WuXi Biologics and WuXi STA, a subsidiary of WuXi AppTec, established a joint venture company named WuXi XDC to provide contract development and manufacturing of bioconjugates including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Dr. Jimmy (Jincai) Li was appointed as CEO of WuXi XDC.
 
WuXi Biologics and WuXi STA will make capital contributions of $120 million and $80 million respectively to WuXi XDC. WuXi Biologics will own 60% and WuXi STA, 40%. Accordingly, WuXi XDC will become a non-wholly owned subsidiary of WuXi Biologics, providing services for development and manufacturing of antibodies or other biologics, chemical payloads and linkers, and the bioconjugated Drug Substance (DS) and Drug Product (DP).
 
“Bioconjugates have recently emerged as an exciting therapeutic modality to address unmet medical needs. We’re excited about establishing WuXi XDC, a dedicated end-to-end bioconjugate CDMO which will combine the world-class capacities and capabilities of both WuXi Biologics and WuXi STA to provide a superior one-stop service for global partners in an effort to expedite development and lower costs.” Dr. Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi Biologics and Chairman of WuXi XDC, commented, “We are also delighted to announce Jimmy’s new appointment and are confident that he will lead the company to establish a global outstanding bioconjugate CDMO to enable these novel therapeutics into the clinic and eventually on to commercialization.”
 
Dr. Jimmy Li has been with WuXi Biologics since 2011. In the 10 years with WuXi Biologics, Dr. Li led various functions, including the establishment of Cell Culture Process Development and Pilot Plant Production group, followed by management of the MFG1 facility, where the first commercial biologics manufactured by WuXi Biologics was approved by the U.S. FDA and EMA. Dr. Jimmy Li has 20 years’ experience in biologics process development, scale-up and cGMP manufacturing.