HUYA Bioscience International

About HUYA Bioscience International

HUYA Bioscience International, established in 2004, operates as a biopharmaceutical company focused on accelerating the global development of novel drug candidates originating from China. The firm was founded in San Diego, California, by Mireille Gillings, a Canadian neurobiologist and entrepreneur. Gillings, who serves as CEO and Executive Chair, identified an opportunity in China's emerging biopharma sector, which was rich with scientific research but lacked significant global engagement. Her background includes a PhD from Radboud University Nijmegen, postdoctoral fellowships at Bordeaux University and The Scripps Research Institute, and experience as a self-described "serial entrepreneur," having also co-founded MIR3. This scientific and business foundation, combined with her functional ability in several languages including Mandarin, positioned her to bridge the gap between Chinese innovation and Western pharmaceutical markets.

The company's core business model revolves around identifying and in-licensing promising pre-clinical and clinical-stage compounds from Chinese academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies. HUYA then leverages its global development expertise to advance these assets in international markets, including the U.S., Japan, and Europe. This strategy is designed to be faster, more cost-effective, and carry lower risk, as many of the compounds have already undergone a rigorous initial discovery and development process in China. Revenue is generated through this globalization of assets, which includes co-development programs, alliances with large pharmaceutical companies, and out-licensing agreements that lead to milestone payments and royalties.

HUYA has built what it describes as the largest portfolio of China-sourced compounds, covering a wide range of therapeutic areas. Key products in its pipeline include HBI-8000 (Tucidinostat/Chidamide) and HBI-3000. HBI-8000 is an oral histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor developed for oncology. It functions as an epigenetic immunomodulator, targeting specific HDAC enzymes to suppress tumor growth and stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. Originally discovered by Chipscreen Biosciences in China, HUYA holds the global rights outside of China and has advanced its development for treating various lymphomas and solid tumors. For instance, the product, marketed as HIYASTA, was commercialized in Japan in under six years. Another significant asset is HBI-3000, a multi-ion channel blocker being developed for the cardioversion of acute atrial fibrillation, a condition affecting millions worldwide.