Michelle Xia, Ph.D., has served on our Board of Directors since January 2023. Dr Xia has exceptional experience in leadership across scientific discovery, R&D, building and scaling manufacturing, and overall leadership through her experience at companies in the US. Dr. Michelle Xia, is the founder of Akeso, Inc., and has been the chairwoman, president and CEO of the Company since its inception in 2012.

Dr. Xia has over 27 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and academic research. Prior to founding our Group, Dr. Xia held senior leadership roles at Crown Bioscience Inc., where she played a decisive role in constructing Crown Bioscience’s platform, building its team, setting and implementing its strategies, and forging its joint venture with Pfizer (the Pfizer-Crown Asian Cancer Research Centre). From 2006 to 2008, Dr. Xia served as a senior scientist and group leader at PDL BioPharma, Inc. (later acquired by AbbVie). In 2006, Dr. Xia served as a senior process development scientist at Bayer Corporation in the U.S. At both PDL BioPharma and Bayer, Dr. Xia oversaw CMC, process development and manufacturing of therapeutic protein and antibody drugs. Dr. Xia began her pharmaceutical career at Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (later acquired by Celera Genomics), where she held both scientific and managerial roles in drug discovery programs from December 2000 to December 2005, overseeing a broad range of activities from target validation through IND-enabling studies.

Dr. Xia received her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Sun Yat-sen University in China in 1988. She earned her Ph.D. degree in molecular biology and microbiology from Newcastle University in the U.K. in 1994. Dr. Xia completed her postdoctoral research training at the University of Glasgow in the U.K. from 1993 to 1996, and she also conducted the cancer immune therapy research at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in the U.S. from 1996 to 2000.

Over the years, Dr. XIA has served important roles in numerous influential organizations, including a member of the Special Committee for Monoclonal Antibody of the China Medicinal Biotech Association, a committee member of the Special Committee for Science and Technology Innovation of China Overseas Returnee Entrepreneur Investment Association, an advisory committee member of the Chinese Antibody Society, and a director of Tongxieyi Antibody Talent Club. Dr. Xia has also received numerous awards and recognitions for her contributions to both the pharmaceutical industry and commercial enterprises. Most recently, Dr. XIA was selected into Forbes’ Powerful Women in Technology in 2020 and in 2023 was named by Forbes China as a Top 100 Women in Business in China.