traditional licensing arrangements and standalone biotech startups targeting the Chinese market.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2019
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Asia
Country
China
City
Shanghai
Corporate office
Shanghai, China
Additional offices
Princeton, New Jersey, United States
Principals
Yizhe Wang
Chief Executive Officer
Deborah Yu
Chief Financial Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at LianBio?
Yizhe Wang serves as CEO and leads strategic and operational decisions. The company was seeded by Perceptive Advisors, which remains closely involved in capital allocation and corporate strategy (per public record).
How does LianBio source proprietary deal flow?
LianBio identifies late-stage therapeutic candidates from US and European biotechnology companies, typically during Phase 2 or Phase 3 clinical trials. It then negotiates exclusive licenses for development and commercialization rights in China and select Asian markets (per public record).
Is LianBio structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
LianBio is a biotechnology operating company, not an investment vehicle. It is funded by institutional venture capital investors including Perceptive Advisors and RA Capital Management.
What investment stages does LianBio typically target?
LianBio focuses on late-stage clinical assets, typically in Phase 2 or Phase 3 trials, that have already demonstrated some proof of concept in Western markets. This reduces technical risk before committing significant capital to Asian development.
Which sectors does LianBio explicitly avoid?
LianBio does not publicly disclose excluded sectors, but its disclosed pipeline focuses on cardiovascular, oncology, and inflammatory disease therapeutics — areas with large Asian patient populations and regulatory pathways established by prior approvals.
Does LianBio participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
LianBio operates through direct licensing and co-development arrangements with other biotechnology companies. It does not manage external fund commitments; its capital is raised through private equity rounds from institutional investors.
How is LianBio related to Perceptive Advisors?
Perceptive Advisors, a healthcare-focused investment firm, seeded LianBio at its founding and co-led its $310 million Series B round in November 2020. Perceptive's CEO Joseph Edelman has publicly described LianBio as a platform to access the Chinese pharmaceutical market (per public record).
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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