ABOUT US
ABOUT CHOLESGEN

Founded in 2021, Cholesgen (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative drugs. Focusing on novel disease targets, Cholesgen conducts innovative drug discovery and development for metabolic diseases (hyperlipidemia, obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, NASH, etc.) and oncology based on the principles of biochemistry, disease biology, medicinal chemistry and translational medicine. The company's founding team consists of R&D elites from top domestic and international pharmaceutical companies and researchers from top research institutes in China, while the advisory team includes senior scientists and professors from global domestic and research fields of metabolism, life sciences, medicinal chemistry and others.. From a unique and novel R&D perspective, Cholesgen will build differentiated R&D pipelines, based on new mechanisms in metabolic diseases and oncology research, and develop novel drugs in multiple pipelines of new targets. Focusing on the major diseases of human health, Cholesgen will integrate the core technologies of life sciences, medicinal chemistry, and clinical medicine to build its own innovative R&D platform and to provide innovative drugs with high potential for metabolic diseases and oncology treatments.
CORE TEAM
Wei Qi Scientific Advisor

Researcher, Shanghai University of Science and Technology

Wei Qi Scientific Advisor
Dr. Wei Qi, formerly work in Novartis Biomedical Research Center, has more than 15 years of experience in drug discovery and team management. She has led several drug discovery and development projects in both academia and industry, of which 3 projects have entered IND enabling stage and clinical trials in different ways. Dr. Qi Wei is a researcher and doctoral supervisor at Shanghai University of Science and Technology (SUST), a recipient of the Shanghai Thousand Talents Program, and the chair of the Research Achievement Translation Committee of the School of Life Sciences. 
Bao-Liang Song Academician, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Scientific Advisor

Professor, Wuhan University

Bao-Liang Song Academician, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Scientific Advisor
He is a professor of Wuhan University, and concurrently serves as the chairman of the Chinese Society of Cell Biology, and the leader of the expert group of the Glycolipid Metabolism Research Program of the China Foundation for Science and Technology. He has been awarded the Chen Jiageng Youth Science Award, China Youth Science and Technology Award, and Scientific Exploration Award. He received his undergraduate degree from Nanjing University, Ph.D. degree from the Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIBS), and postdoctoral fellowships in the laboratories of Michael Brown & Joseph Goldstein (1985 Nobel Prize winners) at Southwestern Medical Center, USA. He then worked at the Institute of Biochemistry and Cellular Sciences, Shanghai Academy of Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, as a research group leader. Since 2014, he has been working as a professor at the School of Life Sciences, Wuhan University (2014-2022 as Dean of the College of Life Sciences).
Tang Jingjie Director of Biology Department

Tang Jingjie Director of Biology Department
Dr. Jingjie Tang graduated from Academician Baoliang Song’s lab. Dr. Tang has worked in the Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. She has nearly 20 years of experience in cholesterol metabolism researches, and has rich experience in drug screening and pharmacological and pharmacodynamic studies.
Mr. Liu Jinbiao Director of Chemistry Department

Mr. Liu Jinbiao Director of Chemistry Department
Mr. Liu has more than 10 years of experience in drug discovery and development, and has participated in several projects in drug discovery and development, and has extensive experience in medicinal chemistry.
Ms. Yingli Guo Senior Director of Operations

Ms. Yingli Guo Senior Director of Operations
She has over 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical R&D industry and has rich experience in BD and project management in Fortune 500 companies such as Thermo Fisher and IQVIA.
Hao Xin Vice President of Chemistry

Hao Xin Vice President of Chemistry
Dr. Hao graduated from Peking University with a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and received her PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Dr. Hao has worked in GlaxoSmithKline Shanghai R&D Center, Novartis BioPharma Research Center, and Ruistone BioPharmaceuticals. She has extensive experience in drug discovery and team management, having led the chemist team to complete the PCC of several projects, and facilitated two of them to obtain clinical approval.
ACADEMIC RESEARCH

Wang JQ, Li LL, Hu A, Deng G, Wei J, Li YF, Liu YB, Lu XY, Qiu ZP, Shi XJ, Zhao X, Luo J, Song BL*. Inhibition of ASGR1 decreases lipid levels by promoting cholesterol excretion. Nature. 2022, 608(7922):413-420

Wang JK, Li Y, Zhao XL, Liu YB, Tan J, Xing YY, Adi D, Wang YT, Fu ZY, Ma YT, Liu SM, Liu Y, Wang Y, Shi XJ, Lu XY, Song BL*, Luo J*. Ablation of Plasma Prekallikrein Decreases LDL Cholesterol by Stabilizing LDL Receptor and Protects against Atheroscleros

Qiu ZP, Lin ZC, Hu A, Liu YB, Zeng WE, Zhao X, Shi XJ, Luo J, Song BL*. GRAMD1/ASTER-mediated cholesterol transport promotes Smoothened cholesterylation at the endoplasmic reticulum. EMBO J. 2022, doi: 10.15252/embj.2022111513. Online ahead of print.

Hu A, Zhang JZ, Wang J, Li CC, Yuan M, Deng G, Lin ZC, Qiu ZP, Liu HY, Wang XW, Wei PC, He X, Zhao X*, Qiu WW*, Song BL*. Cholesterylation of Smoothened is a calcium-accelerated autoreaction involving an intramolecular ester intermediate. Cell Res. 32(3):

Jiang SY, Yang X, Yang Z, Li JW, Xu MQ, Qu YX, Tang JJ, Li YF, Wang L, Shao YW, Meng XY, Hu H, Song BL*, Rao Y*, Qi W*. Discovery of a INSIG binding compound that ameliorates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by inhibiting SREBP-mediated lipogenesis. Hepatolog

Kong Z, Xu M, Zhang Y, Huang W, Zhao X, Luo J, Song BL*. The cation-π interaction in cysteine-rich domain of Smoothened is critical for its cholesterylation and function. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai). 54(8):1171-1179. doi: 10.3724/abbs.2022090. 202

Luo J, Wang JK, Song BL*. Lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: from mechanisms to therapies. Life Metabolism, https://doi.org/10.1093/lifemeta/loac004, 1(1): 25-38, 2022

Hu A, Zhou M, Song BL*. Analysis of Protein Cholesterylation by Biorthogonal Labeling. Methods Mol Biol. 2374:27-36, 2022

Qiu ZP, Hu A, Song BL*. The 3-beta-hydroxysteroid-Delta(8), Delta(7)-isomerase EBP inhibits cholesterylation of Smoothened. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids. 1866(12):159041, 2021

Luo J, Liu YB, Song BL*. Hitching a ride to the top: peroxisomes fuel cilium with cholesterol. Sci China Life Sci. 64(3): 478-481, 2021

Lu XY#, Shi XJ#, Hu A#, Wang JQ#, Ding Y, Jiang W, Sun M, Zhao X, Luo J, Qi W and Song BL*. Feeding induces cholesterol biosynthesis via the mTORC1–USP20–HMGCR axis. Nature. 588(7838): 479-484, 2020

Luo J, Yang H, Song BL*. Mechanisms and regulation of cholesterol homeostasis. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology. 21(4): 225-245, 2020

Zhou ZS#, Li MX#, Liu J#, Jiao H, Xia JM, Shi XJ, Zhao H, Chu L, Liu J, Qi W, Luo J, Song BL*. Competitive oxidation and ubiquitylation on the evolutionarily conserved cysteine confer tissue-specific stabilization of Insig-2. Nature Communications. 11(1):

Xiao J, Xiong Y, Yang LT, Wang JQ, Zhou ZM, Dong LW, Shi XJ, Zhao X, Luo J and Song BL*. POST1/C12ORF49 regulates the SREBP pathway by promoting site-1 protease maturation. Protein Cell. 2020 Jul 14. doi: 10.1007/s13238-020-00753-3. Online ahead of print.

Gong XM#, Li YF#, Luo J#, Wang JQ#, Wei J#, Wang JQ, Xiao T, Xie C, Hong J, Ning G, Shi XJ, Li BL, Qi W*, Song BL*. Gpnmb secreted from liver promotes lipogenesis in white adipose tissue and aggravates obesity and insulin resistance. Nature Metabolism, 1:

Xiao J#, Luo J#, Hu A, Xiao T, Li M, Kong Z, Jiang L, Zhou Z, Liao Y, Xie C, Chu B, Miao H, Li B, Shi X, Song BL*. Cholesterol transport through the peroxisome-ER membrane contacts tethered by PI(4,5)P2 and extended synaptotagmins. Sci China Life Sci. 62(

Luo J, Jiang LY, Yang H, Song BL*. Intracellular cholesterol transport by sterol transfer proteins at membrane contact sites. Trends in Biochemical Sciences (Invited review), 44(3): 273-292, 2019

Hu A, Song BL*. The interplay of Patched, Smoothened and cholesterol in Hedgehog signaling. Curr Opin Cell Biol. 61: 31-38, 2019

Jiang SY#, Tang JJ#, Xiao X, Qi W, Wu S, Jiang C, Hong J, Xu J*, Song BL*, Luo J*. Schnyder corneal dystrophy-associated UBIAD1 mutations cause corneal cholesterol accumulation by stabilizing HMG-CoA reductase. PLoS Genet. 15(7): e1008289, 2019

Chen L, Ma MY, Sun M, Jiang LY, Zhao XT, Fang XX, Lam SM, Shui GH, Luo J, Shi XJ, Song BL*. Endogenous sterol intermediates of the mevalonate pathway regulate HMG-CoA reductase degradation and SREBP-2 processing. J Lipid Res. 2019 Aug 27. pii: jlr.RA11900

Chen L*, Chen XW*, Huang X*, Song BL*, Wang Y*, Wang Y*. Regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism in health and disease. Sci China Life Sci. 62(11):1420-1458, 2019

Zhang YY#, Fu ZY#, Wei J#, Qi W, Baituola G, Luo J, Meng YJ, Guo SY, Yin H, Jiang SY, Li YF, Miao HH, Liu Y, Wang Y, Li BL, Ma YT*, Song BL*. A LIMA1 variant promotes low plasma LDL cholesterol and decreases intestinal cholesterol absorption. Science, 360

Jiang SY#, Li H#, Tang JJ#, Wang J, Luo J, Liu B, Wang JK, Shi XJ, Cui HW, Tang J, Yang F, Qi W, Qiu WW*, Song BL*. Discovery of a potent HMG-CoA reductase degrader that eliminates statin-induced reductase accumulation and lowers cholesterol. Nature Commu

Liao YC#, Wei J#, Wang J, Shi XJ, Luo J, Song BL*. The non-canonical NF-κB pathway promotes NPC2 expression and regulates intracellular cholesterol trafficking. Science China Life Sciences, 61(10): 1222-1232, 2018

Jiang LY#, Jiang W#, Tian N, Xiong YN, Liu J, Wei J, Wu KY, Luo J, Shi XJ*, Song BL*. Ring finger protein 145 (RNF145) is a ubiquitin ligase for sterol-induced degradation of HMG-CoA reductase. Journal of Biological Chemistry., ¬¬293(11): 4047-4055, 2018

Hu A, Zhao XT, Tu H, Xiao T, Fu T, Wang Y, Liu Y, Shi XJ, Luo J*, Song BL*. PIP4K2A regulates intracellular cholesterol transport through modulating PI(4,5)P2 homeostasis. Journal of Lipid Research, 59(3): 507-514, 2018

Wang YJ, Bian Y, Luo J, Lu M, Xiong Y, Guo SY, Yin HY, Lin X, Li Q, Chang CCY, Chang TY, Li BL*, Song BL*. Cholesterol and fatty acids regulate cysteine ubiquitination of ACAT2 through competitive oxidation. Nature Cell Biology, 19(7): 808-819, 2017

Xiao X#, Tang JJ#, Peng C, Wang Y, Fu L, Qiu ZP, Xiong Y, Yang LF, Cui HW, He XL, Yin L, Qi W, Wong CC, Zhao Y, Li BL, Qiu WW*, Song BL*. Cholesterol modification of smoothened is required for hedgehog signaling. Molecular Cell, 66(1): 154-162, 2017

Li N, Zhou ZS, Shen Y, Xu J, Miao HH, Xiong Y, Xu F, Li BL, Luo J, Song BL*. Inhibition of the SREBP pathway suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma through repressing inflammation. Hepatology, 65(6): 1936-1947, 2017

Wei J#, Zhang YY#, Luo J, Wang JQ, Zhou YX, Miao HH, Shi XJ, Qu YX, Xu J, Li BL, Song BL*. The GARP complex is involved in intracellular cholesterol transport via targeting NPC2 to lysosomes. Cell Reports, 19(13): 2823-2835, 2017

Luo J, Jiang L, Yang H, Song BL*. Routes and mechanisms of post-endosomal cholesterol trafficking: a story that never ends. Traffic (Invited review), 18(4): 209-217, 2017

Xie C#, Gong XM#, Luo J, Li BL, Song BL*. AAV9-NPC1 significantly ameliorates Purkinje cell death and behavioral abnormalities in mouse Niemann-Pick type C disease. Journal of Lipid Research, 58(3): 512-518, 2017

Xie C#, Zhang YP#, Song L#, Luo J, Qi W, Hu J, Lu D, Yang Z, Zhang J, Xiao J, Zhou B, Du JL, Jing N, Liu Y, Wang Y, Li BL, Song BL*, Yan Y*. Genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9 in postnatal mice corrects PRKAG2 cardiac syndrome. Cell Research, 26(10): 1099-11

Chu BB#, Liao YC#, Qi W, Xie C, Du X, Wang J, Yang H, Miao HH, Li BL, Song BL*. Cholesterol transport through lysosome-peroxisome membrane contacts. Cell, 161(2): 291-306, 2015

Li PS, Fu ZY, Zhang YY, Zhang JH, Xu CQ, Ma YT, Li BL, Song BL*. The clathrin adaptor Numb regulates intestinal cholesterol absorption through dynamic interaction with NPC1L1. Nature Medicine, 20(1): 80-86. 2014

Wei J#, Fu ZY#, Li PS#, Miao HH, Li BL, Ma YT*, Song BL*. The clathrin adaptor proteins ARH, Dab2, and numb play distinct roles in Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 versus low density lipoprotein receptor-mediated cholesterol uptake. Journal of Biological Chemistry,

Jiang W, Tang JJ, Miao HH, Qu YX, Qin J, Xu J, Yang J*, Li BL, Song BL*. Forward genetic screening for regulators involved in cholesterol synthesis using validation-based insertional mutagenesis. PLoS One, 9(11): e112632, 2014

Lu M#, Hu XH#, Li Q, Xiong Y, Hu GJ, Xu JJ, Zhao XN, Wei XX, Chang CC, Liu YK, Nan FJ, Li J, Chang TY, Song BL*, Li BL*. A specific cholesterol metabolic pathway is established in a subset of HCCs for tumor growth. Journal of Molecular Cell Biology, 5(6):

Liu TF, Tang JJ, Li PS, Shen Y, Li JG, Miao HH, Li BL*, Song BL*. Ablation of gp78 in liver improves hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance by inhibiting SREBP to decrease lipid biosynthesis. Cell Metabolism, 16(2): 213-225, 2012

Xie C#, Zhou ZS#, Li N, Bian Y, Wang YJ, Wang LJ, Li BL*, Song BL*. Ezetimibe blocks the internalization of NPC1L1 and cholesterol in mouse small intestine. Journal of Lipid Research, 53(10): 2092-2101, 2012

Wang LJ, Song BL*. Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 and cholesterol uptake. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (Invited review), 1821(7): 964-972, 2012

Tang JJ#, Li JG#, Qi W, Qiu WW, Li PS, Li BL, Song BL*. Inhibition of SREBP by a small molecule, betulin, improves hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance and reduces atherosclerotic plaques. Cell Metabolism, 13(1): 44-56, 2011

Ge L, Qi W, Wang LJ, Miao HH, Qu YX, Li BL, Song BL*. Flotillins play an essential role in Niemann-Pick C1-like 1-mediated cholesterol uptake. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 108(2): 551-556, 2011

Xie C, Li N, Chen ZJ, Li BL, Song BL*. The small GTPase Cdc42 interacts with Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) and controls its movement from endocytic recycling compartment to plasma membrane in a cholesterol-dependent manner. Journal of Biological Chemist

Zhang JH#, Ge L#, Qi W, Zhang L, Miao HH, Li BL, Yang M, Song BL*. The N-terminal domain of NPC1L1 protein binds cholesterol and plays essential roles in cholesterol uptake. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 286(28): 25088-25097, 2011

Wang LJ, Wang J, Li N, Ge L, Li BL, Song BL*. Molecular characterization of the NPC1L1 variants identified from cholesterol low absorbers. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 286(9): 7397-7408, 2011

Miao HH, Jiang W, Ge L, Li BL, Song BL*. Tetra-glutamic acid residues adjacent to Lys248 in HMG-CoA reductase are critical for the ubiquitination mediated by gp78 and UBE2G2. Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica, 42(5): 303-310, 2010

Chu BB#, Ge L#, Xie C, Zhao Y, Miao HH, Wang J, Li BL, Song BL*. Requirement of myosin Vb.Rab11a.Rab11-FIP2 complex in cholesterol-regulated translocation of NPC1L1 to the cell surface. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 284(33): 22481-22490, 2009

Wang J, Chu BB, Ge L, Li BL, Yan Y*, Song BL*. Membrane topology of human NPC1L1, a key protein in enterohepatic cholesterol absorption. Journal of Lipid Research, 50(8): 1653-1662, 2009

Ge L#, Wang J#, Qi W#, Miao HH, Cao J, Qu YX, Li BL, Song BL*. The cholesterol absorption inhibitor ezetimibe acts by blocking the sterol-induced internalization of NPC1L1. Cell Metabolism, 7(6): 508-519, 2008

Qi W, Song BL*. Dissecting the NPC1L1-mediated cholesterol absorption. Future Lipidology (Invited review), 3: 481-484, 2008

Cao J, Wang J, Qi W, Miao HH, Wang J, Ge L, DeBose-Boyd RA, Tang JJ, Li BL*, Song BL*. Ufd1 is a cofactor of gp78 and plays a key role in cholesterol metabolism by regulating the stability of HMG-CoA reductase. Cell Metabolism, 6(2): 115-128, 2007

Song BL*, DeBose-Boyd RA*. Insig-dependent ubiquitination and degradation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase stimulated by delta- and gamma-tocotrienols. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 281(35): 25054-25061, 2006

HISTORY
2021
2021

ATLATL Lab Opening;

Occupancy of ATLATL office;

First compound delivery;

First CRO service request;

First town-hall meeting;

Official initiation;

2023
2023

In June, Cholesgen and AstraZeneca entered into a new drug development collaboration agreement;

In September, AstraZeneca and Cholesgen jointly held a signing celebration ceremony.

In December, Cosme Pharma celebrated its relocation to No. 88 Shangke Road, Pudong, Shanghai, China.

2021 2023
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