Dr. Yu Qiang Shares Insights in an Interview with Suzhou Daily: "My 'Mortise-and-Tenon Pact' with the Industrial Park"

At first upon returning home, my heart was full of passion—only to find myself with empty walls.

Home calls, yet my shadow lingers in the rivers and lakes—farewell, my humble abode.

Return to Su, seek the lab—life in the park feels like a picturesque scene straight from a painting.

Invite old friends to share the moment—morning bathed in the bright moonlight, evening gathered around the hearth.

Years have turned, fortunes ebbed and flowed—yet the path remains fraught with challenges and countless crossroads.

Only when the great waves have washed away the sand and the dust settles will the pearl emerge.

—— Yu Qiang

On August 10, the "Extraordinary Park Edition" of the Suzhou Daily featured a special report titled "Celebrating 40 Years of Reform and Opening-Up — My Story with the Park," which highlighted the "Mortise-and-Tenon Pact" between Dr. Yu Qiang, Founder and CEO of Shengshi Taike, and Suzhou Industrial Park.

[Detailed Layout Presentation and Report]

My "Mortise-and-Tenon Promise" with the parkland

[Profile]

After graduating from Peking University, Yu Qiang pursued further studies in the U.S., earning a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Kansas. In 2010, he returned to China to start his own venture, founding Shengshi Taikang Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd. in Suzhou Industrial Park. Over the years, he has led his team in developing a Class 1 novel antidiabetic drug that rivals international cutting-edge standards, while also establishing a "mouth-melting" rapid-release formulation platform. As a result, he has been recognized as a Leading Science and Technology Talent in the Park, a Suzhou Entrepreneurial Leader, and a Jiangsu Province Innovation and Entrepreneurship Talent, among other prestigious accolades. National-level Expert for Major Talent Recruitment Programs 。

When I was a child, I lived in Suzhou with my family for a few years—and to this day, I still vividly recall the feeling of running across the stone slabs in those narrow alleyways. Now, I’ve settled back in Suzhou once again, working on cutting-edge drug development in the Suzhou Industrial Park. And just like before, I absolutely love the exhilarating sense of sprinting forward on this path of innovation.

During my 18 years in the U.S., I’ve been deeply involved in drug discovery within the field of small-molecule chemistry—and that’s when I identified a promising lead compound with potential to lower blood sugar levels. Right then, I knew this could work. China is a country with a massive diabetes population, and unfortunately, everyone in my family except me also lives with diabetes. Both personally and professionally, I felt it was essential to carry this research forward. That’s why I became even more determined to return home and start my own venture.

In 2010, I came to Suzhou Industrial Park and established Shengshi Taikang Biomedical Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. at the Suzhou Bio-Medical Industry Park (BioBAY). In the early days of our venture, the company enjoyed a remarkably smooth start: in 2010, we received startup funding from the park; by 2011, we were recognized as a leading science and technology talent within the park, earning a million-yuan subsidy for R&D, along with rent exemptions and subsidized loans. Today, five of our independently developed drugs have already secured clinical trial approvals—and among them, our Class 1.1 innovative antidiabetic drug, Shengglietin, is nearing completion of its Phase 1 clinical trials. We expect it to be officially launched around 2020. Not only does Shengglietin surpass the technical benchmarks of existing imported products currently on the market, but it’s also designed to be taken orally without triggering fasting hypoglycemia, effectively filling a critical gap in China’s pharmaceutical landscape.

In fact, before choosing the park, I also compared it with other cities across China. But the park’s deep understanding of biomedicine truly “amazed” me—they embrace innovation and are willing to wait. Developing new drugs is a long and challenging journey that demands the ability to "endure solitude" and "face failure head-on." Back in 2012, our team had already created the precursor to sitagliptin, though its technical performance was only on par with similar imported products on the market. We were driven by a commitment to innovation—after all, without breakthroughs that surpass existing market standards, we’d never truly succeed, and we’d certainly be letting down the support our company has received from governments at all levels. So, we resolutely scrapped our original R&D plan and started over from scratch. Finally, by the end of 2016, persistence paid off: the superior-performing sitagliptin was finally launched.

In March 2015, the Founders’ Club of the Park’s New Drug Initiative was established, and I’m honored to be one of the more than 40 founders who joined. "Joining forces under the mortise-and-tenon pavilion to savor fragrant tea, gazing upward at the budding clouds; sharing music and companionship with kindred spirits, raising a toast for that gentle glow of wine." This is the poem titled "The Mortise-and-Tenon Pact" that I wrote for the club. In ancient Chinese architecture, the mortise-and-tenon joint—a system where protruding tenons fit perfectly into recessed mortises—was ingeniously used to create structures that were both strong and durable, all without the need for nails. Similarly, I see the biopharmaceutical industry in our park as a harmonious ecosystem: innovative breakthroughs naturally align with resources, funding, supportive policies, and comprehensive services, fostering a mutually beneficial cycle of growth and collaboration. This is precisely why I’ve chosen to "put down roots" here.

“Integrity, Innovation, Pragmatism, and Impact”—this is the “original aspiration” that guides my journey with Shengshi Taikang. I’ve been part of the park for eight years now. Eight years ago, my living space was cramped, and I slept on a wooden board—without even a mattress. But today, eight years later, our company’s footprint has expanded fivefold, and over 80% of our employees hold master’s degrees. I’ve witnessed firsthand the park’s dynamic innovation and growth, and I’m truly grateful to be a part of this transformative journey. Looking ahead, I’m confident that Shengshi Taikang will continue to pioneer groundbreaking, affordable, and high-quality medicines right here in China—benefiting patients across the nation.

And now, I can finally say out loud: "I made the right choice coming to the park to start my business!"

(Tang Xiaowen / Edited and Compiled)