Ascentage Pharma CEO Dr. Dajun Yang Ranked No. 3 on The Medicine Maker Power List 2026 in Small Molecules
核心洞察
Dr. Dajun Yang, Chairman and CEO of Ascentage Pharma (搜索), was ranked No. 3 in the Small Molecules category on The Medicine Maker Power List 2026.
Under his leadership, Ascentage Pharma (搜索) has advanced two approved innovative cancer therapies: olverembatinib, the first third-generation BCR-ABL (搜索) TKI approved in China, and lisaftoclax, the second Bcl-2 (搜索) inhibitor approved globally.
The company is currently advancing multiple global registrational Phase III studies, four of which have been cleared by both the FDA and the EMA.
Dr. Dajun Yang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ascentage Pharma (搜索) Group International (NASDAQ: AAPG; HKEX: 6855), has been named to The Medicine Maker Power List 2026, securing the No. 3 position among the Top 10 in the Small Molecules category. The announcement was made on July 26, 2026, by the global, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company with operations in Rockville, Maryland and Suzhou, China. The annual Power List, published by a leading international publication serving the global pharmaceutical industry, recognizes leaders whose work advances drug discovery, manufacturing innovation, and patient access to innovative medicines. The 2026 edition honors 60 distinguished leaders from across the global pharmaceutical industry, nominated by industry peers worldwide and selected by a panel of expert judges.
Dr. Yang co-founded Ascentage Pharma (搜索) in 2009 and has spent more than three decades working in oncology, apoptosis pathways, and innovative drug development. His profile in The Medicine Maker's Power List 2026 highlights his role in advancing a pipeline of small molecule cancer therapies with global first- and best-in-class potential.
Two Approved Therapies Addressing Unmet Needs
Under Dr. Yang's leadership, Ascentage Pharma (搜索) has successfully commercialized two innovative therapies that have filled important gaps in clinical cancer treatment. The first, olverembatinib, is the first third-generation BCR-ABL (搜索) tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved in China. The second, lisaftoclax, secured approval in China in July 2025 for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (搜索) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (搜索), making it only the second Bcl-2 (搜索) inhibitor approved anywhere in the world since venetoclax received approval in 2016.
Global Phase III Development Programs
Ascentage Pharma (搜索) is currently advancing multiple global registrational Phase III clinical studies, four of which have been cleared by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). These programs include studies of olverembatinib and lisaftoclax across hematologic cancers and solid tumors, while the company also pursues newer approaches such as targeted protein degradation.
Notably, lisaftoclax is currently the only Bcl-2 (搜索) inhibitor being evaluated in a global registrational Phase III study for patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (搜索) (MDS), a setting with a longstanding unmet clinical need. This positions Ascentage Pharma (搜索) at the forefront of addressing a significant gap in the treatment landscape for this patient population.
Industry Recognition and Future Direction
The Medicine Maker Power List has become an important benchmark of leadership and industry impact since its launch, featuring industry leaders, renowned scientists, and other distinguished figures from across the global pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Yang's recognition at No. 3 in the Small Molecules category underscores both his personal contributions to oncology drug development and Ascentage Pharma (搜索)'s growing impact on global pharmaceutical innovation. The company continues to expand its global development efforts and partnerships to bring new therapies to patients worldwide.