HKU Industry Forum 2025 - Therapeutics Insights: Bridging Academia, Industry, and Investments
2025年05月07日
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Agenda
About the Forum This HKU-Industry Forum brings together leading experts in the therapeutics field with the goal of aligning HKU’s research with industry needs and fostering collaborations and commercialization opportunities. This forum serves as a platform for exchanging ideas and building strong connections between HKU and the relevant industry.
Poster Showcasing Teams include:
|
Pitching spin-off companies/teams:
Name of the spin-off company or project |
Description |
PIC |
Oncoimmunostics Limited |
Oncoimmunostics focuses on precise cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. We’ve created “liver-in-cube”, a biomimetic liver cancer immune microenvironment using 3D bioprinting for personalized drug screening and new drug development. Our future goals include developing multiple disease models for early diagnosis and treatment. |
Prof. Kwan Man |
Lead Guard Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd |
Lead Guard Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd has developed "Prohep," a novel probiotic therapy created by Dr. Hani EI-Nezami's team at the University of Hong Kong. Prohep shows promise in preventing and treating Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and colorectal cancer (CRC). Having completed preclinical, safety, and stability studies with published results, Prohep holds patents in the U.S., China, and Europe. It is currently launched in mainland China as a liver health supplement, with plans to expand to Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf region. The company aims to seek FDA approval for Prohep's therapeutic potential. |
Prof. Hani EI-Nezami |
γδ-T Cell exosome immunotherapy platform |
This project leverages exosomes isolated from healthy donor γδ-T cells (Vδ2 subset) to pioneer next-generation cancer immunotherapeutic platforms, including prophylactic cancer vaccines. These exosomes deliver potent antitumor activity and immune stimulation in a safe, scalable, and cell-free format. Backed by globally recognized patents and honored with Geneva International Invention Gold Medals, this platform provides off-the-shelf therapeutic solutions specifically engineered for both treatment and prevention of EBV-associated and other solid cancers. |
Prof. Wenwei Tu |
Trophy Life Technology Limited |
The company is incubated by the Centre for Translational Stem Cell Biology (collaborated with HKU and Cambridge) and registered in Sept 2023, and aims to develop safe and broad spectrum antiviral drugs using unique stem cell technology (Expanded Potential Stem Cell). They have valivated some commercialized antuviral drugs in the system and screened out several promising candidates for extensive clinical study in the near future. |
Prof. Pengtao Liu |
Compass Health Technology Limited |
As the global population ages, ensuring safe and effective medication management becomes increasingly critical. COMPASS Health Technology addresses this challenge with innovative AI-driven solutions that personalize treatment plans for the elderly and beyond. By integrating Western and Chinese medical knowledge through our proprietary computational engine, we deliver precise and holistic care, supported by years of research and clinical evidence. Our system reduces the risk of adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interactions while optimizing therapeutic outcomes by tailoring medications to individual needs. At COMPASS, we’re committed to enhancing seniors’ quality of life, making advanced, personalized healthcare both accessible and effective. |
Prof. Qingpeng Zhang |
Long-Acting Recombinant STC2 for Curing Both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes |
Diabetes has emerged as a critical global health crisis, carrying a substantial economic burden of $1.3 trillion. Pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and insulin deficiency are key factors in both type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes. Current diabetes management relies on lifelong medication, as there are no drugs available to reverse β cell failure. To address this challenge, our team has identified circulating STC2 (Stanniocalcin 2) as a promising anti-diabetic hormone that supports β-cell regeneration in both T1D and T2D. STC2 treatment offers long-lasting glucose-lowering effects and the potential for monthly or bi-monthly dosing, providing a significant advancement in diabetes therapy. |
Prof. Aimin Xu |
Chinese medicine formula and its active component for new drug development against diabetic retinopathy |
Led by the Professor Yibin Feng from School of Chinese Medicine, the research team has been dedicated to the development of novel drug candidates from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the past decade. By combining advanced AI-driven drug discovery technologies and TCM, the team has identified a novel drug candidate combining specific herbal formula and bioactive compounds, targeting multiple pathways for non-invasive prevention of diabetic retinopathy. |
Prof. Yibin Feng |