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Ge Li

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The native form of this personal name is Lǐ Gé. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Ge Li
Li in 2007
NationalityAmerican
Alma materPeking University (BA)
Columbia University (PhD)
Occupations
Known forFounder of WuXi AppTec
SpouseNing Zhao

Ge Li (Chinese: 李革; pinyin: Lǐ Gé) is a Chinese American entrepreneur and philanthropist who is the founder and chairman of WuXi AppTec, a contract pharmaceutical research firm.[1][2]

Career

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Ge Li was born in China. He graduated from Affiliated High School of Peking University and received his B.A. from Peking University in 1989 and Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Columbia University in 1994.[3][4][5] At Columbia, Li was mentored by W. Clark Still and Koji Nakanishi.[6]

He worked for Pharmacopeia, Inc. and was sent to China to form a joint business venture on behalf of the company.[7] Inspired by the visit, Li quit the company and co-founded WuXi AppTec with his wife, Ning Zhao,[8] in Shanghai in 2000.[9] In 2016, WuXi AppTec expanded its presence in the United States by opening a new center of excellence in San Diego, California.[10] This facility was designed to enhance WuXi's capabilities in small molecule screening, discovery biology, and process research and development, while also offering Phase I good manufacturing practice (GMP) services. The expansion reflected the company’s strategy to strengthen its global footprint and better serve its North American clients. The company was listed in New York Stock Exchange before going public in Hong Kong in 2018.[11][12]

In 2011, Li was named a member of the Committee of One Hundred.[13]

As of 2022, his net worth stands at $10 billion, making him one of the richest men in China and the United States.[1][14] He is also the second wealthiest American pharmaceutical businessperson as of 2020.[15][16] He is also named one of the top ten Chinese CEOs by Forbes China.[17]

Philanthropic activities

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In 2018, Li and Ning Zhao donated RMB 100 million to Peking University, setting up the Li Ge-Zhao Ning Education Fund of Peking University. They were named the university's honorary trustees.[18]

In 2020, the couple donated $21.5 million to Columbia University to advance research and teaching in chemistry,[19] and the following year, they contributed $20 million to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to support lung cancer research.[20][21]

Personal life and family

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Li was married to Ning Zhao, his classmate at Peking University, a fellow Ph.D. graduate from Columbia University and formerly senior vice president and global head of human resources at WuXi AppTec.[8][22] Zhao died on May 16, 2023, after a 20-year battle with cancer.[23][24]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Li Ge". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  2. ^ Tremblay, Jean-Francois (April 3, 2017). "WuXi, ShangPharma seek Chinese listings". cen.acs.org. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  3. ^ "Columbia Chemistry Receives $21.5 Million Gift from Alumni Dr. Ge Li and Dr. Ning Zhao | Chemistry". chem.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  4. ^ "MEMBERS | Committee 100". Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  5. ^ "李革校友：为科学、知识与技术提供平台-北大教育基金会". www.pkuef.org. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  6. ^ "Landmark Gift Goes to Columbia Chemistry". Columbia College. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  7. ^ Tremblay, Jean-Francois (March 14, 2016). "C&EN profiles WuXi AppTec, Chinese contract research giant". cen.acs.org. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  8. ^ a b Bandell, Brian. "Biotech executive buys Fort Lauderdale mansion (Photos)". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  9. ^ DiStefano, Joseph N. (28 June 2021). "China-based WuXi AppTec wins $19M from taxpayers for giant Delaware drug plant". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  10. ^ "WuXi's subsidiary (STA) opens facility in San Diego". Biopharma Asia. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  11. ^ "China's leading biotech research firm focused on US acquisitions". South China Morning Post. 2018-12-01. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  12. ^ "Well sequenced |". Week In China. 2016-07-15. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  13. ^ "New Member: Ge Li | Committee 100". Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  14. ^ "Bloomberg Billionaires Index - Li Ge". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  15. ^ Parrish, Megan (May 11, 2020). "Pharma's richest of the rich in the U.S." www.pharmamanufacturing.com. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  16. ^ "15 people in healthcare among Forbes' 400 richest people in America". www.beckershospitalreview.com. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  17. ^ 赵诗悦. "Top 10 Chinese CEOs by Forbes China". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  18. ^ "Alumni couple Li Ge and Zhao Ning donates 100 million RMB to Peking University". newsen.pku.edu.cn. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  19. ^ "Chemical Science Gets $21.5M Boost". Columbia Magazine. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  20. ^ "Memorial Sloan Kettering Announces New Initiative to Focus on Lung Cancer Research". Newswise. May 13, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  21. ^ "Memorial Sloan Kettering receives $20 million for lung cancer research". Philanthropy News Digest. May 17, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  22. ^ "身家超500亿，这对学霸夫妇是如何做出一家医药龙头企业的？_李革". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  23. ^ "Pharma Billionaire Zhao Ning Dies At 56 After Battling Cancer For 20 Years". Forbes.
  24. ^ "Obituary – Mourning the Passing of Dr. Ning Zhao". Wuxi Biologics. 17 May 2023.
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