Yong Guo

CMO/SVP

Polymed Biopharmaceuticals

Short Biography

Dr. Yong Guo is currently CMO/SVP at Polymed Biopharma, where he leads clinical development. He brings over 20 years of experience across the full spectrum of drug development, including molecular immunology research, target discovery, preclinical development, translational medicine, and end-to-end clinical development with expertise in clinical trial design, biostatistics, pharmacovigilance (PV), and Sino-US IND filings.

Early in his career, he served as a postdoctoral fellow and assistant professor at New York University Medical Center, conducting tumor molecular immunology research. He successfully cloned and published the CD86 (B7-2) gene and authored over 30 papers in top-tier journals such as Nature and JEM. In the pharmaceutical industry, he worked as a scientist at Sanofi in the U.S., engaging in R&D drug discovery. After returning to China, he served as Medical Director at Hengrui Medicine and Hansoh Pharmaceutical, leading the Phase I–III development of Flumatinib for CML, which received NMPA approval, and directing multiple studies of PD-1 in combination with Apatinib for advanced gastric cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. He later served as SVP and Head of Clinical Development at Kangpu Biopharmaceuticals and Angel Pharma, leading clinical programs for molecular glues (mCRPC) and ITK inhibitors. Most recently at Polymed, he has led two Phase I clinical programs: HPB-092 (a small molecule dual FLT3/IRAK4 inhibitor for acute myeloid leukemia, AML) and HPB-143 (an IRAK4-PROTAC degrader for atopic dermatitis, AD), both of which have received clinical trial approvals in China and the U.S. Dr. Guo received his MD from Nanjing Medical University and completed postdoctoral training at New York University Medical Center.

Presentation Topic: Recent Clinical Advances and Future Trends in PROTACs

PROTACs (proteolysis-targeting chimeras) have emerged as a transformative therapeutic modality, with significant recent advances achieved in the clinical field. This presentation will provide a systematic overview of the evolution of PROTAC technology and the current clinical development landscape, with a focus on key clinical data from representative pipelines, including efficacy, safety, and PK/PD profiles. Practical insights into clinical development strategies for investigational PROTAC candidates will also be shared. Furthermore, the talk will delve into the major clinical challenges encountered during development, covering critical aspects such as target selection, trial design, dose optimization, and toxicity management. Looking ahead, the discussion will extend to future trends shaping the clinical development of PROTACs, including next-generation degradation technologies, expansion into new therapeutic areas, combination therapy strategies, and the evolving competitive landscape. This presentation aims to provide systemic clinical insights and practical guidance for professionals engaged in the discovery and clinical development of targeted protein degraders.