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Zai Lab Limited

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FY2023 Annual Report · Zai Lab Limited
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www.zailaboratory.com

Incorporated in the Cayman Islands 
with limited liability

HKEX: 9688

NASDAQ: ZLAB

2023
Annual
Report

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CONTENTS

CORPORATE INFORMATION 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 

BUSINESS 

RISK FACTORS 

CHAIRPERSON’S STATEMENT 

FINANCIAL SUMMARY 

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT 

DIRECTORS’ REPORT 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT 

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

DEFINITIONS 

GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS 

2

5

7

37

101

103

104

124

135

175

193

197

248

255

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 
Executive Director 

Dr. Samantha Du (Chairperson and 

Chief Executive Officer)

Independent Directors

HEAD OFFICE AND PRINCIPAL 
PLACE OF BUSINESS IN 
HONG KONG
Room 2301, 23/F

Island Place Tower

510 King’s Road

Dr. John Diekman (Lead Independent Director)

North Point, Hong Kong

Professor Kai-Xian Chen

Dr. Richard Gaynor

Ms. Nisa Leung

Mr. William Lis

Mr. Scott W. Morrison

Mr. Leon O. Moulder, Jr.

Mr. Michel Vounatsos

Mr. Peter Wirth

HEAD OFFICE AND PRINCIPAL 
PLACE OF BUSINESS IN 
MAINLAND CHINA
Building 1, 4/F

Jinchuang Plaza

4560 Jinke Road

Pudong, Shanghai, 201210

P.R. China

HEAD OFFICE AND PRINCIPAL 
PLACE OF BUSINESS IN THE 
UNITED STATES
314 Main Street

4th Floor, Suite 100

Cambridge, MA 02142

USA

P.R. China

REGISTERED OFFICE 
Harbour Place, 2nd Floor

103 South Church Street

P.O. Box 472

George Town

Grand Cayman KY1-1106

Cayman Islands

PRINCIPAL SHARE REGISTRAR AND
TRANSFER AGENT
International Corporation Services Ltd

Harbour Place, 2nd Floor

103 South Church Street

P.O. Box 472

George Town

Grand Cayman KY1-1106

Cayman Islands

HONG KONG SHARE REGISTRAR 
AND TRANSFER AGENT
Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited

Shops 1712–1716

17th Floor, Hopewell Centre

183 Queen’s Road East

Wanchai, Hong Kong

P.R. China

2

CORPORATE INFORMATIONAUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVES
Dr. Samantha Du

COMMERCIAL COMMITTEE* 
Mr. Michel Vounatsos (Chairperson)

Dr. Samantha Du 

Mr. Leon O. Moulder, Jr.

JOINT COMPANY SECRETARIES 
Mr. F. Ty Edmondson

314 Main Street

4th Floor, Suite 100

Cambridge, MA 02142

USA

Ms. Nelly Au-Yeung

5/F, Manulife Place

348 Kwun Tong Road

Kowloon, Hong Kong

P.R. China

AUDITORS
As to Hong Kong financial reporting audit

KPMG

Public  Interest  Entity  Auditor  registered  in  accordance  with  the 

Accounting and Financial Reporting Council Ordinance

As to United States financial reporting audit 

KPMG LLP

A public accounting firm registered with the U.S. Public Company 

Accounting Oversight Board

STOCK CODE 
HKEX: 9688

NASDAQ: ZLAB

Building 1, 4/F

Jinchuang Plaza

4560 Jinke Road

Pudong, Shanghai, 201210

P.R. China

Ms. Nelly Au-Yeung

5/F, Manulife Place

348 Kwun Tong Road

Kowloon, Hong Kong

P.R. China

AUDIT COMMITTEE 
Mr. Scott W. Morrison (Chairperson)

Dr. John Diekman

Mr. Peter Wirth

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE 
Mr. Peter Wirth (Chairperson)

Dr. John Diekman 

Mr. Leon O. Moulder, Jr.

NOMINATING AND CORPORATE 
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE 
Mr. Leon O. Moulder, Jr. (Chairperson)

Dr. John Diekman

Mr. William Lis

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
COMMITTEE
Dr. Richard Gaynor (Chairperson)

Professor Kai-Xian Chen

Dr. Samantha Du

Mr. Michel Vounatsos 

* 

The Commercial Committee was established on January 7, 2023.

3

CORPORATE INFORMATIONCONTACT 
Investor Relations: Christine Chiou/Lina Zhang

+1 (917) 886-6929/+86 136 8257 6943

christine.chiou1@zailaboratory.com /

lina.zhang@zailaboratory.com

Media: Shaun Maccoun/Xiaoyu Chen

+1 (415) 317-7255/+86 185 0015 5011

shaun.maccoun@zailaboratory.com /

xiaoyu.chen@zailaboratory.com

WEBSITE
http://www.zailaboratory.com/

4

CORPORATE INFORMATIONThis  annual  report  contains  certain  forward-looking  statements,  including  statements  relating  to  our  strategy  and  plans;  potential  of  and 

expectations for our business, commercial products, and pipeline programs; the market for our commercial and pipeline products; capital allocation 

and investment strategy; clinical development programs and related clinical trials; clinical trial data, data readouts, and presentations; risks and 

uncertainties associated with drug development and commercialization; regulatory discussions, submissions, filings, and approvals and the timing 

thereof; the potential benefits, safety, and efficacy of our products and product candidates and those of our collaboration partners; the anticipated 

benefits and potential of investments, collaborations, and business development activities; our profitability and timeline to profitability; and our 

future financial and operating results. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this annual report are forward-looking 

statements,  and  can  be  identified  by  words  such  as  “aim,”  “anticipate,”  “believe,”  “contemplate,”  “continue,”  “could,”  “estimate,”  “expect,” 

“forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or the negative 

of these terms or similar expressions. Such statements constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation 

Reform  Act  of  1995.  Forward-looking  statements  are  not  guarantees  or  assurances  of  future  performance.  Forward-looking  statements  are 

based on our expectations and assumptions as of the date of this annual report and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in 

circumstances that may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. We may not actually achieve the plans, carry 

out the intentions, or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance 

on these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of 

various important factors, including but not limited to the following:

• 

Our ability to successfully commercialize and generate revenue from our approved products;

• 

Our ability to obtain funding for our operations and business initiatives;

• 

The results of our clinical and pre-clinical development of our product candidates;

• 

The content and timing of decisions made by the relevant regulatory authorities regarding regulatory approvals of our product 

candidates;

• 

Changes  in  United  States  and  China  trade  policies  and  relations,  as  well  as  relations  with  other  countries,  and/or  changes  in 

regulations and/or sanctions;

• 

• 

Actions the Chinese government may take to intervene in or influence our operations;

Economic, political, and social conditions in mainland China, as well as governmental policies;

• 

Uncertainties  in  the  Chinese  legal  system,  including  with  respect  to  the  anti-corruption  enforcement  efforts  in  China  and  the 

Counter-Espionage  Law,  the  Data  Security  Law,  the  Cyber  Security  Law,  the  Cybersecurity  Review  Measures,  the  Personal 

Information Protection Law, the Regulation on the Administration of Human Genetic Resources, the Biosecurity Law, the Security 

Assessment Measures, and other future laws and regulations or amendments to such laws and regulations;

• 

Approval,  filing,  or  procedural  requirements  imposed  by  the  CSRC  or  other  Chinese  regulatory  authorities  in  connection  with 

issuing securities to foreign investors under Chinese law;

• 

Any violation or liability under the FCPA or Chinese anti-corruption laws;

5

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS• 

Restrictions on currency exchange;

• 

Limitations on the ability of our Chinese subsidiaries to make payments to us;

• 

Chinese requirements on the ability of residents in mainland China to establish offshore special purpose companies;

• 

Chinese regulations regarding acquisitions of companies based in mainland China by foreign investors;

• 

Any  issues  that  our  Chinese  manufacturing  facilities  may  have  with  operating  in  conformity  with  established  GMPs  and 

international best practices, and with passing FDA, NMPA, and EMA inspections;

• 

Expiration of, or changes to, financial incentives or discretionary policies granted by local governments in mainland China;

• 

Restrictions or limitations on the ability of overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within mainland China;

• 

Business disruptions caused by pandemics such as COVID-19, international war or conflict such as the Russia/Ukraine and Israel/

Hamas wars, natural disasters, extreme weather events, and other significant disruptions outside of our control;

• 

Unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-Chinese shareholders or ADS holders if we were to be classified as a Chinese 

resident enterprise for Chinese income tax purposes;

• 

Failure to comply with applicable Chinese, U.S., and Hong Kong regulations that could lead to government enforcement actions, 

fines, other legal or administrative sanctions, and/or harm to our business or reputation;

• 

Review by the CFIUS in our investments or other delays or obstacles for closing transactions;

• 

Any inability to renew our current leases on desirable terms or otherwise locate desirable alternatives for our leased properties;

• 

Our ability to generate revenues from our approved commercial products;

• 

Any  inability  of  third  parties  on  whom  we  rely  to  conduct  our  pre-clinical  and  clinical  trials  to  successfully  carry  out  their 

contractual duties or meet expected deadlines; and

• 

Any inability to obtain or maintain sufficient patent protection for our products and product candidates.

For more information on these factors and other risks and uncertainties that may affect our business, see Risk Factors. These factors 

should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read with the other cautionary statements and information in this annual report. 

Forward-looking  statements  are  based  on  our  management’s  beliefs  and  assumptions  and  information  currently  available  to  our 

management. These statements, like all statements in this annual report, speak only as of their date. We anticipate that subsequent 

events and developments will cause our expectations and assumptions to change, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise 

any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by 

law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of 

this annual report.

6

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSOVERVIEW

We  are  a  patient-focused,  innovative,  commercial-stage,  global  biopharmaceutical  company  with  a  substantial  presence  in  both 

Greater China and the United States. We are focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing products that address medical 

conditions  with  significant  unmet  needs  in  the  areas  of  oncology,  autoimmune  disorders,  infectious  disease,  and  neuroscience.  We 

intend to leverage our competencies and resources to positively impact human health in Greater China and worldwide. To that end, 

our  experienced  team  has  secured  partnerships  with  leading  global  biopharmaceutical  companies  to  generate  a  broad  pipeline, 

including  multiple  commercial  products  and  multiple  programs  in  late-stage  clinical  development.  We  have  also  built  an  in-house 

R&D team with strong product discovery and translational research capabilities and are establishing a pipeline of proprietary product 

candidates with global rights.

OUR MISSION AND CORPORATE STRATEGIC GOALS

Our mission is to be a leading global biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing innovative 

therapies that improve the lives of patients.

To  execute  on  that  mission,  we  have  developed  a  corporate  strategy  with  the  following  three  pillars  to  help  us  drive  innovation  in 

China and beyond:

• 

Accelerate  Medicines  to  Patients:  We  seek  to  advance  our  product  pipeline  by  continuing  to  invest  in  research  and 

development, including internal discovery activities;

• 

Expanding Our Pipeline: We seek to continue to expand and strengthen our differentiated product pipeline through synergistic 

regional and global collaborations and corporate development activities; and

• 

Continue  Our  Commercial  Excellence  and  Execution:  We  seek  to  continue  delivering  strong  financial  performance,  including 

by increasing access to our existing commercial products and driving further increases in our efficiency and productivity as we 

continue preparations to launch multiple additional products or new indications for existing products in Greater China in the next 

2-3 years. Through our efforts, we seek to achieve overall corporate profitability by the end of 2025.

We  also  seek  to  build  and  maintain  the  trust  of  our  stakeholders,  including  through  our  Trust  for  Life  strategy,  which  includes  three 

commitments:  improve  human  health,  create  better  outcomes,  and  act  right  now  with  ethical  business  practices  and  strong  corporate 

governance.  As  part  of  our  corporate  strategy,  and  the  actions  taken  in  support  of  our  corporate  goals,  we  will  continue  to  develop  and 

integrate our Trust for Life strategy into our business and operations.

OUR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND OPERATIONS

We have license agreements and have received marketing approval in one or more territories in Greater China for five products: ZEJULA®, 

OPTUNE, QINLOCK®, NUZYRA®, and VYVGART®. The success of our commercial products, and the scale and sophistication of our commercial 

operation, is crucial to our business.

7

BUSINESSWe  have  invested,  and  will  continue  to  invest,  resources  to  strengthen  our  commercial  infrastructure  and  to  attract,  retain,  and  train 

qualified marketing, sales, and other personnel in support of the sales of our commercial products. Our sales and marketing teams cover 

medical  centers  across  Greater  China,  and  our  commercial  team  has  capabilities  that  cover  the  product  sales  cycle,  including  medical 

affairs,  market  access,  and  distributor  management.  Our  commercial  team  has  a  proven  track  record  and  experience  from  leading  global 

pharmaceutical  companies  including  AstraZeneca,  Roche,  Novartis,  and  BMS,  and  we  tailor  our  commercialization  strategies  according  to 

our individual products and their market potential. For example, we work to increase access for our commercial products, including through 

NRDL  inclusion  or  supplemental  insurance  coverage,  increase  brand  perception  and  adoption,  including  through  education  and  outreach 

efforts, and provide post-launch product support services for patients.

We  rely  on  independent  third-party  distributors  in  Greater  China  to  sell  our  commercial  products,  which  is  consistent  with  the 

pharmaceutical industry norm. This allows us to execute marketing strategies that are specifically tailored to each product and geographical 

location, including the hospitals located within our distributors’ specific distribution territories. For more information on how we source and 

sell our commercial products, see Our Customers and Manufacturing, Suppliers, and Quality Control.

The following table provides an overview of our partners and the approved indications and current geographic markets for our commercial 

products:

Product

Our Approved Indications

Our Current Markets

Partner

1st line ovarian cancer maintenance treatment

Mainland China, Hong Kong, 

Platinum sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer 

and Macau

maintenance treatment

Newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM

Mainland China, Hong Kong, 

4th line GIST

CABP

ABSSSI

gMG

Macau, and Taiwan

Mainland China, Hong Kong, 

Macau, and Taiwan

Mainland China

Mainland China

The following sections include more information on our commercial products. Each of our commercial products has received approval and is 

currently marketed in regions outside of our licensed territory for similar approved indications to ours, such as in the United States. We are 

also evaluating other potential indications for our commercial products, as discussed in Our Oncology Pipeline and Our Autoimmune Disorder, 

Infectious Disease, and Neuroscience Pipeline.

8

BUSINESSZEJULA (Niraparib)

ZEJULA  is  an  orally  administered  PARP  1/2  inhibitor.  PARP  is  a  protein  that  helps  repair  DNA  damage  in  cells.  PARP  inhibitors  block 

PARP from repairing DNA damage, such as may be caused by radiation and/or certain chemotherapies, which may lead to cancer cell 

death  and  slow  the  return  or  progression  of  cancer.  Tumors  that  are  deficient  in  key  DNA  damage  repair  pathways,  such  as  BRCA1 

mutant tumors, are particularly sensitive to ZEJULA. As maintenance therapy, ZEJULA is for women who have had prior chemotherapy 

treatment but are at high risk of cancer recurrence. ZEJULA is intended to avoid or slow a recurrence of the cancer if it is in remission 

after prior treatment. In the maintenance setting, ZEJULA does not require the addition of radiation or chemotherapies to kill tumor 

cells.  We  have  an  exclusive  license  from  Tesaro  Inc.  (now  a  subsidiary  of  GSK)  to  develop  and  commercialize  ZEJULA  in  mainland 

China, Hong Kong, and Macau. We purchase ZEJULA from GSK for commercial use in Hong Kong. We are not otherwise obligated to 

purchase ZEJULA or other licensed products from GSK. For more information on this agreement, see  Overview of Significant License 

and Collaboration Agreements — GSK (Niraparib). 

Our  primary  market  for  ZEJULA  is  patients  with  ovarian  cancer  in  mainland  China.  Ovarian  cancer  is  one  of  the  most  common 

gynecological cancers in China, with over 55,000 newly diagnosed cases and 37,000 deaths in China annually. We launched ZEJULA in 

mainland China in 2020, and have supported increased patient access through its inclusion in the NRDL since 2021, as a maintenance 

treatment  for  women  with  recurrent  platinum-sensitive  ovarian  cancer,  and  since  2022,  as  a  maintenance  treatment  for  first-line 

ovarian cancer.

We  also  launched  ZEJULA  in  Hong  Kong  in  2018  for  adult  patients  with  platinum-sensitive,  relapsed  high-grade,  serous  epithelial 

ovarian  cancer  who  are  in  a  complete  response  or  partial  response  to  platinum-based  chemotherapy  and  in  Hong  Kong  and  Macau 

in  2021  as  a  maintenance  treatment  for  adult  patients  with  advanced  epithelial  high-grade  ovarian  cancer  who  are  in  a  complete 

response or partial response following the completion of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.

OPTUNE (Tumor Treating Fields) 

Tumor  Treating  Fields  is  a  cancer  therapy  that  uses  electric  fields  tuned  to  specific  frequencies  to  kill  tumor  cells  via  a  variety  of 

mechanisms.  TTFields  therapy  is  delivered  through  a  portable  medical  device.  The  complete  delivery  system  for  OPTUNE  includes  a 

portable electric field generator, arrays, rechargeable batteries, and accessories. We have an exclusive license from NovoCure to develop 

and commercialize any TTFields products in Greater China in the field of oncology. We purchase the licensed products exclusively from 

NovoCure.  For  more  information  on  this  agreement,  see  Overview  of  Significant  License  and  Collaboration  Agreements  —  NovoCure 

(Tumor Treating Fields). 

Our primary market for OPTUNE is patients in mainland China with GBM, the most aggressive form of brain tumor. We estimate that 

there are more than 45,000 patients with GBM in China each year. We launched OPTUNE GIO®, the OPTUNE product for the treatment 

of GBM, in mainland China in 2020 for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed GBM in combination with TMZ, a chemotherapy 

drug, and as a monotherapy for the treatment of patients with recurrent GBM. We have also launched OPTUNE GIO for these GBM 

indications in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. Further, we have improved patient access to OPTUNE GIO in mainland China through 

supplemental insurance coverage.

9

BUSINESSQINLOCK (Ripretinib)

QINLOCK  is  an  orally  administered  switch-control  TKI  that  broadly  inhibits  KIT  and  PDGFRα  tyrosine  kinases,  including  wild-type 

and  forms  with  multiple  primary  and  secondary  mutations.  Switch-control  tyrosine  kinases  KIT  and  PDGFRα  regulate  kinase  activity 

through a main activation switch and an auxiliary inhibitory switch that control kinase conformation in either an “on” or “off” position. 

Oncogenic kinase mutations predominantly function by disrupting one or more regulatory switch mechanisms, leading to dysregulated 

function  and  loss  of  normal,  physiologic  conformational  control.  Blocking  the  switch  pocket  region  and  the  activation  switch  region 

locks  KIT  and  PDGFRα  kinases  in  an  inactive  conformation  by  a  dual  mechanism  of  action  that  provides  broad  inhibition  of  KIT  and 

PDGFRα kinase activity thereby preventing downstream signaling and cell proliferation. We have an exclusive license from Deciphera 

to  develop  and  commercialize  QINLOCK  in  Greater  China.  We  purchase  the  licensed  products  exclusively  from  Deciphera.  For  more 

information on this agreement, see Overview of Significant License and Collaboration Agreements — Deciphera (Ripretinib). 

Our  primary  market  for  QINLOCK  is  patients  with  GIST  in  mainland  China,  where  we  believe  QINLOCK  is  the  standard  of  care  for 

fourth-line  GIST.  GISTs  are  the  most  common  mesenchymal  tumors  of  the  gastrointestinal  tract,  accounting  for  about  0.1–3%  of 

gastrointestinal tumors, with an estimated annual incidence of around 30,000 newly diagnosed patients per year in mainland China. 

We launched QINLOCK in mainland China in 2021 for the treatment of fourth-line GIST. In January 2023, QINLOCK was included in the 

NRDL for this indication. We have also launched QINLOCK for fourth-line GIST in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. 

NUZYRA (Omadacycline)

NUZYRA,  a  novel  tetracycline-class  antibacterial  with  both  oral  and  IV  formulations,  is  a  broad  spectrum  antibiotic.  We  have  an 

exclusive  license  from  Paratek  (subsequently  acquired  by  Gurnet  Point  Capital  and  Novo  Holdings  A/S)  to  develop,  manufacture, 

and  commercialize  NUZYRA  in  Greater  China.  For  more  information  on  this  agreement,  see  Overview  of  Significant  License  and 

Collaboration Agreements — Novo Holdings (Omadacycline). 

Our  primary  market  for  NUZYRA  is  patients  with  CABP  or  ABSSSI  in  mainland  China.  CABP  is  the  most  common  type  of  pneumonia 

that is acquired outside of the hospital. It is one of the most common infectious diseases and is a significant cause of mortality and 

morbidity worldwide. ABSSSI are bacterial infections of skin and associated soft tissues, such as loose connective tissue and mucous 

membranes.  ABSSSI  are  common  and  encompass  a  variety  of  disease  presentations  and  degrees  of  severity.  The  World  Health 

Organization has identified the worldwide development of resistance to currently available antibacterial agents as one of the greatest 

threats  to  human  health.  In  2020,  the  estimated  incidence  of  CABP  in  mainland  China  was  approximately  10  million  patients,  and 

in  2015,  the  estimated  incidence  of  ABSSSI  in  mainland  China  was  2.8  million  patients.  We  launched  NUZYRA  in  mainland  China  in 

December  2021  for  the  treatment  of  adults  with  CABP  and  ABSSSI  for  both  oral  and  IV  formulation.  NUZYRA  was  included  in  the 

NRDL for the treatment of adult patients with CABP and ABSSSI in January 2023 for its IV formulation and in January 2024 for its oral 

formulation.

NUZYRA is locally manufactured by CMOs in mainland China. We have an exclusive promotion agreement with Huizheng, a subsidiary 

of  Hanhui,  one  of  the  leading  pharmaceutical  companies  for  antibiotics  in  mainland  China,  which  allows  us  to  use  Hanhui’s  existing 

infrastructure for sales of NUZYRA in mainland China.

10

BUSINESSVYVGART (Efgartigimod)

Efgartigimod alfa fcab (“efgartigimod”) is a human IgG1 antibody fragment that binds to the FcRn. FcRn is widely expressed throughout 

the  body  and  plays  a  central  role  in  rescuing  IgG  antibodies  from  lysosomal  degradation.  Blocking  FcRn  prevents  FcRn  from  binding 

IgG antibodies and rescuing them from lysosomal degradation resulting in a reduction in circulating IgG antibodies which may include 

pathogenic  IgG  antibodies  that  contribute  to  certain  autoimmune  diseases  such  as  gMG.  We  have  an  exclusive  license  from  argenx 

to  develop  and  commercialize  efgartigimod  in  Greater  China.  We  purchase  the  licensed  products  exclusively  from  argenx.  For  more 

information on this agreement, see Overview of Significant License and Collaboration Agreements — argenx (Efgartigimod). 

Our  primary  market  for  VYVGART  is  patients  with  gMG  in  mainland  China.  There  are  approximately  170,000  people  in  China  living 

with  gMG1,  and  of  those  patients,  85%  are  estimated  to  have  confirmed  AChR  antibodies.  We  launched  VYVGART  (efgartigimod  alfa 

injection) in mainland China in September 2023 as an add on to standard therapy for the treatment of adult patients with gMG who 

are AChR antibody positive, and in January 2024, this product was added to the NRDL for this indication.

1 

The growing burden of generalized myasthenia gravis: a population-based retrospective cohort study in Taiwan, 2023.

OUR PIPELINE OF PRODUCT CANDIDATES AND R&D ACTIVITIES

We believe research and development is important to our future growth and ability to remain competitive, and we are dedicated to 

discovering or licensing, and then developing and commercializing, innovative products that address significant unmet medical needs 

in Greater China and worldwide. We have a deep and differentiated pipeline of potential first-in-class/best-in-class products across our 

therapeutic areas of oncology, autoimmune disorders, infectious disease, and neuroscience. Our pipeline includes certain additional 

indications for our commercial products as well as new products for which we may seek regulatory approval and commercialization. 

Our pipeline includes both in-licensed assets as well as assets that we have internally developed. Our product candidates are in various 

stages of development, including several assets in late-stage development and various others in clinical and pre-clinical development.

11

BUSINESSThe following table provides an overview of our significant product candidates, including key indications we are evaluating for those 

products, their clinical stage and related studies in which we are participating, and our partners and potential geographic markets:

Product

Description

Clinical Stage (Studies)

Markets

Partner

Potential Indications and 

Our Potential

Oncology Pipeline

Tumor Treating 

Portable device for delivery 

2L NSCLC — Phase III (LUNAR)

Greater China

NovoCure

Fields

of electric fields

Brain Metastases from 

NSCLC-Phase III (METIS) 

Pancreatic Cancer — Phase III 

(PANOVA)

Tisotumab vedotin Tissue Factor ADC

2L/3L Cervical Cancer — Phase III 

Greater China

Seagen (now owned 

(innovaTV-301)

by Pfizer)

Adagrasib

KRASG12C inhibitor

2L+ NSCLC — Phase III (KRYSTAL-12) 

Greater China

Mirati (now owned 

1L NSCLC — Phase III (KRYSTAL-7)     

by BMS)

2L CRC — Phase III (KRYSTAL-10)

Bemarituzumab

Anti-FGFR2b antibody

Gastric/GEJ Cancer — Phase III 

Greater China

Five Prime (now 

(FORTITUDE-101 and FORTITUDE-102)

owned by Amgen)

Repotrectinib

TKI targeting ROS1 oncogenic 

ROS1+ NSCLC — Phase I/II (TRIDENT-1) 

Greater China

Turning Point (now 

fusions

NTRK+ Solid Tumors — Phase I/II 

owned by BMS)

(TRIDENT-1)

Autoimmune Disorder, Infectious Disease, and Neuroscience Pipeline

Efgartigimod

FcRn blocker

CIDP — Phase II (ADHERE) 

Greater China

argenx

Sulbactam-

Combination of beta-lactam 

HABP/VABP caused by susceptible 

Asia Pacific

Entasis (now owned 

Durlobactam

antibacterial and beta-

isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii-

by Innoviva)

lactamase inhibitor 

calcoaceticus complex (Acinetobacter) 

— Phase III (ATTACK)

Xanomeline-

Combination of muscarinic 

Schizophrenia � Phase III (EMERGENT) 

Greater China

Karuna (now owned 

Trospium (KarXT)

receptor agonist and 

ADP — Phase III (ADEPT)

by BMS)

antimuscarinic agent 

12

BUSINESSThe  following  sections  include  more  information  on  significant  late-stage  product  candidates  in  our  oncology  pipeline  and  our 

autoimmune  disorder,  infectious  disease,  and  neuroscience  pipeline.  We  will  continue  to  evaluate  the  developmental  possibilities 

of  the  programs  in  our  pipeline.  For  example,  our  programs  may  have  significant  potential  beyond  those  indications  we  are 

currently evaluating. We may in the future expand our research and development efforts to evaluate additional indications to those 

discussed  below.  In  addition,  we  or  our  partners  may  decide  to  discontinue  development  of  certain  products  based  on  a  review 

of  the  competitive  landscape  and  market  opportunity  or  otherwise.  In  the  fourth  quarter  of  2023,  we  decided  to  discontinue  our 

development  of  margetuximab  and  odronextamab,  and  we  provided  notice  to  terminate  our  related  license  agreements  with 

MacroGenics  and  Regeneron  in  accordance  with  their  terms,  effective  on  May  14,  2024  and  December  20,  2024,  respectively.  In 

addition, our partner, Blueprint Medicines Corporation, has decided to de-prioritize its development of BLU-945.

We  are  also  focused  on  building  our  global  pipeline  through  our  internal  discovery  efforts  and  business  development  activities.  We 

have assembled an integrated drug discovery and development team with extensive experience in discovery, translational medicine, 

and  pre-clinical  and  clinical  development  in  China  and  worldwide  that  has  been  directly  involved  in  the  discovery  and  development 

of  several  innovative  product  candidates  with  global  rights,  including  ZL-1218,  a  humanized,  IgG1  monoclonal  antibody  that  binds 

to  human  CCR8  that  is  in  development  for  treatment  of  solid  tumors  and  currently  in  a  Phase  I  study,  and  ZL-1102,  a  fully  human 

VH fragment that binds to human interleukin-17, for which we are preparing to initiate a Phase II study in mild-to-moderate chronic 
plaque  psoriasis.  We  also  collaborate  with  external  research  partners,  such  as  leading  CROs,  academic  institutions,  and  commercial 

partners,  such  as  for  execution  of  our  pre-clinical  and  clinical  trials.  With  respect  to  business  development,  we  will  continue  to 

consider  opportunities  to  expand  our  portfolio  through  our  regional  and  global  collaboration  efforts  and  corporate  development 

activities. For example, we added ZL-1310, an early-stage next generation DLL3 ADC program that is currently in a Phase I study, to our 

oncology portfolio in the first quarter of 2023 through a new collaboration with MediLink. DLL3 is an inhibitor of the Notch ligand that 

is overexpressed in small cell lung cancer and neuroendocrine tumors.

For information on risks related to our potential products and R&D activities, including clinical trials and reliance on third parties, see 

Risk Factors.

OUR ONCOLOGY PIPELINE

Additional Indications for Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields)

As discussed in Our Commercial Products and Operations, we have an exclusive license from NovoCure to develop and commercialize 

any TTFields products in Greater China in the field of oncology, and we have commercially launched TTFields in mainland China, Hong 

Kong, Taiwan, and Macau under the brand name OPTUNE GIO for certain GBM indications.  

13

BUSINESSSignificant  additional  indications  for  TTFields  therapy  that  we  are  evaluating  include  solid  tumor  types  in  second-line  NSCLC,  brain 

metastases from NSCLC, and pancreatic cancer. 

• 

2L  NSCLC:  We  participated  in  the  Greater  China  portion  of  the  Phase  III  pivotal  LUNAR  trial,  which  was  intended  for  patients 

who had recently been diagnosed with progression of NSCLC during or after platinum-based therapy. The Phase III LUNAR trial 

met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in OS for patients with 

metastatic  NSCLC  after  platinum-based  therapies,  and  a  profound  OS  benefit  from  TTFields  therapy  was  demonstrated  in  the 

immune  checkpoint  inhibitors  subgroup.  TTFields  therapy  was  well  tolerated  with  no  added  systemic  toxicities  and  few  grade 

3  (and  no  grade  4  or  5)  device-related  adverse  events.  Lung  cancer  has  the  highest  total  incidence  of  any  cancer  in  mainland 

China. According to the World Health Organization, the incidence of lung cancer in mainland China in 2020 was 815,563 cases. 

Lung cancer consists of NSCLC in approximately 85% of cases and small cell lung cancer in approximately 15% of cases. In January 

2024,  NovoCure  announced  that  the  FDA  had  accepted  its  PMA  application  seeking  approval  for  the  use  of  TTFields  therapy 

together with standard systemic therapies for the treatment of NSCLC following progression on or after platinum-based therapy. 

We are preparing a similar submission for this indication, with a goal to submit an MAA to the NMPA in 2024.

• 

Brain Metastases from NSCLC: We are participating in the Greater China portion of the Phase III pivotal METIS study evaluating 

the  efficacy  of  TTFields  therapy  following  stereotactic  radiosurgery  for  treatment  of  patients  with  brain  metastases  resulting 

from NSCLC. We estimate an annual incidence of around 13,000 such patients in China.

• 

Pancreatic Cancer: We participated in the Greater China portion of the Phase III pivotal PANOVA-3 trial evaluating the efficacy 

of  TTFields  therapy  administered  concomitantly  with  gemcitabine  and  nab-paclitaxel  as  front-line  treatment  for  patients  with 

unresectable,  locally  advanced  pancreatic  cancer.  According  to  the  World  Health  Organization,  pancreatic  cancer  was  the 

eighth-leading  cancer  type  in  mainland  China  in  2020,  with  an  estimated  125,000  newly  diagnosed  cases.  The  current  median 

survival of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer is four to six months, and the five-year survival rate is 7.2%.

Tisotumab Vedotin

Tisotumab  vedotin  is  an  ADC  composed  of  Genmab’s  human  monoclonal  antibody  directed  against  cell  surface  tissue  factor  and 

Seagen’s ADC technology that utilizes a protease-cleavable linker that covalently attaches the microtubule-disrupting agent MMAE to 

the antibody. MMAE disrupts the microtubule network of actively dividing cells, leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death 

of actively dividing cells. In vitro, tisotumab vedotin also mediates antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis and antibody-dependent 

cellular  cytotoxicity.  We  have  an  exclusive  license  from  Seagen  (a  company  later  acquired  by  Pfizer)  to  develop  and  commercialize 

tisotumab  vedotin  in  Greater  China.  We  purchase  the  licensed  products  exclusively  from  Pfizer.  For  more  information  on  this 

agreement, see Overview of Significant License and Collaboration Agreements — Pfizer (Tisotumab Vedotin).

We are evaluating tisotumab vedotin for the treatment of adult patients in Greater China with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer 

with  disease  progression  on  or  after  chemotherapy.  Tisotumab  vedotin  has  already  been  approved  in  the  United  States  for  this 

indication.  We  are  participating  in  the  Greater  China  portion  of  the  global  Phase  III  innovaTV  301  study  in  recurrent  or  metastatic 

cervical cancer with disease progression on or after front-line therapy who received tisotumab vedotin, compared with chemotherapy 

14

BUSINESSalone. In October 2023, our partner Seagen and Genmab A/S announced that the innovaTV 301 study met its primary endpoint of OS. 

An Independent Data Monitoring Committee determined that OS crossed the pre-specified efficacy boundary at interim analysis. The 

key secondary endpoints of investigator-assessed progression-free survival and objective response rate also demonstrated statistical 

significance. The safety profile of tisotumab vedotin in innovaTV 301 was consistent with the known safety profile of tisotumab vedotin 

as presented in the U.S. prescribing information, and no new safety signals were observed. We have completed patient enrollment in 

the Greater China portion of the innovaTV 301 study. We estimate that there are around 110,000 new cases of cervical cancer each 

year in China.

Adagrasib

Adagrasib  is  a  highly  selective  and  potent  oral  small-molecule  inhibitor  of  KRASG12C  for  treating  KRAS-G12C-mutated  solid  tumors, 

including NSCLC, CRC, and pancreatic cancer. We have an exclusive license from Mirati (a company later acquired by BMS) to develop 

and commercialize adagrasib in Greater China. We purchase the licensed products exclusively from BMS. For more information on this 

agreement, see Overview of Significant License and Collaboration Agreements — BMS (Adagrasib).

We are evaluating adagrasib for the treatment of KRASG12C-mutated NSCLC and second-line colorectal cancer. 

• 

Second-Line+  NSCLC:  We  are  participating  in  the  Greater  China  portion  of  the  global  Phase  III  KRYSTAL-12  study  evaluating 

adagrasib in previously treated patients with KRASG12C-mutated NSCLC. Adagrasib has already been approved in the United States 

for the treatment of patients with NSCLC who harbor the KRASG12C mutation who have received at least one prior systemic therapy. 

We  seek  to  leverage  the  global  data  package  for  the  FDA  approval,  the  ongoing  PK  study  in  China,  and  the  global  confirmatory 

KRYSTAL-12 study to obtain regulatory approval in China and are preparing to submit an NDA to the NMPA later this year.

• 

First-Line NSCLC: We are participating in the Greater China portion of the global Phase II KRYSTAL-7 study evaluating adagrasib in 

combination with pembrolizumab in first-line KRASG12C-mutated NSCLC patients. In October 2023, our partner Mirati announced 

updated  results  from  this  study,  which  demonstrate  a  manageable  safety  profile  and  early  signs  of  durability  of  adagrasib  in 

combination with a checkpoint inhibitor in the first-line NSCLC setting.

• 

2L  Colorectal  Cancer:  We  are  participating  in,  and  have  completed  enrollment  for,  the  Greater  China  portion  of  the  global 

Phase  III  KRYSTAL-10  trial  of  adagrasib  in  combination  with  cetuximab  versus  chemotherapy  in  patients  with  previously 

treated  advanced  KRASG12C-mutated  colorectal  cancer.  In  February  2024,  Mirati  announced  that  the  FDA  had  accepted  its 

sNDA  for  priority  review  for  adagrasib  in  combination  with  cetuximab  for  the  treatment  of  patients  with  previously  treated 

KRASG12C-mutated locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer, with a PDUFA goal date of June 21, 2024.

We estimate that there are around 42,000 patients in China each year with these NSCLC and colorectal cancer indications.

15

BUSINESSBemarituzumab

Bemarituzumab  is  a  humanized  monoclonal  antibody  (IgG1  isotype)  specific  to  the  human  FGFR2b  that  is  in  clinical  development  as 

a  targeted  therapy  for  gastric  and  GEJ  cancer  patients  whose  tumors  overexpress  FGFR2b.  We  have  an  exclusive  license  from  Five 

Prime (a company later acquired by Amgen) to develop and commercialize bemarituzumab in Greater China. We purchase the licensed 

products  exclusively  from  Amgen.  For  more  information  on  this  agreement,  see  Overview  of  Significant  License  and  Collaboration 

Agreements — Amgen (Bemarituzumab). 

We  are  evaluating  bemarituzumab  for  the  treatment  of  gastric  and  GEJ  cancer.  We  are  participating  in  the  Greater  China  portion 

of  the  global  Phase  III  FORTITUDE-101  study  of  bemarituzumab  plus  chemotherapy,  versus  placebo  plus  chemotherapy,  in  first-line 

gastric  cancer  with  FGFR2b  overexpression.  In  addition,  we  are  participating  in  the  Greater  China  portion  of  the  global  Phase  III 

FORTITUDE-102  study  of  bemarituzumab  in  combination  with  nivolumab  and  chemotherapy  in  first-line  gastric  or  GEJ  cancer.  We 

estimate an annual incidence of around 126,000 first-line HER2- FGFR2b+ gastric cancer patients in China and around 76,000 of these 

patients have FGFR2b expression over 10%.

Repotrectinib

Repotrectinib  is  a  next-generation  TKI  that  targets  ROS1  oncogenic  fusions.  We  have  an  exclusive  license  from  Turning  Point 

Therapeutics  (a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  BMS)  to  develop  and  commercialize  repotrectinib  in  Greater  China.  We  purchase 

the  licensed  products  exclusively  from  BMS.  For  more  information  on  this  agreement,  see  Overview  of  Significant  License  and 

Collaboration Agreements — BMS (Repotrectinib). 

We are evaluating repotrectinib for the treatment of ROS1+ NSCLC and NTRK+ solid tumors and are participating in the Greater China 

portion of the global Phase I/II TRIDENT-I study for the treatment of TKI-naïve and TKI-pretreated patients with ROS1-positive locally 

advanced or metastatic NSCLC and NTRK-positive advanced solid tumors.

• 

ROS1+ NSCLC: In August 2023, our partner BMS announced updated results from the registrational Phase I/II TRIDENT-1 study, 

demonstrating  that  repotrectinib  continued  to  demonstrate  high  response  rates  and  durable  responses,  including  robust 

intracranial  responses  in  patients  with  ROS1-positive  locally  advanced  or  metastatic  NSCLC.  In  November  2023,  based  on 

results  from  the  TRIDENT-1  trial,  the  FDA  approved  repotrectinib  for  the  treatment  of  adult  patients  with  locally  advanced  or 

metastatic ROS1-positive NSCLC. In August 2023, we submitted an NDA to the NMPA for repotrectinib for the same indication, 

which has been accepted with priority review. We estimate an annual incidence of around 14,000-21,000 patients in China with 

ROS1-positive metastatic NSCLC.

• 

NTRK+  Solid  Tumors:  In  August  2023,  the  NMPA  granted  BTD  for  repotrectinib  for  the  treatment  of  patients  with  advanced 

solid tumors that have a NTRK gene fusion who have progressed following treatment with TRK TKIs. NTRK+ is estimated to be an 

oncogenic driver in approximately 0.5% of patients with a variety of advanced solid tumors.

16

BUSINESSThis is the fourth BTD granted by the NMPA for repotrectinib. The NMPA previously granted BTDs for repotrectinib for the treatment 

of  patients  with  ROS1-positive  metastatic  NSCLC  who  have  not  been  treated  with  a  ROS1  TKI;  for  the  treatment  of  patients  with 

ROS1-positive metastatic NSCLC who have received one prior line of ROS1 TKI and one prior line of platinum-based chemotherapy; and 

for the treatment of patients with ROS1-positive metastatic NSCLC who have received one prior line of ROS1 TKI and no chemotherapy 

or immunotherapy. These BTDs were supported by data from the TRIDENT-1 study.

In February 2024, BMS announced that, based on the results of the TRIDENT-1 trial, the FDA has accepted its sNDA for repotrectinib 

for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with solid tumors that have a NTRK gene fusion, and are 

locally advanced or metastatic or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity. The application was granted priority 

review status, with a PDUFA goal date of June 15, 2024.

OUR AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND NEUROSCIENCE 
PIPELINE

Additional Opportunities for Efgartigimod

As  discussed  in  Our  Commercial  Products  and  Operations,  we  have  an  exclusive  license  from  argenx  to  develop  and  commercialize 

efgartigimod  in  Greater  China,  and  we  have  commercially  launched  VYVGART  (efgartigimod  alfa  injection)  in  mainland  China  for  the 

treatment of adult patients with gMG. In addition, an SC efgartigimod is being evaluated for the treatment of adult patients with gMG, 

and we are evaluating significant additional indications including the treatment of CIDP.  

• 

gMG: In July 2023, the NMPA accepted our sBLA for SC efgartigimod for the treatment of adult patients with gMG. In June 2023, 

our partner argenx announced that the FDA approved VYVGART Hytrulo (efgartigimod alfa and hyaluronidase-qvfc) injection for 

subcutaneous use in gMG in the United States.

• 

CIDP:  In  September  2023,  the  NMPA  granted  BTD  for  SC  efgartigimod  for  the  treatment  of  patients  with  CIDP.  This  BTD  was 

supported  by  data  from  both  global  and  Chinese  patients  enrolled  in  the  ADHERE  study.  The  ADHERE  study  met  its  primary 

endpoint,  demonstrating  a  significantly  lower  risk  of  relapse  with  SC  efgartigimod  compared  to  placebo  (p=0.000039).  SC 

Efgartigimod  demonstrated  a  61%  reduction  (HR:  0.39  95%  CI:  0.25;  0.61)  in  the  risk  of  relapse  versus  placebo,  and  67%  of 

patients  in  open-label  Stage  A  demonstrated  evidence  of  clinical  improvement,  indicating  that  IgG  autoantibodies  play  a 

significant role in the underlying biology of CIDP. The safety and tolerability profile was consistent with previous clinical trials and 

the confirmed safety profile of efgartigimod. We participated in the Greater China portion of this study. We estimate that there 

are around 50,000 CIDP patients diagnosed in China. In February 2024, argenx announced that the FDA had accepted its sBLA for 

SC efgartigimod in CIDP with priority review, with a PDUFA goal date of June 21, 2024. We plan to submit an sBLA to the NMPA 

for this indication later this year.

17

BUSINESSSulbactam/Durlobactam

Sulbactam/durlobactam  or  SUL-DUR  is  a  combination  of  a  beta-lactam  antibiotic  (sulbactam)  and  a  beta-lactamase  inhibitor 

(durlobactam).  We  have  an  exclusive  license  from  Entasis,  a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  Innoviva,  to  develop  and  commercialize 

durlobactam  with  sulbactam  (the  combination,  SUL-DUR)  in  Greater  China,  Korea,  Vietnam,  Thailand,  Cambodia,  Laos,  Malaysia, 

Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. We purchase the licensed products exclusively from Innoviva. 

For more information on this agreement, see Overview of Significant License and Collaboration Agreements — Innoviva (SUL-DUR).

We  are  evaluating  SUL-DUR  for  the  treatment  of  serious  infections  caused  by  Acinetobacter,  including  MDR  and  CRAB  strains. 

Acinetobacter belongs to a group of bacteria commonly found in the environment, such as soil and water. Acinetobacter baumannii 

accounts for most Acinetobacter infections in humans; the organism can cause infections in all organs, but bloodstream infection and 

pneumonia are most dangerous and associated with high mortality. In recent years, Acinetobacter baumannii has become multi-drug 

resistant. For carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections, treatment options are extremely limited because remaining 

antibiotics are either toxic or of limited efficacy. In mainland China, Acinetobacter baumannii infections are often seen in the hospital 

setting. Based on the 2022 Annual Report of CARSS (China Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System), there were around 300,000 

Acinetobacter infections reported in mainland China in 2022. According to recent surveillance data from China, overall resistance of 

Acinetobacter baumannii to the carbapenem class of antibiotics is approximately 53%, with some provinces as high as 70%. 

We  participated  in  the  Greater  China  portion  of  the  global  Phase  III  registrational  ATTACK  trial  evaluating  the  safety  and  efficacy  of 

SUL-DUR  versus  colistin  in  patients  with  infections  caused  by  Acinetobacter  baumannii.  The  ATTACK  trial  met  its  primary  efficacy 

endpoint,  demonstrating  a  reduced  mortality  rate  with  SUL-DUR  versus  colistin  in  the  CRAB  population.  SUL-DUR  also  met  the 

primary  safety  objective  of  the  study  achieving  statistically  significant  reduction  in  nephrotoxicity.  In  May  2023,  our  partner 

Innoviva  announced  that  the  FDA  approved  XACDURO  for  the  treatment  of  adults  with  hospital-acquired  bacterial  pneumonia  and 

ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia caused by susceptible strains of Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex. Our NDA 

for  the  treatment  of  infections  caused  by  Acinetobacter  baumannii,  including  MDR  and  CRAB  strains,  was  accepted  by  the  NMPA  in 

February 2023 and has been granted priority review status. Results of the ATTACK trial were published in Lacent Infectious Diseases 

[Kaye et al.]

Xanomeline-Trospium

Xanomeline-trospium  or  KarXT  is  a  combination  of  an  oral  M1/M4-preferring  muscarinic  acetylcholine  receptor  agonist  and  an 

antimuscarinic  agent,  which  combination  is  in  development  for  the  treatment  of  psychiatric  and  neurological  conditions,  including 

schizophrenia  and  dementia-related  psychosis.  Xanomeline-trospium  preferentially  stimulates  muscarinic  receptors  in  the  central 

nervous  system  implicated  in  these  conditions,  as  opposed  to  current  antipsychotic  medicines,  which  mostly  target  dopamine 

or  serotonin  receptors.  Xanomeline-trospium  has  the  potential  to  represent  a  new  class  of  treatment  for  schizophrenia  and 

dementia-related  psychosis  based  on  its  differentiated  mechanism  of  action.  We  have  an  exclusive  license  from  Karuna  to  develop, 

manufacture,  and  commercialize  xanomeline-trospium  in  Greater  China.  For  more  information  on  this  agreement,  see  Overview  of 

Significant License and Collaboration Agreements — Karuna (Xanomeline-Trospium). 

18

BUSINESSWe are evaluating KarXT for the treatment of schizophrenia and ADP.

• 

Schizophrenia: In November 2023, our partner Karuna announced that, supported by data from its three positive registrational 

EMERGENT trials, the FDA had accepted Karuna’s NDA for KarXT for the treatment of schizophrenia, with a PDUFA goal date of 

September 26, 2024. We are conducting a registrational bridging study in mainland China. We estimate that there are more than 

8 million people living with schizophrenia in China.

• 

ADP: Our partner Karuna initiated the Phase III ADEPT program in ADP in the third quarter of 2023. We are preparing to join the 

Greater China portion of the global Phase III ADEPT-2 and ADEPT-3 trials. We estimate that around 8 million people are affected 

by Alzheimer’s disease in China and around 45% of these patients display psychotic symptoms.

OVERVIEW OF SIGNIFICANT LICENSE AND COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS

We  have  entered  into  various  license  and  collaboration  agreements  with  third  parties,  such  as  biopharmaceutical  companies  with 

innovative  products  in  our  therapeutic  areas  and  external  research  parties,  for  the  development  and  commercialization  of  our 

products  and  product  candidates.  We  are  generally  required  to  make  upfront  payments  upon  our  entry  into  such  agreements  and 

milestone payments upon the achievement of certain development, regulatory, and sales-based milestones for the licensed products 

under  these  agreements  as  well  as  certain  royalties  at  tiered  percentage  rates  based  on  annual  net  sales  of  the  licensed  products 

in  the  licensed  territories.  For  a  discussion  of  aggregate  potential  payments  under  our  license  and  collaboration  arrangements, 

see  Note  18  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  MANAGEMENT  DISCUSSION  AND  ANALYSIS  —  License  and  Collaboration 

Arrangements.

These  agreements  may  include  intellectual  property  rights  associated  with  the  products  or  product  candidates,  including  the 

responsibility for obtaining and maintaining patents as well as enforcement of those patents.

These agreements generally remain in effect, unless earlier terminated, until the expiration of the last-to-expire royalty term for the 

last licensed product. The royalty terms generally continue until the latest of: (i) the expiration of the last-to-expire valid claim with 

respect to licensed patent rights; (ii) the expiration of market or regulatory exclusivity; or (iii) or a specified period of time, generally 

around  ten  years,  after  the  date  of  the  first  commercial  sale  of  the  licensed  product.  These  agreements  also  contain  customary 

provisions for termination by either party, including in the event of a material breach by the other party that remains uncured; by us 

for convenience upon a specified notice period; for certain bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar events; and by our partners upon 

challenge of their licensed patent rights.

The  following  sections  provide  additional  information  on  the  license  and  collaboration  arrangements  for  our  commercial  products 

and  significant  product  candidates,  such  as  the  scope  of  the  licensed  products  and  licensed  territories  and  any  related  supply 

arrangements.  We  have  also  entered  into  other  license  and  collaboration  arrangements  that  are  not  considered  significant  to  our 

business at this time, such as because they relate to earlier stage assets. Such other license agreements may become material to our 

business in the future.

19

BUSINESSGSK (Niraparib)

In September 2016, we entered into a collaboration, development, and license agreement with Tesaro, Inc., a company later acquired 

by GSK, pursuant to which we obtained an exclusive sublicense under certain patents and know-how of GSK (including such patents 

and know-how licensed from Merck, Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., and AstraZeneca UK Limited) to develop, 

manufacture, and commercialize GSK’s proprietary PARP inhibitor, niraparib (ZEJULA), for the diagnosis and prevention of any human 

diseases  or  conditions  (other  than  prostate  cancer)  in  mainland  China,  Hong  Kong,  and  Macau.  We  also  obtained  the  right  of  first 

negotiation  to  obtain  a  license  to  develop  and  commercialize  certain  follow-on  compounds  of  niraparib  being  developed  by  GSK  in 

the  licensed  territory.  Under  the  agreement,  we  agreed  not  to  research,  develop,  or  commercialize  certain  competing  products, 

and we also granted GSK the right of first refusal to license certain immuno-oncology assets developed by us. In February 2018, we 

entered into an amendment with GSK that eliminated GSK’s option to co-market niraparib in the licensed territory. We have agreed 

to purchase ZEJULA from GSK for commercial use in Hong Kong. We are not otherwise obligated to purchase ZEJULA or other licensed 

products from GSK.

NovoCure (Tumor Treating Fields)

In  September  2018,  we  entered  into  a  license  and  collaboration  agreement  with  NovoCure,  pursuant  to  which  we  obtained  an 

exclusive license under certain patents and know-how of NovoCure to develop and commercialize any Tumor Treating Fields (OPTUNE) 

products  in  all  human  therapeutic  and  preventative  uses  in  the  field  of  oncology  in  Greater  China.  We  will  purchase  the  licensed 

products exclusively from NovoCure.

Deciphera (Ripretinib)

In June 2019, we entered into a license agreement with Deciphera, pursuant to which we obtained an exclusive license under certain 

patents and know-how of Deciphera to develop and commercialize products containing ripretinib (QINLOCK) in the field of prevention, 

prophylaxis, treatment, cure, or amelioration of any disease or medical condition in humans in Greater China. We will purchase the 

licensed products exclusively from Deciphera.

Novo Holdings (Omadacycline)

In April 2017, we entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Paratek Bermuda Ltd., a subsidiary of Paratek (which was 

subsequently  acquired  by  Gurnet  Point  Capital  and  Novo  Holdings  A/S),  pursuant  to  which  we  obtained  both  an  exclusive  license 

under  certain  patents  and  know-how  of  Paratek  Bermuda  Ltd.  and  an  exclusive  sub-license  under  certain  intellectual  property  that 

Paratek Bermuda Ltd. licensed from Tufts University to develop, manufacture, and commercialize products containing omadacycline 

(NUZYRA) as an active ingredient in the field of all human therapeutic and preventative uses other than biodefense in Greater China. 

Under  certain  circumstances,  our  exclusive  sub-license  to  certain  intellectual  property  Paratek  Bermuda  Ltd.  licensed  from  Tufts 

University may be converted to a non-exclusive license if Paratek Bermuda Ltd.’s exclusive license from Tufts University is converted 

to  a  non-exclusive  license  under  the  Tufts  Agreement.  We  also  obtained  the  right  of  first  negotiation  to  be  Paratek  Bermuda  Ltd.’s 

partner  to  develop  certain  derivatives  or  modifications  of  omadacycline  in  our  licensed  territory.  Paratek  Bermuda  Ltd.  retains  the 

20

BUSINESSright to manufacture the licensed product in our licensed territory to support development and commercialization of the same outside 

of our licensed territory. We also granted Paratek Bermuda Ltd. a non-exclusive license to certain of our intellectual property. Under 

the agreement, we agreed not to commercialize certain competing products in our licensed territory.

argenx (Efgartigimod)

In  January  2021,  we  entered  into  a  collaboration  and  license  agreement  with  argenx,  pursuant  to  which  we  obtained  an  exclusive 

license  under  certain  patents  and  know-how  of  argenx  to  develop  and  commercialize  products  containing  efgartigimod  (including 

VYVGART) as an active ingredient in all human and animal uses for any preventative or therapeutic indications in Greater China. Under 

the terms of the agreement, we are responsible for recruiting patients in mainland China to argenx’s global registrational trials for the 

development of efgartigimod. We will purchase the licensed products exclusively from argenx.

Pfizer (Tisotumab Vedotin)

In September 2022, we entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Seagen (a company later acquired by Pfizer), pursuant 

to  which  we  obtained  an  exclusive  license  to  develop  and  commercialize  tisotumab  vedotin  in  Greater  China.  We  will  purchase  the 

licensed products exclusively from Pfizer.

BMS (Adagrasib)

In May 2021, we entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Mirati (a company later acquired by BMS) pursuant to which 

we agreed to collaboratively develop MRTX849 (adagrasib) in Greater China. Under the agreement, we received the right to research, 

develop, manufacture, and exclusively commercialize adagrasib in all indications in Greater China, with BMS retaining exclusive rights for 

the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of adagrasib outside of Greater China as well as certain co-commercialization, 

manufacture, and development rights in Greater China. We will purchase the licensed products exclusively from BMS.

Amgen (Bemarituzumab)

In  December  2017,  we  entered  into  a  license  and  collaboration  agreement  with  Five  Prime  (later  acquired  by  Amgen),  pursuant  to 

which  we  obtained  an  exclusive  license  under  certain  patents  and  know-how  of  Five  Prime  to  develop  and  commercialize  products 

containing  Five  Prime’s  proprietary  afucosylated  FGFR2b  antibody  known  as  bemarituzumab  (FPA144)  as  an  active  ingredient  in  the 

treatment or prevention of any disease or condition in humans in Greater China. We will purchase the licensed products exclusively 

from Amgen.

Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we are responsible for (i) developing and commercializing licensed products under a territory 

development  plan;  and  (ii)  performing  certain  development  activities  to  support  global  development  and  registration  of  licensed 

products, including the bemarituzumab FPA144-004 Study in the licensed territory under a global development plan. If we enroll and 

treat a specified number of patients in the bemarituzumab FPA144-004 Study in mainland China, we will be eligible to receive a low 

single-digit percentage quarterly royalty on annual net sales of the licensed products outside of the licensed territory until the tenth 

anniversary of the first commercial sale of each such licensed product outside of the licensed territory.

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BUSINESSBMS (Repotrectinib)

In July 2020, we entered into an exclusive license agreement with Turning Point (a company later acquired by BMS) pursuant to which 

we obtained an exclusive license to develop and commercialize products containing repotrectinib as an active ingredient in all human 

therapeutic indications in Greater China. We will purchase the licensed products exclusively from BMS.

Innoviva (Sulbactam-Durlobactam)

In  April  2018,  we  entered  into  a  license  and  collaboration  agreement  with  Entasis,  a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  Innoviva, 

pursuant  to  which  we  obtained  an  exclusive  license  under  certain  patents  and  know-how  of  Entasis  to  develop  and  commercialize 

Entasis’s  proprietary  compounds,  durlobactam  with  sulbactam  (the  combination,  SUL-DUR)  with  the  possibility  of  developing  and 

commercializing  a  combination  of  such  compounds  with  imipenem  in  all  human  diagnostic,  prophylactic  and  therapeutic  uses  in 

Greater  China,  Korea,  Vietnam,  Thailand,  Cambodia,  Laos,  Malaysia,  Indonesia,  the  Philippines,  Singapore,  Australia,  New  Zealand, 

and Japan. Our rights to develop and commercialize the licensed products are limited to the lead product (Sulbactam) until such lead 

product receives initial FDA approval in the United States. We will purchase the licensed products exclusively from Innoviva.

Pursuant  to  the  terms  of  the  agreement,  we  are  responsible  for  (i)  developing  and  commercializing  the  licensed  products  in  the 

territory  under  a  mutually  agreed  development  plan;  and  (ii)  providing  Entasis  (or  its  CRO)  with  clinical  and  financial  support  in  the 

territory for the global pivotal Phase III ATTACK clinical trial of SUL-DUR as set forth in mutually agreed development plans. We are also 

responsible for a portion of the costs of the global pivotal Phase III ATTACK clinical trial of SUL-DUR outside of the licensed territory.

Karuna (Xanomeline-Trospium)

In  November  2021,  we  entered  into  a  license  agreement  with  Karuna,  pursuant  to  which  we  agreed  to  collaboratively  develop 

xanomeline-trospium (KarXT) in Greater China. Under the agreement, we obtained an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, and 

commercialize xanomeline-trospium in Greater China.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Our  commercial  success  depends,  in  part,  on  our  ability  to  obtain  and  maintain  proprietary  protection  for  our  know-how  and 

innovation  pertaining  to  our  commercial  products  and  product  candidates  as  well  as  our  core  technologies;  to  operate  without 

infringing,  misappropriating,  or  otherwise  violating  the  proprietary  rights  of  others;  and  to  prevent  others  from  infringing, 

misappropriating,  or  otherwise  violating  our  proprietary  rights.  We  expect  that  we  will  seek  to  protect  our  proprietary  position  by, 

among other methods, licensing or procuring patent rights to inventions that are important to the development and implementation 

of our business. We also rely on trade secrets, know-how, and confidential agreements with third parties to maintain our proprietary 

position. Additionally, we rely on continuing technological innovation to develop and maintain our proprietary position.

22

BUSINESSPatents

Patent  rights  are  important  in  our  industry  to  protect  innovation  pertaining  to  our  commercial  products,  product  candidates,  and 

technologies. We hold patent rights to our commercial products, product candidates, and technologies, in part, through our licenses 

or other agreements. For our internally developed product candidates, we consider on a case-by-case basis whether to procure patent 

rights to protect certain innovation pertaining to our commercial products, product candidates and technologies.

As with other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, our ability to protect our commercial products, product candidates, and 

technologies will depend, in part, on our success in obtaining and maintaining effective patent rights. For more information regarding 

the risks related to our intellectual property, see Risk Factors — Risks Related to Intellectual Property.

The  term  of  a  patent  depends  upon  the  laws  of  the  country  in  which  it  is  issued.  In  most  jurisdictions  that  we  principally  operate 

in,  a  patent  term  is  20  years  from  the  earliest  filing  date  of  a  non-provisional  patent  application.  The  laws  of  each  jurisdiction  vary, 

and  patent  term  adjustment  or  patent  term  extension  may  not  be  available  in  any  or  all  jurisdictions  in  which  we  hold  rights.  For 

information on intellectual property included in our license and collaboration agreements for our commercial products, see Overview 

of Significant Licensed and Collaboration Arrangements.

Trade Secrets

In addition to patents, we rely upon unpatented trade secrets and know-how and continuing technological innovation to develop and 

maintain  our  competitive  position.  Such  trade  secrets  and  know-how  can  be  difficult  to  protect.  We  seek  to  protect  our  proprietary 

information,  in  part,  by  executing  confidentiality  agreements  with  our  partners,  collaborators,  scientific  advisors,  employees, 

consultants,  and  other  third  parties.  These  confidentiality  agreements  are  designed  to  protect  our  proprietary  information  and 

generally include clauses requiring assignment of inventions to us to grant us ownership of technologies that are developed through 

our relationship with the respective counterparty. Such agreements may not provide adequate protection of our intellectual property 

and  proprietary  information  rights.  If  any  of  the  parties  we  contract  with  in  this  manner  breaches  or  violates  the  terms  of  any  such 

agreement or otherwise discloses our proprietary information, we may lose our competitive position and trade secret protection. For 

more information regarding the risks related to our trade secrets, see Risk Factors — Risks Related to Intellectual Property — If we are 

unable to maintain the confidentiality of our trade secrets, our business and competitive position may be harmed.

Trademarks and Domain Names

We  conduct  our  business  using  trademarks  with  various  forms  of  the  “ZAI  LAB”  and  “再 鼎 醫 藥”  brands,  as  well  as  domain  names 

incorporating some or all of these trademarks. 

23

BUSINESSGOVERNMENT REGULATION

Chinese Government Regulation of Pharmaceutical Product Development, Approval, and Marketing

Since  mainland  China’s  entry  into  the  World  Trade  Organization  in  2001,  the  Chinese  government  has  made  significant  efforts  to 

standardize regulations, develop its pharmaceutical regulatory system and strengthen intellectual property protection.

The  Drug  Administration  Law  and  related  implementing  measures  established  the  legal  framework  for  the  administration  of 

pharmaceutical  products,  including  the  development  and  manufacturing  of  new  drugs  and  the  medicinal  preparations  by  medical 

institutions.  The  Drug  Administration  Law  also  regulates  the  distribution,  packaging,  labels  and  advertisements  of  pharmaceutical 

products in mainland China, including the use of patients’ human genetic resources and derived data. These rules are highly complex 

and require significant resources, time, and expense for compliance.

Clinical Trials

Clinical  trials  conducted  both  within  and  outside  of  mainland  China,  and  the  data  derived  from  those  trials,  may  be  used  to  obtain 

marketing approval in mainland China, subject to various rules and regulations. We participate in clinical trials in multiple geographic 

locations, and compliance with the complex regulations applicable to the conduct of such trials and the use of data derived therefrom 

is critical to our ability to obtain approval for our products in mainland China and in our other markets.

Clinical  trials  on  investigational  products  must  be  approved  by  the  relevant  authorities  before  their  commencement.  Following 

approval of a CTA approval, the applicant (i.e., sponsor) generally conducts the clinical trial at one or more institutions, subject to rules 

and regulations governing good practices associated with such clinical trial.

With certain governmental approvals, companies may simultaneously perform clinical trials in different centers using the same clinical 

trial protocol through IMCCTs in China. Where the applicant plans to make use of the data derived from the IMCCTs, such IMCCTs shall 

satisfy certain requirements, including on-site inspections by Chinese regulatory authorities, in addition to other applicable regulatory 

requirements.  IMCCTs  are  required  to  adhere  to  certain  principles  and  ethical  requirements  and  are  subject  to  governmental 

supervision and disclosure requirements.

Trial  sponsors  may  also  use  the  data  of  foreign  clinical  trials  to  support  marketing  authorization  in  mainland  China,  provided  that 

sponsors satisfy the authenticity, completeness, accuracy, and traceability requirements, and that such data is obtained in accordance 

with  the  relevant  principles  and  ethics  requirements  applicable  to  IMCCTs.  Clinical  trial  sponsors  must  be  attentive  to  potentially 

meaningful ethnic differences in the subject population.

In addition, investigational products approved outside of mainland China may be approved in mainland China on a conditional basis 

without pre-approval clinical trials being conducted in mainland China. Applicants are required to establish a risk mitigation plan and 

may be required to complete post-approval trials in mainland China.

24

BUSINESSMarketing

We  must  obtain  approval  of  marketing  authorizations  before  our  products  can  be  manufactured  and  sold  in  the  mainland  China 

market. An applicant may submit an application for marketing authorization to relevant governmental authorities. The NMPA, which 

monitors  and  supervises  the  administration  of  pharmaceutical  products,  medical  appliances  and  equipment,  and  cosmetics,  then 

determines whether to approve the application following a technical review process. Accelerated review and approval procedures are 

available for certain types of innovative products, such as products with distinctive clinical benefits, which have not been sold within or 

outside mainland China, and products using advanced technology, innovative treatment methods, or distinctive treatment advantages, 

and in cases of public health emergency.

Domestic  pharmaceutical  and  medical  research  and  development  institutions  and  individuals  are  eligible  to  hold  marketing 

authorizations  without  having  to  become  manufacturers.  The  marketing  authorization  holder  is  responsible  for  their  products 

throughout  the  life  cycle,  including  nonclinical  studies,  clinical  trials,  production  and  distribution,  post-market  studies,  and  the 

monitoring,  reporting,  and  handling  of  adverse  reactions  in  connection  with  pharmaceuticals.  The  marketing  authorization  holders 

may  engage  contract  manufacturers  for  manufacturing  and  distribution,  subject  to  certain  requirements.  We  serve  as  the  marketing 

authorization  holder  and  thus  have  primary  regulatory  responsibility  for  the  development  and  approval  of  certain  of  our  products  in 

China.

Drug Manufacturing Operations

To  manufacture  pharmaceutical  products  in  mainland  China,  a  pharmaceutical  manufacturing  enterprise  must  first  obtain  a 

Pharmaceutical  Manufacturing  Permit  issued  by  the  relevant  provincial  medical  products  administration  where  the  enterprise  is 

located,  which  is  effective  for  five  years.  The  grant  of  such  license  is  subject  to  annual  inspection  of  the  manufacturing  facilities, 

production premises and facilities, equipment, hygiene conditions, production management, quality controls, product operation, raw 

material management, maintenance of sales records, and management of customer complaints and adverse event reports.

Pharmaceutical Distribution

To  distribute  pharmaceutical  products  in  mainland  China,  including  wholesale  and  retail  distribution,  a  pharmaceutical  distribution 

enterprise  must  first  obtain  a  Pharmaceutical  Distribution  Permit,  which  is  effective  for  five  years.  Any  enterprise  holding  a 

Pharmaceutical Distribution Permit is subject to periodic review and inspection by the relevant regulatory authorities. Additional rules 

and regulations govern the process of procurement, storage, sales, and transportation.

Coverage and Reimbursement

Historically, most Chinese healthcare costs had been borne by patients out-of-pocket, which had limited the growth of more expensive 

pharmaceutical  products.  However,  in  recent  years,  the  number  of  people  covered  by  government  and  private  insurance  has 

increased. According to the NHSA, as of December 2022, approximately 1.34 billion residents in mainland China were enrolled in the 

Basic Medical Insurance scheme, representing a coverage rate of above 95% of the total population.

25

BUSINESSUnder  the  applicable  regulations,  expenses  of  drugs  listed  in  the  Basic  Medical  Insurance  Catalog,  typically  known  in  the  industry 

as  the  NRDL,  will  be  paid  in  full  or  part  from  the  basic  medical  insurance  fund  in  accordance  with  applicable  provisions,  and  the 

drugs with the same generic names as those specified in the Basic Medical Insurance Catalog will be automatically regulated by the 

Basic  Medical  Insurance  Catalog  and  shall  also  be  eligible  for  the  reimbursement  by  the  basic  medical  insurance  fund.  The  Chinese 

Ministry  of  Human  Resources  and  Social  Security,  together  with  other  government  authorities,  have  the  power  to  determine  the 

medicines  included  in  the  NRDL.  Admission  to  the  NRDL  depends  on  a  number  of  factors,  including  on-market  experience,  scale  of 

patient adoption, physician endorsement, cost effectiveness, and budget impact. Patients purchasing medicines included in the NRDL 

are entitled to reimbursement of the entire amount or a certain percentage of the purchase price. We currently have four products 

included in the NRDL: ZEJULA for certain ovarian cancer indications, QINLOCK for fourth-line GIST, NUZYRA for CABP and ABSSSI, and 

VYVGART (efgartigimod alfa injection) for gMG.

In addition to the NRDL, there is an evolving medical insurance system that makes innovative drugs more affordable and available to 

the  Chinese  population,  which  offers  greater  opportunities  to  drug  manufacturers  that  focus  on  the  research  and  development  of 

innovative  drugs,  such  as  higher-cost  cancer  therapeutics.  This  system  includes  commercial  health  insurance  and  various  forms  of 

supplementary insurance. We have focused on increasing insurance coverage in the private-pay market for certain of our commercial 

products and indications, including OPTUNE GIO for GBM.

Inclusion in the NRDL and supplemental insurance coverage can significantly increase the reach and visibility of, and potential market 

for, our products, and we continue to devote significant resources to increasing access to our products through NRDL listing and/or 

supplemental insurance coverage, which efforts may not be successful on our desired timeline or at all.

Price Negotiations

The  Chinese  government  has  initiated  several  rounds  of  price  negotiations  with  manufacturers  of  patented  drugs,  drugs  with  an 

exclusive source of supply, and oncology drugs since 2016. Once the government agreed with the drug manufacturers on the supply 

prices,  the  drugs  would  be  automatically  listed  in  the  NRDL  and  qualified  for  public  hospital  purchase.  In  2023,  the  average  price 

reduction  of  the  121  drugs  participating  in  price  negotiations  was  61.7%,  and  in  2022,  the  average  price  reduction  of  the  111  drugs 

participating in negotiations was 60.1%.

Regulations Impacting Purchases of Pharmaceutical Products by Medical Institutions

Applicable regulations set forth rules for the tender process and negotiations of the prices of drugs, operational procedures, a code of 

conduct, and standards or measures of evaluating bids and negotiating prices for public hospitals in mainland China. Under the rules 

and related guidance, certain not-for-profit medical institutions owned by the government shall purchase pharmaceutical products by 

online centralized procurement. The centralized tender process takes the form of public tender operated and organized by provincial 

or municipal government agencies. Only pharmaceuticals that have won in the centralized tender process may be purchased by public 

medical institutions funded by the governmental or state-owned or -controlled enterprise in the relevant region. While participation in 

this process can increase the reach and acceptance of our products, it can also result in significant negotiated reductions in the price 

paid for the products by hospitals or consortiums of hospitals bidding as a group.

26

BUSINESSIn addition, under the “two-invoice system,” there cannot be more than two invoices issued for drug products supplied by manufacturers 

to  public  hospitals.  To  meet  this  requirement,  many  drug  manufacturers  have  reduced  the  tiers  of  distributors,  or  converted  drug 

distributors  into  contracted  service  organizations.  As  a  result,  the  system  significantly  limits  the  options  for  companies  like  us  to  use 

multiple  distributors  to  reach  a  larger  geographic  area  in  mainland  China.  The  reduction  in  distribution  tiers  resulted  in  a  decrease  in 

distribution  mark-ups  and  an  accompanying  reduction  in  prices  paid  by  public  hospitals.  Compliance  with  the  two-invoice  system  is  a 

prerequisite for pharmaceutical companies to participate in the tender and procurement processes of public hospitals, which currently 

provide  most  of  Chinese  healthcare  services.  Manufacturers  and  distributors  that  fail  to  implement  the  two-invoice  system  may  lose 

their  qualifications  to  participate  in  the  tender  and  procurement  process  and  may  also  be  blacklisted  from  engaging  in  drug  sales  to 

public hospitals. The two-invoice system has been implemented in all provinces, each with its own regional implementation rules.

Regulation of Pharmaceutical Product Development and Approval Outside of China

In  the  United  States,  the  FDA  regulates  drugs  and  biological  products  under  the  Federal  Food,  Drug,  and  Cosmetic  Act,  the  Public 

Health Service Act, and their implementing regulations. Drugs and biologics are also subject to other federal, state, and local statutes 

and regulations in the United States as well as laws, regulations, and rules in other applicable jurisdictions outside of mainland China. 

The process of obtaining marketing approvals and the subsequent compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and rules may require 

the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources. While we do not currently market our products outside of Greater China, 

we have certain pre-clinical and early-stage clinical products that are undergoing or will undergo testing in the United States and other 

jurisdictions, and we may in the future seek approval to commercialize our products in the United States and such other jurisdictions. 

As  our  business  and  the  number  of  products  we  have  in  the  trial  and  commercial  stage  grow,  we  expect  that  pharmaceutical  laws 

and regulations in the United States and other jurisdictions will have a greater impact on us. Further, U.S. and other pharmaceutical 

regulations could impact the availability, reputation, and consumer acceptance of the products that we market and sell in our current 

markets.

Other Significant Regulations Affecting Our Business Activities in Mainland China

We are subject to additional regulations that apply broadly to companies doing business in mainland China, including those described 

below.

Data  Privacy  and  Data  Protection:  Since  our  subsidiaries  located  in  mainland  China  operate  computer  networks  as  part  of  their 

normal  operations,  we  are  required  to  comply  with  the  requirements  of  mainland  China’s  cyber  security,  data  protection,  privacy, 

and data transfer laws and regulations. In addition, in the ordinary course of our business, we collect and store personal information, 

including personal information about our clinical trial subjects, customers, and employees in mainland China. We may need to share 

such  personal  information  with  our  subsidiaries,  licensors,  partners,  or  contractors  located  outside  of  mainland  China.  Mainland 

China’s  network  and  data  protection  regime  is  evolving,  and  we  continue  to  face  uncertainties  as  to  whether  our  efforts  to  comply 

with these requirements will be sufficient. Although we develop and maintain compliance protocols and controls designed to maintain 

compliance with these requirements, development, implementation, improvement, and maintenance of these protocols and controls 

is  costly  and  requires  significant  effort,  resources,  and  time.  In  addition,  in  certain  cases,  our  CROs,  licensors,  licensees,  partners, 

contractors, and other third parties with which we do business are also required to comply with these laws, and our agreements with 

them require them to comply with these requirements, but there is a risk that they may not fully comply with them.

27

BUSINESSForeign  Investment:  Chinese  laws  and  regulations  govern  the  establishment,  operation,  and  management  of  corporate  entities 

in  mainland  China,  as  well  as  investment  activities  by  foreign  investors  in  mainland  China.  To  comply  with  these  rules,  we  must 

periodically  submit  certain  information  regarding  our  Company  and  certain  investment  information  to  relevant  administrative 

authorities.

Competition  Laws:  Under  Chinese  laws  governing  competition,  commercial  bribery  is  prohibited  and  subject  to  criminal  liability. 

Further,  under  certain  circumstances,  a  pharmaceutical  company’s  products  may  not  be  purchased  by  public  medical  institutions 

where that pharmaceutical company is involved in a criminal investigation or administrative proceedings related to bribery. These laws 

also protect trade secrets. Unlawfully obtaining or disclosing trade secrets is prohibited. Additionally, a company whose concentration 

of business violates the anti-monopoly rules in mainland China may be subject to fines of up to 10% of the last year’s sales revenue, in 

addition to other remedial measures.

Product  Liability:  In  addition  to  the  strict  new  drug  approval  process,  certain  Chinese  laws  have  been  promulgated  to  protect  the 

rights of consumers and to strengthen the control of medical products in mainland China. Under current Chinese law, manufacturers, 

and vendors of defective products in mainland China may incur civil and liability for loss and injury caused by such products as well as 

revocation of business licenses.

Tort Law: Under the PRC Civil Code, producers and sellers of defective products are required to take remedial measures such as the 

issuance of a warning, the recall of products, etc. in a timely manner, and may be held liable under tort law for any failure to do so, or 

to do so timely.

Intellectual Property Rights: Mainland China has comprehensive legislation governing intellectual property rights, including patents, 

trademarks,  copyrights,  and  domain  names.  We  hold  patent  rights  from  third  parties  for  some  of  our  programs  as  described  in  the 

Overview of Significant License and Collaboration Agreements. Under certain of our agreements, we rely on third parties to file and 

prosecute patent applications, maintain patents, and otherwise protect the licensed intellectual property.

Labor  Protection:  Under  applicable  rules  in  mainland  China,  employers  must  establish  a  comprehensive  management  system  to 

protect the rights of their employees and ensure manufacturing safety, including a system governing occupational health and safety 

to  provide  employees  with  occupational  training  to  prevent  occupational  injury,  and  employers  are  required  to  truthfully  inform 

prospective employees of the job description, working conditions, location, occupational hazards, and status of safe production as well 

as remuneration and other conditions. Employers are also required to contribute, on behalf of their employees, to a number of social 

security  funds,  including  funds  for  basic  pension  insurance,  unemployment  insurance,  basic  medical  insurance,  work-related  injury 

insurance,  and  maternity  insurance.  Additionally,  manufacturers  of  pharmaceutical  products  are  required  to  establish  production 

safety and labor protection measures in connection with the operation of their manufacturing equipment and manufacturing process.

Regulations Relating to Foreign Exchange: Approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where 

RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of mainland China to pay capital expenses such as repayment of foreign 

currency-denominated loans. For more information, see Dividends and Other Distributions.

28

BUSINESSRegulations  on  Securities  Offering  and  Listing  Outside  of  China:  Laws  in  mainland  China  regulate  overseas  securities  offering  and 

listing activities by domestic companies. These regulations include the requirement to submit filing documents including the offering 

prospectus to the CSRC. Overseas offering and listing are prohibited under certain circumstances, including where (i) the offering and 

listing  are  expressly  forbidden  by  applicable  Chinese  laws,  regulations,  and  rules;  (ii)  the  intended  overseas  securities  offering  and 

listing  may  endanger  national  security  as  reviewed  and  determined  by  competent  authorities  under  the  State  Council;  or  (iii)  there 

are material disputes with regard to the ownership of the equity held by the domestic company’s controlling shareholder or by other 

shareholders  that  are  controlled  by  the  controlling  shareholder  and/or  actual  controller.  If  domestic  companies  fail  to  fulfill  the 

above-mentioned filing procedures or offer and list in an overseas market against the prohibited circumstances, they may be warned 

and  fined  up  to  RMB10  million.  The  controlling  shareholders  and  actual  controllers  of  such  domestic  companies  that  organize  or 

instruct the aforementioned violations may be fined up to RMB10 million and directly liable persons-in-charge and other directly liable 

persons may be fined up to RMB5 million.

Rules  for  the  Regulations  on  Supervision  and  Administration  of  Medical  Devices:  Laws  and  regulations  in  mainland  China  govern 

certain  aspects  of  the  production,  distribution,  and  clinical  trials  of  medical  devices,  including  reporting,  establishment,  and 

maintenance  of  quality  management  and  quality  control  measures  covering  the  distribution  process,  self-inspection,  and  ethics 

review.

Other  Chinese  National-  and  Provincial-Level  Laws  and  Regulations:  We  are  subject  to  changing  requirements  under  many  other 

laws  and  regulations  administered  by  governmental  authorities  at  the  national,  provincial,  and  municipal  levels,  some  of  which  are 

or  may  become  applicable  to  our  business.  For  example,  regulations  control  the  confidentiality  of  patients’  medical  information 

and  the  circumstances  under  which  patient  medical  information  may  be  released  for  inclusion  in  our  databases  or  by  us  to  third 

parties. We are also subject to numerous additional national and provincial laws relating to matters such as safe working conditions, 

manufacturing practices, environmental protection, and fire hazard control.

Anti-Corruption Laws and Regulations: We are subject to anti-corruption laws and rules in China and the United States, including the 

FCPA.  These  laws  generally  prohibit  companies  and  their  representatives  from  making  improper  payments  to  government  officials 

for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  or  retaining  business  or  to  otherwise  obtain  favorable  treatment  or  influence  a  person  working  in  an 

official  capacity.  The  health  care  professionals  we  regularly  interact  with  may  be  considered  government  officials  under  Chinese 

anti-corruption laws or the FCPA. In 2023, Chinese authorities increased their anti-corruption enforcement efforts with respect to the 

health care sector.

29

BUSINESSOUR CUSTOMERS

We  rely  on  independent  third-party  distributors  in  Greater  China  to  sell  our  commercialized  products,  which  is  consistent  with  the 

pharmaceutical  industry  norm.  This  allows  us  to  execute  marketing  strategies  that  are  specifically  tailored  to  each  product  and  the 

geographic  location  of  the  hospitals  located  within  the  distribution  territories  of  our  customers  across  mainland  China.  During  2023 

and 2022, our five largest customers accounted for approximately 35.0% and 37.7% of our total product revenue, respectively.

We  select  distributors  based  on  their  business  qualifications  and  distribution  capabilities,  such  as  distribution  network  coverage, 

quality, number of personnel, cash flow conditions, creditworthiness, logistics, compliance standard, past performance, and capacity 

for  customer  management.  We  offer  rebates  to  our  distributors,  consistent  with  pharmaceutical  industry  practice.  We  retain  no 

ownership control over the products sold to our distributors, and all significant risks (including inventory risks) and rewards associated 

with the products are generally transferred to our distributors upon delivery to and acceptance by the distributors.

MANUFACTURING, SUPPLIERS, AND QUALITY CONTROL

As  discussed  below,  we  manufacture  or  source  from  third  parties  our  commercial  products,  product  candidates,  and  materials.  We 

have our own independent quality control system and devote significant attention to quality control for the designing, manufacturing, 

and testing of our commercial products and product candidates.

Our Manufacturing Facilities

We  currently  manufacture  or  have  rights  to  manufacture  our  internally  developed  products  and  certain  of  our  licensed  commercial 

products  and  product  candidates  under  the  terms  of  our  licensing  agreements,  including  ZEJULA  (other  than  for  commercial  use  in 

Hong Kong), NUZYRA, and xanomeline-trospium.

We  operate  two  manufacturing  facilities  in  Suzhou,  China,  which  support  the  commercial  and  clinical  production  of  certain  of  our 

products and product candidates, including ZEJULA.

•  We have a small molecule facility that manufactures ZEJULA. The oral solids production line is cGMP-compliant and is capable of 

performing  the  entire  production  process,  including  blending,  granulation  (i.e.,  wet  granulation  process,  fluidized  bed  process, 

and roller compaction), tableting, coating, and packaging for oral solid drug products. The facility has capacity to produce up to 

50 million units per year for oral solid dosage form. We also have an early clinical manufacturing workshop for oral solids with 

additional capacity to produce approximately 30,000 units/batch.

•  We  have  a  large  molecule  facility  for  which  we  have  successfully  obtained  permits  and  passed  inspections  to  manufacture 

supplies  for  certain  product  candidates.  The  facility  has  a  biological  processing/formulation  production  line  with  an  annual 

production capacity of up to 12 to 22 200L or 1000L clinical batches, respectively. The production line consists of a 1000L drug 

substance production line from Cytiva and a self-clean/autoclave automatic drug product production line from Tofflon Science.

30

BUSINESSOur two manufacturing facilities comply with both the PRC and PIC/S drug manufacturing standards. We procure our manufacturing 

equipment from leading domestic and international suppliers.

We believe our two manufacturing facilities are sufficient to support our commercial and clinical needs and our business growth in the 

near term.

Contract Manufacturing Organizations

We  outsource  to  a  limited  number  of  external  CMOs  the  production  of  certain  drug  substances  and  products  to  meet  pre-clinical, 

clinical, and commercial requirements of our products and product candidates. For example, we have obtained the necessary licenses 

and  engaged  CMOs  to  locally  manufacture  NUZYRA  and  ZL-1102  in  mainland  China.  By  outsourcing  a  portion  of  our  manufacturing 

activities,  we  can  increase  our  focus  on  core  areas  of  competence  such  as  product  candidate  development,  commercialization,  and 

research.  We  have  adopted  procedures  to  promote  compliance  by  our  CMOs  with  relevant  regulatory  requirements  and  internal 

guidelines  with  respect  to  production  qualifications,  facilities,  and  processes.  When  selecting  our  CMOs,  we  consider  a  number 

of  factors,  including  their  qualifications,  relevant  expertise,  production  capacity,  geographic  proximity,  reputation,  track  record, 

product  quality,  reliability,  and  proposed  terms  for  the  production  arrangement.  Our  CMOs  provide  services  to  us  on  a  short-term 

and project-by-project basis. Our agreements with CMOs typically specify requirements, including product quality or service details, 

technical standards or methods, delivery terms, agreed price and payment, and product inspection and acceptance criteria. Our CMOs 

procure the necessary raw materials themselves.

Suppliers

Our  suppliers  may  consist  of  (i)  third-party  licensors  from  which  we  have  licenses  for  commercial  products  and  product  candidates; 

(ii) suppliers of raw materials in our supply chain; and (iii) CROs to support our clinical trials.

• 

Licensors: We are dependent on some of our third-party partners for the manufacture and supply of certain of our commercial 

products  and  product  candidates.  For  example,  we  source  OPTUNE  from  NovoCure,  QINLOCK  from  Deciphera,  VYVGART  from 

argenx, tisotumab vedotin from Pfizer, adagrasib and repotrectinib from BMS, bemarituzumab from Amgen, and SUL-DUR from 

Innoviva.

• 

Other Suppliers: We are dependent on third parties for certain raw materials in our supply chain. For example, we obtain raw 

materials for our clinical trial activities from multiple suppliers who we believe have sufficient capacity to meet our demands. We 

also believe we would have access to adequate alternative sources for such supplies, if needed. We typically order raw materials 

and  services  on  a  purchase  order  basis  and  do  not  enter  into  long-term  dedicated  capacity  or  minimum  supply  arrangements. 

While we experience price fluctuations associated with our raw materials, we have not experienced material disruptions in the 

supply of our raw materials. We have suppliers in both China and the United States.

• 

CROs: We may depend on certain CROs to support our clinical trials.

31

BUSINESSQuality Control and Assurance

We  have  established  a  strict  quality  control  system  in  accordance  with  NMPA  regulations.  We  monitor  our  operations  in  real  time 

throughout  the  entire  production  process,  from  inspection  of  raw  and  auxiliary  materials  to  manufacture  and  delivery  of  finished 

products to clinical testing at hospitals. Our quality assurance team is also responsible for our compliance with applicable regulations, 

standards, and internal policies. Our senior management team is actively involved in setting quality policies and managing the internal 

and external quality performance of the Company.

For information on risks related to our manufacturing and commercialization activities as well as our reliance on third parties, including 

our third-party partners, CMOs, and suppliers, see Risk Factors.

COMPETITION
Competition  in  the  biopharmaceutical  industry  is  intense.  There  are  many  companies,  including  biotechnology  and  pharmaceutical 

companies, engaged in developing products for the approved indications of our commercial products and the therapeutic areas we are 

targeting with our research and development activities. Some of our competitors may have substantially greater financial, marketing, 

research and development, and other resources than we do.

We believe that competition and leadership in the industry is based on managerial and technological excellence and innovation as well 

as established patent and other proprietary positions through research and development. The achievement of a leadership position 

also  depends  largely  upon  our  ability  to  maximize  the  approval,  acceptance,  and  use  of  our  product  candidates  and  the  availability 

of adequate financial resources to fund facilities, equipment, personnel, clinical testing, manufacturing, and marketing. Another key 

aspect  of  remaining  competitive  in  the  industry  is  recruiting,  motivating,  and  retaining  global  leaders  and  top  talent  to  support  our 

research, development, and commercial activities.

Competition  among  approved  products  may  be  based,  among  other  things,  on  patent  position,  product  efficacy,  safety,  patient 

convenience,  delivery  devices,  reliability,  availability,  reimbursement,  and  price.  In  addition,  early  entry  of  a  new  pharmaceutical 

product  into  the  market  may  have  important  advantages  in  gaining  product  acceptance  and  market  share.  Accordingly,  the  relative 

speed with which we can develop products, complete the testing and approval process and supply commercial quantities of products 

can have a significant impact on our competitive position.

The introduction of new products or technologies, including the development of new processes or technologies by competitors or new 

information  about  existing  products  or  technologies,  results  in  increased  competition  for,  and  pricing  pressure  on,  our  commercial 

products.  The  development  of  new  or  improved  treatment  options  or  standards  of  care  in  our  therapeutic  areas  could  reduce  or 

eliminate the use of our products or may limit the utility and application of ongoing clinical trials for our product candidates.

We also face increased competitive pressures from the introduction of generic versions, prodrugs and biosimilars of existing products 

and  products  approved  under  abbreviated  regulatory  pathways.  Such  products  are  likely  to  be  sold  at  substantially  lower  prices 

than branded products, which may significantly reduce both the price that we are able to charge for our products and the volume of 

products we sell. In addition, in some markets, when a generic or biosimilar version of one of our products is commercialized, it may 

be automatically substituted for our product and significantly reduce our revenues in a short period of time.

32

BUSINESSWe  believe  our  long-term  competitive  position  depends  upon  our  success  in  discovering  and  developing  innovative,  cost-effective 

products that serve unmet medical needs, along with our ability to manufacture products efficiently and to launch and market them 

effectively in a highly competitive environment.

For information on significant risks we face from competition, see Risk Factors.

INSURANCE

We  maintain  insurance  policies  that  are  required  under  Chinese  laws  and  regulations  as  well  as  based  on  our  assessment  of  our 

operational  needs  and  industry  practice.  We  maintain  liability  insurance  for  certain  clinical  trials,  which  covers  the  patient  human 

clinical  trial  liabilities  such  as  bodily  injury,  product  liability  insurance,  general  insurance  policies  covering  property  loss  due  to 

accidents  or  natural  disasters,  and  D&O  insurance.  We  do  not  maintain  insurance  to  cover  intellectual  property  infringement  or 

misappropriation.

RISK MANAGEMENT AND INTERNAL CONTROL

We  are  committed  to  acting  ethically,  which  includes  identifying  and  responsibly  managing  risk.  As  a  result,  we  have  adopted  a 

consolidated  risk  management  methodology  and  program,  which  includes  a  three  lines  of  defense  risk  management  framework  to 

identify, assess, evaluate, and monitor key risks associated with our strategic objectives on an on-going basis, and a risk governance 

structure  that  includes  oversight  by  the  Board,  the  Audit  Committee,  and  management.  Management  oversight  includes  a  Risk 

Coordination Council that is comprised of leaders of governance and quality functions along with operational line leaders and serves 

as  a  forum  to  discuss  and  monitor  risks  across  the  organization  as  well  as  other  regional,  divisional,  or  functional  risk  management 

committees or working groups, as deemed appropriate.

We  conduct  an  annual  enterprise  risk  assessment  to  identify  our  top  tier  risks  and,  based  on  that  assessment,  will  develop  an 

enterprise  risk  management  strategy  and  plans  to  manage  those  risks.  Our  risk  management  strategy  takes  into  account  various 

factors  including  our  corporate  strategic  goals  and  objectives,  our  risk  tolerance  levels  and  thresholds,  and  applicable  legal  and 

regulatory  requirements.  We  also  develop  and  implement  risk  strategies  for  new  or  evolving  risks  during  the  year,  as  deemed 

appropriate.  Management  discusses  with  the  Board  or  the  Audit  Committee  the  results  of  its  annual  enterprise  risk  assessments  as 

well as its enterprise risk management methodology and guidelines and key risk-related developments.

The following provides additional information on our three lines of defense framework:

• 

First  Line  of  Defense:  Our  business  functions  are  primarily  responsible  for  identifying  and  evaluating  risks  in  their  areas  of 

responsibility and for developing and implementing a risk management program, including appropriate controls and procedures, 

to  monitor,  manage,  and  communicate  to  management  key  information  with  respect  to  these  risks.  Such  risk  management 

program should be consistent with our corporate business objectives and should adhere to risk policies, controls, and guidelines 

established by management and the Board or Audit Committee, including risk tolerance levels. Our business functions are also 

responsible for monitoring ongoing risks in their areas and communicating to management, as appropriate.

33

BUSINESS• 

Second  Line  of  Defense:  Our  Legal  and  Ethics  and  Compliance  functions  oversee  implementation  of  our  enterprise  risk 

management  program  and  monitoring  of  business  activities  aligned  with  the  risk  outcomes  identified  during  the  annual  risk 

assessment  process.  For  example,  our  Chief  Legal  Officer,  supported  by  our  Chief  Compliance  Officer,  is  responsible  for: 

developing  and  updating  our  enterprise  risk  management  program  and  targets;  reviewing  and  approving  management  or 

mitigation  plans  for  major  risk  management  issues;  overseeing  implementation  of  risk  management  measures;  providing 

guidance  and  support  on  our  risk  management  approach  to  the  relevant  departments  in  the  Company;  and  reporting  to 

management, the Board, and the Audit Committee, as deemed appropriate.

• 

Third Line of Defense: Our Internal Audit function is responsible for evaluating the design, adequacy, operational effectiveness, 

and efficiency of our enterprise risk management program, including our risk governance structure, processes for enterprise risk 

identification and management, and risk control processes.

The following provides additional information on certain components of our risk governance structure:

• 

Risk  Coordination  Council:  The  Risk  Coordination  Council,  which  is  co-chaired  by  the  Chief  Compliance  Officer  and  another 

rotating  member  and  is  comprised  of  governance  function  leaders  as  well  as  business  operations  leaders,  provides  a  forum 

to  discuss  and  identify,  monitor,  and  manage  risks  across  the  organization.  Potential  risks  identified  through  this  forum  are 

escalated and managed both at the functional line level and through the Chief Compliance Officer directly to executive leadership 

and/or the Audit Committee, as deemed appropriate.

• 

Audit Committee: The Audit Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in its oversight of the Company’s risk management 

and  internal  controls;  the  integrity  of  our  financial  statements;  compliance  with  applicable  legal  and  regulatory  requirements; 

the qualifications, independence, and performance of our auditors; and our internal audit and compliance functions.

• 

Board  of  Directors:  The  Board  oversees  the  management  of  risks  inherent  in  the  operation  of  our  business  and  the 

implementation  of  our  business  strategies  and  is  responsible  for  establishing  our  enterprise  risk  management  and  internal 

control system and reviewing its effectiveness. The Board performs its oversight role through several different levels of review. 

For example, management reports to the Board on our business strategies, operations, and corporate functions, and each of the 

Board’s committees reports to the Board on the risks within their areas of responsibility.

INVESTMENT RISK MANAGEMENT

To help meet our liquidity needs without significantly increasing our risk, we have an investment policy, which was approved by the 

Audit Committee and provides guidelines and specific instructions for the investment of our funds. Our investment strategy aims to 

minimize risks by reasonably and conservatively matching the maturities of the portfolio to anticipated operating cash needs. We make 

our  investment  decisions  on  a  case-by-case  basis  after  considering  a  number  of  factors,  including,  but  not  limited  to,  our  cash  flow 

levels, operational needs, and capital expenditures; the macro-economic environment; general market conditions; and the expected 

profit or potential loss of the investment. In accordance with our investment policy, we may engage in short-term investments with 

surplus  cash  on  hand.  Our  investment  portfolio  primarily  consists  of  time  deposits.  We  are  prohibited  from  investing  in  high-risk 

products, and proposed investments must not interfere with our business operations or capital expenditures.

34

BUSINESSDIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS

Zai Lab Limited is a holding company, and we may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our Chinese subsidiaries 

for  our  cash  and  financing  requirements,  including  the  funds  necessary  to  pay  dividends  and  other  cash  distributions  to  our 

shareholders or holders of our ADSs or to service any debt we may incur. If any of our Chinese subsidiaries incur debt on their own 

behalf  in  the  future,  the  instruments  governing  such  debt  may  restrict  their  ability  to  pay  dividends  to  us.  To  date,  there  have  not 

been  any  such  dividends  or  other  distributions  from  our  Chinese  subsidiaries  to  our  subsidiaries  located  in  or  outside  of  mainland 

China.  In  addition,  as  of  the  date  of  this  annual  report,  none  of  our  subsidiaries  have  ever  issued  any  dividends  or  distributions  to 

us or their respective shareholders in or outside of mainland China, and neither Zai Lab Limited nor any of our subsidiaries has ever 

directly  or  indirectly  paid  dividends  or  made  distributions  to  U.S.  investors.  Zai  Lab  (Shanghai)  Co.,  Ltd.,  an  operating  subsidiary  of 

ours  that  is  domiciled  in  mainland  China,  received  $466.5  million  in  capital  contributions  via  24  separate  contributions  from  Zai  Lab 

(Hong  Kong)  Limited,  its  sole  shareholder,  domiciled  outside  of  mainland  China,  from  2014  to  2023  to  fund  its  business  operations 

in  mainland  China.  Zai  Lab  International  Trading  (Shanghai)  Co.,  Ltd.,  an  operating  subsidiary  of  ours  that  is  domiciled  in  mainland 

China,  received  RMB1.0  million  in  capital  contributions  via  contributions  from  Zai  Lab  (Shanghai)  Co.,  Ltd.,  its  sole  shareholder,  in 

2019 to fund its business operations in mainland China. Zai Lab (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., an operating subsidiary of ours that is domiciled in 

mainland China, received RMB166.5 million in capital contributions via ten separate contributions from Zai Lab (Hong Kong) Limited, 

its  sole  shareholder,  domiciled  outside  of  mainland  China,  from  2015  to  2019  to  fund  its  business  operations  in  mainland  China. 

Zai  Lab  Trading  (Suzhou)  Co.,  Ltd.,  an  operating  subsidiary  of  ours  that  is  domiciled  in  mainland  China,  received  RMB1.0  million  in 

capital contributions via contributions from Zai Lab (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., its sole shareholder, in 2020 to fund its business operations in 

mainland China. Zai Biopharmaceutical (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., an operating subsidiary of ours that is domiciled in mainland China, received 

$15.0 million in capital contributions via four separate contributions from Zai Lab (Hong Kong) Limited, its sole shareholder, domiciled 

outside of mainland China, from 2017 to 2018 to fund its business operations in mainland China. In the future, cash proceeds raised 

from our overseas financing activities may be transferred by us to our Chinese subsidiaries via capital contributions, shareholder loans 

or intercompany loans.

According to the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China and its implementing rules, which jointly established the 

legal  framework  for  the  administration  of  foreign-invested  companies,  a  foreign  investor  may,  in  accordance  with  other  applicable 

laws, freely transfer into or out of mainland China its contributions, profits, capital earnings, income from asset disposal, intellectual 

property rights, royalties acquired, compensation, or indemnity legally obtained, and income from liquidation, made or derived within 

the territory of mainland China in RMB or any foreign currency, and any entity or individual shall not illegally restrict such transfer in 

terms of the currency, amount, and frequency. According to the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China and other Chinese 

laws  and  regulations,  our  Chinese  subsidiaries  may  pay  dividends  only  out  of  their  respective  accumulated  profits  as  determined  in 

accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our Chinese subsidiaries is required to set aside 

at least 10% of its accumulated after-tax profits, if any, each year to fund a certain statutory reserve fund until the aggregate amount 

of  such  fund  reaches  50%  of  its  registered  capital.  Where  the  statutory  reserve  fund  is  insufficient  to  cover  any  loss  the  Chinese 

subsidiary incurred in the previous financial year, its current financial year’s accumulated after-tax profits shall first be used to cover 

the loss before any statutory reserve fund is drawn therefrom. Such statutory reserve funds and the accumulated after-tax profits that 

are  used  for  covering  the  loss  cannot  be  distributed  to  us  as  dividends.  At  their  discretion,  our  Chinese  subsidiaries  may  allocate  a 

portion of their after-tax profits based on Chinese accounting standards to a discretionary reserve fund.

35

BUSINESSRenminbi,  or  RMB,  is  not  freely  convertible  into  other  currencies.  As  a  result,  any  restriction  on  currency  exchange  may  limit  the 

ability  of  our  Chinese  subsidiaries  to  use  their  potential  future  RMB  revenues  to  pay  dividends  to  us.  The  Chinese  government 

imposes controls on the convertibility of RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of mainland 

China. Shortages in availability of foreign currency may then restrict the ability of our Chinese subsidiaries to remit sufficient foreign 

currency  to  our  offshore  entities  for  those  offshore  entities  to  pay  dividends  or  make  other  payments  or  otherwise  to  satisfy  our 

foreign-currency-denominated  obligations.  RMB  is  currently  convertible  under  the  “current  account,”  which  includes  dividends 

and  trade-  and  service-related  foreign  exchange  transactions,  but  not  under  the  “capital  account,”  which  includes  foreign  direct 

investment and foreign debt (which may be denominated in foreign currency or RMB), including loans we may secure for our Chinese 

subsidiaries.  Currently,  our  Chinese  subsidiaries  may  purchase  foreign  currency  for  settlement  of  current  account  transactions, 

including payment of dividends to us, without the approval of the SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, 

the  relevant  Chinese  governmental  authorities  may  limit  or  eliminate  our  ability  to  purchase  foreign  currencies  in  the  future  for 

current account transactions. The Chinese government may continue to strengthen its capital controls, and additional restrictions and 

substantial vetting processes may be instituted by SAFE for cross-border transactions falling under both the current account and the 

capital  account.  Any  existing  and  future  restrictions  on  currency  exchange  may  limit  our  ability  to  utilize  revenue  generated  in  RMB 

to fund our business activities outside of mainland China or pay dividends in foreign currencies to holders of our securities. Foreign 

exchange transactions under the capital account remain subject to limitations and require approvals from, or registration with, SAFE 

and other relevant Chinese governmental authorities. This could affect our ability to obtain foreign currency through debt or equity 

financing for our subsidiaries. See Risk Factors for a detailed discussion of the Chinese legal restrictions on the payment of dividends, 

our  ability  to  transfer  cash  within  the  Company,  and  the  potential  for  holders  of  our  securities  to  be  subject  to  Chinese  taxes  on 

dividends paid by us in the event we are deemed a Chinese resident enterprise for Chinese tax purposes.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We  file  reports  and  other  information  with  the  SEC  and  Hong  Kong  Stock  Exchange.  We  make  available  on  our  website  our  annual 

reports on Form 10-K (and previously on Form 20-F), our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and our current reports on Form 8-K (and 

previously on Form 6-K), and all other SEC reports and amendments to those reports. Additionally, we make available on our website 

our securities filings with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. We make this information available on our website free of charge as soon as 

reasonably practicable after we electronically file the information with, or furnish it to, the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, as 

applicable.

We  use  our  website  as  a  means  of  disclosing  material  non-public  information  —  including  information  on  our  products;  business 

activities and partnerships; research; Trust for Life strategy, commitments, and reports; and other events and developments — and for 

complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Our website address is www.zailaboratory.com. We do not incorporate 

the information on or accessible through our website into this annual report, and you should not consider any information on, or that 

can be accessed through, our website as part of this annual report.

36

BUSINESSThe following section includes the most significant factors that we believe may adversely affect our business and operations. You should 

carefully consider these risks and other information contained in this annual report and our other filings with the SEC before deciding to 

invest in our securities. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not 

presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial could also adversely affect our business and operations.

RISKS RELATED TO DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA

Uncertainties in the Chinese legal system could materially and adversely affect us. 

The  Chinese  government  has  promulgated  a  comprehensive  system  of  laws  and  regulations  governing  economic  matters.  Although 

such  legislation  has  enhanced  protections  afforded  to  foreign  investments  in  mainland  China,  mainland  China  has  not  developed  a 

fully  integrated  legal  system,  and  recently  enacted  laws  and  regulations  may  not  sufficiently  cover  all  aspects  of  economic  activities 

in mainland China. In particular, the Chinese legal system is based on written statutes and prior court decisions have limited value as 

precedents. Since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the Chinese legal system continues to evolve, the interpretations 

of many laws, regulations and rules may not be uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties. 

These uncertainties may affect our judgment on the relevance of legal requirements and our ability to enforce our contractual rights 

or claims. In addition, the regulatory uncertainties may be exploited through unmerited or frivolous legal actions or threats in attempts 

to extract payments or benefits from us. Furthermore, the Chinese legal system is based in part on government policies and internal 

rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all and may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware 

of our violation of any of these policies and rules until after an alleged violation has occurred. In addition, any administrative and court 

proceedings in mainland China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. 

In  recent  years,  the  General  Office  of  the  Communist  Party  of  China  Central  Committee  and  the  General  Office  of  the  State  Council 

have  focused  on  enhancing  enforcement  against  illegal  activities  in  the  securities  markets  and  promoting  the  development  of 

capital  markets,  which,  among  other  things,  requires  the  relevant  governmental  authorities  to  strengthen  cross-border  oversight 

of  law-enforcement  and  judicial  cooperation,  to  enhance  supervision  over  Chinese  companies  listed  overseas,  and  to  establish 

and  improve  the  system  of  extraterritorial  application  of  the  Chinese  securities  laws.  There  are  uncertainties  with  respect  to  how 

soon  legislative  or  administrative  regulation-making  bodies  will  respond  and  what  existing  or  new  laws  or  regulations  or  detailed 

implementations and interpretations will be modified or promulgated, if any, and the potential impact such modified or new laws and 

regulations will have on companies like us. It is especially difficult for us to accurately predict the potential impact on the Company 

of new legal requirements in mainland China because the Chinese legal system is a civil law system and, unlike common law systems, 

prior  court  decisions  have  limited  precedential  value.  Uncertainties  with  respect  to  the  scope  and  interpretation  of  existing  laws, 

rules, and regulations in China, as well as future laws, rules, and regulations or amendments to such laws, rules, and regulations, may 

adversely affect our business and results of operations.

37

RISK FACTORSChanges  in  relations  between  the  United  States  and  China,  as  well  as  relations  between  China  and  other 

countries, may adversely impact our business, operating results, ability to raise capital, and the market price 

of our securities.

The  U.S.  government,  including  the  SEC,  has  made  statements  and  taken  certain  actions  that  have  impacted,  and  may  continue  to 

impact,  companies  like  us  with  a  substantial  presence  in  mainland  China,  including  by  imposing  several  rounds  of  tariffs  affecting 

certain  products  manufactured  in  mainland  China,  imposing  certain  sanctions  and  restrictions  in  relation  to  mainland  China,  and 

issuing  statements  indicating  enhanced  review  of  companies  with  significant  China-based  operations  or  the  possibility  of  legislation 

that  restricts  or  prohibits  U.S.  investment  in  certain  companies  operating  in  mainland  China.  It  is  unknown  whether  and  to  what 

extent new legislation, executive orders, tariffs, laws, or regulations will be adopted, or the effect that any such actions would have on 

companies with a significant presence in mainland China, our industry, or us. We conduct pre-clinical and clinical activities and have 

significant business operations in mainland China. Any unfavorable government policies on cross-border relations and/or international 

trade,  including  increased  scrutiny  on  companies  with  significant  China-based  operations,  capital  controls,  or  tariffs,  may  affect  the 

competitive position of our commercial products and product candidates, the hiring of scientists and other research and development 

personnel,  the  demand  for  or  our  ability  to  sell  our  commercial  products,  the  import  or  export  of  raw  materials  in  relation  to  drug 

development, our ability to raise capital, and the market price of our securities. 

If  any  new  legislation,  executive  orders,  tariffs,  laws  and/or  regulations  are  implemented,  if  existing  trade  agreements  are 

renegotiated,  or  if  the  U.S.  or  Chinese  government  take  retaliatory  actions  due  to  recent  or  increased  tensions  between  the 

United  States  and  mainland  China,  such  changes  could  have  an  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial  condition,  and  results  of 

operations, our ability to raise capital, and the market price of our securities.

The  Chinese  government  may  intervene  in  or  influence  our  operations  at  any  time,  which  could  result  in  a 

material change in our operations and significantly and adversely impact the value of our securities, including 

potentially making those securities worthless.

The  Chinese  government  has  significant  oversight  and  discretion  over  the  conduct  of  our  business  and  may  intervene  or  influence 

our operations as the government deems appropriate to further regulatory, political and societal goals. The Chinese government has 

published  policies  that  significantly  affect  certain  industries  such  as  the  education  and  internet  industries,  and  it  may  in  the  future 

release regulations or policies regarding the life sciences industry that could require us to seek permission from Chinese authorities to 

continue to operate our business, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Furthermore, 

recent  statements  made  by  the  Chinese  government  have  indicated  an  intent  to  increase  the  government’s  oversight  and  control 

over  offerings  of  companies  with  significant  operations  in  mainland  China  that  are  to  be  conducted  in  foreign  markets,  including 

the  United  States,  as  well  as  foreign  investment  in  China-based  issuers  like  us.  Any  such  action  by  the  Chinese  government  could 

significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to our investors and could cause the value 

of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless. 

38

RISK FACTORSBecause the majority of our operations are in mainland China and our auditor for prior fiscal years was located 

in  mainland  China,  there  have  been  concerns  regarding  oversight  of  audits  of  our  financial  statements  filed 

with the SEC. 

In recent years, the U.S. Congress and regulatory authorities have expressed concerns about challenges in their oversight of financial 

statement audits of U.S.-listed companies with significant operations in mainland China and with auditors located in mainland China. 

For example, inspections by the PCAOB of auditors located in mainland China and Hong Kong have at times identified deficiencies in 

those auditors’ audit procedures and quality control procedures, and limitations on the ability of the PCAOB to inspect or investigate 

auditors in mainland China or Hong Kong could deprive investors of the benefits of PCAOB inspections, which could adversely affect 

the ability of companies using such auditors to access U.S. capital markets.

As  part  of  the  continued  focus  on  access  to  audit  and  other  information  for  companies  with  substantial  operations  in  China,  in 

December  2020,  the  United  States  enacted  the  HFCAA,  which  requires  the  SEC  to  identify  Commission-Identified  Issuers.  Under  the 

HFCAA,  if  the  SEC  conclusively  identifies  an  issuer  as  a  Commission-Identified  Issuer  for  two  consecutive  years,  the  SEC  is  required 

to  prohibit  the  trading  of  the  issuer’s  securities  on  a  national  securities  exchange  or  through  any  other  method  that  is  within  the 

jurisdiction of the SEC to regulate, including over-the-counter markets in the United States.

In  March  2022,  SEC  staff  conclusively  identified  the  Company  as  a  Commission-Identified  Issuer  because  our  former  auditor,  which 

filed  an  audit  report  with  our  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  December  31,  2021,  was  located  in  mainland 

China.

In  May  2022,  the  Company  engaged  KPMG  LLP,  an  auditor  located  in  the  United  States  that  is  inspected  by  the  PCAOB,  as  our 

independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. In addition, in December 2022, the PCAOB 

vacated its determination that it was unable to inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered public accounting firms in mainland China. 

As  a  result,  until  such  time  as  the  PCAOB  issues  a  new  determination,  the  SEC  staff  has  stated  that  there  are  no  issuers  currently 

at  risk  of  having  their  securities  subject  to  a  trading  prohibition  under  the  HFCAA.  Although  we  are  not  currently  at  risk  of  delisting 

pursuant to the HFCAA, if the PCAOB were to issue a new determination regarding limitations on its ability to inspect or investigate our 

independent auditor and we were to fail to meet the audit requirements of the HFCAA for two consecutive years, our securities may 

be prohibited from trading on a national securities exchange or over-the-counter market in the United States, and this could result in 

our ADSs being delisted from the Nasdaq. Delisting of our ADSs would force holders of our ADSs to sell their ADSs or convert them into 

our ordinary shares. The foregoing could adversely affect the market price of our securities and our ability to raise capital. The market 

price  of  our  securities  could  also  be  adversely  affected  as  a  result  of  anticipated  negative  impacts  of  such  legislative  or  executive 

actions upon, as well as negative investor sentiment toward, companies with significant operations in mainland China and Hong Kong 

that  are  listed  in  the  United  States,  regardless  of  whether  such  actions  are  implemented  and  regardless  of  our  actual  operating 

performance.

39

RISK FACTORSWe  may  be  subject  to  additional  approval,  filing,  and  compliance  obligations  with  Chinese  authorities  in 

connection with our engagement of KPMG LLP, a U.S. auditor that is subject to PCAOB inspection.

In the first quarter of 2023, the CSRC adopted the Archives Rules. According to the Archives Rules, we may be required to complete 

certain approval, filing, and regulatory procedures if it becomes necessary for us to disclose or provide to KPMG LLP, our U.S. auditor 

that  is  subject  to  inspection  by  the  PCAOB,  any  documents  or  materials  relevant  to  KPMG  LLP’s  audit  that  are  deemed  to  have  a 

sensitive impact (i.e., be detrimental to national security or the public interest if divulged) or contain state secrets or governmental 

authority  work  secrets.  Under  those  circumstances,  KPMG  LLP  would  also  be  required  to  abide  by  corresponding  approval,  filing, 

and compliance procedures. Due to the lack of further interpretation, we are not certain about the scope of materials that would be 

deemed to have a sensitive impact or contain state or governmental authority work secrets.

We are subject to extensive data protection, privacy, and information security laws, regulations, and policies 

in  China.  Compliance  with  such  laws,  rules,  and  regulations,  and  any  other  future  laws  and  regulations  in 

these areas, may entail significant expenses and could materially affect our business and results of operations, 

including as a result of government enforcement actions and significant penalties.

We  are  subject  to  extensive  data  protection,  privacy,  and  information  security  laws,  rules,  and  regulations  in  China,  such  as  the 

Data  Security  Law,  Cyber  Security  Law,  Cybersecurity  Review  Measures,  Personal  Information  Protection  Law,  Regulation  on  the 

Administration of Human Genetic Resources, Biosecurity Law, and Security Assessment Measures. These laws, rules, and regulations 

require us to take certain measures to promote the security of our networks and data stored on our networks (including with respect 

to  collection,  storage,  processing,  and  transfer),  to  monitor  and  manage  related  risks,  and  to  disclose  certain  incidents  to  affected 

parties and appropriate regulators. Establishing and maintaining such systems and complying with such requirements takes substantial 

time,  effort,  and  cost.  These  laws,  rules,  and  regulations  also  impose  certain  requirements  on,  and  may  limit  our  ability  to,  transfer 

certain  data,  such  as  personally  identifiable  information  of  persons  located  within  mainland  China  and  de-identified  or  anonymized 

health data for clinical trials, outside of China, including to our third-party partners and foreign law enforcement agencies or judicial 

authorities  without  prior  approval  by  the  Chinese  government.  Certain  violations  of  these  laws,  rules,  and  regulations  could  lead  to 

enforcement actions, significant fines, and/or criminal, civil, or administrative penalties. If we are not able to transfer data outside of 

mainland  China  to  comply  with  our  contractual  requirements  or  requirements  of  judicial  or  law  enforcement  authorities  outside  of 

mainland China, as a result of our requirements in China, it could materially and adversely affect our business and operating results. 

Although  we  believe  we  are  compliant  with  our  material  legal  obligations  in  these  areas,  the  interpretation,  application,  and 

enforcement  of  these  laws,  rules,  and  regulations  may  evolve  over  time  or  change.  Our  compliance  with  such  existing  laws,  rules, 

and  regulations,  or  any  future  related  laws  and  regulations,  could  significantly  increase  our  compliance  costs,  require  significant 

changes  to  our  operations,  result  in  suspensions  or  delays  of  our  clinical  trials  or  impair  or  ability  to  initiate  new  clinical  trials,  or 

even prevent us from providing certain products in jurisdictions in which we currently operate or may in the future wish to operate. 

Any actual or perceived failure on our part to comply with such laws, regulations, or obligations relating to privacy, data protection, 

information  security,  or  national  security  in  China  could  result  in  investigations,  fines,  suspension,  or  other  penalties  by  Chinese 

government authorities and private claims or litigation, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, 

40

RISK FACTORSresults  of  operations,  and  reputation.  Further,  legal  uncertainty  created  by  such  laws,  rules,  and  regulations  as  well  as  recent 

Chinese government actions could adversely affect our ability to raise capital in the U.S. on favorable terms or at all. 

The economic, political, and social conditions in mainland China, as well as governmental policies, could affect 

the  business  environment  and  financial  markets  in  mainland  China,  our  ability  to  operate  our  business,  our 

liquidity, and our access to capital.

A  substantial  portion  of  our  operations,  and  all  of  our  commercial  operations,  are  conducted  in  mainland  China.  Accordingly,  our 

business,  results  of  operations,  financial  condition,  and  prospects  may  be  significantly  influenced  by  economic,  political,  legal,  and 

social  conditions  in  mainland  China.  Mainland  China’s  economy  differs  from  the  U.S.  economy  in  many  respects,  including  with 

respect  to  the  amount  of  government  involvement,  level  of  development,  growth  rate,  control  of  foreign  exchange,  and  allocation 

of  resources.  While  mainland  China’s  economy  has  experienced  significant  growth,  such  growth  has  been  uneven  across  different 

regions and sectors. The Chinese government has implemented various measures to encourage economic development and allocation 

of  resources.  Some  of  these  measures  may  benefit  the  overall  economy  in  mainland  China  but  may  have  a  negative  effect  on  our 

business. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control, perceived 

government  interference,  and/or  changes  in  tax,  cyber  and  data  security,  capital  investments,  cross-border  transactions,  and  other 

regulations that are currently or may in the future be applicable to us. Recently, Chinese regulators have announced regulatory actions 

aimed  at  providing  the  Chinese  government  with  greater  oversight  over  certain  sectors  of  mainland  China’s  economy,  including  the 

for-profit  education  and  technology  sectors.  Although  the  biotech  industry  is  already  highly  regulated  in  mainland  China  and  there 

has been no indication of such actions or oversight in our sector, the Chinese government may in the future take regulatory actions 

that materially adversely affect our business, financial results, liquidity, or access to capital or the business environment and financial 

markets in mainland China more broadly. 

If the Chinese government determines that our corporate structure does not comply with Chinese regulations, 

or  if  Chinese  regulations  change  or  are  interpreted  differently  in  the  future,  the  value  of  our  securities  may 

decline in value or become worthless.

In  July  2021,  the  Chinese  government  provided  new  guidance  on  Chinese  companies  raising  capital  outside  of  mainland  China, 

including  through  arrangements  called  variable  interest  entities,  or  VIEs.  Currently,  our  corporate  structure  contains  no  variable 

interest entities and we are not in an industry that is subject to foreign ownership limitations in mainland China. However, there are 

uncertainties  with  respect  to  the  Chinese  legal  system  and  there  may  be  changes  in  laws,  regulations  and  policies,  including  how 

those laws, regulations and policies will be interpreted or implemented. If in the future the Chinese government determines that our 

corporate  structure  does  not  comply  with  Chinese  regulations,  or  if  Chinese  regulations  change  or  are  interpreted  differently,  the 

value of our securities may decline or become worthless. 

41

RISK FACTORSWe  are  required  to  obtain  certain  approvals  and  licenses  from  Chinese  authorities  to  operate  our  Chinese 

subsidiaries.

The  Chinese  government  has  exercised,  and  may  continue  to  exercise,  substantial  influence  or  control  over  virtually  every  sector  of 

the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. For example, to conduct our business activities in mainland China, each 

of our Chinese subsidiaries is required to obtain a business license from the local counterpart of the State Administration for Market 

Regulation, or SAMR. Our ability to operate in mainland China could be undermined if our Chinese subsidiaries are not able to obtain 

or maintain required approvals from Chinese authorities to operate in mainland China. Each of our Chinese subsidiaries has obtained 

a valid business license from the local counterpart of the SAMR, and no application for any such license has been denied. The central 

or  local  governments  could  impose  new,  stricter  regulations  or  interpretations  of  existing  regulations  that  could  require  additional 

expenditures and efforts on our part to comply with such regulations or interpretations. If in the future our Chinese subsidiaries do 

not receive or maintain required approvals, such as because we inadvertently conclude that approvals are not required or because of 

changes in applicable laws and regulations or interpretations of such laws and regulations, the operations of our Chinese subsidiaries, 

and as a result our business, results of operations, financial condition, and prospects, could be adversely affected and the value of our 

securities could significantly decline or become worthless.

The  approval  of,  submission  of  certain  filings  to,  or  other  procedures  with  the  CSRC  or  other  Chinese 

regulatory authorities may be required in connection with issuing securities to foreign investors under Chinese 

law,  and,  if  required,  we  cannot  predict  whether  we  will  be  able,  or  how  long  it  will  take  us,  to  obtain  such 

approval or complete such filing or other procedures.

We  are  not  currently  required  under  Chinese  laws  and  regulations  to  obtain  prior  approval  or  prior  permission  from  the  CSRC  or 

any  other  Chinese  regulatory  authority  to  issue  securities  to  foreign  investors,  and  we  do  not  believe  we  will  be  required  to  submit 

an  application  to  the  CSRC  for  our  previous  issuances  of  securities  to  foreign  investors.  Under  recent  guidelines,  however,  we  may 

be required to submit filings to the CSRC following the submission of future overseas listings and the completion of future offerings 

of  our  equity  securities  to  foreign  investors,  including  for  future  securities  offerings  in  the  same  overseas  markets  as  our  previous 

issuances.  There  remains  uncertainty  as  to  the  interpretation  and  implementation  of  regulatory  requirements  related  to  overseas 

securities offerings and other capital markets activities. If, for any reason, we were to fail to obtain any approvals or to complete any 

filings or other procedures required by the CSRC or other Chinese regulatory authorities, future offerings of our equity securities to 

foreign investors may be delayed or prevented or we may face sanctions, fines, and/or other penalties; limitations on our ability to pay 

dividends outside of mainland China; limitations on our operations in mainland China; delays or restrictions on the repatriation of the 

proceeds from our public offerings into mainland China; or other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, 

financial condition, results of operations, and prospects as well as the value of our securities. 

42

RISK FACTORSWe  may  be  exposed  to  liabilities  under  anti-corruption  laws  in  China  and  the  United  States,  including  the 

U.S.  Foreign  Corrupt  Practices  Act,  and  any  determination  that  we  have  violated  such  laws  could  have  a 

material adverse effect on our business or reputation. 

We  are  subject  to  anti-corruption  laws  in  China  and  the  United  States,  including  the  FCPA,  which  generally  prohibit  us  from  making 

improper  payments  to  government  officials  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  or  retaining  business.  Although  we  have  implemented 

controls and procedures to promote compliance with such laws, if we fail to comply, due to either our own deliberate or inadvertent 

acts  or  those  of  others,  our  reputation  could  be  harmed  and  we  could  incur  criminal  or  civil  penalties,  sanctions,  and/or  other 

significant expenses, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, 

and  prospects.  In  addition,  the  scope  of  the  recent  anti-corruption  enforcement  efforts  in  China  have  led  to  increased  uncertainty 

in the healthcare industry, which have impacted and may continue to impact hospital and physician practices. Such uncertainty, and 

related evaluations and adjustments by hospitals and physicians and other market participants, may adversely affect our business and 

results of operations.

Restrictions  on  currency  exchange  may  limit  our  ability  to  receive  and  use  financing  in  foreign  currencies 

effectively. 

The  ability  of  our  Chinese  subsidiaries  to  exchange  currency  is  subject  to  significant  foreign  exchange  controls  and,  in  the  case  of 

transactions  under  the  capital  account,  requires  the  approval  of  and/or  registration  with  Chinese  government  authorities,  including 

the state administration of foreign exchange, or SAFE. In particular, if we finance our Chinese subsidiaries by means of foreign debt 

from us or other foreign lenders, the amount is not allowed to, among other things, exceed the statutory limits and such loans must be 

registered with the local counterpart of the SAFE. If we finance our Chinese subsidiaries by means of additional capital contributions, 

these capital contributions are subject to registration with SAMR or its local branch, reporting of foreign investment information with 

the MOFCOM, or registration with other governmental authorities in mainland China. 

In  light  of  the  various  requirements  imposed  by  Chinese  regulations  on  loans  to,  and  direct  investment  in,  China-based  entities 

by  offshore  holding  companies,  we  may  not  be  able  to  complete  the  necessary  government  formalities  or  obtain  the  necessary 

government approvals on timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans or capital contributions by us to our Chinese subsidiaries. If 

we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to capitalize or otherwise fund our Chinese operations may 

be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business. 

We may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our Chinese subsidiaries to fund any cash 

and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our Chinese subsidiaries to make 

payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business. 

Zai Lab Limited is a holding company, and we may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our Chinese subsidiaries 

for  our  cash  and  financing  requirements,  including  the  funds  necessary  to  pay  dividends  and  other  cash  distributions  to  our 

shareholders or holders of our ADSs or to service any debt we may incur. If any of our Chinese subsidiaries incur debt on their own 

43

RISK FACTORSbehalf in the future, the instruments governing such debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. To date, there have not been 

any  such  dividends  or  other  distributions  from  our  Chinese  subsidiaries  to  our  subsidiaries  located  in  or  outside  of  mainland  China. 

In  addition,  none  of  our  subsidiaries  have  issued  any  dividends  or  distributions  to  us  or  their  respective  shareholders  in  or  outside 

of mainland China, and neither we nor any of our subsidiaries have directly or indirectly paid dividends or made distributions to U.S. 

investors.  Zai  Lab  (Shanghai)  Co.,  Ltd.,  an  operating  subsidiary  of  ours  that  is  domiciled  in  mainland  China,  received  $466.5  million 

in  capital  contributions  via  24  separate  contributions  from  Zai  Lab  (Hong  Kong)  Limited,  its  sole  shareholder,  domiciled  outside  of 

mainland  China,  from  2014  to  2023,  to  fund  its  business  operations  in  mainland  China.  Zai  Lab  International  Trading  (Shanghai) 

Co.,  Ltd.,  an  operating  subsidiary  of  ours  that  is  domiciled  in  mainland  China,  received  RMB1.0  million  in  capital  contributions  via 

contributions  from  Zai  Lab  (Shanghai)  Co.,  Ltd.,  its  sole  shareholder,  in  2019  to  fund  its  business  operations  in  mainland  China.  Zai 

Lab  (Suzhou)  Co.,  Ltd.,  an  operating  subsidiary  of  ours  that  is  domiciled  in  mainland  China,  received  RMB166.5  million  in  capital 

contributions  via  10  separate  contributions  from  Zai  Lab  (Hong  Kong)  Limited,  its  sole  shareholder,  domiciled  outside  of  mainland 

China, from 2015 to 2019 to fund its business operations in mainland China. Zai Lab Trading (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., an operating subsidiary 

of ours that is domiciled in mainland China, received RMB1.0 million in capital contributions via contributions from Zai Lab (Suzhou) 

Co.,  Ltd.,  its  sole  shareholder,  in  2020  to  fund  its  business  operations  in  mainland  China.  Zai  Biopharmaceutical  (Suzhou)  Co.,  Ltd., 

an  operating  subsidiary  of  ours  that  is  domiciled  in  mainland  China,  received  $15.0  million  in  capital  contributions  via  four  separate 

contributions from Zai Lab (Hong Kong) Limited, its sole shareholder, domiciled outside of mainland China, from 2017 to 2018 to fund 

its business operations in mainland China. In the future, cash proceeds raised from our overseas financing activities may be transferred 

by us to our Chinese subsidiaries via capital contributions, shareholder loans or intercompany loans, as the case may be. 

According to the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China and its implementing rules, which jointly established the 

legal  framework  for  the  administration  of  foreign-invested  companies,  a  foreign  investor  may,  in  accordance  with  other  applicable 

laws, freely transfer into or out of mainland China its contributions, profits, capital earnings, income from asset disposal, intellectual 

property rights, royalties acquired, compensation or indemnity legally obtained, and income from liquidation, made or derived within 

the territory of mainland China in RMB or any foreign currency, and any entity or individual shall not illegally restrict such transfer in 

terms of the currency, amount, and frequency. According to the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China and other Chinese 

laws  and  regulations,  our  Chinese  subsidiaries  may  pay  dividends  only  out  of  their  respective  accumulated  profits  as  determined  in 

accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our Chinese subsidiaries is required to set aside 

at least 10% of its accumulated after-tax profits, if any, each year to fund a certain statutory reserve fund, until the aggregate amount 

of  such  fund  reaches  50%  of  its  registered  capital.  Where  the  statutory  reserve  fund  is  insufficient  to  cover  any  loss  the  Chinese 

subsidiary incurred in the previous financial year, its current financial year’s accumulated after-tax profits shall first be used to cover 

the loss before any statutory reserve fund is drawn therefrom. Such statutory reserve funds and the accumulated after-tax profits that 

are  used  for  covering  the  loss  cannot  be  distributed  to  us  as  dividends.  At  their  discretion,  our  Chinese  subsidiaries  may  allocate  a 

portion of their after-tax profits based on Chinese accounting standards to a discretionary reserve fund. 

RMB  is  not  freely  convertible  into  other  currencies.  As  a  result,  any  restriction  on  currency  exchange  may  limit  the  ability  of  our 

Chinese  subsidiaries  to  use  their  potential  future  RMB  revenues  to  pay  dividends  to  us.  The  Chinese  government  imposes  controls 

on  the  convertibility  of  RMB  into  foreign  currencies  and,  in  certain  cases,  the  remittance  of  currency  out  of  mainland  China. 

Shortages  in  availability  of  foreign  currency  may  then  restrict  the  ability  of  our  Chinese  subsidiaries  to  remit  sufficient  foreign 

currency  to  our  offshore  entities  for  those  offshore  entities  to  pay  dividends  or  make  other  payments  or  otherwise  to  satisfy  our 

44

RISK FACTORSforeign-currency-denominated obligations. RMB is currently convertible under the “current account,” which includes dividends, trade, 

and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not under the “capital account,” which includes foreign direct investment and 

foreign  debt  (which  may  be  denominated  in  foreign  currency  or  RMB),  including  loans  we  may  secure  for  our  Chinese  subsidiaries. 

Currently, our Chinese subsidiaries may purchase foreign currency for settlement of current account transactions, including payment 

of  dividends  to  us,  without  the  approval  of  the  SAFE  by  complying  with  certain  procedural  requirements.  However,  the  relevant 

Chinese governmental authorities may limit or eliminate our ability to purchase foreign currencies in the future for current account 

transactions.  The  Chinese  government  may  continue  to  strengthen  its  capital  controls,  and  additional  restrictions  and  substantial 

vetting  processes  may  be  instituted  by  SAFE  for  cross-border  transactions  falling  under  both  the  current  account  and  the  capital 

account. Any existing and future restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize revenue generated in RMB to fund 

our business activities outside of mainland China or pay dividends in foreign currencies to holders of our securities. Foreign exchange 

transactions under the capital account remain subject to limitations and require approvals from, or registration with, SAFE and other 

relevant Chinese governmental authorities. This could affect our ability to obtain foreign currency through debt or equity financing for 

our subsidiaries. 

Chinese  regulations  relating  to  the  establishment  of  offshore  special  purpose  companies  by  residents  in 

mainland China may subject our China resident beneficial owners or our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in 

mainland China to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into these subsidiaries, limit the ability 

of  these  subsidiaries  to  increase  their  registered  capital  or  distribute  profits  to  us,  or  otherwise  adversely 

affect us.

Our  shareholders  that  are  residents  of  mainland  China  are  required  to  register  with  local  branches  of  SAFE  or  competent  banks 

designated by SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas 

investment  and  financing,  with  such  residents’  legally  owned  assets  or  equity  interests  in  domestic  enterprises  or  offshore  assets 

or  interests,  being  considered  a  “special  purpose  vehicle.”  If  such  shareholders  do  not  complete  their  registration  with  the  local 

SAFE  branches  or  otherwise  fail  to  comply  with  SAFE  registration  requirements,  the  Chinese  subsidiaries  may  be  prohibited  from 

distributing their profits and proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer, or liquidation to the offshore company, and the 

offshore  company  may  be  restricted  in  its  ability  to  contribute  additional  capital  to  its  Chinese  subsidiaries.  Moreover,  failure  to 

comply with SAFE registration requirements could result in liability under Chinese law for circumventing applicable foreign exchange 

restrictions. As a result, our business operations and ability to distribute profits could be materially and adversely affected. 

Chinese regulations establish complex procedures for certain acquisitions of mainland China based companies 

by  foreign  investors,  which  could  make  it  more  difficult  for  us  to  pursue  growth  through  acquisitions  in 

mainland China.

Chinese  regulations  establish  certain  additional  procedures  and  requirements  that  could  make  merger  and  acquisition  activities 

by  foreign  investors  more  time  consuming  and  complex.  For  example,  companies  must  notify  the  MOFCOM  in  advance  of  any 

change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a Chinese domestic enterprise, if (i) any important industry 

is  concerned,  (ii)  such  transaction  involves  factors  that  have  or  may  have  impact  on  the  national  security,  (iii)  such  transaction  will 

lead  to  a  change  in  control  of  a  domestic  enterprise  which  holds  a  famous  trademark  or  Chinese  time-honored  brand,  or  (iv)  such 

45

RISK FACTORStransaction  involves  the  concentration  of  business  undertakings  by  way  of  mergers,  acquisitions,  or  contractual  arrangements  that 

allow  one  market  player  to  take  control  of  or  to  exert  decisive  impact  on  another  market  player.  In  the  future,  we  may  grow  our 

business  by  acquiring  complementary  businesses.  Complying  with  the  necessary  notification  and  review  requirements  to  complete 

such transactions may be time consuming, and our ability to obtain any necessary approvals, such as from the MOFCOM or its local 

counterparts,  may  delay  or  prevent  our  ability  to  complete  such  transactions.  It  is  unclear  whether  our  business  would  be  deemed 

to be in an industry that raises national security concerns. If our business is deemed to be in an industry subject to national security 

review,  our  future  acquisitions  in  mainland  China  may  be  closely  scrutinized  or  prohibited,  and  our  ability  to  expand  our  business 

through future acquisitions would be materially and adversely affected. 

Completing the necessary inspection and approval processes for our Chinese manufacturing facilities, such as 

by the FDA, NMPA, and EMA, may be time consuming and costly. 

As  part  of  obtaining  required  regulatory  approvals  for  our  product  candidates,  such  as  by  the  NMPA  in  mainland  China,  FDA  in  the 

United  States,  and  EMA  in  the  EU,  we  will  need  to  undergo  strict  pre-approval  inspections  of  our  manufacturing  facilities  or  the 

manufacturing  facilities  of  our  CMOs,  including  those  located  in  mainland  China  and  elsewhere.  Historically,  some  manufacturing 

facilities  in  mainland  China  have  had  difficulty  meeting  required  standards.  When  inspecting  Chinese  manufacturing  facilities,  our 

regulator(s)  might  cite  GMP  deficiencies,  both  minor  and  significant.  Our  efforts  to  remediate  deficiencies  to  the  satisfaction  of 

our regulator(s) can be laborious, time consuming, and costly and may be unsuccessful. If we cannot satisfy our regulator(s) as to our 

compliance with GMP, marketing approval for our product candidates could be significantly delayed or prevented, which in turn would 

delay or prevent commercialization of our product candidates. 

Our  business  benefits  from  certain  financial 

incentives  and  discretionary  policies  granted  by 

local 

governments.  Expiration  of,  or  changes  to,  these  incentives  or  policies  would  have  an  adverse  effect  on  our 

results of operations. 

Local governments within mainland China have granted certain financial incentives to our Chinese subsidiaries as part of their efforts 

to encourage the development of local businesses. The timing, amount, and criteria of government financial incentives are determined 

within  the  sole  discretion  of  the  local  government  authorities  and  cannot  be  predicted  with  certainty.  We  received  government 

grants  and  subsidies  of  $2.4  million  and  $11.5  million  in  2023  and  2022,  respectively.  Local  governments  may  decide  to  reduce  or 

eliminate  incentives  that  we  are  receiving  at  any  time.  In  addition,  some  government  financial  incentives  are  granted  on  a  project 

basis and subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including compliance with the applicable financial incentive agreements and 

completion  of  the  specified  project(s).  If  we  fail  to  satisfy  the  necessary  conditions,  we  may  be  deprived  of  the  relevant  incentives. 

Any reduction or elimination of government incentives would have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations. 

It  may  be  difficult  for  shareholders  and  regulators  outside  of  mainland  China  to  conduct  investigations  or 

collect evidence in mainland China.

It may be difficult for shareholders to pursue claims or for regulators outside of mainland China to conduct regulatory investigations 

in  mainland  China  as  a  matter  of  law  or  practicality.  For  example,  in  mainland  China,  there  are  significant  legal  and  other  obstacles 

to  providing  information  needed  for  regulatory  investigations  or  litigation  initiated  outside  of  mainland  China.  Although  authorities 

46

RISK FACTORSin  mainland  China  may  establish  a  regulatory  cooperation  mechanism  with  authorities  of  another  country  or  region  to  implement 

cross-border  supervision  and  administration,  such  cooperation  with  authorities  in  the  United  States  may  not  be  efficient  in  the 

absence  of  mutual  and  practical  cooperation  mechanisms.  Furthermore,  under  Chinese  securities  laws,  no  overseas  securities 

regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities in mainland China, which may further increase 

difficulties shareholders may face in protecting their interests. 

If we are classified as a Chinese resident enterprise for Chinese income tax purposes, such classification could 

result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-Chinese shareholders or ADS holders.

Under  the  EIT  Law,  an  enterprise  incorporated  outside  of  mainland  China  whose  “de  facto  management  bodies”  are  located  in 

mainland China is considered a “resident enterprise” and will be subject to a uniform 25% enterprise income tax, or EIT, rate on its 

global income. 

We  believe  that  neither  Zai  Lab  Limited  nor  any  of  our  subsidiaries  outside  of  mainland  China  is  a  Chinese  resident  enterprise  for 

Chinese  tax  purposes.  However,  the  tax  resident  status  of  an  enterprise  is  subject  to  determination  by  Chinese  tax  authorities,  and 

uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.” If Chinese tax authorities determine 

that  Zai  Lab  Limited  or  any  of  our  subsidiaries  outside  of  mainland  China  is  a  Chinese  resident  enterprise  for  EIT  purposes  that 

entity would be subject to a 25% EIT on its global income. If such entity derives income other than dividends from its wholly owned 

subsidiaries in mainland China, a 25% EIT on its global income may increase our tax burden. 

In addition, if Zai Lab Limited is classified as a Chinese resident enterprise for Chinese tax purposes, we may be required to withhold 

tax at a rate of 10% from dividends we pay to our shareholders, including the holders of our ADSs that are non-resident enterprises. 

In  addition,  non-resident  enterprise  shareholders  (including  our  ADS  holders)  may  be  subject  to  a  10%  Chinese  withholding  tax  on 

gains realized on the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within mainland 

China. Furthermore, gains derived by our non-Chinese individual shareholders from the sale of our shares and ADSs may be subject to 

a 20% Chinese withholding tax. It is unclear whether our non-China-based individual shareholders (including our ADS holders) would 

be  subject  to  any  Chinese  tax  (including  withholding  tax)  on  dividends  received  by  such  non-Chinese  individual  shareholders  in  the 

event we are determined to be a Chinese resident enterprise. If any Chinese tax were to apply to such dividends, it would generally 

apply  at  a  rate  of  20%.  Chinese  tax  liability  may  vary  under  applicable  tax  treaties.  However,  it  is  unclear  whether  our  non-Chinese 

shareholders would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and mainland China in the 

event that Zai Lab Limited is treated as a Chinese resident enterprise. 

We and our shareholders may face tax consequences and other requirements in mainland China with respect 

to indirect transfers of equity interests in Chinese resident enterprises.

The  indirect  transfer  of  equity  interests  in  Chinese  resident  enterprises  by  a  non-Chinese  resident  enterprise,  or  Indirect  Transfer, 

is  potentially  subject  to  income  tax  in  mainland  China  at  a  rate  of  10%  on  the  gain  if  such  transfer  is  considered  as  not  having  a 

commercial  purpose  and  is  carried  out  for  tax  avoidance.  The  Chinese  State  Administration  of  Taxation  has  issued  several  rules  and 

notices to tighten scrutiny over such acquisition transactions in recent years and has provided certain factors and criteria that will be 

47

RISK FACTORSconsidered in determining whether an indirect transfer has a bona fide commercial purpose. Failure to withhold and remit required 

taxes may result in tax liability and a penalty of 50% to 300% of the unpaid tax. 

It is unclear how these rules and regulations affect future private equity financing transactions, share exchange, or other transactions 

involving  the  transfer  of  shares  in  Zai  Lab  Limited  by  investors  that  are  non-Chinese  resident  enterprises  or  the  sale  or  purchase  of 

shares  in  other  non-Chinese  resident  companies  or  other  taxable  assets  by  us.  As  a  result,  we  may  be  required  to  expend  valuable 

resources  to  determine  whether  we  or  our  non-Chinese  resident  investors  are  subject  to  filing,  withholding,  or  tax  obligations  for 

certain transactions, such as offshore restructuring transactions or acquisition transactions, and to otherwise comply with these rules 

and regulations. This may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, and ability to complete such 

transactions with non-Chinese resident investors. 

Certain  of  our  investments  may  be  subject  to  review  from  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Investment  in  the 

United States, which may delay or block a transaction from closing.

The  CFIUS  has  jurisdiction  over  investments  in  which  a  foreign  person  acquires  control  over  a  U.S.  company,  as  well  as  certain 

non-controlling investments in U.S. businesses that deal in critical technology, critical infrastructure, or sensitive personal data. Some 

transactions  involving  U.S.  businesses  that  deal  in  critical  technology  are  subject  to  a  mandatory  filing  requirement.  Accordingly,  to 

the  extent  the  U.S.  portion  of  our  business  decides  to  take  investments  from  foreign  persons,  or  we  decide  to  invest  in  or  acquire, 

in whole or in part, a U.S. business, such investments could be subject to CFIUS’s jurisdiction. To date, none of our investments have 

been  subject  to  CFIUS  review,  but  depending  on  the  particulars  of  ongoing  or  future  investments,  we  may  be  obligated  to  secure 

CFIUS approval before closing, which could delay the time period between signing and closing. If we determine that a CFIUS filing is 

not mandatory (or otherwise advisable), there is a risk that CFIUS could initiate its own review, if it determines that the transaction is 

subject to its jurisdiction. If an investment raises significant national security concerns, CFIUS has the authority to impose mitigation 

conditions or recommend that the President block a transaction. 

In  September  2022,  President  Biden  issued  an  executive  order  to  instruct  CFIUS  to  consider  national  security  factors  when 

evaluating  transactions,  specifically  a  deal’s  effect  on  critical  U.S.  supply  chains,  U.S.  technological  leadership  in  biotechnology  and 

biomanufacturing,  cybersecurity  risks,  or  risks  to  U.S.  persons’  sensitive  data.  As  a  result,  companies  with  significant  operations  in 

China will likely face heightened regulatory scrutiny from CFIUS in conducting acquisition of U.S, biotech companies.

Changes  in  United  States  and  international  trade  policies  and  relations,  particularly  with  regard  to  mainland 

China, may adversely impact our business and operating results.

The U.S. government has recently made statements and taken certain actions that led to changes to United States and international 

trade  policies  and  relations,  including  imposing  several  rounds  of  tariffs  affecting  certain  products  manufactured  in  mainland  China 

and imposing certain sanctions and restrictions in relation to mainland China. It is unknown whether and to what extent new tariffs or 

other new executive orders, laws, or regulations will be adopted, or the effect that any such actions would have on us or our industry. 

We  conduct  pre-clinical  and  clinical  activities  and  have  business  operations  both  in  the  United  States  and  mainland  China,  and  any 

unfavorable  government  policies  on  international  trade,  such  as  capital  controls  or  tariffs,  may  affect  the  demand  for  our  products, 

48

RISK FACTORSthe competitive position of our products, the hiring of scientists and other research and development personnel, and import or export 

of raw materials in relation to drug development or may prevent us from selling our products in certain countries. If any new tariffs, 

legislation, executive orders, and/or regulations are implemented, or if existing trade agreements are renegotiated or, in particular, if 

the U.S. or Chinese governments takes retaliatory actions due to the recent U.S.-China tension, such changes could have an adverse 

effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. 

It may be difficult to enforce against us or our management in mainland China any judgments obtained from 

foreign courts.

Although there are some protections with respect to enforcement in mainland China of judgments rendered by Hong Kong courts as 

a result of reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgment arrangements, mainland China does not have treaties or agreements 

providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments awarded by courts of the United States, the United Kingdom, 

most other western countries, or Japan. Hence, the recognition and enforcement in mainland China of judgments of a court in any of 

these jurisdictions in relation to any matter not subject to a binding arbitration provision may be difficult or even impossible.

Failure to renew our current leases or locate desirable alternatives for our leased properties could materially 

and adversely affect our business.

We  lease  properties  for  our  offices  and  manufacturing  facilities.  We  may  not  be  able  to  successfully  extend  or  renew  such  leases 

upon expiration of the current term on commercially reasonable terms or at all and may therefore be forced to relocate our affected 

operations. This could disrupt our operations and result in significant relocation expenses, which could adversely affect our business, 

financial  condition,  and  results  of  operations.  In  addition,  we  compete  with  other  businesses  for  premises  at  certain  locations  or  of 

desirable sizes. As a result, even though we could extend or renew our leases, rental payments may significantly increase as a result of 

the high demand for the leased properties. In addition, we may not be able to locate desirable alternative sites for our current leased 

properties as our business continues to grow and failure in relocating our affected operations could adversely affect our business and 

operations. 

RISKS RELATED TO OUR FINANCIAL POSITION

We have incurred significant losses since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for 

at least the next year. If we are unable to generate sufficient revenue from our commercial products, on the 

anticipated timeline or at all, at a level that more than offsets our expenses, we will be unable to achieve or 

maintain profitability.

We  currently  have  five  commercial  products  that  are  approved  and  marketed  for  certain  indications  in  mainland  China,  and  we  are 

pursuing regulatory approval of new products and additional indications for our existing products in coming years in mainland China 

and  other  licensed  territories  and  worldwide  for  our  internally  developed  product  candidates.  Investment  in  biopharmaceutical 

product development is highly speculative because it entails substantial upfront capital expenditures and significant risk that a product 

candidate  will  fail  to  gain  regulatory  approval  or  become  commercially  viable.  To  date,  we  have  financed  our  activities  primarily 

49

RISK FACTORSthrough  revenues  from  the  sales  of  our  commercial  products  and  offerings  on  Nasdaq  and  the  Hong  Kong  Stock  Exchange  as  well 

as private placements. Although our annual product revenues have been increasing for the last few years and we continue to focus 

on  efficiency  and  productivity,  we  continue  to  incur  significant  development,  commercialization,  and  other  expenses  related  to  our 

ongoing operations. As a result, we have incurred net losses since our inception, including $334.6 million for 2023. If we are unable to 

generate sufficient revenue from sales of our approved commercial products, on our anticipated timeline or at all, at a level that more 

than offsets our expenses, we will be unable to achieve or maintain profitability.

There  are  several  factors  that  could  impact  our  ability  to  achieve  and  maintain  profitability,  including  the  success  and  costs  of  our 

commercial  products;  our  ability  to  obtain  approvals  for  and  commercialize  new  products  or  additional  indications  for  existing 

products  and  costs  of  our  clinical  trials;  our  ability  to  build  and  strengthen  our  pipeline  through  internal  discovery  and  business 

development activities and costs related to such license and collaboration arrangements; the costs and efficiency of our commercial 

and  R&D  teams  and  other  personnel;  and  our  ability  to  overcome  unforeseen  challenges  or  absorb  unforeseen  expenses  that  may 

adversely affect our business. Our failure to become and remain profitable would decrease the value of the Company or our securities 

and  could  impair  our  ability  to  raise  capital,  maintain  our  research  and  development  and  commercialization  efforts,  or  expand  or 

maintain our business. 

We  may  seek  additional  funding,  such  as  for  our  product  development  programs  and  commercialization 

efforts,  which  may  not  be  available  on  acceptable  terms,  or  at  all.  If  we  are  unable  to  raise  capital  on 

acceptable  terms  when  needed,  we  could  incur  losses  or  be  forced  to  delay,  reduce,  or  terminate  certain 

programs or activities.

Since  inception,  we  have  incurred  significant  costs  for  our  commercialization  efforts  with  respect  to  our  approved  products, 

our  research  and  development  efforts  related  to  our  product  candidates  and  related  clinical  or  pre-clinical  trials,  our  business 

development activities and related upfront or milestone fees or royalty payments in our license and collaboration arrangements, and 

other  costs  to  develop  the  infrastructure  and  otherwise  support  our  operations.  To  date,  we  have  financed  our  activities  primarily 

through revenues from the sales of our commercial products and offerings on Nasdaq and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as well as 

private placements. We may require or seek to obtain additional funding in connection with our operations through public or private 

equity  offerings,  debt  financing,  collaborations  or  licensing  arrangements,  or  other  sources.  If  we  are  unable  to  raise  capital  when 

needed or on acceptable terms, we could incur losses or be forced to delay, reduce, or terminate certain programs or activities. 

Although we believe our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments as of December 31, 2023 will enable us to fund our 

operating  expenses  and  capital  expenditure  requirements  for  at  least  the  next  twelve  months,  we  could  use  our  capital  resources 

sooner than we currently expect. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including: 

• 

• 

revenues from our approved commercial products and related product costs;

the  cost  and  timing  of  future  commercialization  activities  for  our  products  and  any  other  product  candidates  for  which  we 

receive regulatory approval; 

50

RISK FACTORS• 

the  cost,  timing,  and  outcome  of  seeking,  obtaining,  and  maintaining  regulatory  approval  for  our  products  and  product 

candidates; 

• 

the  scope,  progress,  timing,  results,  and  costs  of  researching  and  developing  our  product  candidates,  including  additional 

indications for our existing commercial products, and conducting pre-clinical and clinical trials; 

• 

our  ability  to  establish  and  maintain  strategic  partnerships,  including  collaboration,  licensing,  or  other  arrangements  and  the 

economic and other terms, timing, and success of such arrangements, such as with respect to any upfront fees, development 

and regulatory milestones that may be payable prior to commercialization or before we have generated any revenue from the 

related product, and sales-based milestones or royalty payments;

• 

the  cost,  timing,  and  outcome  of  preparing,  filing,  and  prosecuting  patent  applications,  maintaining  and  enforcing  our 

intellectual property rights, and defending any intellectual property related claims; 

• 

• 

• 

• 

cash requirements of any future acquisitions; 

resources and costs required to promote compliance with applicable laws and regulations by us and our third-party partners; 

costs of our personnel; and 

the costs of operating as a public company in both the United States and Hong Kong. 

We and our subsidiaries have entered into debt arrangements with certain financial institutions in China, and 

we  may  in  the  future  consider  additional  debt  arrangements,  to  fund  our  business  or  working  capital  needs. 

Such debt arrangements may restrict our future operations.

We may, from time to time, enter into debt arrangements with certain financial institutions to support our business and working capital 

needs. As of the date hereof, we have entered into certain debt arrangements with Chinese financial institutions that allow certain of 

our  wholly-owned  subsidiaries  to  borrow  up  to  approximately  $164.5  million  (or  RMB1,171.7  million)  to  support  our  working  capital 

needs in mainland China, and Zai Lab Limited has agreed to guarantee approximately $142.0 million (or RMB1,011.7 million) of this debt. 

Such debt requires us or our subsidiaries to dedicate a portion of our or their cash flow to service interest and principal payments and, 

if interest rates rise, this amount may increase. As a result, our existing debt may limit our ability to use our cash flow to fund capital 

expenditures, to engage in transactions, or to meet other capital needs. Additionally, our subsidiaries’ debt service obligations may limit 

their ability to make future distributions to us. Our debt could also limit our flexibility to plan for and react to changes in our business or 

industry and may increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions, including a downturn in our business 

or the economy. This debt is denominated in RMB, and some bears interest at variable rates. As a result, increases in market interest 

rates  and  changes  in  foreign  exchange  rates  could  require  a  greater  portion  of  our  cash  flow  to  be  used  to  pay  interest,  which  could 

further hinder our operations. We may also have difficulty refinancing our existing debt or incurring new debt on terms that we would 

consider commercially reasonable or at all. To the extent that we incur additional indebtedness, the foregoing risks could increase.

51

RISK FACTORSWe  may  enter  into  certain  capital  raising,  business  collaboration,  or  other  arrangements  that  may  cause 

dilution to our shareholders, restrict our operations, or require us to relinquish rights to our technologies or 

product candidates. 

We  may  seek  business  opportunities  or  additional  funding  in  the  future  through  equity  offerings,  debt  financings,  collaborations, 

licensing  arrangements,  strategic  alliances,  and  marketing  or  distribution  arrangements.  To  the  extent  that  we  raise  additional 

capital  through  the  sale  of  equity  or  convertible  debt  securities,  our  shareholders’  ownership  interest  will  be  diluted,  and  the 

terms  may  include  liquidation  or  other  preferences  that  adversely  affect  rights  of  our  security  holders.  The  incurrence  of  additional 

indebtedness or the issuance of certain equity securities could result in increased fixed payment obligations and additional restrictive 

covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt or issue additional equity, limitations on our ability to acquire or 

license intellectual property rights, and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. 

In addition, issuance of additional equity securities, or the possibility of such issuance, may cause the market price of our securities to 

decline. Additionally, to finance any acquisitions, licensing arrangements, or strategic alliances, we may choose to issue our securities 

as  consideration,  which  could  dilute  the  ownership  of  our  shareholders.  In  the  event  that  we  enter  into  collaboration  or  licensing 

arrangements to raise capital, we may be required to accept unfavorable terms, including relinquishing or licensing to a third party our 

rights to technologies or product candidates. 

We may not be able to access the capital and credit markets on terms that are favorable to us. 

We  may  seek  access  to  the  capital  and  credit  markets  to  supplement  our  existing  funds  and  cash  generated  from  operations  for 

working capital, capital expenditure and debt service requirements, and other business initiatives. The capital and credit markets are 

experiencing, and have in the past experienced, extreme volatility and disruption, which leads to uncertainty and liquidity issues for 

borrowers  and  investors.  That  volatility  and  unpredictability  in  the  financial  markets  has  adversely  affected,  and  may  in  the  future 

adversely affect, access to capital and credit for life sciences companies, particularly for companies like ours with significant operations 

in  China  as  a  result  of  geopolitical  tensions  between  the  United  States  and  China  or  otherwise.  In  the  event  of  adverse  market 

conditions, we may be unable to obtain adequate capital or credit market financing, obtain that capital or credit on favorable terms, or 

access such capital or credit in the market(s) or manner most favorable to the Company. 

Our results of operations may be adversely affected by sustained periods of increased inflation.

The  global  economy,  including  the  U.S.  economy,  has  experienced  rising  inflation  in  recent  years.  We  source  our  products,  product 

candidates,  and  key  materials  from  third  parties  located  in  the  United  States,  including  our  licensors,  other  suppliers,  and  CROs. 

For  example,  we  rely  on  NovoCure  for  OPTUNE,  Deciphera  for  QINLOCK,  and  argenx  for  VYVGART.  Although  we  have  not  been 

materially affected by inflation in the past, sustained or increased inflation may result in increased product costs or other expenses. 

As a result, our results of operations may be adversely affected.

52

RISK FACTORSRISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

Our ability to generate revenues is highly dependent on the success of our commercial products and our ability 

to obtain regulatory approvals for our product candidates.

Our ability to generate product revenues depends on the success of our commercial products, including our five current commercial 

products  as  well  as  new  products  or  additional  indications  for  our  current  commercial  products  that  we  may  launch  in  the  future. 

Our ability to successfully generate revenue from our commercial products will depend on, among other things, our ability to: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

maintain sufficient manufacturing or supply arrangements with third-party licensors or manufacturers; 

produce through a validated process or procure internally or from third-party manufacturers sufficient quantities and inventory 

of our commercial products; 

build and maintain sufficient internal sales, distribution and marketing capabilities; 

increase  awareness  and  education  for  our  commercial  products  to  promote  acceptance  from  physicians,  healthcare  payors, 

patients, and the medical community; 

• 

improve  access  to,  and  affordability  of,  our  commercial  products,  such  as  through  NRDL  listings  or  supplemental  insurance 

coverage in the private-pay market; 

• 

maintain  compliance  with  ongoing  regulatory  labeling,  packaging,  storage,  advertising,  promotion,  recordkeeping,  safety,  and 

other post-market requirements; 

• 

• 

manage our growth and spending as costs and expenses increase due to commercialization; and 

manage  business  interruptions  resulting  from  the  occurrence  of  any  public  health  crisis,  international  war  or  conflict,  natural 

disaster, extreme weather event, or other significant or catastrophic event outside of our control. 

We  have  several  product  candidates  in  late-stage  clinical  development  and  various  others  in  earlier  stage  clinical  and  pre-clinical 

development.  Our  ability  to  generate  revenue  from  our  product  candidates  is  dependent  on  the  results  of  clinical  and  pre-clinical 

development,  our  receipt  of  regulatory  approval,  and  successful  commercialization  of  such  products,  which  may  not  occur  on  the 

anticipated timeline or at all. The success of our product candidates will depend on several factors, including the following:

• 

• 

successful enrollment of patients in, and completion of, clinical trials and pre-clinical studies; 

receipt  of  regulatory  approvals  from  applicable  regulatory  authorities  for  planned  clinical  trials,  future  clinical  trials  or  drug 

registrations, manufacturing, and commercialization; 

53

RISK FACTORS• 

successful  completion  of  all  safety  and  efficacy  studies  required  to  obtain  regulatory  approval  in  Greater  China,  the 

United States, and other jurisdictions for our product candidates; 

• 

adapting  our  commercial  manufacturing  capabilities  to  the  specifications  for  our  product  candidates  for  clinical  supply  and 

commercial  manufacturing  and/or  making  and  maintaining  necessary  arrangements  with  third-party  manufacturers  or 

suppliers; 

• 

obtaining, maintaining, and successfully enforcing or defending patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property protection 

and/or regulatory exclusivity for our product candidates; 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

launching commercial sales of our product candidates, if and when approved, whether alone or in collaboration with others; 

the success of our marketing efforts and market acceptance of the product candidates by patients, the medical community, and 

third-party payors; 

effectively competing with any competing products or therapies; 

obtaining and maintaining healthcare coverage and adequate reimbursement; 

successfully enforcing and defending intellectual property rights and claims; and 

maintaining  a  continued  acceptable  safety,  tolerability,  and  efficacy  profile  of  the  product  candidates  following  regulatory 

approval.

We  are  not  permitted  to  market  any  of  our  products  or  product  candidates  in  mainland  China,  the  United  States,  the  EU,  or  any 

other  jurisdictions  until  we  have  received  required  regulatory  approvals.  The  process  to  develop,  obtain  regulatory  approval,  and 

commercialize product candidates is long, complex, and costly and varies among countries. The successful completion of clinical trials 

or regulatory approval in one country does not mean that clinical trials will be successful in, or regulatory approval will be obtained, 

in any other country. Our product candidates could be delayed in receiving, or fail to receive, regulatory approval for many reasons, 

including the following:

• 

• 

disagreement regarding the number, design, size, conduct, or implementation of our clinical trials; 

failure  to  demonstrate  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  regulator(s)  that  a  product  candidate  is  safe  and  effective  for  its  proposed 

indication, including as a result of safety issues, product recalls, or other incidents related to products approved and marketed 

in other jurisdictions; 

• 

failure of CROs, clinical study sites, or investigators to comply with the ICH-good clinical practice, or GCP, requirements imposed 

by the regulator(s); 

54

RISK FACTORS• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

failure of the clinical trial results to meet the required level of statistical significance; 

failure to demonstrate that clinical and other benefits outweigh safety risks; 

disagreement regarding the interpretation of data from pre-clinical studies or clinical trials; 

insufficient data collected from clinical trials to support the submission of an NDA, PMA, or other submission required to obtain 

regulatory approval in Greater China, the United States, the EU, or elsewhere; 

failure to obtain approval of the manufacturing processes for our clinical and commercial supplies; 

changes in the approval policies or regulations; and 

actions by our CROs or licensors that materially and adversely affect the clinical trials. 

If  we  are  not  successful  in  gaining  broad  acceptance  of  our  commercial  products,  our  business  would  be 

harmed.

Sales  of  our  commercial  products  will  depend  on  our  ability  to  educate  and  increase  physician  awareness  of  the  benefits,  safety, 

and cost-effectiveness of such products, in general and relative to any competing therapies. The degree of market acceptance of our 

commercial products among physicians, patients, healthcare payors, and the medical community may depend on a number of factors, 

including: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

acceptable evidence of safety and efficacy; 

relative convenience and ease of administration; 

prevalence and severity of any adverse side effects; 

availability of alternative treatments; 

pricing, cost effectiveness, and value propositions; 

effectiveness of our sales and marketing capabilities and strategies; 

ability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage and reimbursement; 

the  clinical  indications  for  which  such  product  are  approved,  as  well  as  changes  in  the  standard  of  care  for  their  targeted 

indications; 

55

RISK FACTORS• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the effectiveness of manufacturing and supply chain; 

warnings and limitations contained in the approved labeling; 

safety concerns with respect to similar or competing products marketed by others; 

our ability to comply with regulatory post-marketing requirements; 

the market size for such product, which may be larger or smaller than expected; 

entry timing and price for any competing products; and 

our  ability  to  manage  complications  or  barriers  that  inhibit  our  commercial  team  from  reaching  the  appropriate  audience  to 

promote our product(s), such as because of government actions or business disruptions caused by public health crises, natural 

disasters, extreme weather events, and other significant or catastrophic events. 

We may not obtain regulatory approval of our product candidates, on the anticipated timeline or at all, which 

could delay or limit our ability to realize the full potential of our product pipeline.

In  order  to  market  products  in  any  given  jurisdiction,  we  must  obtain  regulatory  approval  and  comply  with  numerous  and  varying 

regulatory  requirements  regarding  safety,  efficacy,  and  quality.  We  have  obtained  approval  for  our  five  commercial  products  for 

certain  indications  in  certain  jurisdictions  in  Greater  China.  We  may  not  obtain  regulatory  approval  for  our  product  candidates, 

including new products or additional indications for our current commercial products, on the anticipated timeline or at all, which could 

delay or limit our ability to realize the full potential of our pipeline. 

We  have  limited  experience  manufacturing  our  products  and  product  candidates  on  a  large  clinical  or 
commercial  scale.  We  rely  on  third  parties  for  our  supply  chain,  and  if  we  experience  problems  with  any  of 

these  third  parties,  the  manufacture  of  our  products  or  product  candidates  could  be  delayed,  which  could 

harm our business and results of operations.

We currently manufacture, or have rights to manufacture, our internally developed products and certain of our licensed commercial 

products  and  product  candidates  under  the  terms  of  our  licensing  arrangements.  We  rely  on  our  two  manufacturing  facilities  in 

Suzhou to support the clinical development and commercial production of such products and product candidates, including ZEJULA. 

If our two manufacturing facilities are unable to meet our intended production capacity in a timely fashion, we may have to engage a 

CMO(s) for the production of clinical supplies of our products or product candidates. We may not be able to identify qualified CMOs or 

alternative suppliers that are able to meet our product production needs on commercially reasonable terms, in a timely manner, or at 

all. If we are not able to maintain sufficient quantity of our manufactured products and product candidates, our business and results of 

operations could be adversely affected.

56

RISK FACTORSIf  our  manufacturing  facilities  are  damaged  or  destroyed,  or  production  at  such  facilities  is  otherwise 

interrupted, or if any new manufacturing facilities are not approved by regulators, our business and prospects 

would be negatively affected.

We have two manufacturing facilities in Suzhou that have received required approvals from our regulators and, accordingly, we intend 

to rely on these facilities for the manufacture of clinical and commercial supply for certain of our products and product candidates. 

If either facility were damaged or destroyed, or otherwise subject to disruption, it would require substantial lead-time to replace our 

manufacturing  capabilities.  In  such  event,  we  would  be  forced  to  identify  and  rely  partially  or  entirely  on  third-party  CMOs  for  an 

indefinite period. Any new facility needed to replace an existing production facility would need to comply with necessary regulatory 

requirements and be tailored to our production requirements and processes. We also would need regulatory approvals before using 

any products or drugs manufactured at a new facility in clinical trials or selling any products or drugs that have been approved. Any 

disruptions or delays at our facilities or their failure to comply with regulatory requirements would impair our ability to develop and 

commercialize certain of our products or product candidates, which may adversely affect our business and results of operations.

We  have  a  limited  operating  history,  which  may  make  it  difficult  for  you  to  evaluate  the  success  of  our 

business and to assess our future prospects.

We  are  a  commercial-stage  biopharmaceutical  company  with  a  relatively  limited  operating  history.  Consequently,  any  predictions 

about  our  future  success,  performance,  or  prospects  are  subject  to  significant  uncertainty,  particularly  in  light  of  the  dynamic  and 

evolving industry in which we operate. We will encounter risks and difficulties frequently experienced by companies in our industry as 

we continue to expand or enhance our commercial activities. In addition, as a commercial-stage business, we may be more likely to 

encounter  unforeseen  expenses,  difficulties,  complications,  and  delays.  If  we  do  not  address  these  risks  and  difficulties  successfully, 

our business will suffer. 

We  may  decide  to  pursue  a  particular  product,  product  candidate,  or  indication  and  fail  to  pursue  other 

products, product candidates, or indications that may later prove to be more profitable or for which there is a 

greater likelihood of success.

We  may  decide  to  focus  our  licensing,  research,  development,  and  commercialization  programs  to  specific  products  and  product 

candidates  or  to  specific  indications  for  those  products  and  product  candidates  based  on  our  expectations  with  respect  to  the 

potential  benefits  of  the  therapies,  patient  needs  and  the  potential  markets,  synergies  with  our  existing  business,  the  competitive 

landscape, or otherwise. We may incorrectly assess the benefits, costs, and risks for any potential product or product candidate. As 

a result, we may forego or delay pursuit of opportunities for other products or product candidates or for other indications that later 

prove  to  have  greater  commercial  potential,  and  our  resource  allocation  decisions  may  cause  us  to  fail  to  capitalize  on  promising 

commercial drugs or profitable market opportunities. If we do not accurately evaluate the commercial potential or target market for 

a particular product candidate, we may also relinquish valuable rights to that product candidate through collaboration, licensing, or 

other  royalty  arrangements  when  it  would  have  been  more  advantageous  for  us  to  retain  sole  development  and  commercialization 

rights  to  such  product  candidate.  Such  developments  would  have  an  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  results  of  operations,  financial 

conditions, and prospects.

57

RISK FACTORSThe  market  opportunities  for  certain  of  our  products  and  product  candidates  may  be  small,  such  as  when 

those  opportunities  are  limited  to  patients  who  are  ineligible  for  other  treatment  options  or  who  have  not 

responded to prior treatments, and our estimations with respect to these populations may be inaccurate.

The potential markets for certain indications of our commercial products and product candidates may be small, such as when we are 

seeking approval of our product candidates as a later stage therapy for patients who are ineligible for other treatment options or who 

have not responded to prior treatments or other approved treatments. We may consider such indications or market indications as an 

initial entry point for certain of our product candidates or as an additional indication for our current commercial products. We may 

not  be  able  to  achieve  such  regulatory  approval  or  to  generate  sufficient  revenue  from  such  opportunities  to  recover  related  costs, 

without obtaining regulatory approval for additional indications. 

In  addition,  as  part  of  our  evaluation  of  the  commercial  prospects  for  our  products  and  product  candidates,  we  periodically  make 

estimates  regarding  the  incidence  and  prevalence  of  our  target  populations,  including  with  respect  to  the  number  of  people  who 

have  the  indications  we  are  targeting,  as  well  as  the  subset  of  people  with  those  indications  who  may  be  in  a  position  to  receive 

our  therapies  and  who  have  the  potential  to  benefit  from  treatment  with  our  products.  We  also  make  projections  regarding  sales, 

revenues,  costs,  and  reimbursement  for  our  products  and  product  candidates.  We  may  also  use  such  estimates  in  making  decisions 

regarding our product development strategy, including business development opportunities as well as our research and development 

activities and the focus of pre-clinical and clinical trials. These estimates and projections are based on our beliefs, internally generated 

analyses, and third-party sources, and they may prove to be inaccurate or based on imprecise data. For example, the actual size of the 

potential market opportunity and patient population for a product or product candidate will depend on a variety of factors, including 

acceptance  by  the  medical  community,  patient  access,  product  pricing,  reimbursement,  and  availability  of  other  treatment  options. 

Further, new studies or market data may change the estimated incidence or prevalence of these indications. The number of patients 

may turn out to be lower than expected, such as because patients may not be amenable to treatment with our products and product 

candidates  or  new  patients  may  become  increasingly  difficult  to  identify  or  reach.  All  of  this  could  significantly  harm  our  business, 

financial condition, results of operations, and prospects. 

The pharmaceutical industry is highly regulated, and such regulations are subject to change, which may affect 

the  approval  and  commercialization  of  our  products  and  product  candidates,  and  any  failure  to  comply  with 

such regulations could have adverse legal and financial impact.

The  pharmaceutical  industry  in  Greater  China,  the  United  States,  the  EU,  and  some  other  jurisdictions  is  subject  to  extensive  and 

comprehensive  regulation  and  oversight  by  numerous  regulatory  authorities,  including  with  respect  to  approval,  manufacturing, 

distribution, marketing, and other activities related to new drug candidates and certain other therapies and treatments. 

In  recent  years,  there  have  been  a  number  of  legislative  and  regulatory  changes  in  our  industry  that  could  prevent  or  delay 

regulatory  approval  of  our  products  and  product  candidates,  restrict  or  regulate  post-approval  activities,  and  affect  the  commercial 

prospects  of  our  products  and  product  candidates,  including  in  our  primary  market  of  mainland  China.  We  expect  the  evolution 

in  the  Chinese  healthcare  industry  to  continue.  Any  changes  or  amendments,  or  proposed  further  changes  or  amendments,  with 

58

RISK FACTORSrespect  to  applicable  laws,  rules,  and  regulation  and  supervision  of  the  pharmaceutical  industry  in  mainland  China,  including  recent 

anti-corruption enforcement efforts, may result in uncertainties with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the relevant 

laws and regulations and may adversely affect the development or commercialization of our drugs and product candidates in mainland 

China. Efforts to comply with these extensive regulatory requirements may involve substantial costs. If our operations were found to 

be  in  violation  of  applicable  regulatory  requirements,  we  could  be  subject  to  significant  civil,  criminal,  and  administrative  penalties, 

including,  without  limitation,  damages,  fines,  imprisonment,  and  exclusion  from  participation  in  government  healthcare  programs 

or  contracting  with  government  authorities  and  the  curtailment  or  restructuring  of  our  operations,  which  could  significantly  harm 

our business.

In addition, the commercial success of our approved products depends, in part, on adequate insurance coverage and reimbursement 

by  third  party  payors,  including  government  health  benefit  programs  and  authorities.  We  expect  that  healthcare  reform  measures 

may result in more rigorous coverage criteria and in additional downward pressure on the reimbursement available for any approved 

product which could adversely affect pricing for such product. Any reduction in reimbursement from government programs may result 

in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. The implementation of cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms 

may  prevent  us  from  being  able  to  generate  revenue  or  attain  profitability  for  our  products  or  to  successfully  commercialize  our 

products and product candidates. 

If  safety,  efficacy,  manufacturing,  or  supply  issues  arise  with  any  therapy  or  treatment  that  we  use  in 

combination  with  our  products  and  product  candidates,  such  as  chemotherapy  drugs,  we  may  be  unable 

to  market  such  products  or  product  candidate  or  may  experience  significant  regulatory  delays  or  supply 

shortages, and our business could be materially harmed. 

Certain  of  our  products  are  approved  for  treatment,  and  certain  of  our  product  candidates  are  being  evaluated  as  a  potential 

treatment, in combination with other products, such as chemotherapy drugs. For example, we have commercially launched OPTUNE 

or  TTFields  in  combination  with  TMZ  for  the  treatment  of  patients  with  newly  diagnosed  GBM,  and  we  are  evaluating  TTFields  as  a 

combination therapy in gastric cancer, adagrasib as a combination therapy for colorectal cancer and NSCLC, and bemarituzumab as a 

combination therapy for gastric and GEJ cancers. 

If  the  NMPA,  FDA,  or  another  regulatory  agency  were  to  revoke  its  approval  of  any  therapeutic  we  use  in  combination  with  our 

products  and  product  candidates,  we  would  not  be  able  to  market  our  products  and  product  candidates  in  combination  with  such 

revoked therapeutics. If safety or efficacy issues arise with the therapeutics that we seek to combine with our products and product 

candidates  in  the  future,  we  may  experience  significant  regulatory  delays,  and  we  may  be  required  to  redesign  or  terminate  the 

related clinical trials. In addition, if manufacturing or other issues result in a supply shortage of any combination therapeutic, we may 

not be able to successfully commercialize our products or product candidates on our anticipated timeline or at all. 

59

RISK FACTORSWe  face  substantial  competition,  which  may  result 

in  our  competitors  discovering,  developing,  or 

commercializing  drugs  before  or  more  successfully  than  we  do,  or  developing  products  or  therapies  that  are 

more  advanced  or  effective  than  ours,  which  may  adversely  affect  our  financial  condition  and  our  ability  to 

successfully market or commercialize our products and product candidates.

The  development  and  commercialization  of  new  drug  products  or  medical  devices  is  highly  competitive.  We  face  competition  with 

respect  to  our  current  products  and  product  candidates  and  will  face  competition  with  respect  to  any  product  candidates  that  we 

may  seek  to  develop  or  commercialize  in  the  future,  from  major  pharmaceutical  companies,  specialty  pharmaceutical  companies, 

biotechnology  companies,  and  medical  device  companies.  Some  of  these  competitive  drugs  and  therapies  are  based  on  scientific 

approaches that are similar to that of our products and product candidates. Potential competitors also include academic institutions, 

government  agencies,  and  other  public  and  private  research  organizations  that  conduct  research,  seek  patent  protection,  and 

establish collaborative arrangements for research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization. 

Many of the companies against which we are competing or may in the future compete have significantly greater financial resources 

and  may  have  additional  resources  or  capabilities  with  respect  to  research  and  development,  manufacturing,  pre-clinical  testing, 

conducting  clinical  trials,  obtaining  regulatory  approvals,  and  marketing  approved  drugs  than  we  do.  Additionally,  some  of  our 

competitors  may  successfully  adopt  or  use  emerging  technologies,  including  artificial  intelligence,  to  enhance  their  clinical  or 

business operations before we are able to do so, which could leave us at a competitive disadvantage or with higher costs relative to 

our  peers.  Mergers  and  acquisitions  in  the  pharmaceutical,  biotechnology,  and  diagnostic  industries  may  result  in  resources  being 

further concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant 

competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. These competitors also compete 

with us in recruiting and retaining global leaders and qualified scientific and management personnel; establishing clinical trial sites and 

patient registration for clinical trials; and acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs. 

Our  commercial  opportunities  could  be  reduced  or  eliminated  if  our  competitors  develop  and  commercialize  products  that  are 

safer, more effective, have fewer or less severe side effects, are more convenient, or are less expensive than our products or if they 

are  more  successful  in  their  marketing  and  distribution  efforts.  Our  commercial  opportunities  also  may  be  adversely  affected  if  the 

availability of competitor products limits or reduces the price we are able to charge for our products. Our competitors also may obtain 

regulatory approvals in our target markets before we do, which could allow them to establish a strong market position before we are 

able  to  enter  the  market.  Additionally,  technologies  developed  by  our  competitors  may  render  our  products  or  product  candidates 

uneconomical or obsolete. We may also be adversely affected as a result of the expiration or successful challenge of our patent rights 

with respect to the validity and/or scope of patents relating to our competitors’ products. 

Clinical development involves a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome.

There is a risk of failure for each of our product candidates. It is difficult to predict when or if any of our product candidates will prove 

effective and safe in humans or will receive regulatory approval. Before obtaining regulatory approval, our product candidates must 

complete pre-clinical studies and extensive clinical trials to demonstrate their safety and efficacy. Clinical testing is expensive, difficult 

to design and implement, and can take many years to complete. 

60

RISK FACTORSThe  outcomes  of  pre-clinical  testing  and  early  clinical  trials  may  not  be  predictive  of  the  success  of  later  clinical  trials,  and  interim 

results of a clinical trial do not necessarily predict final results. Moreover, pre-clinical and clinical data are often susceptible to varying 

interpretations and analyses, and many companies that have believed their product candidates performed satisfactorily in pre-clinical 

studies and clinical trials have nonetheless failed to obtain regulatory approval of their product candidates. Future clinical trials of our 

product candidates may not be successful. 

Before commencing clinical trials, we must finalize the trial design based on ongoing discussions with the NMPA for trials in mainland 

China,  the  FDA  for  trials  in  the  United  States,  and  any  other  applicable  regulatory  authorities.  The  regulatory  authorities  may 

subsequently  change  their  position  on  the  acceptability  of  trial  designs  or  clinical  endpoints,  which  could  require  us  to  complete 

additional  clinical  trials  or  impose  unexpected  additional  approval  conditions.  Successful  completion  of  our  clinical  trials  is  a 

prerequisite  to  submitting  an  NDA  (or  equivalent  filing)  to  the  NMPA,  FDA,  or  other  applicable  regulatory  authorities  and  to  the 

ultimate approval and commercial launch of our products or product candidates. A number of companies in the pharmaceutical and 

biotechnology industries have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials due to lack of efficacy or adverse safety profiles, 

notwithstanding promising results in earlier trials. There are inherent uncertainties associated with the development of our products 

and product candidates. We do not know whether the clinical trials for our product candidates will begin or be completed on schedule 

or at all or whether the clinical trial results will be favorable. 

We may incur additional costs or experience delays in completing pre-clinical or clinical trials or ultimately be 

unable to complete the development and commercialization of our product candidates. 

We may experience delays in completing our pre-clinical or clinical trials, and numerous unforeseen events could arise during, or as a 

result of, such clinical trials, which could delay or prevent us from receiving regulatory approval, including: 

• 

regulators or institutional review boards, or IRBs, or ethics committees may not authorize us or our investigators to commence 

or conduct a clinical trial at a prospective trial site; 

• 

we  may  experience  delays  in  reaching,  or  may  fail  to  reach,  agreement  on  acceptable  terms  with  prospective  trial  sites  and 

prospective CROs who conduct clinical trials on our behalf, the terms of which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may 

vary significantly among different CROs and trial sites; 

• 

clinical  trials  may  produce  negative  or  inconclusive  results,  and  we  may  decide,  or  regulators  may  require  us,  to  conduct 

additional clinical trials or we may decide to abandon product development programs; 

• 

the  number  of  patients  required  for  clinical  trials  of  our  products  and  product  candidates  may  be  larger  than  we  anticipate, 

enrollment in these clinical trials may be slower than we anticipate, or participants may drop out of these clinical trials or fail to 

return for post-treatment follow-up at a higher rate than we anticipate; 

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RISK FACTORS• 

third-party  contractors  used  in  our  clinical  trials  may  fail  to  comply  with  regulatory  requirements  or  meet  their  contractual 

obligations in a timely manner, or at all, or may deviate from the clinical trial protocol or drop out of the trial, which may require 

that we add new clinical trial sites or investigators; 

• 

we may not be able to conduct a companion diagnostic test to identify patients who are likely to benefit from our products and 

product candidates in a timely manner or at all; 

• 

we may elect to, or regulators, IRBs or ethics committees may require that we or our investigators, suspend or terminate clinical 

research  for  various  reasons,  including  non-compliance  with  regulatory  requirements  or  a  finding  that  participants  are  being 

exposed to unacceptable health risks; 

the cost of clinical trials may be greater than we anticipate; 

the  supply  or  quality  of  our  product  candidates  or  other  materials  necessary  to  conduct  clinical  trials  may  be  insufficient  or 

inadequate; and 

• 

• 

• 

our  products  and  product  candidates  may  have  undesirable  side  effects  or  unexpected  characteristics,  causing  us  or  our 

investigators, regulators, IRBs, or ethics committees to suspend or terminate the trials, or reports may arise from pre-clinical or 

clinical testing of other therapies that raise safety or efficacy concerns about our products and product candidates. 

We  could  encounter  regulatory  delays  if  a  clinical  trial  is  suspended  or  terminated  by  us  or,  as  applicable,  the  IRBs  or  the  ethics 

committee of the institutions in which such trials are being conducted, by the data safety monitoring board, which is an independent 

group  of  experts  that  is  formed  to  monitor  clinical  trials  while  ongoing,  or  by  the  NMPA,  FDA,  or  other  applicable  regulatory 

authorities.  Such  authorities  may  impose  a  suspension  or  termination  due  to  a  number  of  factors,  including:  a  failure  to  conduct 

the  clinical  trial  in  accordance  with  regulatory  requirements  or  the  applicable  clinical  protocols;  a  failure  to  obtain  the  regulatory 

approval  and/or  complete  record  filings  with  respect  to  the  collection,  preservation,  use,  and  export  of  mainland  China’s  human 

genetic resources; inspection of the clinical trial operations or trial site by the NMPA, FDA, or other regulatory authorities that results 

in  the  imposition  of  a  clinical  hold,  unforeseen  safety  issues,  or  adverse  side  effects;  failure  to  demonstrate  a  benefit  from  using  a 

product candidate; changes in government regulations or administrative actions; or lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical 

trial. Many of the factors  that  could  cause  a  delay  in the  commencement or completion of clinical trials may also ultimately lead to 

the denial of regulatory approval of our product candidates. Further, the NMPA, FDA, or other applicable regulatory authorities may 

disagree  with  our  clinical  trial  design  or  our  interpretation  of  data  from  clinical  trials  or  may  change  the  requirements  for  approval 

even after it has reviewed and commented on the design for our clinical trials. Our business will be adversely affected if we are unable 

to successfully complete clinical development, obtain regulatory approval, and successfully commercialize our products and product 

candidates. 

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RISK FACTORSIf  we  are  required  to  conduct  additional  clinical  trials  or  other  testing  of  our  products  or  product  candidates  beyond  those  that  are 

currently  contemplated,  or  if  we  are  unable  to  successfully  complete  clinical  trials  of  our  products  or  product  candidates  or  other 

testing, or if the results of these trials or tests are not positive or are only modestly positive or if there are safety concerns, we may: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

be delayed in obtaining regulatory approval for our products and product candidates; 

not obtain regulatory approval at all; 

obtain approval for indications or patient populations that are not as broad as intended or desired; 

be subject to post-marketing testing requirements; 

encounter difficulties obtaining or be unable to obtain reimbursement for use of our products and product candidates; 

be subject to restrictions on the distribution and/or commercialization of our products and product candidates; or 

have our products and product candidates removed from the market after obtaining regulatory approval. 

Our product development costs will also increase if we experience delays in testing or regulatory approvals. We do not know whether 

any  of  our  clinical  trials  will  begin  as  planned,  will  need  to  be  restructured  or  will  be  completed  on  schedule,  or  at  all.  Significant 

pre-clinical  study  or  clinical  trial  delays  also  could  allow  our  competitors  to  bring  products  to  market  before  we  do  and  impair  our 

ability to successfully commercialize our products and product candidates and may harm our business and results of operations. Any 

delays in our clinical development programs may harm our business, financial condition, and prospects significantly. 

If we experience delays or difficulties in the enrollment of patients in clinical trials, the progress of such clinical 

trials and our receipt of necessary regulatory approvals could be delayed or prevented.

We may not be able to initiate or continue clinical trials for our products and product candidates if we are unable to locate and enroll 

a sufficient number of eligible patients to participate in these trials as required by the NMPA, FDA, or applicable regulatory authorities. 

In  particular,  we  have  designed  many  of  our  clinical  trials,  and  expect  to  design  future  clinical  trials,  to  include  some  patients  with 

the applicable genomic mutation with a view to assessing possible early evidence of potential therapeutic effect. Genomically defined 

diseases,  however,  may  have  relatively  low  prevalence,  and  it  may  be  difficult  to  identify  patients  with  the  applicable  genomic 

mutation. The inability to enroll a sufficient number of patients with the applicable genomic alteration or that meet other applicable 

criteria for our clinical trials would result in significant delays and could require us to abandon one or more clinical trials. In addition, 

some of our competitors have ongoing clinical trials for products or product candidates that treat the same indications as our products 

or  product  candidates,  and  patients  who  would  otherwise  be  eligible  for  our  clinical  trials  may  instead  enroll  in  clinical  trials  of  our 

competitors’ products or product candidates. 

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RISK FACTORSPatient enrollment may be affected by other factors including: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the severity of the disease under investigation; 

the total size and nature of the relevant patient population; 

the design and eligibility criteria for the clinical trial; 

the availability of an appropriate genomic screening test; 

the perceived risks and benefits of the product or product candidate under study; 

the efforts to facilitate timely enrollment in clinical trials; 

the patient referral practices of physicians; 

the availability of competing therapies also undergoing clinical trials; 

the ability to monitor patients adequately during and after treatment; 

the proximity and availability of clinical trial sites for prospective patients; and 

the  occurrence  of  any  public  health  crisis,  international  war  or  conflict,  natural  disaster,  extreme  weather  event,  or  other 

significant or catastrophic event may cause a delay in enrollment of patients in clinical trials. 

Our  products  and  product  candidates  may  cause  undesirable  side  effects  that  could  delay  or  prevent  their 
regulatory  approval,  limit  the  commercial  profile  of  an  approved  label,  or  result  in  significant  negative 

consequences following regulatory approval, if any.

Undesirable side effects, including adverse safety events, caused by our products or product candidates could have a negative impact 

on our business. Discovery of safety issues with our products could create issues with respect to product liability, additional regulatory 

scrutiny and requirements for additional labeling or safety monitoring, withdrawal of products from the market, and the imposition of 

fines or criminal penalties. Adverse safety events may also damage physician, patient, and/or investor confidence in our products and 

our reputation. Any of these events could result in liability, loss of revenues, material write-offs of inventory, material impairments of 

intangible assets, goodwill and fixed assets, material restructuring charges, or other adverse impacts on our results of operations. 

Furthermore, undesirable side effects could cause us to interrupt, delay, or halt clinical trials or could cause regulatory authorities to 

interrupt, delay, or halt our clinical trials and could result in a more restrictive label or the delay or denial of regulatory approval by 

the NMPA, FDA, or other applicable regulatory authorities. For example, side effects, such as fatigue, nausea, and low blood cell levels, 

64

RISK FACTORSare common in the case of oncology products or product candidates. If trial results for our products or product candidates reveal a 

high  and  unacceptable  severity  and  prevalence  of  these  or  other  side  effects,  trials  of  our  products  or  product  candidates  could  be 

suspended or terminated and the NMPA, FDA, or other applicable regulatory authorities could order us to cease further development 

or deny approval of our products or product candidates for any or all targeted indications. The product-related side effects could affect 

patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled patients to complete the trial or result in potential product liability claims. Any of these 

occurrences may harm our business, financial condition, and prospects significantly.

Additionally, our products and product candidates could cause undesirable side effects related to off-target toxicity. For example, many of 

the currently approved PARP inhibitors have been associated with off-target toxicities. Many compounds that initially showed promise in 

early-stage testing for treating cancer have later been found to cause side effects that prevented further development of the compound. 

Clinical  trials  assess  a  sample  of  the  potential  patient  population.  With  a  limited  number  of  patients  and  duration  of  exposure,  rare 

and  severe  side  effects  of  our  products  or  product  candidates  may  only  be  uncovered  with  a  significantly  larger  number  of  patients 

exposed  to  the  product  candidate.  Even  after  a  product  or  product  candidate  receives  regulatory  approval,  if  we,  our  partners, 

or  others  identify  undesirable  side  effects  caused  by  such  product  candidates  (or  any  other  similar  product  candidates)  after  such 

approval, a number of significant negative consequences could result, including: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

our revenue may be negatively impacted; 

our regulatory authorities may withdraw or limit their approval of such products or product candidates; 

our regulatory authorities may require the addition of labeling statements, such as a “boxed” warning or a contraindication; 

we may be required to create a medication guide outlining the risks of such side effects for distribution to patients; 

we may be required to change the way such products or product candidates are distributed or administered, conduct additional 

clinical trials or change the labeling of our products or product candidates; 

• 

our regulatory authorities may require a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS (or analogous requirement), plan to 

mitigate risks, which could include medication guides, physician communication plans, or elements to assure safe use, such as 

restricted distribution methods, patient registries, and other risk minimization tools; 

• 

• 

• 

• 

we may be subject to regulatory investigations and government enforcement actions; 

we may decide to remove such products or product candidates from the marketplace; 

we could be sued and held liable for injury caused to individuals exposed to or taking our products or product candidates; and 

our reputation may suffer. 

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RISK FACTORSAny  of  these  events  could  prevent  us  from  achieving  or  maintaining  market  acceptance  of  the  affected  products  or  product 

candidates,  could  substantially  increase  the  costs  of  commercializing  our  products  and  product  candidates,  if  approved,  and  could 

otherwise significantly impact our ability to successfully commercialize our products and product candidates and generate revenue.

If  we  are  unable  to  obtain  NMPA  approval  for  our  products  and  product  candidates  to  be  eligible  for  an 

expedited  registration  pathway,  the  time  and  cost  we  incur  to  obtain  regulatory  approvals  may  increase. 

Even if we receive Category 1 drug designation, it may not lead to a faster development, review, or approval 

process.

The NMPA designates innovative drug as Category 1 drugs. To qualify for a Category 1 designation, a drug needs to have a new and 

clearly  defined  structure,  pharmacological  property,  and  apparent  clinical  value  and  has  not  been  marketed  anywhere  in  the  world. 

Our CTAs for ZEJULA and NUZYRA were approved as Category 1 drugs by the NMPA. A Category 1 designation by the NMPA may not be 

granted for any of our other product candidates that will not be first approved in mainland China or, if granted, such designation may 

not lead to faster development or regulatory review or approval process. Moreover, a Category 1 designation does not increase the 

likelihood that our product or product candidates will receive regulatory approval. 

Furthermore, despite positive regulatory changes in mainland China which have significantly accelerated time to market for innovative 

drugs,  the  regulatory  process  is  still  relatively  ambiguous  and  unpredictable.  The  NMPA  might  require  us  to  change  our  planned 

clinical  study  design  or  otherwise  spend  additional  resources  and  effort  to  obtain  approval  of  our  product  candidates.  In  addition, 

policy  changes  may  contain  significant  limitations  related  to  use  restrictions  for  certain  age  groups,  warnings,  precautions,  or 

contraindications,  or  we  may  be  subject  to  burdensome  post-approval  study  or  risk  management  requirements.  If  we  are  unable  to 

obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates in our target markets, or any approval contains significant limitations, we may 

not be able to obtain sufficient funding or generate sufficient revenue to continue the development of our other product candidates or 

to in-license, acquire, or develop additional product candidates in the future. 

We  continue  to  be  subject  to  ongoing  obligations  and  continued  regulatory  review  with  respect  to  our 
commercial products, which may result in significant additional expense, and if we fail to comply with ongoing 

regulatory requirements or experience any unanticipated problems with any of our commercial products, we 

may be subject to penalties.

After obtaining regulatory approval, our commercial products will be subject to, among other things, ongoing regulatory requirements 

governing  the  labeling,  packaging,  promotion,  recordkeeping,  data  management,  and  submission  of  safety,  efficacy,  and  other 

post-market  information.  These  requirements  include  submissions  of  safety  and  other  post-marketing  information  and  reports, 

registration,  and  continued  compliance  with  cGMPs  and  GCPs.  Such  post-approval  development  and  regulatory  requirements  may 

limit how our commercial products are manufactured and marketed, and could materially impair our ability to generate revenue. As 

such, we and our partners and any of our and their respective contract manufacturers will be subject to ongoing review and periodic 

inspections to assess compliance with applicable post-approval regulations. To the extent we want to make changes to the approved 

products,  product  labeling,  or  manufacturing  processes,  we  will  need  to  submit  new  applications  or  supplements  to  the  applicable 

regulatory authority and obtain their approval. 

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RISK FACTORS 
Additionally,  any  regulatory  approvals  that  we  receive  for  our  products  or  product  candidates  may  be  subject  to  limitations  on  the 

approved indications for which the products may be marketed or to the conditions of approval, or contain requirements for potentially 

costly post-marketing studies, including Phase IV studies for the surveillance and monitoring the safety and efficacy of the products. 

For  example,  we  are  collecting  additional  safety  and  efficacy  data  for  post-market  safety  and  efficacy  analysis  for  OPTUNE  and 

monitoring adverse effects related to skin irritation, and we continue to collect safety events for all approved products. 

In  addition,  once  a  product  is  approved  by  the  applicable  regulatory  authority  for  marketing,  it  is  possible  that  there  could  be  a 

subsequent  discovery  of  previously  unknown  problems  with  the  product,  including  problems  with  third-party  manufacturers  or 

manufacturing  processes,  or  failure  to  comply  with  regulatory  requirements.  If  any  of  the  foregoing  occurs  with  respect  to  our 

products, it may result in, among other things: 

• 

restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of the product, withdrawal of the product or drug from the market, or voluntary 

or mandatory product recalls; 

fines, warning letters or holds on clinical trials; 

refusal by the applicable regulatory authority to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications filed by 

us, or suspension or revocation of product license approvals; 

drug seizure, detention, or refusal to permit the import or export of the product; and 

injunctions or the imposition of civil, administrative, or criminal penalties. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Any  government  investigation  of  alleged  violations  of  law  could  require  us  to  expend  significant  time  and  resources  and  could 

generate  negative  publicity.  Moreover,  regulatory  policies  may  change,  or  additional  government  regulations  may  be  enacted,  that 

could  prevent,  limit,  or  delay  regulatory  approval  of  our  products  or  product  candidates.  If  we  are  not  able  to  maintain  regulatory 

compliance, regulatory approval that has been obtained may be lost, and we may not achieve or sustain profitability, which may harm 

our business, financial condition, and prospects significantly. 

Our future success depends on our ability to retain key executives and to attract, retain, and motivate qualified 

personnel. 

We are highly dependent on the expertise of our global leaders, including Samantha (Ying) Du, our founder, Chief Executive Officer, 

and Chairperson of the Board, and on members of our research and development and commercial teams. Although we have entered 

into  employment  agreements  with  our  executive  officers,  they  may  terminate  their  employment  with  us  at  any  time  following  a 

reasonable notice of not less than thirty days. We do not maintain “key person” insurance for any of our executives or employees. 

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RISK FACTORSRecruiting  and  retaining  qualified  management,  scientific,  clinical,  manufacturing,  and  sales  and  marketing  personnel  is  critical  to 

our  success.  The  loss  of  the  services  of  certain  of  our  executive  officers  or  other  key  employees  could  impede  the  achievement  of 

our  research,  development,  and  commercialization  objectives  and  seriously  harm  our  ability  to  successfully  implement  our  business 

strategy. Furthermore, replacing certain of our executive officers and key employees may be difficult and may take an extended period 

of time because of the limited number of individuals in our industry with the breadth of skills and experience required to successfully 

develop,  gain  regulatory  approval  of,  and  commercialize  products.  Competition  to  hire  from  this  limited  pool  is  intense,  and  we 

may  be  unable  to  hire,  train,  retain,  or  motivate  these  key  personnel  on  acceptable  terms  given  the  competition  among  numerous 

pharmaceutical  and  biotechnology  companies  for  similar  personnel.  We  also  experience  competition  for  the  hiring  of  scientific  and 

clinical personnel from universities and research institutions. In addition, our management will be required to devote significant time 

to compliance initiatives from our dual primary listing on Nasdaq and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Failure to succeed in clinical trials 

may make it more challenging to recruit and retain qualified scientific personnel. 

We  may  further  increase  the  size  and  capabilities  of  our  organization,  and  we  may  experience  difficulties  in 

managing such growth. 

We  may  experience  further  growth  in  the  number  of  our  employees  and  consultants  and  the  scope  of  our  operations,  particularly 

in  the  areas  of  product  development,  product  commercialization,  regulatory  affairs,  and  business  development.  To  manage  future 

growth,  we  may  continue  to  implement  and  improve  our  managerial,  operational  and  financial  systems,  expand  our  facilities,  and 

continue to recruit and train additional qualified personnel. We may not be able to effectively manage the expansion of our operations 

or recruit and train additional qualified personnel. The expansion of our operations may lead to significant costs and may divert the 

attention of our management and business development resources. Any inability to manage growth could delay the execution of our 

business plans or disrupt our operations and could have a materially adverse effect on our business.

We  may  explore  additional  regional  or  global  licensing  or  collaboration  arrangements  for  the  development 

and/or commercialization of product candidates, which may expose us to significant additional costs, such as 

upfront fees, milestone payments, royalty payments, and the costs of related clinical or pre-clinical trials, may 

divert  management  attention  or  resources  away  from  our  other  products  and  product  candidates,  and  may 

expose us to additional risks of conducting business in additional international markets. 

The  majority  of  our  products  and  product  candidates  are  in-licensed  for  development  and  commercialization  in  Greater  China. 

We  have  and  may  in  the  future  explore  additional  global  or  regional  licensing  or  collaboration  agreements,  including  in  territories 

outside of Greater China. Efforts to enter into license or collaboration with third parties may divert our management’s attention away 

from  other  corporate  strategic  goals  or  objectives,  business  operations,  or  potential  acquisition  or  development  opportunities  for 

additional product candidates. Further, these arrangements involve significant costs, including upfront fees; development, regulatory, 

and  sales-based  milestones;  and  certain  royalties  at  tiered  percentage  rates  based  on  annual  net  sales.  Such  milestone  payments 

are  contingent  on  product  performance,  and  upfront  fees,  certain  development  and  regulatory  milestones,  and  costs  of  clinical  or 

pre-clinical trials may occur before we have commercialized or received any revenue from the related product candidate.

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RISK FACTORSMoreover, international business relationships subject us to additional risks that may materially adversely affect our business, including:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

difficulty of effective enforcement of contractual provisions in other jurisdictions; 

potential third-party patent rights or potentially reduced protection for intellectual property rights; 

unexpected  changes  in  tariffs,  trade  barriers  and  regulatory  requirements,  including  the  loss  of  normal  trade  status  between 

mainland China and the United States; 

economic weakness, including inflation; 

compliance with tax, employment, immigration, and labor laws for employees traveling abroad; 

the effects of applicable foreign tax structures and potentially adverse tax consequences; 

currency fluctuations, which could result in increased operating expenses and reduced revenue; 

workforce uncertainty and labor unrest;

failure of our employees and contracted third parties to comply with anti-bribery laws in mainland China, Office of Foreign Asset 

Control rules and regulations and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-bribery and corruption laws; and 

• 

business  interruptions  resulting  from  geopolitical  actions,  including  trade  disputes,  public  health  crises,  international  war  or 

conflict, natural disasters, extreme weather events, and other significant or catastrophic events outside of our control. 

These and other risks may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

We  may  engage  in  future  partnerships,  in-licensing  arrangements,  joint  ventures,  or  other  types  of  future 

business acquisitions that could disrupt our business, cause dilution to holders of our securities, and harm our 

financial condition and operating results.

We  have  engaged,  and  may  again  in  the  future  engage,  in  partnership  or  strategic  collaboration  opportunities  or  investments, 

including  those  that  require  acquisitions  of,  or  investments  in,  companies  that  we  believe  have  products  or  capabilities  that  are 

a  strategic  or  commercial  fit  with  our  current  business  and  corporate  strategic  goals.  In  connection  with  such  partnership  or 

collaboration opportunities, acquisitions, or investments, we may:

• 

• 

• 

issue ordinary shares that would dilute the percentage of ownership of the holders of our securities;

incur debt and assume liabilities; and

incur amortization expenses related to intangible assets or incur large and immediate write-offs.

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RISK FACTORSFor example, in January 2021, we entered into a strategic collaboration with argenx BV pursuant to which we obtained an exclusive license 

for the development and commercialization of efgartigimod in Greater China in exchange for a combination of cash and ordinary shares.

We may form or seek strategic alliances, create joint ventures or collaborations, or enter into additional licensing arrangements with 

third parties that we believe will complement or augment our research, development, and commercialization efforts with respect to 

our products and product candidates and any future products and product candidates that we may develop. Any of these relationships 

may require us to incur non-recurring and other charges, increase our near- and long-term expenditures, issue securities that dilute 

our existing shareholders, or disrupt our management and business. Additionally, establishment of a joint venture involves significant 

risks  and  uncertainties,  including  (i)  our  ability  to  cooperate  with  our  strategic  partner,  (ii)  our  strategic  partner  having  economic, 

business, or legal interests or goals that are inconsistent with ours, and (iii) the potential that our strategic partner may be unable to 

meet its economic or other obligations, which may require us to fulfill those obligations alone.

We may be unable to find suitable acquisition candidates, and we may not be able to complete partnership or strategic collaboration 

opportunities or investments on favorable terms, if at all. If we do enter into partnerships or strategic collaborations or make other 

investments, such arrangements may not ultimately strengthen our competitive position or may be viewed negatively by customers, 

financial markets, or investors. Further, future partnerships, strategic collaborations, or other investments could also pose numerous 

additional risks to our operations, including:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

problems integrating the purchased business, products, personnel, or technologies;

increases to our expenses;

failure to have discovered undisclosed liabilities of the acquired asset or company;

diversion of management’s attention from their day-to-day responsibilities;

harm to our operating results or financial condition;

entrance into markets in which we have limited or no prior experience; and

potential loss of key employees, particularly those of the acquired entity.

We  may  not  be  able  to  realize  the  benefit  of  current  or  future  collaborations,  strategic  partnerships,  or  the  license  of  our  third-party 

products and product candidates if we are unable to successfully integrate such products with our existing operations and company culture, 

which could delay our timelines or otherwise adversely affect our business. Following a strategic transaction or license, we may not be able 

to achieve sufficient revenue or net income to justify such transaction. If we elect to fund and undertake development or commercialization 

activities on our own, we may need to obtain additional expertise and additional capital, which may not be available to us on acceptable 

terms or at all. If we fail to enter into collaborations and do not have sufficient funds or expertise to undertake the necessary development 

and commercialization activities, we may not be able to further develop our products and product candidates or bring them to market and 

generate product sales revenue, which would harm our business prospects, financial condition, and results of operations.

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RISK FACTORSWe  may  need  to  significantly  reduce  our  prices  for  our  approved  products  or  our  other  product  candidates 

and  devices  for  which  we  may  receive  regulatory  approval  in  mainland  China  and  face  uncertainty  of 

reimbursement, which could diminish our sales or adversely affect our profitability.

The  regulations  that  govern  pricing  and  reimbursement  for  pharmaceutical  drugs  and  devices  vary  widely  from  country  to  country. 

In  mainland  China,  the  NHSA  is  responsible  for  administering  mainland  China’s  social  security  system,  including  price  negotiations 

with drug companies seeking to include their products in the NRDL. Such price negotiations have resulted in average price reductions 

ranging from around 50% to 60% over the past few years. The NHSA, together with other government authorities, review the inclusion 

or removal of drugs from the NRDL, and the tier under which a drug will be classified, both of which affect the amounts reimbursable 

to program participants for their purchases of those drugs. These determinations are made based on a number of factors, including 

price  and  efficacy.  In  connection  with  obtaining  NRDL  listing  for  ZEJULA,  QINLOCK,  NUZYRA,  and  VYVGART  for  certain  indications, 

we lowered the selling price of each product in preparation. Although NRDL listing may increase patient access to, and demand for, 

our  commercial  products,  the  lower  reimbursement  rate  could  negatively  affect  our  revenues  or  product  margins  and  may  not  be 

sufficient to cover our costs, including licensing fees and research, development, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution expenses. 

We  may  also  continue  to  experience  additional  pricing  pressure  for  our  products,  including  as  a  result  of  the  centralized  tender 

process or otherwise, which may further adversely affect our revenues or results of operations.

Prior  to  any  potential  NRDL  listing,  revenues  for  our  commercial  products  will  depend  on  sales  that  are  self-paid  by  patients  or 

otherwise covered by insurance in the private-pay market. Higher patient prices or lower patient access may reduce demand for, and 

sales of, our commercial products.

Companies  in  mainland  China  that  manufacture  or  sell  drugs  and  medical  devices  are  required  to  comply 

with  extensive  regulations  and  hold  a  number  of  permits  and  licenses  to  carry  on  their  business.  Our  ability 

to obtain and maintain these regulatory approvals is uncertain, and future government regulation may place 

additional burdens on our efforts to commercialize our product candidates.

The life sciences industry in mainland China is subject to extensive government regulation and supervision. In order to manufacture 

and distribute drug and medical device products in mainland China, we are required to: 

• 

obtain  a  manufacturing  permit  for  each  production  facility  from  the  NMPA  and  its  relevant  branches  for  the  manufacture  of 

drug and device products domestically; 

• 

obtain  a  marketing  authorization,  which  includes  an  approval  number,  from  the  NMPA  for  each  drug  or  device  for  sale  in 

mainland China; 

• 

obtain  a  Pharmaceutical  Distribution  Permit  from  the  provincial  medical  products  administration  if  we  were  to  sell  drugs 

manufactured by third parties; and

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RISK FACTORS• 

renew the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Permits, the Pharmaceutical Distribution Permits, and marketing authorizations every 

five years, among other requirements. 

If  we  are  unable  to  obtain  or  renew  such  permits  or  any  other  permits  or  licenses  required  for  our  operations,  we  will  not  be  able 

to engage in the commercialization, manufacture, and distribution of our products and product candidates and our business may be 

adversely affected.

If  we  fail  to  maintain  our  licenses  or  other  intellectual  property-related  agreements  for  our  products  or 

product candidates or if we otherwise experience disruptions to our business relationships, we could lose the 

ability to continue the development and commercialization of our products and product candidates.

Our business relies, in large part, on our ability to develop and commercialize products and product candidates from third parties in 

accordance with our license and collaboration agreements and other intellectual property-related agreements. If we fail to maintain 

such  licenses  or  other  intellectual-property-related  agreements  that  are  relevant  to  our  products  and  product  candidates,  we  may 

be  unable  to  develop  and  commercialize  the  affected  products  or  product  candidates,  and  our  business,  results  of  operations, 

financial condition, and prospects could be materially harmed. If we fail to comply with our obligations under such agreements or if 

our  licensors  or  collaboration  partners  fail  to  comply  with  obligations  under  such  agreements  or  other  agreements  from  which  our 

rights are based, we may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize the affected products or product candidates, and our 

business, results of operations, financial condition, and prospects could be materially harmed.

Failure to meet obligations under any of the aforementioned agreements may result in termination of same by the other contracting 

party. Even though we may exercise all rights and remedies available to us and otherwise seek to preserve our rights, we may not be 

able to do so in a timely manner, at an acceptable cost, or at all. Any uncured, material breach under such agreements could result in 

loss of our rights and may lead to a complete termination of our rights to the applicable products or product candidates. Any of the 

foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, results of operations, and prospects. In addition, 

disputes  may  arise  regarding  our  rights  under  license,  collaboration,  or  other  intellectual-property  related  agreement,  including  but 

not limited to: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the scope of rights granted under such agreement; 

the use of intellectual property right under such agreement; 

the satisfaction of diligence obligations under such agreement; 

the ownership of inventions or know-how resulting from such agreement; and 

the payments due under such agreement. 

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RISK FACTORSSuch  dispute  may  disrupt  our  business  relationships  or  otherwise  hinder  our  ability  to  successfully  develop  and  commercialize  the 

affected products or product candidates, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, results of 

operations, and prospects.

In addition, the resolution of any disputed contractual interpretation of any of the foregoing agreements could result in a narrower 

interpretation of the scope of our rights or increase our financial or other obligations and thereby may prevent or impair our ability 

to  maintain  our  current  agreement  on  commercially  acceptable  terms.  Accordingly,  we  may  be  unable  to  successfully  develop  and 

commercialize the affected products or product candidates. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, 

financial condition, results of operations, and prospects. 

Reputational  harm  to  our  products,  including  product  liability  claims  or  lawsuits  against  us  or  any  of  our 

licensors, could cause us to incur substantial liabilities or loss of revenue or harm our reputation.

We  face  an  inherent  risk  related  to  the  use  of  our  products  and  product  candidates  anywhere  in  the  world.  If  we  or  our  licensors 

cannot  successfully  defend  the  reputation  of  our  licensed  products,  including  against  product  liability  or  other  claims,  then  we  may 

incur substantial liability, loss of revenue, or loss of reputation. Regardless of merit or eventual outcome, the consequences to us from 

those claims (whether resulting from our sales in our licensed territories, or those of our licensors’ sales elsewhere in the world) may 

result in: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

significant negative media attention and reputational damage;

withdrawal of clinical trial subjects and inability to continue clinical trials;

significant costs to defend related litigation;

substantial monetary awards to trial subjects or patients;

the inability to commercialize any products or product candidates that we may develop;

initiation of investigations by regulators;

a diversion of management’s time and our resources; and

a decline in the market price of our securities.

Any  litigation  or  investigation  might  result  in  substantial  costs  and  diversion  of  resources.  While  we  maintain  liability  insurance  for 

certain  clinical  trials  (which  covers  the  patient  human  clinical  trial  liabilities  including,  among  others,  bodily  injury),  product  liability 

insurance  to  cover  our  product  liability  claims  and  general  liability  and  D&O  insurance  to  cover  other  commercial  liability  claims, 

these  insurance  policies  may  not  fully  cover  our  potential  liabilities.  Additionally,  inability  to  obtain  sufficient  insurance  coverage 

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RISK FACTORSat  an  acceptable  cost  could  prevent  or  inhibit  the  successful  commercialization  of  products  or  drugs  we  develop,  alone  or  with  our 

collaborators. Any negative reputational harm to our licensors’ products anywhere in the world may have an adverse impact on our 

ability to sell those same products in our licensed territories. If our licensors incur such harm or liability, it may also cause damage to 

our revenues and reputation which may not be covered by insurance.

The  research  and  development  projects  under  our  internal  discovery  programs  are  at  an  early-stage  of 

development. As a result, we are unable to predict if or when we will successfully develop or commercialize 

any product candidates under such programs.

Our  internal  discovery  programs  are  at  an  early-stage  of  development  and  will  require  significant  investment  of  time  and  resources 

and  regulatory  approvals  prior  to  commercialization.  Each  of  our  product  candidates  will  require  additional  clinical  and  pre-clinical 

development;  management  of  clinical,  pre-clinical,  and  manufacturing  activities;  obtaining  regulatory  approval,  obtaining  sufficient 

manufacturing  supply;  development  of  a  commercialization  strategy;  and  significant  marketing  efforts  before  such  products  will 

generate  any  revenue.  We  are  not  permitted  to  market  or  promote  any  of  our  product  candidates  before  we  receive  regulatory 

approval from the NMPA, the FDA, or applicable regulatory authorities, and we may never receive such regulatory approval.

Clinical  development  of  any  product  candidates  from  our  internal  discovery  programs  may  not  be  successful.  We  may  not  be  able 

to obtain regulatory approvals or to successfully commercialize or generate revenue from any of our product candidates. Even if we 

have success in pre-clinical testing, our clinical trials may not be successful, and the clinical trial process may fail to demonstrate that 

our  product  candidates  are  safe  and  effective  for  their  proposed  uses.  Any  such  failure  could  cause  us  to  delay  or  abandon  further 

development  of  any  of  our  product  candidates.  Any  delay  in,  or  termination  of,  our  clinical  trials  will  delay  and  possibly  preclude 

the  filing  of  any  NDAs  or  other  similar  applications  with  the  NMPA  for  approvals  in  mainland  China,  the  FDA  for  approvals  in  the 

United States, or other applicable regulatory authorities for approval in other target markets, which will adversely affect our ability to 

commercialize or generate revenue from the related product candidates.

Potential  cybersecurity  threats  are  changing  rapidly  and  advancing  in  sophistication.  We  may  not  be  able  to 
protect  our  systems  and  networks,  or  the  confidentiality  of  our  confidential  or  other  information  (including 

personal information), from cyberattacks and other unauthorized access, disclosure, and disruption.

Cybersecurity  risks  for  companies  like  ours  have  significantly  increased  in  recent  years,  in  part  because  of  the  proliferation  of  new 

technologies, the use of the internet and certain technologies to conduct business, and the increased sophistication and activities of 

organized crime, hackers, terrorists, and other external parties, including foreign state-sponsored actors. 

Like many companies, from time to time we have been, and expect to continue to be, the target of attempted cyberattacks and other 

cybersecurity incidents. Such incidents may include malware, ransomware, denial-of-service attacks, social engineering, unauthorized 

access, human error, theft or misconduct, fraud, and phishing, as part of an effort to disrupt operations, potentially test cybersecurity 

capabilities,  or  obtain  confidential,  proprietary,  or  other  information  (including  personal  information).  Our  cybersecurity  risk  and 

exposure  depend  on  various  factors,  including  the  evolving  nature  and  increasing  frequency,  levels  of  persistence,  sophistication, 

and  intensity  of  these  threats,  the  outsourcing  of  some  of  our  business  operations,  and  the  current  global  economic  and  political 

74

RISK FACTORSenvironment. The increase in remote work environments also may increase our cybersecurity risk if our employees, vendors, service 

providers, and other third parties with which we interact are working remotely on less secure systems and environments. 

Because we are dependent on third parties for certain elements of our business and operations, we could also be adversely affected 

if  any  of  them  are  subject  to  a  successful  cyberattack  or  other  cybersecurity  incident.  Third  parties  with  which  we  do  business  may 

also  be  sources  of  cybersecurity  or  other  technology  risks.  We  routinely  transmit  and  receive  confidential,  proprietary,  and  other 

information  (including  personal  information)  by  electronic  means.  This  information  could  be  subject  to  interception,  misuse,  or 

mishandling. Our exposure to these risks could increase as a result of our migration of core systems and applications to a third-party 

cloud environment. While we generally perform cybersecurity diligence on our key vendors, because we do not control third parties 

with whom we do business and our ability to monitor their cybersecurity posture is limited, the cybersecurity measures they take may 

not be sufficient to protect any information we share with them.

Although  we  devote  significant  resources  to  protect  our  systems,  network,  and  information,  the  security  measures  we  have 

implemented  may  not  provide  effective  security.  Our  internal  computer  systems,  software,  devices,  and  networks  —  and  those  of 

our  CROs,  CMOs,  and  other  third-party  providers  —  may  be  vulnerable  to  cyberattacks  and  other  cybersecurity  incidents,  business 

or supply chain disruptions, or other attempts to harm our business or reputation or misuse or steal information (including personal 

information). We routinely identify cybersecurity threats as well as vulnerabilities in our system and work to address them, but these 

efforts  may  be  insufficient.  Outside  parties  may  attempt  to  induce  employees,  third-party  partners,  vendors,  service  providers,  or 

other users of our systems or networks to disclose confidential, proprietary, or other information (including personal information) in 

order to gain access to our systems and networks and the information they contain. Unauthorized access or disclosure, or breaches 

of our security, also may result from human error. We may not be able to anticipate, prevent, detect, recognize, or react to threats 

to our systems, networks, and assets, or implement effective preventative measures against cyberattacks or other security incidents, 

especially because the techniques used change frequently or are not recognized until launched. 

A  cyberattack  or  other  cybersecurity  incident  could  occur  and  persist  for  an  extended  period  of  time  without  detection.  We  expect 

that  any  investigation  of  such  an  incident  would  take  time,  during  which  we  would  not  necessarily  know  the  extent  of  the  harm  or 

how best to remediate it. Although we have not experienced any such incident resulting in a material impact to the company to date, 

our cybersecurity risk management program may not prevent such an incident from having a material impact in the future. We have 

obtained insurance coverage relating to cybersecurity risks, but this insurance may not be sufficient to provide adequate loss coverage 

(including if the insurer denies future claims) and may not continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms, or at all. 

Further,  any  limitations  of  liability  provisions  in  our  agreements  with  vendors,  customers,  and  other  third  parties  with  which  we  do 

business may not be enforceable or adequate or otherwise protect us from any liabilities or damages with respect to any particular 

claim in connection with a cyberattack or other security incident of a third party on which we rely.

The occurrence of one or more cyberattacks or other cybersecurity incidents could result in the unauthorized disclosure, misuse, or 

corruption  of  confidential,  proprietary,  and  other  information  (including  personal  and  other  information  about  our  employees  and 

patients and company and vendor confidential data) or could otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations or the 

operations  of  our  partners,  customers,  vendors,  and  other  third  parties  with  which  we  do  business.  This  could  result  in  significant 

losses  or  reputational  damage,  adversely  affect  our  relationships  with  our  partners,  customers,  vendors,  and  other  third  parties, 

75

RISK FACTORSnegatively  affect  our  competitive  position,  or  otherwise  harm  our  business.  We  could  also  face  regulatory  and  other  legal  action, 

including  for  any  failure  to  provide  timely  disclosure  concerning,  or  appropriately  to  limit  trading  in  our  securities  following,  an 

incident. We may be required to expend significant additional resources to repair or replace information systems or networks, modify 

our  internal  controls,  and  implement  or  enhance  other  protective  measures  or  to  investigate  or  remediate  vulnerabilities  or  other 

exposures. We also may be subject to litigation and financial losses that are not fully insured.

We are subject to laws and government regulations relating to privacy and data protection that have required 

us to modify certain of our policies and procedures with respect to the collection and processing of personal 

data, and future laws and regulations may cause us to incur additional expenses or otherwise limit our ability 

to collect and process personal data.

We are subject to data privacy and security laws in the various jurisdictions in which we operate, obtain or store personally identifiable 

information, including in mainland China, the United States, and the EU. The legislative and regulatory landscape for privacy and data 

protection  continues  to  evolve,  and  there  has  been  an  increasing  focus  on  privacy  and  data  protection  issues  with  the  potential  to 

affect our business. 

We could be subject to regulatory actions and/or claims made by individuals and groups in private litigation involving privacy issues 

related  to  data  collection  and  use  practices  and  other  data  privacy  laws  and  regulations,  including  claims  under  the  laws  described, 

as well as for alleged unfair or deceptive practices. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the privacy laws, rules, or 

regulations that apply to us, we could be subject to penalties, including civil penalties, damages, injunctive relief, and other penalties, 

which  could  adversely  affect  our  ability  to  operate  our  business  and  our  financial  results.  We  will  continue  to  review  these  and  all 

future privacy and other laws and regulations to assess whether additional procedural safeguards are warranted, which may cause us 

to incur additional expenses or otherwise limit our ability to collect and process personal data.

We  may  face  further  restrictions  (or  even  prohibitions)  on  our  ability  to  transfer  our  scientific  data  abroad 

if  Chinese  regulators  impose  new  restrictions  (or  change  their  interpretation  of  existing  restrictions)  on  life 

sciences companies like us and the scientific data we obtain, generate, and maintain.

The Scientific Data Administrative Measures promulgated by the General Office of the State Council provides a regulatory framework 

for  the  collection,  submission,  retention,  exploitation,  confidentiality,  and  security  of  scientific  data.  Scientific  data  is  defined  as 

data generated from basic research, applied research, experiments, and developments in the fields of natural sciences, engineering, 

and  technology.  It  also  includes  the  original  and  derived  data  by  means  of  surveillance,  monitoring,  field  studies,  examination,  and 

testing that are used in scientific research activities. All scientific data generated by research entities, including research institutions, 

higher  education  institutions,  and  enterprises  that  is  created  or  managed  with  government  funds,  or  funded  by  any  source  that 

concerns state secrets, national security, or social and public interests, must be submitted to data centers designated by the Chinese 

government for consolidation. Disclosure of scientific data will be subject to regulatory scrutiny. 

The definition of scientific data is broad, and the Chinese government has not issued further guidance to clarify if clinical study data 

would  fall  within  this  definition.  To  our  understanding,  the  Chinese  government  has  not  required  life  sciences  companies  to  upload 

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RISK FACTORSclinical  study  data  to  any  government-designated  data  center  or  prevented  the  cross-border  transmission  and  sharing  of  clinical 

study data. None of our clinical study or other scientific data has been created or managed with government funds or funded by any 

source that concerns state secrets, national security, or social and public interests. To date, we have received requisite permissions to 

transfer clinical study data abroad. We are closely monitoring legal and regulatory developments in this area to see how scientific data 

is interpreted, and we may be required to comply with additional regulatory requirements for sharing clinical study or other scientific 

data with our licensors or foreign regulatory authorities, although the scope of such requirements, if any, is currently unknown. 

RISKS RELATED TO OUR DEPENDENCE ON THIRD PARTIES

We  rely  on  third  parties,  including  our  licensors,  CMOs,  and  other  suppliers,  to  support  the  commercial 

and  clinical  supply  of  our  products  and  product  candidates.  Failure  of  such  third  parties  to  supply  us  with  a 

sufficient quantity of products, in a timely matter or at all, may adversely affect our business.

We rely on third-party manufacturers to manufacture some of our products and product candidates. For example, with respect to our 

commercial products, we rely on NovoCure for OPTUNE or TTFields, Deciphera for QINLOCK, and argenx for VYVGART. We also rely on 

CMOs for the local production in mainland China of certain drug substances and products, including NUZYRA.

Such reliance on third-party manufacturers entails risks to which we would not be subject to if we manufactured product candidates 

or products ourselves, including reliance on the third party for regulatory compliance and quality assurance, the possibility of breach 

of the manufacturing or supply agreement by the third party because of factors beyond our control (including a failure to synthesize 

and  manufacture  our  products  or  product  candidates  in  accordance  with  our  specifications),  and  the  possibility  of  termination  or 

nonrenewal  of  the  agreement  by  the  third  party,  based  on  its  own  business  priorities,  at  a  time  that  is  costly  or  damaging  to  us.  In 

addition,  the  NMPA  and  other  regulatory  authorities  require  that  our  product  candidates  and  any  products  that  we  may  eventually 

commercialize  be  manufactured  according  to  cGMP  standards.  Any  failure  by  our  third-party  manufacturers  to  comply  with  cGMP 

standards or failure to scale up manufacturing processes, including any failure to deliver sufficient quantities of product candidates in 

a timely manner, could lead to a delay in, or failure to obtain, regulatory approval of our product candidates. In addition, such failure 

could be the basis for the NMPA to issue a warning or untitled letter, withdraw approvals for product candidates previously granted to 

us, or take other regulatory or legal action, including recall or seizure, total or partial suspension of production, suspension of ongoing 

clinical trials, refusal to approve pending applications or supplemental applications, detention or product, refusal to permit the import 

or export of products, injunction or imposing civil and criminal penalties. 

Any significant disruption in our supplier relationships could harm our business. We currently source key materials from third parties, 

either  directly  through  agreements  with  suppliers  or  indirectly  through  our  manufacturers  who  have  agreements  with  suppliers, 

as  well  as  through  our  licensors.  Any  significant  disruption  in  our  potential  supplier  relationships,  whether  due  to  price  increases, 

manufacturing,  or  supply-related  issues,  could  harm  our  business.  We  anticipate  that,  in  the  near  term,  our  key  materials  will  be 

sourced through third parties. There are a small number of suppliers for certain capital equipment and key materials that are used to 

manufacture some of our products and product candidates. Such suppliers may not sell these key materials to us or our manufacturers 

at  the  times  we  need  them  or  on  commercially  reasonable  terms.  We  currently  do  not  have  any  agreements  for  the  commercial 

production  of  these  key  materials.  Any  significant  delay  in  the  supply  of  a  product  or  product  candidate  or  its  key  materials  could 

77

RISK FACTORSconsiderably  delay  completion  of  our  clinical  studies,  product  or  drug  testing,  and  potential  regulatory  approval  of  our  products  or 

product candidates. If we or our manufacturers are unable to purchase key materials after regulatory approval has been obtained, the 

commercialization or the commercial launch of our product candidates could be delayed or there could be a shortage in supply, which 

would impair our ability to generate revenues from the sale of such products. 

Furthermore,  because  of  the  complex  nature  of  our  compounds,  we  or  our  manufacturers  may  not  be  able  to  manufacture  our 

compounds at a cost, in quantities, or in a timely manner necessary to make our products commercially successful. In addition, as our 

product pipeline develops, we may have a greater need for clinical study and commercial manufacturing capacity or third-party supply 

of our products and product candidates. We may not be able to increase our scale of production or supply on commercially reasonable 

terms, in a timely manner, or at all.

We rely on third parties to conduct our pre-clinical and clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully 

carry  out  their  contractual  duties  or  meet  expected  deadlines,  we  may  not  be  able  to  obtain  regulatory 

approval  for  or  commercialize  our  products  or  product  candidates  and  our  business  could  be  substantially 

harmed.

Our internal capacity to perform pre-clinical and clinical trials is limited. As a result, we have relied upon and plan to continue to rely 

upon third-party CROs to monitor and manage data for some of our ongoing pre-clinical and clinical programs. We rely on these third 

parties  for  execution  of  our  pre-clinical  and  clinical  trials,  and  we  control  only  certain  aspects  of  their  activities.  Nevertheless,  we 

are responsible for ensuring that each of our studies is conducted in accordance with applicable protocols and legal, regulatory, and 

scientific standards, and our reliance on the CROs does not relieve us of our regulatory responsibilities. We also rely on third parties to 

assist in conducting our pre-clinical studies in accordance with Good Laboratory Practices, and the Regulations for the Administration 

of  Affairs  Concerning  Experimental  Animals.  We  and  our  CROs  are  required  to  comply  with  Good  Clinical  Practice  and  relevant 

guidelines enforced by the NMPA, and other applicable regulatory authorities for all of our products or product candidates in clinical 

development. Regulatory authorities enforce these GCP requirements through periodic inspections of trial sponsors, investigators, and 

trial sites. If we or any of our CROs fail to comply with applicable GCP requirements, the clinical data generated in our clinical trials 

may  be  deemed  unreliable,  and  the  NMPA  and  other  applicable  regulatory  authorities  may  require  us  to  perform  additional  clinical 

trials before approving our marketing applications. In addition, our clinical trials must be conducted with products or drugs produced 

under  cGMP  requirements.  Failure  to  comply  with  these  regulations  may  require  us  to  repeat  pre-clinical  and  clinical  trials,  which 

would delay the regulatory approval process.

Our CROs are not our employees, and except for remedies available to us under our agreements with such CROs, we cannot control 

whether they devote sufficient time and resources to our on-going clinical, nonclinical, and pre-clinical programs. Our CROs may not 

perform contracted services to our standards, may not produce results in a timely manner, or may fail to perform at all. If our CROs do 

not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations or meet expected deadlines or if the quality or accuracy of the clinical 

data they obtain is compromised due to their failure to adhere to our clinical protocols, regulatory requirements, or for other reasons, 

our clinical trials may be extended, delayed, or terminated and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or successfully 

commercialize  our  products  or  product  candidates.  As  a  result,  our  results  of  operations,  and  the  commercial  prospects  for  our 

78

RISK FACTORSproducts and product candidates would be harmed, our costs could increase, and our ability to generate revenues could be delayed or 

compromised.

If we lose our relationships with CROs, our product or drug development efforts could be delayed.

We rely on third-party vendors, including CROs, for some of our pre-clinical studies and clinical trials related to our product or drug 

development  efforts.  Switching  or  adding  additional  CROs  involves  additional  cost  and  requires  management  time  and  focus.  Our 

CROs have the right to terminate their agreements with us in the event of an uncured material breach. In addition, some of our CROs 

have  an  ability  to  terminate  their  respective  agreements  with  us  if  they  can  reasonably  demonstrate  that  the  safety  of  the  subjects 

participating in our clinical trials warrants such termination, if we make a general assignment for the benefit of our creditors, or if we 

are liquidated. If any of our relationships with our third-party CROs are terminated, we may not be able to enter into arrangements 

with  alternative  CROs  in  a  timely  manner,  on  commercially  reasonable  terms,  or  at  all.  In  addition,  there  is  a  natural  transition 

period  when  a  new  CRO  commences  work  and  the  new  CRO  may  not  provide  the  same  type  or  level  of  services  as  the  original 

provider. Any such developments could cause our drug development efforts to be delayed, which could adversely affect our business 

and operations. 

We depend on other parties to manage certain intellectual property rights that are material to our business. 

Any failure to effectively protect these rights could adversely affect our business and operations.

We depend on other parties to manage certain of our intellectual property rights that are material to our business. In accordance with 

certain of our agreements, we rely on other parties to manage responsibility for protection of certain intellectual property rights that 

we hold rights to for our products and product candidates. If such parties fail to procure or maintain intellectual property rights, the 

rights we hold may be reduced or eliminated, which could materially harm our business, financial conditions, results of operations, and 

prospects. 

Pursuant  to  the  terms  of  certain  of  our  agreements,  we  may  rely  on  others  to  procure,  maintain,  enforce,  or  defend  certain  patent 

rights  we  hold  that  are  material  to  our  business.  Additionally,  even  if  we  are  contractually  permitted  to  pursue  the  enforcement  or 

defense  of  a  patent  we  hold  rights  to  under  an  agreement,  we  require  the  cooperation  of  any  applicable  patent  owners  to  enforce 

such patent, and such cooperation may not be provided to us. Furthermore, even if we are able to participate in any such legal actions, 

an adverse outcome could materially harm our business, financial conditions, results of operations, and prospects.

We rely on third-party distributors to sell our commercial products, and a limited number of customers have 

generated a substantial portion of our revenue. If we fail to maintain an effective distribution channel for our 

products, our business and sales of the relevant products could be adversely affected.

We  rely  on  third-party  distributors  to  sell  our  commercial  products,  which  is  consistent  with  the  general  practices  of  the 

pharmaceutical  industry.  A  substantial  amount  of  our  revenue  is  derived  from  sales  to  a  limited  number  of  customers,  which  are 

distributors.  For  2023  and  2022,  our  five  largest  customers  accounted  for  approximately  35.0%  and  37.7%  of  our  product  revenue, 

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RISK FACTORSrespectively.  Product  revenue  generated  from  our  largest  customer  for  the  same  periods  accounted  for  approximately  19.9%  and 

22.4%  of  our  product  revenue,  respectively.  We  have  relatively  limited  control  over  our  distributors,  and  they  may  fail  to  distribute 

our  products  in  a  timely  manner  or  in  the  manner  we  contemplate.  Further,  while  we  believe  alternative  distributors  are  readily 

available,  if  any  of  our  major  customers  significantly  reduces  its  purchase  volume  or  ceases  to  purchase  from  us,  and  we  are  not 

able to identify new customers in a timely manner, our business, financial condition, and results of operation may be materially and 

adversely affected. In addition, our major customers may seek to negotiate more favorable terms for them in the future. Under such 

circumstances,  we  may  have  to  agree  to  less  favorable  terms  in  order  to  maintain  the  ongoing  cooperative  relationships  with  our 

major  customers.  If  we  are  unable  to  reduce  our  production  costs  accordingly,  our  profitability,  results  of  operations,  and  financial 

condition may be materially and adversely affected.

The  illegal  distribution  and  sale  by  third  parties  of  counterfeit  versions  of  our  products  or  stolen  products 

could have a negative impact on our reputation and business.

Third  parties  might  illegally  distribute  and  sell  counterfeit  or  unfit  versions  of  our  products,  which  do  not  meet  our  or  our 

collaborators’ rigorous manufacturing and testing standards. A patient who receives a counterfeit or unfit product may be at risk for a 

number of dangerous health consequences. Our reputation and business could suffer harm as a result of counterfeit or unfit products 

sold under our or our collaborators’ brand name(s). In addition, thefts of inventory at warehouses, plants, or while in-transit, which 

are not properly stored and which are sold through unauthorized channels, could adversely impact patient safety, our reputation, and 

our business.

Our business, results of operations, and financial condition may be adversely affected by deterioration in the 

credit quality of, or defaults by, our distributors and customers, and an impairment in the carrying value of our 

short-term investments could negatively affect our consolidated results of operations.

We are exposed to the risk that our distributors and customers may default on their obligations to us as a result of bankruptcy, lack of 

liquidity, operational failure, or other reasons. As our business evolves, the amount and duration of our credit exposure may increase, 

as  will  the  breadth  of  the  entities  to  which  we  have  credit  exposure.  Although  we  regularly  review  our  credit  exposure  to  specific 

distributors and customers that we believe may present credit concerns, default risks may arise from events or circumstances that are 

difficult to detect or foresee.

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments represent the maximum amount of 

loss due to credit risk. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had cash and cash equivalents of $790.2 million and $1,008.5 million, 

restricted cash of $1.1 million and $0.8 million, and short-term investments of $16.3 million and nil, respectively, most of which are 

deposited in financial institutions outside of mainland China. Although our cash and cash equivalents in mainland China, Hong Kong, 

Australia, and the United States are deposited with various major reputable financial institutions, deposits placed with these financial 

institutions are not protected by statutory or commercial insurance. In the event of bankruptcy of one of these financial institutions, 

we may be unlikely to claim our deposits back in full. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, our short-term investments consisted of time 

deposits with original maturities between three months and one year.

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RISK FACTORSAlthough we believe that U.S. Treasury securities are of high credit quality, concerns about, or a default by, one or more institutions in 

the market could lead to significant liquidity problems, losses, or defaults by other institutions, which in turn could adversely affect us.

RISKS RELATED TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

If  we  are  unable  to  obtain  and  maintain  protection  for  our  products  and  product  candidates  through 

intellectual  property  rights,  or  if  the  scope  of  such  intellectual  property  rights  obtained  is  not  sufficiently 

broad, third parties may compete directly against us.

Our  success  depends,  in  part,  on  our  ability  to  protect  our  products,  product  candidates,  and  technologies  from  competition  by 

obtaining, maintaining, and enforcing our intellectual property rights. We seek to protect our products and product candidates as well 

as technologies that we consider commercially important through intellectual property rights, such as patents and trade secrets. 

We do not own or hold an exclusive license to patent rights in all of the territories in which we plan to commercialize certain of our 

products and product candidates. Further, we cannot predict whether patent applications that we hold rights to or any of our other 

owned or in-licensed pending patent applications will result in the issuance of patents that effectively protect our products, product 

candidates, and technologies. It is also possible that we do not identify and/or secure patent rights to certain patentable aspects of 

our products, product candidates, or technologies. If we do not secure patent rights with respect to our products, product candidates, 

and technologies, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects could be materially harmed.

The  patent  prosecution  process  is  expensive,  time-consuming,  and  complex,  and  we  may  not  be  able  to  file,  prosecute,  maintain, 

license, or defend all necessary or desirable patent rights at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner, and patents may be invalidated, 

in whole or in part, and thereby rendered unenforceable. In addition, our licenses may not provide us with exclusive rights to products 

and product candidates in all relevant fields of use and in all territories in a manner which we may wish to develop or commercialize 

products  in  the  future.  As  a  result,  we  may  not  be  able  to  prevent  competitors  from  developing  and  commercializing  competitive 

products in all such fields and territories.

Furthermore,  the  term  of  a  patent  is  finite  and  generally  expires  20  years  from  its  earliest  non-provisional  filing  date  provided  that 

associated fees are timely paid. Given the amount of time required for the development, testing, and regulatory review of products 

and  new  product  candidates,  patents  protecting  such  products  and  product  candidates  might  expire  before  or  shortly  after  such 

products or product candidates are commercialized. As a result, the patent rights we hold may be insufficient to protect our products 

and product candidates from competitors’ products, including those that are generic. 

Moreover,  in  the  case  of  any  patent  rights  that  are  jointly  owned  by  us  and  another  party,  if  we  are  unable  to  obtain  an  exclusive 

license or otherwise limit the other party’s right to license such patent rights to a third party, such patent rights may be licensed to 

third parties, including our competitors. In addition, we may need the cooperation of any joint owner of such jointly-owned patent to 

enforce it against third parties, and such cooperation may not be provided to us. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse 

effect on our competitive position, business, financial conditions, results of operations, and prospects. 

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RISK FACTORSOur owned or in-licensed patents could be found invalid or unenforceable if challenged in court or before the 

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or other foreign authority.

We or our licensors or collaboration partners may become involved in patent litigation against third parties, for example, to enforce 

our  patent  rights,  to  invalidate  patents  held  by  such  third  parties,  or  to  defend  against  such  claims.  Further,  third  parties  could 

claim that we infringed, misappropriated, or otherwise violated their intellectual property rights or that a patent we or our licensors 

or  collaboration  partners  have  asserted  against  them  is  invalid  or  unenforceable.  In  patent  litigation,  defendant  counterclaims 

challenging the validity, enforceability or scope of asserted patents are common, and there are numerous grounds upon which a party 

can assert invalidity or unenforceability of a patent. In addition to court proceedings, in certain jurisdictions, parties may initiate legal 

proceedings before administrative bodies to assert challenges to intellectual property rights, including patent rights. Such proceedings 

could result in revocation, cancellation, or amendment to the scope of our patent rights and could negatively affect our business. 

The  outcome  of  any  such  proceeding  is  generally  unpredictable.  Furthermore,  even  if  we  are  successful  in  defending  against 

such  challenges,  the  cost  to  us  of  any  patent  litigation  or  similar  proceeding  could  be  substantial,  and  it  may  consume  significant 

management and other personnel time. We do not maintain insurance to cover intellectual property infringement, misappropriation, 

or violation. 

An  adverse  result  in  any  litigation  or  other  intellectual  property  proceeding  could  put  one  or  more  of  our  patents  at  risk  of  being 

invalidated, rendered unenforceable, or interpreted narrowly. If a defendant were to prevail on a legal assertion of invalidity and/or 

unenforceability of our patents covering one or more of our products or product candidates, we may lack sufficient patent coverage 

of  our  products  or  product  candidates  to  prevent  others  from  marketing  competing  products.  Any  of  these  outcomes  could  have  a 

material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects. 

We may not be able to protect our intellectual property.

The extent to which intellectual property rights provide adequate protection as available under the relevant intellectual property laws 

is uncertain, particularly in light of possible challenges to any patents in a given jurisdiction. Any such challenge to our patent rights 

could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and prospects. Notably, the experience and capabilities of 

Chinese courts in handling intellectual property litigation varies, and outcomes are unpredictable. Further, such litigation may require 

a  significant  financial  expenditure  and  could  divert  management’s  attention  from  other  aspects  of  our  business  and  operations. 

An  adverse  determination  in  any  such  litigation  could  materially  impair  our  intellectual  property  rights  and  may  harm  our  business, 

financial condition, results of operations, prospects, and reputation.

Many  companies  have  encountered  significant  problems  in  protecting  and  defending  intellectual  property  rights  in  certain 

jurisdictions, including mainland China. The legal systems, particularly in certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement 

of  patents,  trade  secrets,  and  other  intellectual  property  protection,  which  could  make  it  difficult  for  us  to  enforce  our  intellectual 

property  and  proprietary  rights  generally.  Proceedings  to  enforce  such  intellectual  property  and  proprietary  rights  could  result  in 

substantial costs, divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, put our patents at risk of being invalidated or 

interpreted narrowly, and provoke third parties to assert counterclaims against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate, 

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RISK FACTORSand  the  damages  or  other  remedies  awarded,  if  any,  may  not  be  commercially  meaningful.  Accordingly,  our  efforts  to  enforce  our 

intellectual  property  and  proprietary  rights  may  be  inadequate  to  obtain  a  significant  commercial  advantage  from  the  intellectual 

property that we hold rights to. 

Furthermore,  many  countries  have  compulsory  licensing  laws  under  which  a  patent  owner  may  be  compelled  to  grant  licenses  to 

third parties. In addition, many countries limit the enforceability of patents against government agencies or government contractors. 

In these countries, the patent owner may have limited remedies, which could materially diminish the value of such patent. If we or 

any of our licensors are forced to grant a license to third parties with respect to any patents relevant to our business, our competitive 

position may be impaired, and our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects may be adversely affected. 

Developments or uncertainties in patent law could have a negative impact on our business.

Changes  in  either  the  patent  laws  or  interpretation  of  the  patent  laws  could  diminish  the  value  of  patents,  thereby  impairing  our 

ability to protect our products, product candidates, and technologies. Changes in patent laws and regulations in various countries or 

jurisdictions, changes in the governmental bodies that enforce them, or changes in how the relevant governmental authority enforces 

them  may  weaken  our  ability  to  obtain  new  patents  or  patent  rights  through  our  licensors  or  to  enforce  any  patents  in  the  future. 

We cannot predict future changes in the interpretation of patent laws or changes to patent laws that might be enacted into law by 

any legislative body. Such changes could materially affect our patent rights and could have a material adverse effect on our business, 

results of operations, and prospects. 

If  we  are  unable  to  maintain  the  confidentiality  of  our  trade  secrets,  our  business  and  competitive  position 

may be harmed.

We  rely  upon  proprietary  confidential  information,  including  trade  secrets  and  know-how  to  maintain  our  competitive  position. 

However, such confidential information can be difficult to protect. We seek to protect our proprietary confidential information, in part, 

by  entering  into  confidentiality  agreements  with  parties  that  have  access  to  such  information,  including  our  partners,  collaborators, 

scientific  advisors,  employees,  consultants,  and  other  third  parties.  We  may  not  be  able  to  enter  into  such  agreements  with  each 

party that may have or have had access to our trade secrets or proprietary technologies. Further, we may not be able to prevent the 

unauthorized disclosure or use of our trade secrets or know-how by the parties to these agreements, despite their existence and any 

other  contractual  restrictions.  If  any  of  these  parties  breaches  or  violates  the  terms  of  such  agreement  or  otherwise  discloses  our 

proprietary confidential information, we may not have adequate remedies for such breach or violation and could lose any competitive 

advantage  such  confidential  information  afforded  us.  Enforcing  a  claim  that  a  third  party  illegally  disclosed  or  misappropriated  our 

trade secrets is difficult, expensive, and time-consuming, with the outcome being unpredictable. 

Our trade secrets could become known or even be independently discovered by other parties, including our competitors. If any of our 

trade secrets were to be disclosed or independently developed, we would have no right to prevent others from using that information 

to  compete  against  us,  which  may  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial  condition,  results  of  operations,  and 

prospects. 

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RISK FACTORSIf our products or product candidates infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate the intellectual property 

rights of third parties, we may incur substantial liabilities, and we may be unable to sell or commercialize these 

products and product candidates.

Our  success  depends  significantly  on  our  ability  to  develop,  manufacture,  market,  and  sell  our  commercial  products  and  use  our 

proprietary  technologies  without  infringing,  misappropriating,  or  otherwise  violating  the  patents  and  other  proprietary  rights  of 

third parties. The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are characterized by extensive litigation regarding patents and other 

intellectual  property  rights.  We  may  become  party  to,  or  threatened  with,  litigation  or  other  proceedings  regarding  intellectual 

property rights with respect to our products, product candidates, or technologies that could negatively affect our business. 

Third  parties  may  assert  claims  of  patent  infringement  against  us,  regardless  of  merit,  based  on  their  existing  patents  or  based  on 

later issued patents. Even if we believe such claims are without merit, there is no assurance that a court would find in our favor on 

questions  of  patent  infringement  or  counterclaims  pertaining  to  the  underlying  patent(s)  asserted  against  us.  A  court  of  competent 

jurisdiction could hold that a third-party patent is valid, enforceable, and infringed by us, which could have a material adverse effect 

on our business. 

If we are found to have infringed a third party’s patent rights, and we are unsuccessful in demonstrating that such patent(s) are invalid 

or unenforceable, we could be required to: 

• 

obtain  royalty-bearing  licenses  from  such  third  party  to  the  relevant  patent(s),  which  may  not  be  available  on  commercially 

reasonable terms, require substantial licensing and royalty payments, or may not be available at all, and even if we were able 

to obtain such licenses, they could be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors and other third parties access to the same 

technologies licensed to us; 

• 

• 

• 

• 

defend against additional litigation or administrative proceedings in the same and/or other jurisdiction(s); 

reformulate affected product(s) so that they do not infringe the intellectual property rights of others, which may not be possible 

or could be expensive and time consuming; 

cease developing, manufacturing, and commercializing any infringing products, product candidates, or technologies; and 

pay  such  third  party  significant  monetary  damages,  including  treble  damages  and  attorneys’  fees,  if  we  are  found  to  have 

willfully infringed their patent. 

Similarly,  claims  by  third  parties  that  we  have  misappropriated  their  confidential  information,  such  as  trade  secrets,  could  have 

a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business.  Even  if  we  are  ultimately  successful  in  defending  against  such  claims  via  litigation(s) 

or  administrative  proceeding(s),  any  such  litigation  or  proceeding  may  be  costly  and  could  result  in  a  substantial  diversion  of 

management resources. Consequently, any of the foregoing may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, 

results of operations, and prospects.

84

RISK FACTORSIntellectual property litigation and proceedings could cause us to spend substantial resources and distract our 

personnel from their normal responsibilities.

Even  if  resolved  in  our  favor,  litigation  or  other  such  legal  proceedings  relating  to  our  intellectual  property  rights  may  cause  us  to 

incur  significant  expenses  and  could  distract  our  personnel  from  their  normal  responsibilities.  In  addition,  there  could  be  public 

announcements  of  the  results  of  hearings,  motions,  or  other  interim  proceedings  or  developments,  and  if  securities  analysts  or 

investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our securities. Such litigation 

or proceedings could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce the resources available for development activities or any 

future  sales,  marketing,  or  distribution  activities.  We  may  not  have  sufficient  financial  or  other  resources  to  conduct  such  litigation 

or  proceedings  adequately.  Additionally,  some  of  our  competitors  may  be  able  to  sustain  the  costs  of  such  litigation  or  proceedings 

more effectively than we can, for example, because of greater financial or other resources. Moreover, uncertainties resulting from the 

initiation and continuation of such litigation or other proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We  may  be  subject  to  claims  that  we  or  our  employees,  consultants,  or  advisors  have  wrongfully  used  or 

disclosed  alleged  trade  secrets  of  their  current  or  former  employers  or  are  in  breach  of  confidentiality, 

non-disclosure,  non-use,  non-competition,  or  non-solicitation  agreements  with  such  current  or  former 

employers, some of whom may be our competitors or potential competitors.

We  could  in  the  future  be  subject  to  claims  that  we  or  our  employees,  consultants,  or  advisors  have  inadvertently  or  otherwise 

improperly used or disclosed alleged trade secrets or other proprietary information of current or former employers of our employees, 

consultants, or advisors. For example, many of our employees, consultants, and advisors are currently or were previously employed 

at  universities  or  other  biotechnology  or  pharmaceutical  companies,  including  our  competitors  or  potential  competitors.  Although 

we try to prevent our employees, consultants, and advisors from improperly using the intellectual property, proprietary information, 

know-how, or trade secrets of their current or former employers in their work for us, these efforts may not be successful. 

Litigation  may  be  necessary  to  defend  against  such  claims,  and  even  if  we  are  successful  in  defending  against  such  claims,  litigation 

could  result  in  substantial  costs  and  be  a  distraction  to  management  and  research  personnel.  If  our  defenses  to  these  claims  fail, 

in  addition  to  requiring  us  to  pay  monetary  damages,  a  court  could  prohibit  us  from  using  certain  technologies  or  features  that  are 

essential  to  our  products  and  product  candidates  if  such  technologies  or  features  are  found  to  incorporate  or  be  derived  from  the 

trade secrets or other proprietary information of another party. An inability to incorporate such technologies or features could have 

a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business  and  may  prevent  us  from  successfully  commercializing  our  affected  products  and  product 

candidates. In addition, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel as a result of such claims. Moreover, any such 

litigation or the threat of such litigation may adversely affect our ability to hire employees or contract with necessary personnel. A loss 

of  key  personnel  or  their  work  product  could  hamper  or  prevent  our  ability  to  develop  or  commercialize  our  products  and  product 

candidates, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and prospects.

In addition, while we require our employees and contractors who may be involved in the conception or development of intellectual 

property to execute agreements assigning such intellectual property to us, we may be unsuccessful in enforcing such agreements. The 

assignment of intellectual property rights may not be self-executing, or the assignment agreements may be breached, and we may be 

85

RISK FACTORSforced to bring claims against our employees, contractors, or other third parties, or defend claims that they may bring against us, to 

determine the ownership of certain intellectual property. Such claims could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial 

condition, results of operations, and prospects. 

We  may  not  be  successful  in  obtaining  intellectual  property  rights  for  acquired  or  in-licensed  product 

candidates.

Our business model depends, in part, on our ability to successfully identify and acquire or in-license product candidates to enhance 

and  strengthen  our  product  pipeline.  For  such  acquired  or  in-licensed  product  candidates,  we  may  be  unable  to  secure  intellectual 

property  rights  relating  to,  or  necessary  for,  commercialization  of  any  such  product  candidates  from  third  parties  on  commercially 

reasonable terms or at all. In such event, we may be unable to develop or commercialize such product candidates. We may also be 

unable  to  identify  product  candidates  that  we  believe  are  an  appropriate  strategic  fit  for  the  Company  and/or  obtain  intellectual 

property protection relating to such product candidates. Any of the foregoing could have a materially adverse effect on our business, 

financial condition, results of operations, and prospects. 

The  in-licensing  and  acquisition  of  intellectual  property  rights  for  product  candidates  is  a  competitive  area,  and  a  number  of  other 

companies are also pursuing strategies to in-license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights for product candidates that we 

may  consider  attractive  or  necessary.  These  other  companies  may  have  a  competitive  advantage  over  us,  for  example  due  to  their 

size,  cash  resources,  and  clinical  development  and  commercialization  capabilities.  Furthermore,  certain  companies  that  perceive  us 

to be a competitor may be unwilling to assign or license rights to us. If we are unable to successfully obtain rights to suitable product 

candidates, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects could suffer. 

If we or our licensors or collaboration partners do not obtain patent term extension and data exclusivity for 

our  products  or  their  products  or  any  product  candidates  we  may  develop,  our  business  may  be  materially 

harmed.

Depending upon the timing, duration, and specifics of any regulatory marketing approval of our products or any product candidates 

we  may  develop,  one  or  more  of  our  owned  or  in-licensed  patents  may  be  eligible  for  limited  patent  term  extension  in  a  particular 

jurisdiction.  For  example,  in  the  United  States,  a  single  patent  (provided  it  claims  the  approved  drug  or  method  for  using  it,  or  a 

method  for  manufacturing  the  drug)  may  be  eligible  for  patent  term  extension  of  up  to  five  years,  although  it  cannot  extend  the 

remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of product approval. However, we may not be granted any patent 

term extension due to failure to meet applicable requirements, for example, failure to exercise due diligence during the testing phase 

or regulatory review process or failure to apply for patent term extension within the applicable deadlines or prior to expiration of the 

relevant patents. Moreover, any patent term extension approved could be less than the period we requested. 

The China Patent Law provides for patent term extension and adjustments for patents and a patent linkage system. However, to be 

implemented, the patent term extensions and adjustments require further promulgation of regulations and detailed implementation 

measures.  Additionally,  in  mainland  China,  there  is  currently  no  effective  law  or  regulation  providing  for  data  exclusivity,  although 

Chinese  regulators  have  proposed  a  framework  for  integrating  data  exclusivity  into  the  Chinese  regulatory  regime.  Until  the  new 

86

RISK FACTORSprovisions  of  the  China  Patent  Law  providing  for  patent  term  extensions  and  adjustments  and  the  proposed  framework  for  data 

exclusivity  can  be  implemented,  a  lower-cost  generic  or  biosimilar  drug  can  emerge  onto  the  market  more  quickly.  Consequently, 

the  absence  of  currently  implemented  laws  and  regulations  on  patent  term  extension  and  adjustment  and  data  exclusivity  or  the 

cancellation of the previous five-year administrative exclusivity for domestically manufactured new drugs could result in much weaker 

protection  for  us  against  generic  competition  in  mainland  China.  For  instance,  if  we  are  unable  to  obtain  patent  term  extension 

or  adjustment  or  the  term  of  any  such  extension  or  adjustment  is  less  than  we  request,  our  competitors  may  obtain  approval  of 

competing products following our patent expiration, and our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects could 

be materially harmed. If we were to pursue patent linkage litigation, such litigation could take several months to conclude and require 

additional  months  thereafter  for  the  decision  to  be  made  publicly  available.  We  will  monitor  future  administrative  rulings/court 

decisions on patent linkage in mainland China. Any decision against our interests could adversely affect our business.

Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document 

submission,  fee  payment,  and  other  requirements  imposed  by  government  patent  agencies,  and  our  patent 

protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.

Over  the  lifetime  of  any  patent  rights  we  hold,  certain  government  fees  will  be  paid  to  a  patent  office  in  the  respective  jurisdiction 

for  any  patent  application(s)  and  on  any  patent(s)  resulting  therefrom.  In  some  of  our  licensed  matters,  we  rely  on  our  licensors  to 

pay  these  fees.  In  addition  to  the  payment  of  fees,  during  the  patent  application  process,  the  patent  office  of  any  given  jurisdiction 

requires compliance with procedural and documentary provisions. In some of our licensed matters, we rely on our licensors to comply 

with these requirements. In some cases, an inadvertent lapse can be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance 

with the applicable rules of a jurisdiction. There are situations, however, in which non-compliance can result in abandonment or lapse 

of the patent or patent application, resulting in a partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction, which may have a 

material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects. 

Intellectual property rights do not necessarily address all potential threats.

The  degree  of  future  protection  afforded  by  our  intellectual  property  rights  is  uncertain  because  intellectual  property  rights  have 

limitations and may not adequately protect our business or permit us to maintain our competitive advantage. For example: 

• 

others may be able to make products that are similar to our products or product candidates or utilize similar technology that are 

not covered by the claims of the patents that we hold rights to; 

• 

patent  rights  we  currently  hold  or  that  we  may  hold  in  the  future  might  be  from  inventors  that  are  not  the  first  to  make  the 

inventions covered by such patent rights; 

• 

patent rights we currently hold or that we may hold in the future might be from inventors that are not the first to file patent 

applications covering such inventions; 

87

RISK FACTORS• 

others  may  independently  develop  similar  or  alternative  technologies  or  duplicate  any  of  our  technologies  without  infringing, 

misappropriating, or otherwise violating our intellectual property rights; 

• 

patent rights we currently hold to any patent applications that are pending or such patent applications that we may hold patent 

rights to in the future may not result in issued patents; 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

issued patents that we hold rights to may be held invalid or unenforceable; 

our competitors might conduct research and development activities in countries where we do not have patent rights and then 

use the information learned from such activities to develop competitive products for sale in our major commercial markets; 

we may not develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable; 

the patents of others may impede our ability to exploit our innovations and may harm our business; and 

we may choose to maintain certain trade secrets or know-how, and a third party may discover such trade secrets or know-how 

through independent research and development, which may harm our business. 

Should any of these events occur, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, 

and prospects.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR ADSS AND ORDINARY SHARES

If we fail to maintain proper internal control over financial reporting, our ability to produce accurate financial 

statements or comply with applicable regulations could be impaired.

Pursuant  to  Section  404  of  the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act,  we  are  required  to  file  a  report  by  our  management  on  our  internal  control 

over  financial  reporting,  including  an  attestation  report  on  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  issued  by  our  independent 

registered  public  accounting  firm.  The  presence  of  material  weaknesses  in  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  could  result  in 

financial statement errors which, in turn, could lead to errors in our financial reports and/or delays in our financial reporting, which 

could  require  us  to  restate  our  operating  results.  We  might  not  identify  one  or  more  material  weaknesses  in  our  internal  controls 

in  connection  with  evaluating  our  compliance  with  Section  404  of  the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act.  In  order  to  maintain  and  improve  the 

effectiveness  of  our  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  and  internal  controls  over  financial  reporting,  we  will  need  to  expend 

significant  resources  and  provide  significant  management  oversight.  Implementing  any  appropriate  changes  to  our  internal  controls 

may  require  specific  compliance  training  of  our  Directors  and  employees,  entail  substantial  costs  in  order  to  modify  our  existing 

accounting systems, take a significant period of time to complete, and divert management’s attention from other business concerns. 

These changes may not, however, be effective in maintaining the adequacy of our internal control. 

88

RISK FACTORSIf we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in the future, our management and our independent registered 

public  accounting  firm  may  not  be  able  to  conclude  that  we  have  effective  internal  controls  over  financial  reporting,  investors  may 

lose  confidence  in  our  operating  results,  the  price  of  our  securities  could  decline,  and  we  may  be  subject  to  litigation  or  regulatory 

enforcement actions. In addition, if we are unable to meet the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our ADSs may 

not be able to remain listed on Nasdaq. 

We  have  incurred  losses  and  have  not  paid  dividends  on  our  securities  since  our  inception,  and  we  do  not 

currently intend to pay dividends on our securities. The success of an investment in our securities will depend 

on appreciation in the price of our securities.

We have incurred losses since inception and have never declared or paid any dividends on our securities. We currently intend to invest 

our future earnings, if any, to fund our business. Therefore, investors are not likely to receive any dividends on their securities, at least 

in the near term, and the success of an investment in our securities will depend upon any future appreciation in their value compared 

to  their  purchase  price.  There  is  no  guarantee  that  our  securities  will  appreciate  in  value  or  even  maintain  the  price  at  which  they 

were purchased. Further, investors may need to sell all or part of their holdings of our securities to realize any future gains on their 

investment. 

The market price of our securities may be volatile, which could result in substantial losses for our investors.

The market price of our securities has been volatile, and will likely continue to be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response 

to a variety of factors, including the following: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

announcements of competitive developments; 

regulatory developments affecting us, our licensors and partners, our customers, or our competitors; 

announcements regarding litigation or administrative proceedings involving us or our licensors and partners; 

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our period-to-period operating results; 

changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts; 

additions or departures of our executive officers; 

fluctuations of exchange rates between the RMB and the U.S. dollar; 

release or expiration of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding securities; and 

sales or perceived sales of additional securities. 

89

RISK FACTORSIn  addition,  the  securities  markets  have  experienced,  and  may  in  the  future  experience,  significant  price  and  volume  fluctuations 

that are not related to the operating performance of particular companies. Broad market and industry factors may negatively affect 

the market price of our securities, regardless of our actual operating performance. For example, in the last few years, the COVID-19 

pandemic,  tensions  between  the  United  States  and  China,  and  other  geopolitical  factors  have  negatively  affected  stock  market  and 

investor sentiment and resulted in significant volatility, including temporary trading halts. Prolonged global capital markets volatility 

may affect overall investor sentiment towards our securities, which would also negatively affect the trading prices for our securities. 

Fluctuations in the value of the RMB or Hong Kong dollars may have a material adverse effect on our results of 

operations and the value of our securities.

The value of the RMB or HK dollar against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, 

changes  in  political  and  economic  conditions.  With  the  development  of  the  foreign  exchange  market  and  progress  towards  interest 

rate  liberalization  and  RMB  internationalization,  the  Chinese  government  has  announced,  and  may  again  in  the  future  announce, 

changes  to  the  exchange  rate  system.  There  is  no  guarantee  that  the  RMB  will  not  appreciate  or  depreciate  significantly  in  value 

against the U.S. dollar. It is difficult to predict how market forces or Chinese or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate 

between the RMB and the U.S. dollar in the future. 

The value of our securities may, therefore, be affected by foreign exchange rates between U.S. dollars, HK dollars, and the RMB. For 

example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars or HK dollars into RMB for our operations or if any of our arrangements 

with other parties are denominated in U.S. dollars or HK dollars and need to be converted into RMB, appreciation of the RMB against 

the U.S. dollar or the HK dollar would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount we receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we 

decide to convert RMB into U.S. dollars or HK dollars for the purpose of making payments for business purposes, appreciation of the 

U.S. dollar or the HK dollar against the RMB would have a negative effect on the conversion amounts available to us. 

Since 1983, the HKMA has pegged the HK dollar to the U.S. dollar at the rate of approximately HK$7.80 to US$1.00. However, there 

is  no  assurance  that  the  HK  dollar  will  continue  to  be  pegged  to  the  U.S.  dollar  or  that  the  HK  dollar  conversion  rate  will  remain  at 

HK$7.80 to US$1.00. If the HK dollar conversion rate against the U.S. dollar changes and the value of the HK dollar depreciates against 

the U.S. dollar, the Company’s assets denominated in HK dollars will be adversely affected. Additionally, if the HKMA were to repeg the 

HK dollar to, for example, the RMB rather than the U.S. dollar, or otherwise restrict the conversion of HK dollars into other currencies, 

then the Company’s assets denominated in HK dollars will be adversely affected. 

Significant revaluation of the RMB or HK dollar may have a material adverse effect on our business. For example, to the extent that 

we need to convert U.S. dollars into RMB or HK dollars for our operations, appreciation of the RMB or HK dollar against the U.S. dollar 

would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert our RMB 

or HK dollars into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the 

RMB would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to us. In addition, appreciation or depreciation in the value of 

the RMB relative to U.S. dollars would affect our financial results reported in U.S. dollar terms regardless of any underlying change in 

our business or results of operations. 

90

RISK FACTORSVery limited hedging options are available in mainland China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, we have 

not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may decide 

to  enter  into  hedging  transactions  in  the  future,  the  availability  and  effectiveness  of  these  hedges  may  be  limited,  and  we  may  not 

be able to adequately hedge our exposure or at all. In addition, our currency exchange losses may be magnified by Chinese exchange 

control regulations that restrict our ability to convert RMB into foreign currency. 

Holders of our ADSs have fewer rights than shareholders and must act through the depositary to exercise their 

rights.

Holders  of  our  ADSs  do  not  have  the  same  rights  as  our  shareholders  and  may  only  exercise  the  voting  rights  with  respect  to  the 

underlying ordinary shares in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement. Under our amended and restated articles of 

association, an annual general meeting and any extraordinary general meeting may be called with not less than fourteen days’ notice. 

When a general meeting is convened, you may not receive sufficient notice of a shareholders’ meeting to permit you to withdraw the 

ordinary shares underlying your ADSs to allow you to vote with respect to any specific matter. If we ask for your instructions, we will 

give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted upon at least 30 days in advance of the 

meeting date, and the depositary will send a notice to you about the upcoming vote and will arrange to deliver our voting materials to 

you. The depositary and its agents, however, may not be able to send voting instructions to you or carry out your voting instructions 

in a timely manner. We will make commercially reasonable efforts to cause the depositary to extend voting rights to you in a timely 

manner,  but  we  cannot  assure  you  that  you  will  receive  the  voting  materials  in  time  to  instruct  the  depositary  to  vote  the  ordinary 

shares  underlying  your  ADSs.  Furthermore,  the  depositary  will  not  be  liable  for  any  failure  to  carry  out  any  instructions  to  vote,  for 

the manner in which any vote is cast or for the effect of any such vote. As a holder or beneficial owner of ADSs, you may have limited 

recourse if we or the depositary fail to meet our respective obligations under the deposit agreement or if you wish us or the depositary 

to participate in legal proceedings. As a result, you may not be able to exercise your right to vote and you may lack recourse if your 

ADSs are not voted as you request. In addition, in your capacity as an ADS holder, you will not be able to call a shareholders’ meeting. 

Under the deposit agreement, for the ADSs, the depositary will give us a discretionary proxy to vote the ordinary shares underlying 

your  ADS  at  shareholders’  meeting  if  you  do  not  give  instructions  to  the  depositary,  unless  (i)  we  have  failed  to  timely  provide  the 

depositary  with  our  notice  of  meeting  and  related  voting  materials,  (ii)  we  have  instructed  the  depositary  that  we  do  not  wish  a 

discretionary proxy to be given, (iii) we have informed the depositary that there is a substantial opposition as to a matter to be voted 

on at the meeting, or (iv) a matter to be voted on at the meeting would have a material adverse impact on shareholders. 

The effect of this discretionary proxy is that, if you fail to give voting instructions to the depositary, you cannot prevent the ordinary 

shares  underlying  your  ADSs  from  being  voted,  except  under  the  circumstances  described  above.  This  may  adversely  affect  your 

interests and make it more difficult for ADS holders to influence the management of the Company. Holders of our ordinary shares are 

not subject to this discretionary proxy. 

91

RISK FACTORSHolders  of  our  ADSs  may  not  receive  distributions  or  any  value  for  them  if  such  distribution  is  illegal  or 

impractical or if any required government approval cannot be obtained in order to make such distributions.

Although  we  do  not  have  any  present  plan  to  pay  any  dividends,  if  we  achieve  profitability  and  were  to  decide  to  pay  dividends  in 

the future, the depositary of our ADSs has agreed to pay our ADS holders the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian 

receives  on  ordinary  shares  or  other  deposited  securities  underlying  our  ADSs,  after  deducting  its  fees  and  expenses  and  any 

applicable taxes and governmental charges. Our ADS holders will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of ordinary 

shares  their  ADSs  represent.  However,  the  depositary  is  not  responsible  if  it  decides  that  it  is  unlawful  or  impractical  to  make  a 

distribution available to any holders of ADSs. For example, it would be unlawful to make a distribution to a holder of ADSs if it consists 

of securities whose offering would require registration under the Securities Act but are not so properly registered or distributed under 

an applicable exemption from registration. The depositary may also determine that it is not reasonably practicable to distribute certain 

property. In these cases, the depositary may determine not to distribute such property. We have no obligation to register under the 

U.S. securities laws any offering of ADSs, ordinary shares, rights, or other securities received through such distributions. We also have 

no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, ordinary shares, rights, or anything else to holders of ADSs. 

This means that you may not receive distributions we make on our ordinary shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for 

us to make them available to you. These restrictions may cause a material decline in the value of our ADSs. 

Rights  of  our  shareholders  in  the  United  States  to  participate  in  any  future  rights  offerings  may  be  limited, 

which may cause dilution to their holdings. 

We  may  from  time  to  time  distribute  rights  to  our  shareholders,  including  rights  to  acquire  our  securities.  However,  we  cannot 

make  rights  available  to  our  shareholders  in  the  United  States  unless  we  register  the  rights  and  the  securities  to  which  the  rights 

relate under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements is available. Also, under the deposit agreement, 

the  depositary  will  not  make  rights  available  to  our  U.S.  shareholders  unless  either  both  the  rights  and  any  related  securities  are 

registered under the Securities Act, or the distribution of them to ADS holders is exempted from registration under the Securities Act. 

We are under no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to any such rights or securities or to endeavor to cause such 

a  registration  statement  to  be  declared  effective.  Moreover,  we  may  not  be  able  to  establish  an  exemption  from  registration  under 

the Securities Act. If the depositary does not distribute the rights, it may, under the deposit agreement, either sell them, if possible, 

or  allow  them  to  lapse.  Accordingly,  our  U.S.  shareholders  may  be  unable  to  participate  in  our  rights  offerings  and  may  experience 

dilution in their holdings. 

Taxing  authorities  could  reallocate  our  taxable  income  among  our  subsidiaries,  which  could  increase  our 

overall tax liability. 

We  are  organized  under  the  laws  of  the  Cayman  Islands  and  currently  have  subsidiaries  in  mainland  China,  Hong  Kong,  Taiwan,  the 

Cayman  Islands,  the  United  States,  Australia,  and  the  British  Virgin  Islands.  If  we  further  grow  our  business,  we  expect  to  conduct 

increased operations through our subsidiaries in various tax jurisdictions pursuant to transfer pricing arrangements between us, our 

parent company, and our subsidiaries. If two or more affiliated companies are located in different countries, the tax laws or regulations 

of each country generally will require that transfer prices be the same as those between unrelated companies dealing at arms’ length 

92

RISK FACTORSand  that  appropriate  documentation  is  maintained  to  support  the  transfer  prices.  While  we  believe  that  we  operate  in  compliance 

with applicable transfer pricing laws and intend to continue to do so, our transfer pricing procedures are not binding on applicable tax 

authorities. 

If tax authorities in any of these countries were to successfully challenge our transfer prices as not reflecting arms’ length transactions, 

they could require us to adjust our transfer prices and thereby reallocate our income to reflect these revised transfer prices, which 

could  result  in  a  higher  tax  liability  to  us.  In  addition,  if  the  country  from  which  the  income  is  reallocated  does  not  agree  with  the 

reallocation,  both  countries  could  tax  the  same  income,  resulting  in  double  taxation.  If  tax  authorities  were  to  allocate  income  to  a 

higher tax jurisdiction, subject our income to double taxation or assess interest and penalties, it would increase our consolidated tax 

liability, which could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. 

A tax authority could assert that we are subject to tax in a jurisdiction where we believe we have not established a taxable connection, 

often referred to as a “permanent establishment” under international tax treaties, and such an assertion, if successful, could increase 

our  expected  tax  liability  in  one  or  more  jurisdictions.  A  tax  authority  may  take  the  position  that  material  income  tax  liabilities, 

interest,  and  penalties  are  payable  by  us,  in  which  case,  we  expect  that  we  might  contest  such  assessment.  Contesting  such  an 

assessment may be lengthy and costly, and if we were unsuccessful in disputing the assessment, the implications could increase our 

anticipated effective tax rate, where applicable. 

There  is  no  assurance  that  we  will  not  be  a  passive  foreign  investment  company,  or  PFIC  for  U.S.  federal 

income  tax  purposes  for  any  taxable  year,  which  could  subject  U.S.  investors  in  our  securities  to  significant 

adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.

In general, a non-U.S. corporation will be a PFIC for any taxable year in which (i) 75% or more of its gross income consists of passive 

income,  or  (ii)  50%  or  more  of  the  value  of  its  assets  (generally  determined  on  a  quarterly  average  basis)  consists  of  assets  that 

produce,  or  are  held  for  the  production  of,  passive  income  (the  “asset  test”).  For  purposes  of  the  above  calculations,  a  non-U.S. 

corporation  that  directly  or  indirectly  owns  at  least  25%  by  value  of  the  shares  of  another  corporation  is  treated  as  if  it  held  its 

proportionate  share  of  the  assets  of  the  other  corporation  and  received  directly  its  proportionate  share  of  the  income  of  the  other 

corporation. Passive income generally includes interest, dividends, and gains from certain property transactions, rents, and royalties 

(other  than  certain  rents  or  royalties  derived  in  the  active  conduct  of  a  trade  or  business).  For  these  purposes,  cash  is  generally  a 

passive asset and the value of a non-U.S. corporation’s goodwill (which may be determined by reference to the excess of the sum of 

its market capitalization and liabilities over its booked assets) generally should be an active asset to the extent attributable to business 

activities that produce non-passive income. 

Based  on  the  current  market  price  of  our  ADSs  and  our  current  and  expected  composition  of  income  and  assets,  we  do  not  expect 

the Company and its subsidiaries to be PFICs for our current taxable year. However, our assets other than goodwill are expected to 

consist  primarily  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents  for  the  foreseeable  future.  Therefore,  whether  we  will  satisfy  the  asset  test  for  the 

current or any future taxable year will depend largely on the quarterly value of our goodwill (which may be determined by reference 

to the market price of our ADSs, which could be volatile given the nature and early stage of our business). If our market capitalization 

93

RISK FACTORSdeclines while we continue to hold a significant amount of cash, the risk that we will be a PFIC will increase. Furthermore, we may be 

a PFIC for any taxable year in which our interest and other investment income constitutes 75% or more of the sum of (i) such interest 

and investment income, and (ii) the excess of our revenue over cost of goods sold. In addition, a company’s PFIC status is an annual 

determination that can be made only after the end of each taxable year. Therefore, we cannot give any assurance as to whether we 

are a PFIC for the current or any future taxable year. 

Subject to the discussion below, if we are or become a PFIC, U.S. investors generally would be subject to adverse U.S. federal income 

tax  consequences,  such  as  increased  tax  liabilities  on  capital  gains  and  certain  distributions,  and  interest  charges  on  taxes  deemed 

to  be  deferred.  If  we  are  a  PFIC  for  any  taxable  year  during  which  a  U.S.  investor  owns  our  securities,  we  will  generally  continue 

to  be  treated  as  a  PFIC  with  respect  to  such  investor  for  all  succeeding  years  during  which  the  investor  owns  our  securities  (unless 

the  investor  timely  makes  a  valid  “deemed  sale”  election),  even  if  we  cease  to  meet  the  threshold  requirements  for  PFIC  status. 

A mark-to-market election may be available with respect our securities, which would result in U.S. federal income tax consequences to 

holders of our securities that are different from those described above. 

If  a  U.S.  investor  owns  our  securities  during  any  year  in  which  we  are  a  PFIC,  such  investor  generally  will  be  required  to  file  annual 

reports on IRS Form 8621 (or any successor form) with respect to us, generally with their U.S. federal income tax return for that year. 

U.S.  investors  should  consult  their  tax  advisors  regarding  the  determination  of  whether  we  are  a  PFIC  for  any  taxable  year  and  the 

potential application of the PFIC rules. 

If  a  U.S.  investor  is  treated  as  owning  at  least  10%  of  our  ordinary  shares,  such  holder  may  be  subject  to 

adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences. 

If a U.S. investor is treated as owning (directly, indirectly, or constructively) at least 10% of either the total value or total combined 

voting  power  of  our  ADSs  or  our  ordinary  shares,  such  U.S.  investor  may  be  treated  as  a  “United  States  shareholder”  with  respect 

to  each  controlled  foreign  corporation,  or  CFC,  in  the  Company  (if  any).  Because  the  Company  includes  at  least  one  U.S.  subsidiary 

(Zai  Lab  (US)  LLC),  certain  of  our  non-U.S.  subsidiaries  will  be  treated  as  CFCs  (regardless  of  whether  Zai  Lab  Limited  is  treated  as 

a  CFC).  A  United  States  shareholder  of  a  CFC  may  be  required  to  annually  report  and  include  in  its  U.S.  taxable  income  its  pro  rata 

share of “Subpart F income,” “global intangible low-taxed income” and investments in U.S. property by CFCs, regardless of whether 

we  make  any  distributions.  An  individual  that  is  a  United  States  shareholder  with  respect  to  a  CFC  generally  would  not  be  allowed 

certain tax deductions or foreign tax credits that would be allowed to a United States shareholder that is a U.S. corporation. We may 

not assist investors in determining whether any of our non-U.S. subsidiaries are treated as a CFC or whether such investor is treated 

as a United States shareholder with respect to any of such CFCs. Further, we may not furnish to any investors information that may be 

necessary to comply with the reporting and tax paying obligations discussed above. Failure to comply with these reporting obligations 

may  subject  a  U.S.  investor  to  significant  monetary  penalties  and  may  prevent  the  statute  of  limitations  with  respect  to  their  U.S. 

federal  income  tax  return  for  the  year  for  which  reporting  was  due  from  starting.  U.S.  investors  should  consult  their  tax  advisors 

regarding the potential application of these rules to their investment in our securities. 

94

RISK FACTORSChanges in tax law may adversely affect our business and financial results.

Under current law, we expect to be treated as a non-U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The tax laws applicable 

to our business activities, however, are subject to change and uncertain interpretation. Our tax position could be adversely impacted 

by  changes  in  tax  rates,  tax  laws,  tax  practice,  tax  treaties  or  tax  regulations,  or  changes  in  the  interpretation  thereof  by  the  tax 

authorities  in  jurisdictions  in  which  we  do  business.  Our  actual  tax  rate  may  vary  from  our  expectation,  and  that  variance  may  be 

material. A number of factors may increase our future effective tax rates, including: (i) the jurisdictions in which profits are determined 

to  be  earned  and  taxed;  (ii)  the  resolution  of  issues  arising  from  any  future  tax  audits  with  various  tax  authorities;  (iii)  changes  in 

the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities; (iv) our ability to use net operating loss carryforwards to offset future taxable 

income and any adjustments to the amount of the net operating loss carryforwards we can utilize; and (v) changes in tax laws or the 

interpretation of such tax laws, and changes in U.S. GAAP. 

Our  corporate  actions  are  substantially  controlled  by  our  Directors,  executive  officers,  and  other  principal 

shareholders,  who  can  exert  significant  influence  over  important  corporate  matters,  which  may  reduce  the 

price of our securities.

Our  Directors,  executive  officers,  and  other  principal  shareholders  could  exert  substantial  influence  over  matters  such  as  electing 

Directors  and  approving  material  mergers,  acquisitions,  or  other  business  combination  transactions.  This  may  discourage,  delay,  or 

prevent a change in control of the Company, which could deprive our shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their 

shares as part of a sale of the Company and reduce the price of our securities. Such actions may be taken even if they are opposed by 

certain of our other shareholders. In addition, our Directors, executive officers, and other principal shareholders could divert business 

opportunities away from us to themselves or others. 

You may have difficulty enforcing judgments obtained against us.

Zai Lab Limited is a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and a substantial portion of our assets and operations 

are located in mainland China. In addition, some of our Directors and officers are nationals and residents of countries or regions other 

than the United States or Hong Kong, and a substantial portion of their assets is located outside of the United States and Hong Kong. 

As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States or Hong Kong upon these persons, or to 

bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States or Hong Kong in the event that they believe that their rights 

have been infringed under applicable federal securities laws or otherwise. Even if shareholders are successful in bringing an action of 

this  kind,  the  laws  of  the  Cayman  Islands  and  mainland  China  may  render  them  unable  to  enforce  a  judgment  against  our  assets  or 

the assets of our Directors and officers. There is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands or mainland China would 

recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of securities laws 

of the United States or any state. 

The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under PRC Civil Procedures Law. Chinese courts may recognize 

and  enforce  foreign  judgments  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  PRC  Civil  Procedures  Law  based  either  on  treaties  between 

95

RISK FACTORSmainland  China  and  the  country  where  the  judgment  is  made  or  on  principles  of  reciprocity  between  jurisdictions.  Mainland  China 

does  not  have  any  treaties  or  other  forms  of  reciprocity  with  the  United  States  that  provide  for  the  reciprocal  recognition  and 

enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to PRC Civil Procedures Law, mainland China courts will not enforce a foreign 

judgment  against  us  or  our  Directors  and  officers  if  they  decide  that  the  judgment  violates  the  basic  principles  of  Chinese  laws  or 

national sovereignty, security, or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a Chinese court would enforce a 

judgment rendered by a court in the United States. 

Investors may be subject to limitations on transfers of their ADSs.

ADSs are transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its transfer books at any time when it deems 

expedient  in  connection  with  the  performance  of  its  duties.  In  addition,  the  depositary  may  refuse  to  deliver,  transfer,  or  register 

transfers of ADSs generally when our books or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any time if we or the depositary deems 

it advisable to do so because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body, or under any provision of the 

deposit agreement, or for any other reason. 

Substantial  future  sales  or  perceived  potential  sales  of  our  ordinary  shares,  ADSs,  or  other  equity  or 

equity-linked securities could cause the price of our securities to decline.

Sales  of  our  ordinary  shares,  ADSs,  or  other  equity  or  equity-linked  securities,  or  the  perception  that  these  sales  could  occur, 

could  cause  the  market  price  of  our  securities  to  decline  significantly.  All  of  our  ordinary  shares  represented  by  ADSs  were  freely 

transferable by persons other than our affiliates without restriction or additional registration under the Securities Act. The shares held 

by our affiliates are also available for sale, subject to volume and other restrictions as applicable under Rule 144 of the Securities Act, 

under trading plans adopted pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 or otherwise. 

Divestiture in the future of our securities by shareholders, the announcement of any plan to divest our securities, or hedging activity 

by third-party financial institutions in connection with similar derivative or other financing arrangements entered into by shareholders 

could cause the price of our securities to decline. 

Furthermore, any major disposal of our securities by any of our Directors or executive officers (or the perception that such disposals 

may occur) may cause the prevailing market price of our securities to fall, which could negatively impact our ability to raise capital in 

the future. 

The different characteristics of the capital markets in Hong Kong and the United States may negatively affect 

the trading prices of our securities.

We are dual primary listed on Nasdaq and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Nasdaq and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange have different 

listing  rules  and  requirements,  trading  hours,  trading  characteristics  (including  trading  volume  and  liquidity),  trading  rules,  and 

investor bases (including different levels of retail and institutional participation). As a result of these differences, the trading prices of 

our ordinary shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and our ADSs on Nasdaq may not be the same, even after allowing for currency 

96

RISK FACTORSdifferences. Fluctuations in the price of our securities due to circumstances unique to the one market could materially and adversely 

affect the price of our securities on the other market. 

The  depositary  for  our  ADSs  is  entitled  to  charge  holders  fees  for  various  services,  including  annual  service 

fees.  Dealings  in  the  ordinary  shares  registered  in  our  Hong  Kong  register  of  members  will  be  subject  to 

Hong Kong stamp duty.

The depositary for our ADSs is entitled to charge holders fees for various services including for the issuance of ADSs upon deposit of 

ordinary shares, cancelation of ADSs, distributions of cash dividends or other cash distributions, distributions of ADSs pursuant to share 

dividends  or  other  free  share  distributions,  distributions  of  securities  other  than  ADSs,  and  annual  service  fees.  In  the  case  of  ADSs 

issued by the depositary into The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, the fees will be charged by the DTC participant to the account 

of  the  applicable  beneficial  owner  in  accordance  with  the  procedures  and  practices  of  the  DTC  participant  as  in  effect  at  the  time. 

Additionally, dealings in the ordinary shares registered in our Hong Kong register of members will be subject to Hong Kong stamp duty.

Exchange between our ordinary shares and our ADSs may adversely affect the liquidity and/or trading price of 

our securities.

Subject  to  compliance  with  U.S.  securities  law  and  the  terms  of  the  deposit  agreement,  holders  of  our  ordinary  shares  may  deposit 

such  ordinary  shares  with  the  depositary  in  exchange  for  the  issuance  of  our  ADSs.  Any  holder  of  ADSs  may  also  withdraw  the 

underlying  ordinary  shares  represented  by  the  ADSs  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  the  deposit  agreement  for  trading  on  the  Hong  Kong 

Stock Exchange. If a substantial number of our ordinary shares are deposited with the depositary in exchange for ADSs or vice versa, 

the  liquidity  and  trading  price  of  our  ordinary  shares  on  the  Hong  Kong  Stock  Exchange  and  our  ADSs  on  Nasdaq  may  be  adversely 

affected. 

The time required for the exchange between our ordinary shares and ADSs might be longer than expected and 

investors might not be able to settle or effect any sale of their securities during this period, and the exchange 

of ordinary shares into ADSs involves costs.

There is no direct trading or settlement between Nasdaq and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on which our ADSs and ordinary shares 

are respectively traded. In addition, the time differences between Hong Kong and New York and unforeseen market circumstances or 

other factors may delay the deposit of ordinary shares in exchange of ADSs or the withdrawal of ordinary shares underlying the ADSs. 

Investors will be prevented from settling or effectuating the sale of their securities during such periods of delay. In addition, there is no 

assurance that any exchange of ADSs into ordinary shares (and vice versa) will be completed in accordance with the timelines investors 

may anticipate. 

Furthermore,  the  depositary  for  the  ADSs  is  entitled  to  charge  holders  fees  for  various  services  including  for  the  issuance  of  ADSs 

upon  deposit  of  ordinary  shares,  cancellation  of  ADSs,  distributions  of  cash  dividends  or  other  cash  distributions,  distributions  of 

ADSs  pursuant  to  share  dividends  or  other  free  share  distributions,  distributions  of  securities  other  than  ADSs,  and  annual  service 

97

RISK FACTORSfees. As a result, shareholders who exchange ADSs into ordinary shares, and vice versa, may not achieve the level of economic return 

they may anticipate. 

There is uncertainty as to whether Hong Kong stamp duty will apply to the trading or conversion of our ADSs.

We  have  established  a  Hong  Kong  share  register  for  our  ordinary  shares  that  are  traded  on  the  Hong  Kong  Stock  Exchange,  and 

the trading of these ordinary shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange will be subject to the Hong Kong stamp duty. In addition, to 

facilitate ADS-ordinary share conversion and trading between Nasdaq and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, we have moved a portion of 

our issued ordinary shares from our register of members maintained in the Cayman Islands to our Hong Kong share register. 

Under the Hong Kong Stamp Duty Ordinance, any person who effects any sale or purchase of Hong Kong stock, defined as stock the 

transfer  of  which  is  required  to  be  registered  in  Hong  Kong,  is  required  to  pay  Hong  Kong  stamp  duty.  The  stamp  duty  is  currently 

set  at  a  total  rate  of  0.2%  of  the  greater  of  the  consideration  for,  or  the  value  of,  shares  transferred,  with  0.1%  payable  by  each 

of  the  buyer  and  the  seller.  To  the  best  of  our  knowledge,  Hong  Kong  stamp  duty  has  not  been  levied  in  practice  on  the  trading  or 

conversion of ADSs of companies that are listed in both the United States and Hong Kong and that have maintained all or a portion of 

their ordinary shares, including ordinary shares underlying ADSs, in their Hong Kong share registers. However, it is unclear whether, 

as a matter of Hong Kong law, the trading or conversion of ADSs of these dual-listed companies constitutes a sale or purchase of the 

underlying Hong Kong-registered ordinary shares that is subject to Hong Kong stamp duty. We advise investors to consult their own 

tax advisors on this matter. If Hong Kong stamp duty is determined by the competent authority to apply to the trading or conversion of 

our ADSs, the trading price and the value of any investment in our securities may be affected. 

GENERAL RISK FACTORS

We  are  subject  to  the  risks  of  doing  business  globally,  such  as  from  economic  or  political  tensions  between 

the  United  States  and  China  and  other  business  disruptions  or  other  adverse  effects  caused  by  economic 

downturns,  market  conditions,  changing  legal  and  regulatory  requirements,  political  instability,  trade 

sanctions,  public  health  crises,  international  war  or  conflict,  natural  disasters,  extreme  weather  events,  and 

other geopolitical events or significant disruptions outside of our control.

Because  we  operate  in  Greater  China,  the  United  States,  and  other  countries,  our  business  is  subject  to  risks  associated  with  doing 

business  globally.  For  example,  our  business  and  financial  results  could  be  adversely  affected  by  changes  in  global,  economic,  and 

industry  conditions,  including  currency  fluctuations,  changes  in  interest  rates,  capital  and  exchange  controls,  inflation,  recession, 

market volatility, and restrictive government actions such as changes in laws and regulatory requirements, intellectual property, legal 

protections  and  remedies,  trade  regulations,  tax  laws  and  regulations,  and  procedures  and  actions  affecting  approval,  production, 

pricing, marketing, reimbursement, and access for our products or product candidates. 

In addition, we, as well as our customers, vendors, partners, and patients, may be impacted by geopolitical events, including economic 

or political tensions between the United States and China; international war or conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine and the conflict 

between Israel and Hamas; and other instances of political or civil unrest, such as major hostilities or acts of terrorism. For example, as 

98

RISK FACTORSa result of economic or political conditions or tensions between the United States and China, the United States and other nations have 

raised the possibility of trade or other sanctions on China, Chinese banks, and companies with operations in China as well as legislation 

that restricts or prohibits U.S. investment in certain companies operating in China. Such actual or threatened sanctions on us or third 

parties with which we do business, such as customers, suppliers, intermediaries, services providers, or banks, and other geopolitical 

factors  could  adversely  affect  our  business  and  financial  results,  including  our  ability  to  raise  capital  or  raise  capital  on  favorable 

terms and the market price of our securities. We, as well as our customers, vendors, partners, and patients, may also be impacted by 

public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, drought, wildfires, and other extreme 

weather or catastrophic events. 

The  occurrence  of  one  or  more  of  the  events  described  above  could  disrupt  our  studies,  supply  chain,  manufacturing  facilities, 

distribution  network,  and  sales  and  marketing  efforts  or  result  in  increased  costs  or  decreased  demand  for  our  products. 

Such  developments  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  including  our  clinical  development,  results  of  operations, 

financial condition, ability to raise capital or raise capital on favorable terms, and the market price of our securities.

If  we  or  our  CROs  or  CMOs  fail  to  comply  with  applicable  environmental,  health,  and  safety  laws  and 

regulations,  we  could  become  subject  to  fines  or  penalties  or  incur  costs  that  could  have  a  material  adverse 

effect on our business.

We, our CROs, CMOs, or other contractors are subject to numerous environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations, including 

those governing laboratory procedures and the handling, use, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes. In 

addition, our construction projects can only be put into operation after certain regulatory procedures with the relevant administrative 

authorities  in  charge  of  environmental  protection,  health,  and  safety  have  been  completed.  Our  development  operations  primarily 

occur  in  mainland  China  and  the  United  States  and  involve  the  use  of  hazardous  and  flammable  materials,  including  chemicals  and 

biological  materials.  Our  operations  also  produce  hazardous  waste  products.  We  are  therefore  subject  to  Chinese  and  U.S.  laws 

and  regulations  concerning  the  discharge  of  wastewater,  gaseous  waste,  and  solid  waste  during  our  research  and  development  of 

our  products  and  product  candidates.  We  generally  contract  with  third  parties  for  the  disposal  of  these  materials  and  wastes.  If  we 

fail  to  comply  with  environmental  regulations  and  contamination  or  injury  from  these  materials  results  from  our  use  of  hazardous 

materials, we could be held liable for any resulting damages, and any such liability could exceed our resources or insurance coverage 

(such  as  workers’  compensation  insurance  for  injuries  to  our  employees).  We  also  could  incur  significant  costs  associated  with  civil, 

administrative, or criminal fines and penalties. 

Furthermore,  the  Chinese  or  U.S.  government  may  adopt  more  stringent  environmental  regulations.  If  this  occurs,  we  may  incur 

substantial capital expenditures to install, replace, upgrade, or supplement our facilities and equipment or make operational changes 

to comply with such environmental protection laws and regulations. If such costs were to become prohibitively expensive, we may be 

forced to cease certain aspects of our business or operations. We do not maintain insurance for environmental liability or toxic tort 

claims that may be asserted against us in connection with our storage, use or disposal of biological or hazardous materials. 

99

RISK FACTORSIn  addition,  we  may  be  required  to  incur  substantial  costs  to  comply  with  current  or  future  health  and  safety  laws  and  regulations, 

which could impair our research, development, or production efforts. Failure to comply with such laws and regulations may result in 

substantial fines, penalties, or other sanctions. 

Because of volatility in the price of our securities and the share price of biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals 

companies more broadly, we may be at increased risk of securities class action litigation.

In recent years, our company as well as other companies in our industry have experienced significant share price volatility. As a result, 

we may be at increased risk of securities class action litigation. Historically, securities class action litigation, whether warranted or not, 

often follows a decline in the market price of a company’s securities. If we were to become subject to class action litigation, it could 

result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could harm our business. 

If  analysts  do  not  continue  to  publish  research  or  publish  inaccurate  or  unfavorable  research  about  our 

business, the market price and/or trading value of our securities could decline.

The  market  for  our  securities  relies  in  part  on  research  and  reports  that  equity  research  analysts  publish  about  us  or  our  business. 

If  research  analysts  do  not  maintain  adequate  research  coverage  or  if  one  or  more  of  the  analysts  who  covers  us  downgrades  our 

securities or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price for our securities would likely decline. 

If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of the Company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the 

financial markets, which, in turn, could cause the market price or trading volume for our securities to decline significantly. 

The increasing use of social media platforms presents new risks and challenges.

Social  media  is  increasingly  being  used  to  communicate  about  our  products  and  the  diseases  our  therapies  are  designed  to  treat. 

Social media practices in the biopharmaceutical industry continue to evolve and regulations relating to such use are not always clear 

and  create  uncertainty  and  risk  of  noncompliance  with  regulations  applicable  to  our  business.  For  example,  patients  may  use  social 

media  channels  to  comment  on  the  effectiveness  of  a  product  or  to  report  an  alleged  adverse  event.  When  such  disclosures  occur, 

there  is  a  risk  that  we  fail  to  monitor  and  comply  with  applicable  adverse  event  reporting  obligations,  or  we  may  not  be  able  to 

defend  the  company  or  the  public’s  legitimate  interests  in  the  face  of  the  political  and  market  pressures  generated  by  social  media 

due  to  restrictions  on  what  we  may  say  about  our  products.  There  is  also  a  risk  of  inappropriate  disclosure  of  sensitive  information 

or  negative  or  inaccurate  posts  or  comments  about  us  on  any  social  networking  website.  Further,  there  is  a  risk  that  unmerited  or 

unsupported  claims  about  our  products  may  circulate  on  social  media.  If  any  of  these  events  were  to  occur  or  we  otherwise  fail  to 

comply  with  applicable  regulations,  we  could  incur  liability,  face  restrictive  regulatory  actions,  or  incur  other  harm  to  our  business, 

including damage to the reputation of our products or Company.

100

RISK FACTORSSamantha Du, PhD
Founder, Chairperson
and Chief Executive Officer

Dear Zai Lab Shareholders, 

It  is  with  great  pleasure  that  I  share  with  you  updates  on  our 
performance in 2023, and importantly, on our robust outlook for 
the future. Today, Zai Lab is in a fundamentally strong position, 
having  benefitted  from  several  years  of  consistent  execution, 
strategic planning, and infrastructure development. We are now 
poised to capitalize on and leverage those efforts as we enter a 
period of substantial revenue growth, a path to profitability, and 
an expansion of our global pipeline. 

Notably  last  year,  we  launched  VYVGART  (efgartigimod  alfa 
injection),  an  FcRn  inhibitor  for  generalized  myasthenia  gravis 
(gMG), in China, and this therapy holds the potential to improve 
the  treatment  landscape  for  patients  living  with  this  disease. 
The  speed  and  execution  surrounding  the  approval,  launch, 
in  China’s  National 
and  subsequent 
Reimbursement  Drug  List,  or  NRDL,  exemplifies  our  proficiency 
across  critical  functions.  The  launch  is  off  to  an  excellent  start 
as  we  drive  physician  awareness  and  adoption,  and  we  are 
enthusiastic  about  the  opportunity  to  make  a  meaningful 
difference  in  the  lives  of  thousands  of  patients  who  have  been 
suffering from symptoms for so long. 

inclusion  of  VYVGART 

VYVGART  is  just  the  first  of  a  series  of  prospective  late-stage 
blockbuster  drugs  within  our  pipeline  that  we  expect  to  launch 
over  the  next  two  to  three  years.  Our  mission  has  centered 
on  providing  patients  with  potential  first-or-best 
in  class 
medicines  that  can  address  significant  unmet  needs,  and  our 
diverse  portfolio  of  assets  underscores  this  commitment,  with 

bemarituzumab,  efgartigimod,  and  KarXT  all  standing  out  as 
potential first-in-class assets. 

Additionally,  we’ve  assembled  an  integrated  drug  discovery 
and  development  team  with  extensive  experience  in  discovery, 
translational medicine, and pre-clinical and clinical development 
in  China  and  worldwide  that  has  been  directly  involved  in 
the  discovery  and  development  of  several  innovative  product 
candidates with global rights. 

Below,  we  outline  the  progress  achieved  in  some  of  our  pivotal 
clinical development programs: 

• 

Efgartigimod: We see significant potential for efgartigimod 
across  multiple  indications.  Our  supplemental  Biologics 
License  Application  for  the  subcutaneous  formation  of 
efgartigimod  (SC  efgartigimod)  in  gMG  is  currently  under 
review,  with  a  potential  approval  from  China’s  National 
Medical  Products  Administration  (NMPA)  this  year.  In 
September,  the  NMPA  granted  breakthrough  therapy 
designation  for  SC  efgartigimod  for  the  treatment  of 
patients  with 
inflammatory  demyelinating 
polyneuropathy  (CIDP).  We  plan  to  submit  a  supplemental 
Biologics License Application for SC efgartigimod for CIDP to 
the  NMPA  this  year.  We  estimate  there  are  approximately 
50,000 CIDP patients diagnosed in China. 

chronic 

• 

KarXT:  We  believe  KarXT  has  the  potential  to  become 
an  important  new  treatment  option  for  patients  with 
in  China,  where  there  are  more  than 
schizophrenia 

101

CHAIRPERSON’S STATEMENT8 million people living with the disease, and where severe 
undertreatment and inadequate symptom control persist. 
We initiated a Phase 3 bridging study in China and expect 
to  complete  enrollment  this  year.  We  are  also  preparing 
to join the Greater China portion of the Phase III ADEPT-2 
and ADEPT-3 clinical trials for KarXT in the treatment and 
prevention of psychosis in Alzheimer’s disease patients. 

Bemarituzumab:  We  are  evaluating  bemarituzumab  in 
first line gastric and GEJ cancer where tumors overexpress 
FGFR2b. We are participating in the Greater China portion 
of the Phase 3 FORTITUDE-101 and FORTITUDE-102 studies 
in  FGFR2b-postive  gastric  cancer  as  doublet  therapy  with 
chemo and a triplet with chemo and a checkpoint inhibitor. 
Currently,  there  are  no  approved  treatments  targeting 
FGFR2b in gastric cancer. We estimate an annual incidence 
of  around  126,000  HER2-negative  gastric  cancer  patients 
who  have  FGFR2b  overexpression  in  China  and  around 
76,000 of these patients have FGFR2b overexpression over 
10 percent.

• 

• 

(sulbactam/durlobactam):  SUL-DUR 

is  an 
SUL-DUR 
infectious  disease  treatment  for  hospital-acquired  and 
ventilator-associated  bacterial  pneumonia  caused  by 
Acinetobacter  baumannii.  We  are  evaluating  SUL-DUR 
infections  caused  by 
for  the  treatment  of  serious 
Acinetobacter, 
and 
submission 
carbapenem-resistant 
for  SUL-DUR  is  currently  under  priority  review,  with  a 
potential  approval  later  this  year.  With  approximately 
300,000  infections  reported  in  China  in  2022  and  limited 
treatment options, SUL-DUR represents an important new 
treatment option for patients.

including  multidrug-resistant 
strains.  Our  NDA 

Repotrectinib:  Repotrectinib  is  a  treatment  for  ROS1-
positive  NSCLC  patients.  We  are  pleased  to  obtain  the 
NMPA’s  acceptance  of  our  NDA  for  repotrectinib  with 
priority review granted. There is a significant unmet need 
for  these  patients  given  the  limited  durability  of  benefit, 
the  emergence  of  resistance  to  approved  therapies  and 
eventual  tumor  progression.  We  estimate  an  annual 
incidence of around 14,000–21,000 patients in China with 
ROS1-positive metastatic NSCLC.

vedotin  has  already  been  approved  in  the  United  States 
for  this  indication.  We  are  participating  in  the  Greater 
China  portion  of  the  global  Phase  III  innovaTV  301  study 
in  recurrent  or  metastatic  cervical  cancer  with  disease 
progression  on  or  after  front-line  therapy  who  received 
tisotumab  vedotin,  compared  with  chemotherapy  alone. 
We  estimate  that  there  are  around  110,000  new  cases  of 
cervical cancer each year in China.

ZL-1102:  We  are  preparing  to  initiate  a  global  Phase  II 
study  for  ZL-1102,  our  IL-17  Humabody®,  for  the  topical 
treatment  of  mild  to  moderate  chronic  plaque  psoriasis. 
The  proof  of  concept  for  ZL-1102  is  the  first-ever  study 
to  demonstrate  penetration  of  a  topical  biologic  through 
psoriatic skin resulting in a clinical response.

ZL-1310:  We  expanded  our  global  pipeline  with  the 
introduction  of  ZL-1310,  an  early-stage  next-generation 
DLL3  antibody-drug  conjugate.  ZL-1310  is  progressing 
through  a  global  Phase  1  study  in  patients  with  relapsed 
and 
lung  cancer,  who  have 
progressed after platinum-based treatment, in the United 
States and China. 

refractory  small  cell 

These  and  other  strong  pipeline  programs  will  lead  the  next 
phase of Zai Lab’s journey. We expect strong growth across our 
portfolio  this  year  and  are  preparing  for  three  new  potential 
launches in 2024. We aim to reach corporate profitability by the 
end  of  2025  through  revenue  growth  and  continued  focus  on 
efficiency and productivity. 

We  are  also  committed  to  building  our  global  pipeline  by 
adding  new  assets  through  both  our  internal  discovery  efforts 
and  external  opportunities.  In  doing  so,  we  will  continue  to  be 
intentional  in  our  efforts  and  focused  on  portfolio  prioritization 
and  ways  we  can  enhance  efficiency.  By  2028,  we  aim  to  have 
a  significantly  larger  commercial  portfolio  with  the  potential 
launch of blockbusters such as VYVGART leading the way. Thank 
you for your continued support and belief in the important work 
we are doing on behalf of patients.   

Tisotumab  vedotin:  We  are  evaluating  tisotumab 
vedotin  for  the  treatment  of  adult  patients  in  Greater 
China  with  recurrent  or  metastatic  cervical  cancer  with 
disease progression on or after chemotherapy. Tisotumab 

Samantha Du, PhD
Founder, Chairperson, and CEO
Zai Lab Limited 

Sincerely,

102

• 

• 

• 

• 

CHAIRPERSON’S STATEMENT(In thousands of $, except for percentage)

Operating results

Product revenue, net

Collaboration revenue

Total revenues

Gross profit

Loss before income tax expense

Net Loss

Profitability

Gross margin (%)

Net profit margin (%)

Financial position

Cash, cash equivalents, and 

 restricted cash

Short-term investments

Working capital

Total assets

Total liabilities

Total equity

Note:

For the year ended December 31,

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

12,985

—

12,985

9,236

(195,071)

(195,071)

48,958

—

48,958

32,222

(268,905)

(268,905)

144,105

207

144,312

92,073

(704,471)

(704,471)

212,672

2,368

215,040

141,022

(443,286)

(443,286)

266,719

—

266,719

170,903

(334,620)

(334,620)

71%

(1502)%

66%

(549)%

64%

(488)%

66%

(206)%

64%

(148)%

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

As of December 31,

76,442

200,000

245,811

355,153

60,493

294,660

442,859

744,676

1,117,993

1,297,638

128,293

1,169,345

964,903

445,000

1,307,980

1,609,956

230,000

1,379,956

1,009,273

—

984,494

1,220,140

174,545

1,045,595

791,264

16,300

736,539

1,036,295

240,177

796,118

Financial results and financial position for the relevant periods are prepared based on annual report, which were filed with SEC.

103

FINANCIAL SUMMARYOVERVIEW

We  are  a  patient-focused,  innovative,  commercial-stage,  global  biopharmaceutical  company  with  a  substantial  presence  in  both 

Greater China and the United States. We are focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing products that address medical 

conditions  with  significant  unmet  needs  in  the  areas  of  oncology,  autoimmune  disorders,  infectious  disease,  and  neuroscience.  We 

intend to leverage our competencies and resources to positively impact human health in Greater China and worldwide. We currently 

have five commercial products — ZEJULA, OPTUNE, QINLOCK, NUZYRA, and VYVGART — that have received marketing approval and 

that we have commercially launched in one or more territories in Greater China. We also have multiple programs in late-stage product 

development and a number of ongoing pivotal trials across our portfolio. For more information on our business, products and product 

candidates, and operations, see Business.

Since  our  inception,  we  have  incurred  net  losses  and  negative  cash  flows  from  our  operations.  Substantially  all  of  our  losses  have 

resulted  from  funding  our  research  and  development  programs  and  selling,  general  and  administrative  costs  associated  with  our 

operations.  Developing  high  quality  product  candidates  requires  significant  investment  in  our  research  and  development  activities 

over a prolonged period of time, and a core part of our strategy is to continue making sustained investments in this area. Our ability 

to  generate  profits  and  positive  cash  flow  from  operations  over  the  next  several  years  depends  upon  our  ability  to  successfully 

market  our  commercial  products  and  to  successfully  expand  the  indications  for  these  products  and  develop  and  commercialize  our 

other  product  candidates.  As  discussed  further  below,  we  expect  to  continue  to  incur  substantial  costs  related  to  our  research  and 

development and commercialization activities.

As  we  pursue  our  corporate  strategic  goals,  we  anticipate  that  our  financial  results  will  fluctuate  from  quarter  to  quarter  and 

year  to  year  depending  in  part  on  the  balance  between  the  success  of  our  commercial  products  and  the  level  of  our  research  and 

development expenses. We cannot predict whether or when our product candidates will receive regulatory approval. Further, if we 

receive such regulatory approval, we cannot predict whether or when we may be able to successfully commercialize such product or 

whether or when such product may become profitable.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS AND CORPORATE STRATEGIC GOALS

2023  marked  another  year  of  strong  growth  and  execution  for  Zai  Lab.  We  executed  on  our  strategic  priorities,  delivered  on 

commercial performance, including 25% year-over-year growth in net product revenue driven by strong demand for our products, and 

continued to advance and expand our pipeline of innovative product candidates.

In  2023,  we  were  excited  to  launch  a  fifth  commercial  product,  VYVGART,  for  gMG  in  China.  We  had  a  total  product  revenue  of 

$266.7  million  for  2023,  representing  25%  year-on-year  growth.  ZEJULA  continued  to  lead  PARP  inhibitor  sales  for  ovarian  cancer  in 

the  hospital  setting  in  mainland  China,  and  we  were  able  to  increase  patient  access  for  QINLOCK  and  NUZYRA  from  their  new  NRDL 

listings and for OPTUNE as a result of increased supplemental insurance coverage in the private-pay market. In 2024, we expect our 

product revenues to continue to increase, such as from the new NRDL listings for VYVGART and the oral formulation of NUZYRA.

104

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISWe also continued to make progress across our product pipeline. For example, the NMPA accepted NDAs for SC efgartigimod for the 

treatment  of  gMG,  SUL-DUR  for  infections  caused  by  Acinetobacter  baumannii,  including  MDR  and  CRAB  strains,  and  repotrectinib 

for  locally  advanced  or  metastatic  ROS1+  NSCLC.  We  also  had  several  positive  data  readouts  during  the  year,  including  for  TTFields 

therapy in 2L NSCLC, TIVDAK in 2L+ cervical cancer, SC efgartigimod in CIDP, and KarXT in schizophrenia. We also advanced our global 

pipeline,  initiating  Phase  I  studies  for  our  DLL3  ADC  program  and  for  ZL-1218,  a  humanized,  IgG1  monoclonal  antibody  that  binds 

to  human  CCR8.  And,  we  increased  our  pipeline  assets  through  our  business  development  activities  with  our  strategic  collaboration 

with  MediLink  for  the  license  of  a  next  generation  DLL3  ADC  program,  which  further  deepened  our  lung  cancer  franchise.  For  more 

information  on  our  commercial  products  and  product  pipeline,  including  status  and  developments  in  2023,  see  Business  —  Our 

Commercial Products and Operations and Business — Our Pipeline of Product Candidates and R&D Activities.

We  also  continued  to  strengthen  our  business  in  2023  through  key  new  additions  to  our  global  leadership  team.  For  example,  we 

promoted Dr. Yajing Chen to Chief Financial Officer on July 7, 2023. Dr. Chen previously served as our Senior Vice President and Deputy 

Chief  Financial  Officer,  helping  to  oversee  finance,  planning  and  forecasting,  accounting,  tax,  treasury,  and  procurement  matters 

since  joining  the  Company  in  September  2021.  She  is  a  seasoned  finance  executive  with  more  than  20  years  of  experience  in  the 

life sciences industry as well as a Ph.D. trained scientist. Dr. Chen succeeded Billy Cho, who stepped down from his role and left the 

Company on July 7, 2023. In addition, the Company appointed Dr. Robert Brown as Chief Medical Officer, Oncology in September 2023 

to help accelerate the growth and development for our global oncology pipeline. Dr. Brown is an oncology drug development leader, 

with  more  than  16  years  of  translational,  research,  and  clinical  development  expertise  in  the  areas  of  oncology,  immunology,  and 

neurology. Dr. Brown reports to Dr. Rafael Amado, President, Head of Global Oncology Research and Development at the Company, 

and  provides  strategic  leadership  and  support  with  respect  to  the  clinical  development  of  our  oncology  pipeline.  In  April  2024,  Mr. 

Andrew Zhu joined the Company as Chief Commercial Officer, Greater China. Andrew brings rich experience in building and executing 

innovative business models that will help us drive sales and profit growth across Greater China.

We  further  discuss  in  MD&A  below  key  factors  affecting  our  results  of  operations,  key  components  and  primary  drivers  of  changes 

in  our  results  of  operations  in  2023,  and  our  liquidity  and  capital  resources.  In  2024,  we  seek  to  continue  advancing  our  mission  of 

becoming a leading global biopharmaceutical company, driving innovation in treatment options for patients in China and beyond, by 

focusing on the following corporate strategic goals: accelerating medicines to patients through our R&D activities, including internal 

discovery; further expanding our product pipeline through synergistic regional and global collaborations and corporate development 

activities; and continuing our commercial excellence and execution, including by delivering strong financial performance and preparing 

for the launch of multiple new products and obtaining overall corporate profitability by the end of 2025. We also intend to continue 

building  and  maintaining  the  trust  of  our  stakeholders  by  further  developing  and  integrating  our  Trust  for  Life  strategy  into  our 

business  and  operations.  For  additional  information  on  our  mission  and  corporate  strategic  goals,  see  Business  —  Our  Mission  and 

Corporate Strategic Goals.

FACTORS AFFECTING OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Our Commercial Products

We  generate  product  revenue  through  the  sale  of  our  commercial  products  in  Greater  China,  net  of  any  related  sales  returns  and 

rebates  to  distributors.  Our  cost  of  sales  mainly  consists  of  the  costs  of  manufacturing  ZEJULA  and  NUZYRA,  costs  of  purchasing 

OPTUNE,  QINLOCK,  and  VYVGART  from  our  collaboration  partners,  any  royalty  fees  incurred  as  a  result  of  sales  of  our  commercial 

105

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISproducts  under  our  license  and  collaboration  agreements,  and  amortization  of  any  sales-based  milestone  payments  incurred  under 

our license and collaboration agreements. We expect our revenue to increase in coming years as we continue to focus on increasing 

patient access to our existing commercial products, such as through NRDL listing or increased supplemental insurance coverage in the 

private-pay market. For example, in the first quarter of 2023, QINLOCK was added to the NRDL for fourth-line GIST and NUZYRA for 

the IV treatment of adult patients with CABP and ABSSSI. In the first quarter of 2024, VYVGART (efgartigimod alfa injection) was added 

to the NRDL for gMG and NUZYRA for the oral treatment of adult patients with CABP and ABSSSI. We also expect revenue to increase 

in coming years as a result of our launch of additional commercial products, if and when we obtain required regulatory approvals. We 

expect our cost of sales to increase as the volume of products sold increases.

Research and Development Expenses

We believe our ability to successfully develop product candidates will be the primary factor affecting our long-term competitiveness, 

as  well  as  our  future  growth  and  development.  Developing  high  quality  product  candidates  requires  a  significant  investment  of 

resources over a prolonged period of time. We are committed to advancing and expanding our pipeline of potential best-in-class and 

first-in-class  products,  such  as  through  clinical  and  pre-clinical  trials  and  business  development  activities.  As  a  result,  we  expect  to 

continue making significant investments in research and development, including internal discovery activities.

Elements of research and development expenditures primarily include:

• 

• 

• 

payroll and other related costs of personnel engaged in research and development activities; 

in-licensed patent rights fees of exclusive development rights of products granted to the Company; 

costs related to pre-clinical testing of the Company’s technologies under development and clinical trials, such as payments to 

CROs and CMOs, investigators, and clinical trial sites that conduct our clinical studies; 

• 

costs to develop the product candidates, including raw materials and supplies, product testing, depreciation, and facility-related 

expenses; and 

• 

other research and development expenses.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

Our selling, general, and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel compensation and related costs, including share-based 

compensation  for  commercial  and  administrative  personnel.  Other  selling,  general,  and  administrative  expenses  include  product 

distribution  and  promotion  costs,  and  professional  service  fees  for  legal,  intellectual  property,  consulting,  auditing,  and  tax  services 

as  well  as  other  direct  and  allocated  expenses  for  rent  and  maintenance  of  facilities,  insurance,  and  other  supplies  used  in  selling, 

general, and administrative activities. We expect these costs to continue to be significant to support sales of our commercial products 

and preparation to launch and subsequent sales of additional product candidates if and when approved.

106

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISOur Ability to Commercialize Our Product Candidates

We  have  multiple  product  candidates  in  late-stage  clinical  development  and  various  others  in  clinical  and  pre-clinical  development 

in  Greater  China  and  the  United  States.  Our  ability  to  generate  revenue  from  our  product  candidates  is  dependent  on  our  receipt 

of  regulatory  approvals  for  and  successful  commercialization  of  such  product  candidates,  which  may  not  occur.  Certain  of  our 

product  candidates  may  require  additional  pre-clinical  and/or  clinical  development,  regulatory  approvals  in  multiple  jurisdictions, 

manufacturing supply, substantial investment, and significant marketing efforts before we generate any revenue from product sales.

License and Collaboration Arrangements

Our  results  of  operations  have  been,  and  will  continue  to  be,  affected  by  our  license  and  collaboration  agreements.  In  accordance 

with  these  agreements,  we  may  be  required  to  make  upfront  payments  and  milestone  payments  upon  the  achievement  of  certain 

development,  regulatory,  and  sales-based  milestones  for  the  relevant  products  as  well  as  certain  royalties  at  tiered  percentage  rates 

based on annual net sales of the licensed products in the licensed territories. We had $19.3 million and $53.4 million of research and 

development expenses in 2023 and 2022, respectively, related to upfront fees and development milestones. As of December 31, 2023, 

we may be required to pay development and regulatory milestone payments of up to an additional aggregate amount of $303.5 million 

for our current clinical programs and $673.2 million for other programs that are contingent on the progress of our product candidates 

prior  to  commercialization.  As  of  December  31,  2023,  we  also  may  be  required  to  pay  sales-based  milestone  payments  of  up  to  an 

additional  aggregate  amount  of  $2,457.5  million  as  well  as  certain  royalties  at  tiered  percentage  rates  on  annual  net  sales  that  are 

contingent  on  product  performance.  If  these  milestones  or  royalties  do  occur,  we  view  related  payments  as  favorable  because  such 

payments signify that the product or product candidate is achieving higher sales levels or advancing toward potential commercial launch.

107

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISFINANCIAL REVIEW

Results of Operations

In this section, we discuss key components of our results of operations in 2023 compared to 2022. 

The following table presents our results of operations ($ in thousands):

Revenues

 Product revenue, net

 Collaboration revenue

  Total revenues

Expenses

 Cost of sales

 Research and development

 Selling, general and administrative

Gain on sale of intellectual property

Loss from operations

 Interest income

 Foreign currency loss

 Other income, net

Loss before income tax and share of loss from 

 equity method investment

Income tax expense

Share of loss from equity method investment

Net loss

Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders

NM — Not Meaningful

Year Ended December 31,

2023

2022

Change
$

%

266,719

—

266,719

(95,816)

(265,868)

(281,608)

10,000

(366,573)

39,797

(14,850)

7,006

212,672

2,368

215,040

(74,018)

(286,408)

(258,971)

—

(404,357)

14,582

(56,403)

3,113

54,047

(2,368)

51,679

(21,798)

20,540

(22,637)

10,000

37,784

25,215

41,553

3,893

(334,620)

(443,065)

108,445

—

—

(334,620)

(334,620)

—

(221)

(443,286)

(443,286)

—

221

108,666

108,666

25 %

(100)%

24 %

29 %

(7)%

9 %

NM

(9)%

173 %

(74)%

125 %

(24)%

— %

(100)%

(25)%

(25)%

108

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISProduct Revenue

The following table presents the components of the Company’s product revenue ($ in thousands):

Product revenue — gross

Less: Rebates and sales returns

Product revenue — net

Year Ended December 31,

2023

298,911

(32,192)

266,719

2022

234,009

(21,337)

212,672

Change
$

64,902

(10,855)

54,047

%

28%

51%

25%

Our product revenue is derived from the sales our commercial products primarily in mainland China, net of sales returns and rebates 

to distributors with respect to the sales of these products.

Our net product revenue increased by $54.0 million in 2023 primarily driven by increased sales volumes, the launch of VYVGART, and 

decreased negative effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by an increase in sales rebates to distributors resulting from 

price  reductions  in  connection  with  NRDL  listings  for  certain  products  and  the  effects  on  hospital  and  physician  practices  from  the 

recent industry-wide anti-corruption enforcement efforts in China in the second half of 2023. In terms of revenue growth by product, 

ZEJULA continued to be the leading PARP inhibitor in hospital sales for ovarian cancer in mainland China; increased sales for QINLOCK 

and NUZYRA were supported by their inclusion in the NRDL in the first quarter of 2023, and we commercially launched VYVGART for 

gMG  in  mainland  China  in  September  2023.  The  effects  of  the  COVID-19  pandemic  had  an  adverse  impact  on  our  sales  volumes  for 

2022 and the first quarter in 2023, due to decreased patient access to our products, such as through reduced hospital access during 

periods  of  lockdown  or  high  infection  rates,  fewer  newly  diagnosed  oncology  patients,  and  delayed  or  interrupted  treatments.  The 

COVID-19 pandemic has not had a material adverse effect on our sales volume since the second quarter of 2023.

Sales  rebates  to  distributors  resulting  from  price  reductions  in  connection  with  NRDL  listings  were  $13.0  million  for  2023,  which 

increased from $5.3 million for 2022. These sales rebates in 2023 were driven by price reductions in connection with the inclusion of 

QINLOCK and NUZYRA (IV formulation) in the first quarter of 2023 and the inclusion of VYVGART and NUZYRA (oral formulation) and 

the  renewal  of  ZEJULA  as  a  maintenance  treatment  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  2023.  These  sales  rebates  in  2022  were  driven  by  price 

reductions in connection with the inclusion of ZEJULA for certain treatments in December 2021 and price reductions for QINLOCK and 

NUZYRA in the second quarter of 2022 in connection with NRDL pricing negotiations.

109

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISThe following table presents net revenue by product ($ in thousands):

Year Ended December 31,

2023

168,843

46,969

19,240

21,656

10,011

266,719

2022

145,194

47,321

14,957

5,200

—

212,672

Change
$

23,649

(352)

4,283

16,456

10,011

54,047

%

16 %

(1)%

29 %

316 %

NM

25 %

ZEJULA

Optune

QINLOCK

NUZYRA

VYVGART

Total

NM — Not Meaningful

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales increased by $21.8 million to $95.8 million in 2023 primarily due to increasing sales volumes.

Research and Development Expenses

The following table presents the components of our research and development expenses ($ in thousands):

Personnel compensation and related costs

Licensing fees

CROs/CMOs/Investigators expenses

Other costs

Total

Year Ended December 31,

2023

115,749

19,291

103,333

27,495

265,868

2022

105,561

53,441

100,544

26,862

286,408

Change
$

10,188

(34,150)

2,789

633

(20,540)

%

10 %

(64)%

3 %

2 %

(7)%

Research and development expenses decreased by $20.5 million in 2023 primarily due to:

• 

a  decrease  of  $34.2  million  in  licensing  fees  as  a  result  of  decreased  upfront  and  milestone  payments  for  our  license  and 

collaboration agreements; partially offset by 

• 

an increase of $10.2 million in personnel compensation and related costs primarily due to grants of share options and restricted 

shares and the continued vesting of option and restricted share awards; and

• 

an  increase  of  $2.8  million  in  CROs/CMOs/Investigators  expenses  related  to  newly  initiated  studies  and  progress  of  existing 

studies. 

110

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISThe following table presents our research and development expenses by program ($ in thousands):

Clinical programs

Pre-clinical programs

Unallocated research and development expenses

Total

Year Ended December 31,

2023

112,158

17,356

136,354

265,868

2022

155,792

6,644

123,972

286,408

Change
$

(43,634)

10,712

12,382

(20,540)

%

(28)%

161 %

10 %

(7)%

Research  and  development  expenses  attributable  to  clinical  programs  decreased  by  $43.6  million  in  2023  primarily  driven  by  a 

decrease  in  licensing  fees  of  $45.2  million.  Research  and  development  expenses  attributable  to  pre-clinical  programs  increased  by 

$10.7 million in 2023, primarily driven by an increase in licensing fees related to an upfront payment for a new business collaboration.

Although  we  manage  our  external  research  and  development  expenses  by  program,  we  do  not  allocate  our  internal  research  and 

development expenses by program because our employees and internal resources may be engaged in projects for multiple programs 

at any given time.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

The following table presents our selling, general and administrative expenses by program ($ in thousands):

Personnel compensation and related costs

Professional service fees

Other costs

Total

Year Ended December 31,

2023

173,389

22,507

85,712

281,608

2022

162,045

35,414

61,512

258,971

Change
$

11,344

(12,907)

24,200

22,637

%

7 %

(36)%

39 %

9 %

Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased by $22.6 million in 2023 primarily due to:

• 

an  increase  of  $24.2  million  in  other  costs  mainly  related  to  selling,  rental,  and  administrative  expenses  for  commercial 

operations in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan; and

• 

an increase of $11.3 million in personnel compensation and related costs which was primarily driven by grants of share options 

and restricted shares and the continued vesting of option and restricted share awards; partially offset by

• 

a decrease of $12.9 million in professional service fees primarily related to legal and other administrative expenses.

111

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISGain on Sale of Intellectual Property

We had a gain on sale of intellectual property of $10.0 million in connection with our sale of certain patent rights and related know-how 

to a third party in the second quarter of 2023. We had no such intellectual property sales resulting in gains or losses in 2022.

Interest Income

Interest income increased by $25.2 million to $39.8 million in 2023, mainly due to increased interest rates.

Foreign Currency Loss

Foreign currency loss decreased by $41.6 million to $14.9 million in 2023, due to the decrease in the remeasurement loss due to the 

lesser extent of U.S. dollar appreciation against the RMB.

Other Income, Net

Other  income,  net  increased  by  $3.9  million  to  $7.0  million  in  2023  primarily  due  to  an  increase  of  gain  on  equity  investments  of 

$11.7 million, driven by the shift from a loss of $9.0 million in 2022 to a gain of $2.8 million in 2023 for our investment in MacroGenics 

as a result of changes in its stock price, partially offset by a decrease of $9.0 million in government grant income.

Share of Loss from Equity Method Investment

Share of loss from equity method investment was $0.2 million in 2022 due to losses from our investment in JING Medicine Technology 

(Shanghai)  Ltd.,  an  entity  that  provides  services  for  drug  discovery  and  development,  consultation,  and  transfer  of  pharmaceutical 

technology. There was no change on the equity method investment in 2023.

Income Tax Expense 

Income tax expense was nil in both 2023 and 2022. For more information on income taxes, see Note 13 to the consolidated financial 

statements.

Net Loss 

Net loss was $334.6 million for 2023, or a loss per ordinary share attributable to common stockholders of $0.35, compared to a net 

loss of $443.3 million for 2022, or a loss per ordinary share of $0.46. The decrease in net loss was primarily due to product revenue 

growing faster than net operating expenses, increased interest income, and decreased foreign currency loss.

112

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISDISCUSSION OF CERTAIN KEY BALANCE SHEET ITEMS

This section includes discussion of certain key balance sheet items as of December 31, 2023 compared to 2022.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

As  of  December  31,  2023,  the  Company’s  cash,  cash  equivalents,  and  restricted  cash  amounted  to  $791.3  million  and  primarily 

comprised  of  (1)  $763.6  million  denominated  in  US  dollars;  (2)  $25.1  million  denominated  in  RMB;  and  (3)  $2.6  million  in  aggregate 

denominated in Hong Kong dollars, Australian dollars, and Taiwan dollars.

Short-Term Investments

As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s short-term investments were $16.3 million, which primarily comprised of time deposits with 

original maturities between three months and one year. We did not have such short-term investments as of December 31, 2022.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable increased by $19.2 million to $59.2 million as of December 31, 2023, primarily due to increased product sales.

Inventories, Net

Inventories  increased  by  $13.2  million  to  $44.8  million  as  of  December  31,  2023,  primarily  due  to  increased  inventory  balances  of 

VYVGART in anticipation of the launch of VYVGART in mainland China.

Property and Equipment, Net

Property  and  equipment,  net  decreased  by  $4.1  million  to  $53.7  million  as  of  December  31,  2023,  primarily  due  to  continued 

depreciation.

Intangible Assets, Net

Intangible assets, net increased by $11.9 million to $13.4 million as of December 31, 2023, primarily due to the increase of capitalized 

sales-based milestone fees.

Accounts Payable

Accounts  payable  increased  by  $47.0  million  to  $113.0  million  as  of  December  31,  2023,  primarily  due  to  increases  in  accrued 

sales-based milestone payments, accrued research and development expenses, and accrued inventory purchases. 

113

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISOther Current Liabilities 

Other current liabilities increased by $16.2 million to $83.0 million as of December 31, 2023, primarily due to an increase of accrued 

rebates  to  distributors  in  connection  with  NRDL-related  price  reductions,  an  increase  of  tax  payables,  and  an  increase  of  accrued 

professional fees.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND SIGNIFICANT JUDGMENTS AND 
ESTIMATES

We  prepare  our  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  U.S.  GAAP,  which  requires  management  to  make  judgments,  estimates, 

and  assumptions  that  affect  the  reported  amounts  of  assets,  liabilities,  revenues,  expenses,  and  related  disclosures.  Some  of  those 

judgments can be subjective and complex. Actual results could differ from our estimates.

Our most critical accounting policies and estimates, including those that require the most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments 

and are the most inherently uncertain, are described below.

Revenue Recognition

We sell our products to distributors (our customers), who ultimately sell the products to healthcare providers, primarily in mainland 

China. We recognize revenue when the performance obligations are satisfied upon the product’s delivery to distributors.

We  offer  rebates  to  our  distributors  to  compensate  the  distributors  consistent  with  pharmaceutical  industry  practices.  We  are 

required  to  establish  a  provision  for  rebates  in  the  same  period  the  related  product  sales  are  recognized.  The  estimated  amount  of 

rebates, if any, is recorded as a reduction of revenue.

Significant  judgments  are  required  in  making  these  estimates.  In  determining  the  appropriate  accrual  amount,  we  consider  our 

contracted  rates,  sales  volumes,  levels  of  distributor  inventories,  and  historical  experiences  and  trends.  If  actual  results  vary  from 

our  estimates  or  our  expectations  change,  we  will  adjust  these  estimates  accordingly,  which  would  affect  net  product  revenue  and 

earnings in the period such variances become expected or known.

Research and Development Expenses

We have a significant amount of research and development expenses, including with respect to pre-clinical and clinical trials for our 

product candidates. Such costs are expensed as incurred when they have no alternative future uses. 

We contract with third parties to perform various pre-clinical and clinical trial activities on our behalf in the ongoing development of 

our product candidates. Expenses related to pre-clinical and clinical trial activities are accrued based on the Company’s estimates of 

the actual services performed by the third parties, such as CROs and CMOs.

114

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISSignificant judgments are required in estimating the actual services performed by the third parties for the respective period and the 

related expense accruals. In determining the appropriate accrual, we consider a variety of factors, including contractual requirements 

with respect to services to be provided, related rates, and our assessment of services performed during the period and progress with 

respect to any contractual milestones when we have not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified by third parties of actual costs. If the 

actual  status  and  timing  of  services  performed  vary  from  our  estimates,  our  reported  expenses  and  earnings  for  the  corresponding 

period may be affected.

Share-Based Compensation

We  grant  share-based  awards,  including  share  options  and  restricted  shares,  to  eligible  employees,  non-employees,  and  Directors. 

Such share-based awards are measured at grant date fair value. 

Significant assumptions are required in determining the fair value of share options, which we estimate using the Black-Scholes option 

valuation model. These assumptions include: (i) the expected volatility of our ADS price, (ii) the periods of time over which grantees 

are expected to hold their options prior to exercise (expected term), (iii) the expected dividend yield on our ADSs, and (iv) risk-free 

interest rates. Since we do not have sufficient trading history since our September 2017 initial public offering on Nasdaq to cover the 

expected  term  of  our  share  options,  we  estimate  expected  volatility  based  on  movements  in  the  share  price  of  certain  companies 

we  consider  comparable  over  the  most  recent  equivalent  historical  period.  Since  we  do  not  have  sufficient  historical  information 

since  to  develop  reasonable  expectations  about  future  exercise  patterns  and  post-vesting  employment  termination  behavior,  the 

expected term is derived from the average midpoint between the weighted average vesting and the contractual term, also known as 

the  simplified  method.  The  expected  dividend  yield  is  zero  as  we  have  never  paid  dividends  and  do  not  currently  anticipate  paying 

any  in  the  foreseeable  future,  and  risk-free  interest  rates  are  based  on  quoted  U.S.  Treasury  rates  for  securities  with  maturities 

approximating  the  expected  term.  If  actual  results  vary  from  our  estimates  or  our  expectations  change,  our  reported  expenses  and 

earnings for the corresponding period may be affected.

Income Taxes

We  recognize  deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  for  temporary  differences  between  the  financial  statement  and  income  tax  bases  of 

assets and liabilities, which are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to 

reverse. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. 

Significant judgements are required when evaluating tax positions in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes. 

We recognize in our financial statements the benefit of a tax position if the tax position is “more likely than not” to prevail based on 

the facts and technical merits of the position. Tax positions that meet the “more likely than not” recognition threshold are measured 

at the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon settlement. We estimate our 

liability for unrecognized tax benefits which are periodically assessed and may be affected by changing interpretations of laws, rulings 

by tax authorities, changes and/or developments with respect to tax audits, and the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. 

The ultimate outcome for a particular tax position may not be determined with certainty prior to the conclusion of a tax audit and, in 

some cases, appeal or litigation process.

115

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISWe  consider  positive  and  negative  evidence  when  determining  whether  some  or  all  of  our  deferred  tax  assets  will  not  be  realized. 

This  assessment  considers  various  factors,  including  the  nature,  frequency,  and  severity  of  current  and  cumulative  losses,  forecasts 

of  future  profitability,  the  duration  of  statutory  carry-forward  periods,  our  historical  results  of  operations,  and  our  tax  planning 

strategies.  The  ultimate  realization  of  deferred  tax  assets  is  dependent  upon  the  generation  of  future  taxable  income  during  the 

periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Our estimates may be affected by changing interpretations of laws, 

rulings by tax authorities, changes and/or developments with respect to tax audits, and expiration of the statute of limitations. If actual 

benefits vary from our estimates or our expectations change, we will adjust the recognition and measurement estimates accordingly, 

which would affect reported expenses and earnings in the corresponding period.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following table represents our cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and restricted cash ($ in thousands):

Cash and cash equivalents

Short-term investments

Restricted cash, non-current

Total

December 31,

2023

790,151

16,300

1,113

807,564

2022

1,008,470

—

803

1,009,273

To date, we have financed our activities primarily through private placements, our September 2017 initial public offering and various 

follow-on offerings on Nasdaq, and our September 2020 secondary listing and initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. 

In addition, we have raised approximately $164.6 million in private equity financing and approximately $2,462.7 million in net proceeds 

after deducting underwriting commissions and the offering expenses payable by us in our initial public offering and subsequent follow-

on  offerings  on  Nasdaq  and  our  initial  public  offering  on  the  Hong  Kong  Stock  Exchange.  Our  operations  have  consumed  substantial 

amounts  of  cash  since  inception.  The  net  cash  used  in  our  operating  activities  was  $198.2  million  and  $367.6  million  in  2023  and 

2022, respectively. For information on these activities and related expenditures, see the Research and Development Expenses, Selling, 

General, and Administrative Expenses, License and Collaboration Arrangements, and Results of Operations sections above. In addition, 

as of December 31, 2023, we had commitments for capital expenditures of $1.2 million, mainly for the purpose of plant construction 

and installation. 

As of December 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments of $807.6 million. Based on 

our current operating plan, we expect that our cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments will enable us to 

meet our cash requirements and fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months. 

Although  we  believe  that  we  have  sufficient  capital  to  fund  our  operations  for  at  least  the  next  twelve  months,  we  may,  from  time 

to  time,  identify  opportunities  to  access  capital  through  debt  arrangements  on  favorable  commercial  terms.  In  February  2024, 

we  entered  into  three  such  debt  arrangements  with  Chinese  financial  institutions  that  allow  certain  of  our  subsidiaries  to  borrow 

approximately $164.5 million (or RMB1,171.7 million) to support our working capital needs in mainland China. So far, our subsidiaries 

116

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIShave entered into working capital loans with an aggregate principal amount of RMB440.0 million ($61.7 million), which are guaranteed 

by  us.  These  debt  arrangements  will  provide  us  with  additional  capital  capacity  that  gives  us  enhanced  flexibility  to  execute  on  our 

corporate strategic goals.

We may consider, or we may ultimately need, additional funding sources to bring to fruition our research and development objectives 

or otherwise, and there can be no assurances that such funding will be made available to us on acceptable terms or at all.

The following table presents information regarding our cash flows ($ in thousands):

Net cash used in operating activities

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

Net cash used in financing activities

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash, cash 

Year Ended December 31,

2023

(198,178)

(10,776)

(6,433)

2022

(367,642)

420,016

(1,730)

Change
$

169,464

(430,792)

(4,703)

 equivalents and restricted cash

(2,622)

(6,274)

3,652

Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and 

 restricted cash

(218,009)

44,370

(262,379)

In the following sections, we discuss our cash flows by activities in 2023 compared to 2022.

Net Cash Used in Operating Activities

Net  cash  used  in  operating  activities  decreased  by  $169.5  million  in  2023,  primarily  due  to  a  decrease  of  $108.7  million  in  net  loss 

and  an  increase  of  $105.9  million  in  net  changes  in  operating  assets  and  liabilities,  partially  offset  by  a  decrease  of  $45.1  million  in 

adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities.

Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $10.8 million in 2023, compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $420.0 million 

in  2022.  This  shift  was  primarily  due  to  a  decrease  of  $587.6  million  in  proceeds  from  maturity  of  short-term  investments,  partially 

offset by a decrease of $126.3 million in purchases of short-term investments, a decrease of $17.4 million in purchases of property and 

equipment, and proceeds of $13.9 million from a sale of intellectual property and a disposal of land use rights in 2023.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

Net  cash  used  in  financing  activities  increased  by  $4.7  million  in  2023,  primarily  due  to  a  decrease  of  $3.5  million  in  proceeds  from 

exercises of share options and an increase of $1.2 million in taxes paid related to settlement of equity awards.

117

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISEffect of Exchange Rates on Cash

We have substantial operations in mainland China, which generate a significant amount of RMB-denominated cash from product sales 

and require a significant amount of RMB-denominated cash to pay our obligations. Since the reporting currency of the Company is the 

U.S. dollar, periods of volatility in exchange rates may have a significant impact on our consolidated cash balances.

Operating Capital Requirements

We  expect  our  expenses  to  increase  significantly  in  connection  with  our  ongoing  activities,  particularly  as  we  continue  to 

commercialize  our  approved  products,  continue  our  research  and  development  efforts  related  to  our  clinical  and  pre-clinical-stage 

product  candidates,  and  initiate  additional  clinical  trials  of,  and  seek  and/or  expand  regulatory  approval  for,  ZEJULA,  OPTUNE, 

QINLOCK,  NUZYRA,  VYVGART,  and  our  other  product  candidates.  In  addition,  if  we  obtain  regulatory  approval  for  any  additional 

product  candidates,  we  expect  to  incur  significant  commercialization  expenses  related  to  product  manufacturing,  marketing,  sales, 

and  distribution.  In  particular,  if  more  of  our  product  candidates  are  approved,  additional  costs  may  be  substantial  as  we  may  have 

to, among other things, modify or increase the production capacity at our current manufacturing facilities or contract with third-party 

manufacturers  and  increase  our  commercial  workforce.  We  have  incurred,  and  may  continue  to  incur,  expenses  as  we  create 

additional infrastructure to support our operations. Our liquidity and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected by 

negative  net  cash  flows,  and  we  cannot  assure  that  we  will  have  sufficient  cash  from  other  sources  to  fund  our  operations.  We  will 

likely  need  to  obtain  substantial  additional  funding  in  connection  with  our  continuing  operations  through  public  or  private  equity 

offerings, debt financing, collaborations or licensing arrangements, or other sources. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or 

on acceptable terms, we could incur losses and be forced to delay, reduce, or terminate our research and development programs or 

commercialization efforts.

Although we believe our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments as of December 31, 2023 will enable us to fund our 

operating  expenses  and  capital  expenditure  requirements  for  at  least  the  next  twelve  months,  we  could  use  our  capital  resources 

sooner than we currently expect. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

• 

the  cost  and  timing  of  future  commercialization  activities  for  ZEJULA,  OPTUNE,  QINLOCK,  NUZYRA,  VYVGART,  and  any  other 

product candidates for which we receive regulatory approval;

• 

the  pricing  of  and  product  revenues  received,  if  any,  from  future  commercial  sales  of  our  approved  products  and  any  other 

products for which we receive regulatory approval;

• 

• 

the scope, progress, timing, results, and costs of clinical development of our products in additional indications, if any;

the scope, progress, timing, results, and costs of researching and developing our product candidates and conducting pre-clinical 

and clinical trials;

• 

the  cost,  timing,  and  outcome  of  seeking,  obtaining,  maintaining,  and  expanding  regulatory  approval  of  our  products  and 

product candidates;

118

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS• 

our  ability  to  establish  and  maintain  strategic  partnerships,  including  collaboration,  licensing,  or  other  arrangements  and  the 

economic and other terms, timing, and success of such arrangements;

• 

the  cost,  timing,  and  outcome  of  preparing,  filing,  and  prosecuting  patent  applications,  maintaining  and  enforcing  our 

intellectual property rights, and defending any intellectual property related claims;

• 

the  extent  to  which  we  acquire  or  in-license  other  product  candidates  and  technologies  and  the  economic  and  other  terms, 

timing, and success of such collaboration and licensing arrangements;

• 

• 

• 

cash requirements of any future acquisitions;

the number, characteristics, and development requirements of the product candidates we pursue;

resources required to develop and implement policies and processes to promote ongoing compliance with applicable healthcare 

laws and regulations;

• 

costs required to confirm that our and our partners’ business arrangements with third parties comply with applicable healthcare 

laws and regulations;

our headcount growth and associated costs; and

the costs of operating as a public company in both the United States and Hong Kong.

• 

• 

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

As  of  December  31,  2023,  we  had  purchase  commitments  of  $1.2  million  related  to  the  purchase  of  property  and  equipment 

contracted and expected to be incurred within one year. We do not have any other purchase commitments beyond one year.

Disclosures about Market Risk

Foreign Exchange Risk

Renminbi,  or  RMB,  is  not  a  freely  convertible  currency.  The  State  Administration  of  Foreign  Exchange,  under  the  authority  of  the 

PBOC, controls the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies. The value of RMB is subject to changes in central government policies 

and to international economic and political developments affecting supply and demand in the China Foreign Exchange Trading System 

market. The cash and cash equivalents of the Company included aggregated amounts of $25.1 million and $45.5 million, which were 

denominated in RMB, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, representing 3% and 5% of the cash and cash equivalents as of 

December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. 

119

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISWhile our financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, our business mainly operates in mainland China with a significant portion 

of  our  transactions  settled  in  RMB,  and  as  such,  we  do  not  believe  that  we  currently  have  significant  direct  foreign  exchange  risk 

and have not used derivative financial instruments to hedge our exposure to such risk. Although, in general, our exposure to foreign 

exchange risks should be limited, the value of your investment in our ADSs and ordinary shares will be affected by the exchange rate 

between  the  U.S.  dollar  and  the  RMB  and  between  the  HK  dollar  and  the  RMB,  respectively,  because  the  value  of  our  business  is 

effectively denominated in RMB, while ADSs and ordinary shares are traded in U.S. dollars and HK dollars, respectively. 

The  value  of  the  RMB  against  the  U.S.  dollar  and  other  currencies  may  fluctuate  and  is  affected  by,  among  other  things,  changes  in 

Greater  China’s  political  and  economic  conditions.  The  conversion  of  RMB  into  foreign  currencies,  including  U.S.  dollars,  has  been 

based on rates set by the PBOC. 

The  value  of  our  ADSs  and  our  ordinary  shares  will  be  affected  by  the  foreign  exchange  rates  between  U.S.  dollars,  HK  dollars,  and 

the RMB. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars or HK dollars into RMB for our operations or if any of our 

arrangements  with  other  parties  are  denominated  in  U.S.  dollars  or  HK  dollars  and  need  to  be  converted  into  RMB,  appreciation  of 

the RMB against the U.S. dollar or the HK dollar would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount we receive from the conversion. 

Conversely, if we decide to convert RMB into U.S. dollars or HK dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on ordinary 

shares or ADSs or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar or the HK dollar against the RMB would have a negative 

effect on the conversion amounts available to us. 

Since 1983, the HKMA has pegged the HK dollar to the U.S. dollar at the rate of approximately HK$7.80 to US$1.00. However, there 

is  no  assurance  that  the  HK  dollar  will  continue  to  be  pegged  to  the  U.S.  dollar  or  that  the  HK  dollar  conversion  rate  will  remain  at 

HK$7.80 to US$1.00. If the HK dollar conversion rate against the U.S. dollar changes and the value of the HK dollar depreciates against 

the U.S. dollar, our assets denominated in HK dollars will be adversely affected. Additionally, if the HKMA were to repeg the HK dollar 

to, for example, the RMB rather than the U.S. dollar, or otherwise restrict the conversion of HK dollars into other currencies, then our 

assets denominated in HK dollars will be adversely affected.

Credit Risk

Financial  instruments  that  are  potentially  subject  to  significant  concentration  of  credit  risk  consist  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents, 

short-term investments, accounts receivable, and notes receivable. 

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments represent the maximum amount of loss due to credit 

risk.  As  of  December  31,  2023  and  2022,  we  had  cash  and  cash  equivalents  of  $790.2  million  and  $1,008.5  million  and  short-term 

investments  of  $16.3  million  and  nil,  respectively.  As  of  December  31,  2023  and  2022,  all  of  our  cash  and  cash  equivalents  and 

short-term  investments  were  held  by  major  financial  institutions  located  in  mainland  China  and  international  financial  institutions 

outside of mainland China which we believe are of high credit quality and for which we monitor continued credit worthiness. 

120

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISAccounts  receivable  are  typically  unsecured  and  are  derived  from  product  sales.  We  manage  credit  risk  related  to  our  accounts 

receivable  through  ongoing  monitoring  of  outstanding  balances  and  limiting  the  amount  of  credit  extended  based  upon  payment 

history and credit worthiness. Historically, we have collected receivables from customers within the credit terms with no significant 

credit  losses  incurred.  As  of  December  31,  2023,  our  two  largest  customers  accounted  for  approximately  18%  of  our  total  accounts 

receivable collectively. 

Certain  accounts  receivable  balances  are  settled  in  the  form  of  notes  receivable.  As  of  December  31,  2023,  such  notes  receivable 

included  bank  acceptance  promissory  notes  that  are  non-interest  bearing  and  due  within  six  months.  These  notes  receivable  were 

used to collect the receivables based on an administrative convenience, given these notes are readily convertible to known amounts of 

cash. In accordance with the sales agreements, whether to use cash or bank acceptance promissory notes to settle the receivables is 

at our discretion, and this selection does not impact the agreed contractual purchase prices.

Gearing Ratio

The gearing ratio of the Company, which was calculated by dividing total interest-bearing loans by total shareholders’ equity as of the 

end of the year, were both nil as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, because we did not have any interest-bearing loans.

Significant Investments Held

Except  the  equity  investment  disclosed  in  Note  8  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  we  did  not  hold  any  other  significant 

investments as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Future Plans for Material Investments and Capital Assets

We did not have any future plans for material investments or capital assets as of December 31, 2023.

Material Acquisitions and Disposals of Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures

In 2023, we did not have any material acquisitions or disposals of subsidiaries, associates, or joint ventures.

Employee and Remuneration Policy

Human Capital Resources

Our  employees  are  integral  to  our  success,  and  we  are  committed  to  building  and  maintaining  a  strong  and  engaged  workforce  that  is 

focused  on  delivering  on  our  mission  to  become  a  leading  global  biopharmaceutical  company  and  to  positively  impact  human  health  in 

China  and  beyond.  We  seek  to  attract,  retain,  and  motivate  our  employees  through  competitive  compensation  programs,  professional 

development  opportunities,  and  employee  engagement.  In  evaluating  our  human  capital  management,  we  consider  various  factors, 

including employee performance, development, and our ability to recruit well qualified employees to support our business and operations.

121

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISAs  of  December  31,  2023,  we  had  a  global  team  of  2,148  full-time  employees,  of  which  2,058  were  located  in  Greater  China.  The 

number of full-time employees by function as of such date was as follows:

By Function

Research and Development

Commercial

Manufacturing

General and Administrative*

Total

Number of Employees

764

1,138

70

176

2,148

* 

Includes finance, legal, human resources, information technology, and other general and administrative functions.

Our management executive team is comprised of our CEO and her direct reports who, collectively, have management responsibility 

for our business. Our management team places significant focus and attention on matters concerning our human capital assets, with a 

focus on being an employer of choice as well as on diversity, employee capabilities and growth, and succession planning.

The  competition  for  top  talent  in  our  industry  is  intense.  To  help  attract,  motivate,  and  retain  well  qualified  employees,  we  strive 

to  provide  competitive  compensation  programs  and  benefits,  including  cash  compensation,  stock-based  compensation,  and  other 

benefits  to  support  the  financial,  physical,  and  emotional  health  of  our  employees.  For  our  employees  in  China,  consistent  with 

Chinese  regulations,  we  participate  in  a  housing  fund  and  various  employee  social  security  plans  that  are  organized  by  applicable 

local municipal and provincial governments, including housing, pension, medical, work-related injury, maternity, and unemployment 

benefit  plans,  under  which  we  make  contributions  at  specified  percentages  of  the  salaries  of  our  employees.  For  our  U.S.-based 

employees, in addition to our health and welfare benefits and parental leave, we provide retirement benefits in the form of certain 

matching contributions to tax-qualified 401(k) plans.

We  provide  professional  development  and  training  opportunities  to  our  employees  to  help  enhance  their  competencies  and 

capabilities. These opportunities include formal and comprehensive company-level and department-level training for new employees 

followed  by  on-the-job  training;  periodic  trainings  to  promote  awareness  and  compliance  with  our  policies  and  procedures;  and 

cross-functional  trainings  to  strengthen  and  reinforce  employee  collaborations  across  different  functions,  groups,  and  departments 

that  work  together  to  support  our  day-to-day  operations.  We  have  a  performance  management  and  talent  development  process 

through which managers provide regular feedback and coaching to develop employees. This process also helps the Company identify 

our  pipeline  of  talent  as  well  as  areas  in  potential  need  of  additional  resources  or  support.  We  also  engage  our  employees  through 

employee resource groups, such as our women’s leadership community and local diversity, equity, and inclusion committees.

We seek to bring together employees with different backgrounds and expertise to support our growth while also creating an inclusive 

culture.  We  are  proud  of  the  diversity,  skills,  and  achievements  that  our  employees  bring  to  our  business  from  various  parts  of  the 

world.  In  addition,  we  are  committed  to  being  an  equal  opportunity  employer,  where  everyone  is  treated  equally  and  respected, 

regardless of their gender, nationality, marital status, age, disability, or religious belief. Our commitment to diversity is reflected in the 

composition of our workforce. For example, with respect to gender diversity, the majority of our full-time employees are women, and 

the majority of STEM-related positions are held by women.

122

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISOur worldwide teams are united by a common mission to improve human health. We strive to maintain a good working relationship 

with our employees. We are committed to encouraging a culture of open communication where employees can ask questions, raise 

concerns, and contribute creative solutions. Our management team routinely makes themselves available to all employees, including 

in regular town hall events that encourage open dialogue. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or covered by a 

collective bargaining agreement, and we have not experienced any material work stoppages or labor disputes. Further, we have been 

able to recruit strong employees to support our business and operations.

Employee Remuneration Policy

The  remuneration  policy  for  our  employees  is  periodically  reviewed  by  the  Compensation  Committee.  Employee  remuneration 

packages  are  determined  in  consideration  of  a  variety  of  factors,  including  market  data  for  companies  in  similar  industries  and 

companies  with  similar  complexity  and  size.  In  addition  to  cash  compensation  and  benefits,  we  may  issue  share  options,  share 

appreciation rights, restricted shares, unrestricted shares, share units including restricted share units, performance awards, and other 

types of awards to our employees in accordance with our equity incentive plans. The total remuneration cost incurred by the Company 

was $288.6 million and $263.9 million for 2023 and 2022, respectively.

For  more  details  about  share-based  compensation,  please  refer  to  the  section  headed  “Equity  Incentive  Plans”  and  Note  17  to  the 

consolidated financial statements contained in this annual report.

Charges on Group Assets

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, we did not have any charges on the Company’s assets.

Contingent Liabilities

As  of  December  31,  2023  and  2022,  we  did  not  have  any  material  contingent  liabilities.  See  Note  18  to  the  consolidated  financial 

statements for contractual obligations under licenses and collaborative agreements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in this annual report regarding recent accounting pronouncements.

Segmental Information

See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in this annual report for information regarding segmental information.

123

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISDIRECTORS

Our Board consists of ten Directors, comprising one executive Director, and nine independent non-executive Directors. The following 

table sets forth the name, age, and position(s) of each of our Directors:

Name

Samantha Du

John Diekman

Kai-Xian Chen

Richard Gaynor

Nisa Leung

William Lis

Scott W. Morrison

Leon O. Moulder Jr.

Michel Vounatsos

Peter Wirth

Age

Position(s)

59

81

78

74

53

59

66

66

62

73

Founder, Chairperson, and Chief Executive Officer

Lead Independent Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director
Since

2014

2017

2018

2021

2014

2018

2021

2020

2023

2017

Set forth below is biographical information for our Directors, which has been confirmed by each of them for inclusion in this annual 

report. We have provided their current Board and Committee roles as well as a summary of the experiences, qualifications, attributes, 

and skills that led the Board to conclude that each Director should serve as a Director in light of our business and structure.

Samantha (Ying) Du, Ph.D. 

Executive Director 

Age

59

Director Since

Board Committees

Other Public Company Boards

2014

Commercial

None

Research and Development 

Dr.  Du  is  an  experienced  executive  and  entrepreneur  with  significant  global  leadership  experience  who  brings  to  the  Board  a  deep 

knowledge of the capital markets and the biotechnology, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries as well as a considerable scientific 

background. In addition, as the Company’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Du provides valuable knowledge of the Company 

and its business.

124

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENTKey Experience and Qualifications

• 

• 

Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Zai Lab (2014–Present)

Healthcare Partner (2012–2014) and Venture Partner (2014–2017) at Sequoia Capital China, leading and serving on the boards 

of several major healthcare investments

• 

Co-Founder  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  Hutchison  MediPharma  and  Co-Founder  and  Chief  Scientific  Officer  of  Hutchison 

China MediTech (2001–2011) 

• 

Began  her  research  career  at  Pfizer  Inc.  in  the  United  States,  where  she  led  the  global  metabolic  licensing  program  and  was 

involved in the development of multiple early and late-stage products (1994–2001) 

• 

Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Cincinnati and a B.S. in Molecular Biology from Jilin University, China

John David Diekman, Ph.D. 

Lead Independent Director

Age

81

Director Since

Board Committees

Other Public Company Boards

2017

Audit

Compensation

None

Nominating and Corporate Governance

Dr.  Diekman  is  an  experienced  executive  who  brings  to  the  Board  extensive  business,  management,  policy,  and  capital  markets 

experience as well as deep expertise in the life sciences and venture capital industries, including in the area of oncology.

Key Experience and Qualifications

• 

• 

• 

Founder and Managing Partner of 5AM Ventures (2002–Present)

Chairman of the Board of Directors of IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ) (2015–June 2020)

Chairman of The Scripps Research Institute (2014–Present), member of the Advisory Board of the Schaeffer Center for Health 

Policy  and  Economics  at  the  University  of  Southern  California  (2014–March  2021),  Charter  Trustee  of  Princeton  University 

(2008–June 2019), and Trustee of The California Institute of Technology (2004–2008)

• 

Ph.D. in Chemistry from Stanford University and an A.B. in Organic Chemistry from Princeton University

125

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENTKai-Xian Chen, Ph.D. 

Independent Director

Age

78

Director Since

Board Committees

Other Public Company Boards

2018

Research and Development

Innovent Biologics, Inc. (HKSE)

InnoCare Pharma Limited (HKSE)

Jiangsu Kanion Pharmaceutical Co., 

 Ltd. (SSE)

Professor Chen brings to the Board an extensive and distinguished scientific and academic background and considerable service as a 

member of several prestigious Chinese institutional and research organizations and as a member of the board of directors for various 

biopharmaceutical companies.

Key Experience and Qualifications

• 

Member of the Chief Specialists Board and Deputy Chief Technical Officer, serving as a scientific advisor for various major drug 

research and development projects and programs in China (2001–Present)

• 

• 

• 

• 

Member of the Board of Directors of InnoCare Pharma Limited (March 2020–Present)

Member of the Board of Directors of Jiangsu Kanion Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (December 2019–Present)

Member of the Board of Directors of Innovent Biologics, Inc. (October 2018–Present)

Professor  at  the  SIMM  Chinese  Academy  of  Sciences  (1990–Present)  and  Shanghai  University  of  Traditional  Chinese  Medicine 

(2004–Present)

• 

Postdoctoral  research  at  Institut  de  Biologie  Physico-Chimique  in  Paris,  Ph.D.  and  Master  of  Science  from  the  SIMM,  Chinese 

Academy of Sciences, and B.S. in Radiochemistry from Fudan University 

Richard Brian Gaynor, M.D. 

Independent Director

Age

74

Director Since

Board Committees

Other Public Company Boards

2021

Research and Development, Chair

Alkermes plc (NASDAQ)

126

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENTDr.  Gaynor  is  an  experienced  oncologist  who  brings  to  the  Board  deep  expertise  in  research  and  development  and  significant 

experience as a senior business executive in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Key Experience and Qualifications

• 

President and Chief of Research and Development at BioNTech US Inc. (formerly Neon Therapeutics, Inc.) (May 2020–Present), 

after serving in this role at Neon Therapeutics from November 2016 to May 2020

• 

• 

• 

Member of the Board of Directors of Alkermes plc (September 2019–Present)

Member of the Board of Directors of Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (March 2020–March 2024)

Various  senior  clinical  development  and  medical  affairs  roles  at  Lilly  (2002–2016),  including  Senior  Vice  President  of  Clinical 

Development and Medical Affairs

• 

Professor  at  the  UCLA  School  of  Medicine  (1982–1991)  and  service  on  the  faculty  at  the  University  of  Texas  Southwestern 

Medical School (1991–2002), including as the Chief of Hematology-Oncology and Director of the Simmons Cancer Center

• 

Author  of  nearly  150  publications  and  participant  on  numerous  advisory  boards  and  committees,  including  currently  serving 

as  a  Director  for  the  Damon  Runyon  Cancer  Research  Foundation  and  on  committees  for  the  American  Association  of  Cancer 

Research and other cancer organizations

• 

M.D. from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, where he served a residency in internal medicine; fellowship 

training in hematology-oncology at the UCLA School of Medicine

Nisa Bernice Wing-Yu Leung 

Independent Director

Age

53

Director Since

Board Committees

Other Public Company Boards

2014

None

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing 

 Limited (HKSE)

Ms. Leung brings to the Board significant venture capital experience in the global healthcare industry as well as extensive corporate 

governance experience through her service on the boards of global companies listed in the United States, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.

127

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENTKey Experience and Qualifications

• 

• 

• 

• 

Managing Partner at Qiming Venture Partners, where she leads healthcare investments (2006–Present) 

Member of the Board of Directors of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (June 2021–Present) 

Member of Stanford Graduate School of Business Advisory Council (August 2019–Present)

MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business

William David Lis 

Independent Director

Age

59

Director Since

Board Committees

Other Public Company Boards

2018

Nominating and Corporate Governance

Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ)

Mr.  Lis  brings  to  the  Board  over  30  years  of  experience  in  the  biopharmaceutical  industry,  at  both  the  executive  and  board  level, 

including considerable leadership and business, financial, and product development expertise.

Key Experience and Qualifications

• 

• 

Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Tr1x Biotherapeutics, Inc. (May 2023–Present)

Various board and executive positions at Jasper Therapeutics, Inc., including Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors (March 2022–

May 2023) and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors (November 2019–March 2022)

• 

Member of the Board of Directors of Eidos Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ) (December 2018–its acquisition by Bridge Bio Pharma, 

Inc. in January 2021)

• 

Various executive and board positions at Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (later acquired by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 2020), 

including Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of Directors (December 2009–August 2018), Chief Operating Officer 

(2009), and Chief Business Officer (2008–2009) 

• 

Various executive positions at Scios, Inc. (a Johnson & Johnson company) (2003–2008), including Senior Vice President of New 

Product Development and Business Development

• 

Various  roles  of  increasing  responsibility  at  Millennium  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.  (previously  COR  Therapeutics,  Inc.)  in  sales, 

marketing, medical affairs, and business development (1998–2003) 

• 

B.S. from the University of Maryland

128

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENTLeon Oliver Moulder, Jr. 

Independent Director

Age

66

Director Since

Board Committees

Other Public Company Boards

2020

Nominating and Corporate Governance, 

Dianthus Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ)

Chair 

Commercial

Compensation

Mr. Moulder brings to the Board significant operational and senior management experience in the biopharmaceutical industry as well 

as extensive experience as a director on public and private boards in the industry.

Key Experience and Qualifications

• 

• 

Founder and Managing Member of Tellus BioVentures, LLC, a life sciences investment fund (March 2019–Present) 

Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Zenas BioPharma, a clinical-stage global biopharmaceutical company focused 

on  developing  and  commercializing  immunology-based  therapies  (December  2019–Present),  also  serving  as  Chief  Executive 

Officer since August 2023

• 

Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Dianthus  Therapeutics,  Inc.,  a  clinical-stage  biotechnology  company  (NASDAQ) 

(September 2023–Present)

• 

Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Member of the Board Directors of Tesaro, Inc. (NASDAQ) (May 2010–its acquisition by 

GSK plc in January 2019)

• 

• 

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Abraxis BioScience, Inc. (NASDAQ) (2009–2010) 

Vice Chairman of Eisai Corporation of North America, a research-based pharmaceutical company and wholly owned subsidiary of 

Eisai Co., Ltd. (2008–2009)

• 

President,  Chief  Executive  Officer,  and  Member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  MGI  PHARMA,  Inc.  (2003–its  acquisition  by  Eisai 

Corporation of North America in 2008), after serving as President and Chief Operating Officer (2002–2003) and Executive Vice 

President (1999–2002)

• 

Temple University Trustee (January 2013–Present), Council Member for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and 

the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (June 2016–Present), and Board Member of the Fox Chase Cancer Center 

(March 2013–Present)

• 

MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and B.S. in Pharmacy from Temple University

129

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENTScott William Morrison

Independent Director

Age

66

Director Since

Board Committees

Other Public Company Boards

2021

Audit, Chair and Audit Committee 

Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ)

 Financial Expert

IDEAYA Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ)

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ)

Vera Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ)

Mr.  Morrison  brings  to  the  Board  financial  expertise  obtained  from  his  extensive  business,  accounting,  and  financial  background 

obtained from his over 35 years of experience serving public and private companies in the life sciences industry until his retirement in 

2015 as well as his significant board and audit committee experience.

Key Experience and Qualifications

• 

• 

 Partner with Ernst & Young LLP (1996–2015), serving as U.S. Life Sciences Leader from 2002 to 2015 

Member of the Board of Directors, Chairperson of the Audit Committee, and Member of the Compensation Committee of Corvus 

Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2015–Present)

• 

Member of the Board of Directors, Chair of the Audit Committee, and Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance 

Committee of IDEAYA Biosciences Inc. (July 2018–Present)

• 

• 

Member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Audit Committee of Vera Therapeutics, Inc. (April 2020–Present) 

Member  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  Chair  of  the  Audit  Committee,  and  Member  of  the  Commercial  Committee  of  Tarsus 

Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (October 2022–Present)

• 

Member  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  Chair  of  the  Audit  Committee,  Chair  of  the  Transaction  and  Financing  Committee,  and 

Member of the Compensation Committee and Commercial Committee of Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. (2016–its acquisition by 

Pfizer Inc. in October 2022)

• 

Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Audentes Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ) (2016–its sale 

to Astellas in January 2020)

130

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT• 

Director on several life sciences industry boards, including BIO ECS (2002–2006), the Bay Area Biosciences Board (now California 

Life  Sciences)  (1989–2012),  the  Biotechnology  Institute  (1998–2012),  and  the  Life  Sciences  Foundation  (2014–its  merger  with 

the Chemical Heritage Foundation in 2015)

Awarded the CLS Pantheon 2016 Life Sciences Leadership Award

B.S.  in  Business  Administration  from  the  Haas  School  at  University  of  California,  Berkeley  and  Certified  Public  Accountant 

• 

• 

(inactive)

Michel Pericles Vounatsos 

Independent Director

Age

62

Director Since

2023

Board Committees

Commercial, Chair 

Research and Development

Other Public Company Boards

Revvity, Inc. (NYSE)

Mr.  Vounatsos  brings  to  the  Board  extensive  global  leadership  and  management  experience  in  the  biopharmaceutical  industry, 

including more than 25 years of service at leading companies. His expertise includes significant commercial experience in China and 

worldwide in the areas of primary care and neuroscience.

Key Experience and Qualifications

• 

Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Biogen  Inc.  (NASDAQ)  (January  2017–November  2022),  after 

serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer (2016) 

• 

Member of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of Revvity, Inc. (March 2020–Present) and Chair of the Nominating and 

Corporate Governance Committee (October 2022–Present)

• 

Various  roles  of  increasing  responsibility  at  Merck  &  Co.  (1996–2016),  including  President,  Primary  Care  &  Merck  Customer 

Centricity  (2014–2016),  President,  Merck  Customer  Centricity  (2012–2014),  President  of  MSD  China  (2008–2012),  and  other 

leadership positions across Europe (1996–2008)

• 

Member  of 

the  Advisory  Board  of  Tsinghua  University  School  of  Pharmaceutical  Sciences 

in  Beijing,  China 

(December 2020–Present) and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Liryc, the Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute 

at the University of Bordeaux (May 2019–Present)

• 

MBA  from  HEC  School  of  Management  in  Paris,  France  and  Certificate  of  Clinical  and  Therapeutic  Synthesis  in  Medicine  from 

Université Victor Segalen, Bourdeaux II, France

131

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENTPeter Karl Wirth, J.D.  

Independent Director

Age

73

Director Since

Board Committees

Other Public Company Boards

2017

Compensation, Chair

Syros Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ)

Audit

Mr.  Wirth  brings  to  the  Board  expertise  in  corporate  governance  and  significant  experience  in  corporate  strategy,  product 

development, business development, and the legal issues relating to the operation of a global biopharmaceutical company.

Key Experience and Qualifications

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Syros Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2017–Present)

Venture Partner at Quan Capital Management, LLC (August 2018–August 2023)  

Chairman of the Board of Directors of FORMA Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ) (2012–its acquisition by Novo Nordisk A/S in 

October 2022)

Co-Founder, President, and Member of the Board of Directors of Lysosomal Therapeutics, Inc. (2011–2014) 

Various  senior  executive  roles  at  Genzyme  Corporation  (1996–its  acquisition  by  Sanofi-Aventis  SA  in  2011),  most  recently  as 

Executive Vice President, Legal and Corporate Development, Chief Risk Officer, and Corporate Secretary

• 

Partner  at  Palmer  &  Dodge  LLP,  where  he  was  head  of  the  firm’s  biotechnology  practice  group  and  served  as  outside  general 

counsel for Genzyme and a number of other biotechnology companies (1975–1996)

• 

J.D. from Harvard Law School and B.A. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin at Madison

132

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENTSENIOR MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth the name, age, and position(s) of each of our senior management, other than Dr. Du, who is included 

above as an executive Director: 

Name

Rafael G. Amado

Yajing Chen

F. Ty Edmondson

Harald Reinhart

Joshua Smiley

Age

Position(s)

60

56

58

72

54

President, Head of Global Oncology Research and Development

Chief Financial Officer

Chief Legal Officer

President, Head of Global Development, Neuroscience, Autoimmune and 

 Infectious Diseases

President and Chief Operating Officer

Biographical information for our senior management (other than Dr. Samantha Du, who is included above as an executive Director) is 

set out below:

Rafael G. Amado, M.D., joined our Company as President, Head of Global Oncology Research and Development in December 2022. 

Dr.  Amado  joined  Zai  Lab  from  Allogene  Therapeutics,  Inc.,  where  he  served  as  Executive  Vice  President,  Head  of  Research  and 

Development and Chief Medical Officer since September 2019. Prior to Allogene, he served as President of Research and Development 

and Chief Medical Officer of Adaptimmune, LLC from August 2018 to July 2019 and as Chief Medical Officer from March 2015 to July 

2018.  In  these  roles,  he  was  responsible  for  directing  discovery  and  clinical  development  strategy  as  well  as  execution  activities  for 

several gene-engineered cell therapies, chairing the R&D leadership team and providing medical guidance for pipeline prioritization. 

Prior to Adaptimmune, Dr. Amado held various roles of increasing responsibility at GlaxoSmithKline from 2008 to 2015, most recently 

as  Senior  Vice  President  and  Global  Head  of  Oncology  Research  and  Development,  and  at  Amgen  Inc.  from  2003  to  2008,  where 

he  was  last  Executive  Director  of  Clinical  Research  and  Global  Development  in  Therapeutic  Oncology.  In  these  roles,  he  has  been 

instrumental in the development of multiple medicines across therapeutic modalities. Prior to joining Amgen, he held academic roles 

at  the  University  of  California,  Los  Angeles  (UCLA)  in  the  Department  of  Medicine,  Division  of  Hematology/Oncology.  Dr.  Amado 

received  an  M.D.  from  the  University  of  Seville  School  of  Medicine  in  Seville,  Spain  and  completed  his  internship  and  residency  in 

Internal Medicine at the Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center and a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at UCLA.

Yajing Chen, Ph.D., was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in July 2023. She previously served as the Company’s Senior Vice President 

and Deputy Chief Financial Officer since September 2021. Dr. Chen joined Zai Lab from AstraZeneca, where she held various roles of 

increasing responsibility from 2006 to 2021, including Chief Financial Officer for the U.S. Oncology Business Unit from 2019 to 2021 

and  Finance  Controller  of  the  Global  Oncology  Business  Unit  from  2016  to  2019.  In  these  roles,  Dr.  Chen  led  financial  planning  and 

analysis  as  well  as  the  development  of  a  long-term  strategic  plan  for  the  oncology  therapeutic  area,  guiding  business  development, 

pipeline prioritization, and commercial strategy, and enabling substantial revenue growth for their global oncology business. Dr. Chen 

received a Ph.D. in Microbiology from New York University and an MBA. from Columbia University.

133

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENTF. Ty Edmondson, J.D., joined our Company as Chief Legal Officer in August 2020. Mr. Edmondson joined our Company from Biogen 

Inc. where he served in various legal and compliance roles during his tenure beginning in 2014, including Senior Vice President, Chief 

Corporation  Counsel,  and  Assistant  Secretary  from  November  2019  to  August  2020  and  in  several  roles  of  increasing  responsibility, 

including  Chief  Compliance  Officer,  Chief  Commercial  Counsel,  Chief  International  Counsel,  and  Chief  US  Counsel  from  August  2014 

to  November  2019.  Prior  to  Biogen,  Mr.  Edmondson  served  as  Vice  President,  Associate  General  Counsel,  and  Corporate  Secretary 

for Sepracor Inc. from 2005 until its acquisition by Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. in 2010. He then served with Sumitomo in 

various senior legal and compliance roles in Japan, China, and the United States until August 2014. Before Sumitomo, Mr. Edmondson 

served  in  various  legal  roles  with  life  sciences  companies  with  a  focus  on  international  and  U.S.  FDA  work,  including  Eisai,  Inc.  from 

2004 to 2005, Boston Scientific from 1999 to 2004, and Bristol-Myers Squibb from 1997 to 1999. Before his work in the life sciences 

industry,  he  was  an  associate  with  the  admiralty  law  firm,  Royston  Rayzor  in  Houston,  Texas  from  1993  to  1997.  Mr.  Edmondson 

received a B.A. in History from Washington & Lee University and a J.D. from the Widener University School of Law.

Harald Reinhart, M.D., joined our Company in 2017 and currently serves as President, Head of Global Development, Neuroscience, 

Autoimmune  and  Infectious  Diseases.  He  is  also  Adjunct  Clinical  Professor  of  infectious  disease  at  Yale  School  of  Medicine.  Prior  to 

joining  the  Company,  Dr.  Reinhart  worked  at  Shionogi  US  from  2011  to  2013  as  the  US  Head  of  Clinical  Development  and  Medical 

Affairs, directing a broad portfolio of drug candidates in anti-infectives, diabetes, allergy, GI, and pain medications. He guided several 

compounds through regulatory meetings and obtained approval for ospemifene. Between 2003 and 2010, he held increasingly senior 

roles  at  Novartis  where  he  oversaw  successful  filings  of  sNDAs  and  NDAs  for  Coartem,  Famvir,  Sebivo,  and  Cubicin  and  managed 

global clinical development groups for infectious disease, immunity, transplantation, and renal disease. At NIBR (Novartis Institutes for 

Biomedical Research), he supervised the transitioning of research projects into clinical development. From 1991 until 2003, he worked 

as the International Clinical Project Manager in charge of ciprofloxacin and acarbose at Bayer Corp. with several successful sNDAs and 

approvals. Dr. Reinhart holds a medical degree from the University of Würzburg in Germany where he trained in anesthesiology. He 

completed his medical specialty training in the United States with board-certifications in internal medicine and infectious diseases. He 

has been a Yale faculty member since 1992.

Joshua Smiley was appointed in March 2022 as our Chief Operating Officer, effective in August 2022 following the completion of his 

leave with his prior employer, and he was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer in April 2023. Mr. Smiley is responsible 

for  our  corporate  strategy  and  for  overseeing  our  commercial,  manufacturing,  business  development,  finance,  human  resources, 

information  technology,  and  corporate  affairs  functions.  Mr.  Smiley  brings  to  the  Company  over  26  years  of  experience  working  in 

the biopharmaceutical industry, including experience leading finance, corporate strategy, business development, venture capital, and 

global business services operations. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Smiley worked for Lilly from 1995 to March 2022. While at Lilly, 

he held various global leadership roles with responsibility over finance, corporate strategy, business development, and capital markets 

activities,  including  Senior  Vice  President  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  from  January  2018  to  February  2021.  Prior  to  joining  Lilly,  he 

worked in investment banking and consulting. Mr. Smiley earned a B.A. in History from Harvard University.

134

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENTThe Board is pleased to present the annual report and the audited financial statements of the Company for the Reporting Period.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Company was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on March 28, 2013 as an exempted limited liability company under the laws of 

the Cayman Islands. The Company’s ADSs have been listed on the NASDAQ Global Market since September 20, 2017 under the symbol 

“ZLAB”. The Company’s Shares have been listed on the Main Board of the HKEX since September 28, 2020 under the stock code 9688. 

The  Company  completed  its  voluntary  conversion  from  secondary  listing  status  to  primary  listing  status  on  the  Hong  Kong  Stock 

Exchange, effective June 27, 2022.

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES 

We  are  a  patient-focused,  innovative,  commercial-stage,  global  biopharmaceutical  company  with  a  substantial  presence  in  both 

Greater China and the United States. We are focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing products that address medical 

conditions  with  significant  unmet  needs  in  the  areas  of  oncology,  autoimmune  disorders,  infectious  disease,  and  neuroscience.  We 

intend to leverage our competencies and resources to positively impact human health in Greater China and worldwide. We currently 

have five commercial products — ZEJULA, OPTUNE, QINLOCK, NUZYRA, and VYVGART — that have received marketing approval and 

that we have commercially launched in one or more territories in Greater China. We also have multiple programs in late-stage product 

development and a number of ongoing pivotal trials across our portfolio. 

BUSINESS REVIEW

The  business  review  of  the  Company  for  the  Reporting  Period  is  set  out  in  the  sections  of  Business,  Risk  Factors,  Chairperson’s 

Statement, Financial Summary, Management Discussion and Analysis, and the Company’s 2023 ESG Report which will be published on 

the same date, and the paragraphs below.

SHARE CAPITAL

Details  of  movements  in  the  share  capital  of  the  Company  for  the  Reporting  Period  are  set  out  in  the  consolidated  statements  of 

shareholders’ equity.

SUBSIDIARIES

Particulars of the Company’s subsidiaries are set out in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

A summary of the consolidated results and financial position of the Company is set out on page 103 of this annual report.

135

DIRECTORS’ REPORTRESULTS

The  results  of  the  Company  for  the  Reporting  Period  are  set  out  in  the  consolidated  statements  of  operations  on  page  199  of  this 

annual report.

MAJOR CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS

During  the  Reporting  Period  and  the  year  ended  December  31,  2022,  the  five  largest  customers  of  the  Company  accounted  for 

approximately  35.0%  and  37.7%  of  the  Company’s  total  product  revenue,  respectively,  while  the  largest  customer  of  the  Company 

accounted for approximately 19.9% and 22.4% of the Company’s total product revenue, respectively.

During  the  Reporting  Period  and  the  year  ended  December  31,  2022,  the  five  largest  suppliers  of  the  Company  accounted  for 

approximately 29.2% and 29.1% of the Company’s total purchases, respectively, while the largest supplier of the Company accounted 

for approximately 9.5% and 8.1% of the Company’s total purchases, respectively.

During the Reporting Period, none of our Directors, their close associates or any of our shareholders, who, to the knowledge of our 

Directors, owns more than 5% of our issued share capital had any interest in any of the above customers or suppliers. 

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AND PERFORMANCE

The  Company  is  committed  to  doing  its  part  to  protect  the  environment,  including  by  minimizing  the  environmental  footprint  from 

its operations. Details of this commitment, and the steps we are taking in response, will be set out in the Company’s 2023 ESG Report 

to be published. Please refer to the Company’s 2023 ESG Report by accessing the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the 

Company’s website at https://ir.zailaboratory.com under section “Financials & Filings — HKEX Announcements & Notices” (or via the 

link https://ir.zailaboratory.com/financials-filings/hkex-announcements-notices).

COMPLIANCE WITH THE RELEVANT LAWS AND REGULATIONS

During the Reporting Period, as far as the Board is aware, the Company has complied with relevant laws and regulations that have a 

significant impact on the Company in all material respects.

IMPORTANT EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD

Except  as  disclosed  in  Note  23  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements  contained  in  this  annual  report  and  in  the  section  headed  

“Use  of  Net  Proceeds  —  Use  of  Net  Proceeds  from  the  Global  Offering”  below,  there  were  no  important  events  after  the  Reporting 

Period.

136

DIRECTORS’ REPORTPRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

This summary below provides an overview of material risks that could affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, 

cash flows, and prospects, which should be read in conjunction with the more detailed discussion of risks in Risk Factors.

• 

Changes  in  relations  between  the  United  States  and  China,  as  well  as  relations  between  China  and  other  countries,  may 

adversely impact our business, our operating results, our ability to raise capital on favorable terms or at all, and the market price 

of our securities;

• 

We  are  subject  to  extensive  laws,  rules,  and  regulations.  Compliance  with  these  laws,  including  China’s  Counter-Espionage 

Law, Data Security Law, Cyber Security Law, Cybersecurity Review Measures, Personal Information Protection Law, Regulation 

on  the  Administration  of  Human  Genetic  Resources,  Biosecurity  Law,  Security  Assessment  Measures,  and  any  other  future 

laws  and  regulations  or  amendments  to  such  laws  and  regulations  may  entail  significant  expenses  and  could  materially  affect 

our  business.  Our  failure  to  comply  with  such  laws  and  regulations,  as  a  result  of  uncertainties  in  the  Chinese  legal  system 

with  respect  to  recent  anti-corruption  enforcement  efforts  or  otherwise,  could  lead  to  government  enforcement  actions  and 

significant penalties against us, which could materially and adversely impact our operating results;

• 

We could be adversely affected by risks of doing business globally. For example, business disruptions or other adverse effects 

caused  by  economic,  political,  and  social  conditions,  including  market  conditions,  changing  legal  and  regulatory  requirements 

and  government  policies,  political  instability,  trade  policies  and  sanctions,  public  health  crises,  international  war  or  conflict, 

natural  disasters,  extreme  weather  events,  and  other  geopolitical  events  or  significant  disruptions  could  adversely  affect  our 

business, liquidity, and access to capital;

• 

We have incurred significant losses since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for at least the next 

year. If we are unable to generate sufficient revenue from our approved commercial products, on the anticipated timeline or at 

all, at a level that more than offsets our expenses, we will be unable to achieve or maintain profitability;

• 

We  rely  on  our  licensors,  CMOs,  and  other  third  parties  for  the  commercial  and  clinical  supply  of  our  products  and  product 

candidates.  Failure  of  our  third  parties  to  supply  us  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  products,  in  a  timely  matter  or  at  all,  will 

adversely affect us;

• 

Chinese manufacturing facilities have historically experienced issues operating in line with established GMPs and international 

best  practices,  and  passing  FDA,  NMPA,  and  EMA  inspections,  which  may  result  in  a  longer  and  costlier  current  GMP 

inspection and approval process by the FDA, NMPA, or EMA for our Chinese manufacturing processes and third-party contract 

manufacturers;

• 

We  rely  on  third  parties  to  conduct  our  pre-clinical  and  clinical  trials.  If  these  third  parties  do  not  successfully  carry  out  their 

contractual  duties  or  meet  expected  deadlines,  we  may  not  be  able  to  obtain  regulatory  approval  for  or  commercialize  our 

products or product candidates, on the anticipated timeline or at all, and our business could be substantially harmed;

137

DIRECTORS’ REPORT• 

If we are unable to obtain and maintain patent protection for our products and product candidates through intellectual property 

rights, or if the scope of such intellectual property rights obtained is not sufficiently broad, third parties may compete directly 

against us;

• 

We  may  not  be  able  to  protect  our  systems  and  networks,  or  the  confidentiality  of  our  confidential  or  other  information 

(including  personal  information),  from  cyberattacks  and  other  unauthorized  access,  disclosure,  and  disruption,  which  may 

materially and adversely affect us;

• 

The  pre-approval  of,  filing,  or  other  procedures  with  the  CSRC  or  other  Chinese  regulatory  authorities  may  be  required  in 

connection with issuing securities to foreign investors under Chinese law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be 

able, or how long it will take us, to obtain such approval or complete such filing or other procedures;

• 

We may be exposed to liabilities under the FCPA and Chinese anti-corruption laws, and any determination that we have violated 

these laws could have a material adverse effect on our business or our reputation;

• 

• 

• 

Certain of our investments may be subject to CFIUS review, which may delay or block a transaction from closing;

Restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to receive and use financing in foreign currencies;

We  may  rely  on  dividends  and  other  distributions  on  equity  paid  by  our  Chinese  subsidiaries  to  fund  any  cash  and  financing 

requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our Chinese subsidiaries to make payments to Zai Lab Limited 

could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business;

• 

Chinese  regulations  relating  to  the  establishment  of  offshore  special  purpose  companies  by  residents  in  mainland  China  may 

subject our China resident beneficial owners or our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in mainland China to liability or penalties, 

limit  our  ability  to  inject  capital  into  these  subsidiaries,  limit  these  subsidiaries’  ability  to  increase  their  registered  capital  or 

distribute profits to us, or may otherwise adversely affect us;

• 

Chinese  regulations  establish  complex  procedures  for  some  acquisitions  of  mainland  China  based  companies  by  foreign 

investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in mainland China;

• 

Our business benefits from certain financial incentives and discretionary policies granted by local governments. Expiration of, or 

changes to, these incentives or policies would have an adverse effect on our results of operations; and

• 

It may be difficult to enforce against us or our management in mainland China any judgments obtained from foreign courts or 

for overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within mainland China.

138

DIRECTORS’ REPORTKEY RELATIONSHIPS WITH EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS

We  recognize  that  our  employees,  customers  and  suppliers  are  keys  to  our  sustainable  development.  We  are  committed  to 

establishing a close and caring relationship with our employees, providing quality services to its customers and enhancing cooperation 

with our suppliers.

Employees

Our employees are integral to our success, and we are committed to building and maintaining a strong and engaged workforce that is 

focused on delivering on our mission to become a leading global biopharmaceutical company and to positively impact human health in 

China and beyond. We seek to attract, retain, and motivate our employees through competitive compensation programs, professional 

development  opportunities,  and  employee  engagement.  In  evaluating  our  human  capital  management,  we  consider  various  factors, 

including  employee  performance,  development,  and  our  ability  to  recruit  well  qualified  employees  to  support  our  business  and 

operations. For more details, please refer to the section headed “Employee and Remuneration Policy” in this annual report. 

Customers

We  rely  on  independent  third-party  distributors  in  Greater  China  to  sell  our  commercialized  products,  which  is  consistent  with  the 

pharmaceutical  industry  norm.  This  allows  us  to  execute  marketing  strategies  that  are  specifically  tailored  to  each  product  and  the 

geographic  location  of  the  hospitals  located  within  the  distribution  territories  of  our  customers  across  mainland  China.  We  select 

distributors based on their business qualifications and distribution capabilities, such as distribution network coverage, quality, number 

of  personnel,  cash  flow  conditions,  creditworthiness,  logistics,  compliance  standard,  past  performance,  and  capacity  for  customer 

management. We offer rebates to our distributors, consistent with pharmaceutical industry practice. We retain no ownership control 

over the products sold to our distributors, and all significant risks (including inventory risks) and rewards associated with the products 

are generally transferred to our distributors upon delivery to and acceptance by the distributors. For more details, please refer to the 

section headed “Business — Our Customers” in this annual report. 

Suppliers

Our  suppliers  may  consist  of  (i)  third-party  licensors  from  which  we  have  licenses  for  commercial  products  and  product  candidates; 

(ii)  suppliers  of  raw  materials  in  our  supply  chain;  and  (iii)  CROs  to  support  our  clinical  trials.  We  are  dependent  on  some  of  our 

third-party partners for the manufacture and supply of certain of our commercial products and product candidates. We are dependent 

on third parties for certain raw materials in our supply chain. We also believe we would have access to adequate alternative sources 

for such supplies, if needed. We typically order raw materials and services on a purchase order basis and do not enter into long-term 

dedicated  capacity  or  minimum  supply  arrangements.  While  we  experience  price  fluctuations  associated  with  our  raw  materials, 

we  have  not  experienced  material  disruptions  in  the  supply  of  our  raw  materials.  We  have  suppliers  in  both  China  and  the  United 

States.  We  may  also  depend  on  certain  CROs  to  support  our  clinical  trials.  For  more  details,  please  refer  to  the  section  headed 

“Business — Manufacturing, Suppliers, and Quality Control — Suppliers” in this annual report. 

139

DIRECTORS’ REPORTUSE OF NET PROCEEDS

Use of Net Proceeds from April 2021 Offering

In April 2021, the Company issued 224,000 ordinary shares (equivalent to 2,240,000 ordinary shares after the Share Subdivision) of the 

Company at a price of HK$1,164.20 per share (equivalent to HK$116.42 per ordinary share after the Share Subdivision) and 5,492,400 

ADSs  at  a  price  of  US$150.00  per  ADS  for  aggregate  cash  consideration  (before  deducting  underwriting  discounts  and  commissions 

and  other  offering  expenses)  of  approximately  $857.5  million.  See  Note  2(a)  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements  for  additional 

information on the Share Subdivision.

As of the date of this annual report, there has been no change in the intended use of net proceeds raised from this offering, which 

amounted to approximately $818.0 million, as disclosed in the announcement of the Company dated April 21, 2021:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Approximately 30% of the net proceeds to fund new business and corporate development and licensing opportunities;

Approximately 30% of the net proceeds to complete clinical trials and advance new drug candidates;

Approximately 20% of the net proceeds to expand the Company’s commercialization efforts;

Approximately 15% of the net proceeds to enhance the Company’s global pipeline; and

Approximately 5% of the net proceeds for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

140

DIRECTORS’ REPORTThe  following  table  sets  forth  a  summary  of  the  utilization  of  the  net  proceeds  from  this  offering  as  of  December  31,  2023  ($  in 

millions):

Purpose

Fund new business and

 corporate development

Percentage to 
total amount

Net proceeds 
from the offering

Amount of 
net proceeds 
unutilized as of 
January 1, 2023

Amount of net 
proceeds utilized 
during the 
Reporting Period

Actual use of 
proceeds up to 
December 31, 2023

Unutilized 
amount as of 
December 31, 
2023

Expected timeline
for use of
unutilized
proceeds

 and licensing opportunities

30.0%

245.4

245.4

—

—

245.4

By December 2026

Complete clinical trials

 and advance new

 drug candidates

Expand the Company’s

30.0%

 commercialization efforts

20.0%

Enhance the Company’s

 global pipeline

Working capital and other

 general corporate purposes

Total

15.0%

5.0%

100.0%

245.4

163.6

122.7

40.9

818.0

109.6

70.2

122.7

40.9

588.8

109.6

70.2

14.1

—

193.9

245.4

163.6

—

—

Not applicable

Not applicable

14.1

108.6

By December 2026

—

423.1

40.9

By December 2027

394.9

The  Company  plans  to  gradually  utilize  the  remaining  net  proceeds  from  the  April  2021  offering  in  accordance  with  such  intended 

purpose depending on actual business, which is expected to be fully utilized by the end of 2027. This expected timeline is based on the 

best estimation of future market conditions and business operations made by the Company, and remains subject to change based on 

current and future development of market conditions and actual business needs.

141

DIRECTORS’ REPORTUse of Net Proceeds from the Global Offering

Dealings  in  ordinary  shares  on  the  Hong  Kong  Stock  Exchange  commenced  on  September  28,  2020.  The  net  proceeds  raised  from 

the  Global  Offering  as  described  in  the  Prospectus,  after  deduction  of  the  underwriting  fees  and  commissions  and  other  estimated 

expenses payable by the Company in connection with the Global Offering, were approximately HK$6,636.2 million (US$850.8 million). 

The  intended  uses  for  the  net  proceeds  received  by  the  Company  from  the  Global  Offering,  as  previously  disclosed  in  “Use  of 

Proceeds” in the Prospectus, included the following:

• 

Approximately 16.0% for ZEJULA to seek indication expansion and hire high-caliber R&D staff dedicated to its development, and 

to develop and improve the Company’s manufacturing facilities to bring ZEJULA to commercialization;

• 

Approximately  6.2%  for  ongoing  and  planned  clinical  trials  and  preparation  for  registration  filings  of  Tumor  Treating  Fields  in 

multiple solid tumor cancer indications;

• 

Approximately  16.0%  for  ZEJULA  to  enhance  the  Company’s  commercialization  capabilities  through  increasing  its  sales  and 

marketing headcounts, among other efforts;

• 

Approximately 8.0% to strengthen commercialization efforts for Tumor Treating Fields through recruiting key talents in relevant 

indications to drive sales and future potential product launch;

• 

Approximately 11.8% to fund the Company’s ongoing and planned clinical trials and preparation for registration filings of other 

drug candidates in the pipeline, especially late-stage drug candidates;

• 

Approximately  25.0%  to  explore  new  global  licensing  and  collaboration  opportunities  and  bring  in  potentially  global  best-in-

class/first-in-class assets with clinical validation, synergistic with the Company’s current pipeline, and aligned to its expertise;

• 

Approximately  7.0%  to  continue  investing  in  and  expanding  the  Company’s  internal  discovery  pipeline  and  recruit  and  train 

talent globally; and

• 

Approximately 10.0% to fund working capital and other general corporate purposes.

142

DIRECTORS’ REPORTThe following table presents a summary of the utilization of the net proceeds from the Global Offering as of December 31, 2023 ($ in 

Percentage to 
total amount

Net proceeds 
from the offering

Amount of 
net proceeds 
unutilized as of 
January 1, 2023

Amount of net 
proceeds utilized 
during the 
Reporting Period

Actual use of 
proceeds up to 
December 31, 2023

Unutilized 
amount as of 
December 31, 
2023

Expected timeline
for use of
unutilized
proceeds

millions):

Purpose

For ZEJULA to seek indication 

expansion and hire high-

caliber R&D staff dedicated 

to its development, and to 

develop and improve the 

Company’s manufacturing 

facilities to bring ZEJULA to 

commercialization

16.0%

136.1

79.2

4.7

61.6

74.5

Not Applicable

Fund ongoing and planned 

clinical trials and 

preparation for registration 

filings of Tumor Treating 

Fields in multiple solid 

tumor cancer indications

6.2%

52.7

33.9

2.3

21.1

31.6

By December 2025

For ZEJULA to enhance 

the Company’s 

commercialization 

capabilities through 

increasing its sales and 

marketing headcounts, 

among other efforts

16.0%

136.1

39.8

22.2

118.5

17.6

By December 2024

Strengthen commercialization 

efforts for Tumor Treating 

Fields through recruiting 

key talents in relevant 

indications to drive sales 

and future potential 

product launch

Fund the Company’s ongoing 

and planned clinical 

trials and preparation for 

registration filings of other 

drug candidates in the 

pipeline, especially late-

8.0%

68.1

25.3

10.5

53.3

14.8

By December 2024

stage drug candidates

11.8%

100.4

—

143

—

100.4

—

Not applicable

DIRECTORS’ REPORTPercentage to 
total amount

Net proceeds 
from the offering

Amount of 
net proceeds 
unutilized as of 
January 1, 2023

Amount of net 
proceeds utilized 
during the 
Reporting Period

Actual use of 
proceeds up to 
December 31, 2023

Unutilized 
amount as of 
December 31, 
2023

Expected timeline
for use of
unutilized
proceeds

Purpose

Explore new global licensing 

and collaboration 

opportunities and bring in 

potentially global best-in-

class/first-in-class assets 

with clinical validation, 

synergistic with the 

Company’s current pipeline 

and aligned to its expertise

25.0%

212.7

44.4

19.3

187.6

25.1

By December 2026

Continue investing in and 

expanding the Company’s 

internal discovery pipeline 

and recruit and train talent 

globally

7.0%

59.6

36.6

Fund working capital and 

other general corporate 

purposes

Total

10.0%

100.0%

85.1

850.8

30.7

289.9

36.6

—

95.6

59.6

—

Not applicable

54.4

656.5

30.7

By December 2027

194.3

During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2023,  there  was  no  change  in  the  intended  use  of  net  proceeds  as  previously  disclosed  in  the 

section “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus. 

As disclosed in the Company’s announcement dated March 28, 2024, since we do not currently plan to seek indication expansion or 

hire high-caliber R&D staff dedicated to the development of ZEJULA, and our manufacturing facilities are expected to be sufficient to 

support our commercial needs for ZEJULA in the near future, the Company considered that it may no longer be necessary to continue 

to use the funds designated for ZEJULA for the initial intended purpose (i.e. the first purpose set out in the table above). As a result, 

we had decided to reallocate such remaining funds, being $74.5 million, to fund the Company’s ongoing and planned clinical trials and 

preparation for registration filings of other drug candidates in the pipeline, especially late-stage drug candidates (i.e. the fifth purpose 

set out in the table above). 

The  Company  plans  to  gradually  utilize  the  remaining  net  proceeds  from  the  Global  Offering  in  accordance  with  such  intended 

purposes depending on actual business, which is expected to be fully utilized by the end of 2027. This expected timeline is based on 

the best estimation of future market conditions and business operations made by the Company, and remains subject to change based 

on current and future development of market conditions and actual business needs.

144

DIRECTORS’ REPORTDIVIDEND POLICY AND RESERVES 

We  have  never  declared  or  paid  dividends  on  our  ordinary  shares.  We  currently  expect  to  retain  all  future  earnings  for  use  in  the 

operation  and  expansion  of  our  business  and  do  not  have  any  present  plan  to  pay  any  dividends.  The  declaration  and  payment  of 

any dividends in the future will be determined by our Board in its discretion, and will depend on a number of factors, including our 

earnings, capital requirements, overall financial condition, and contractual restrictions.

The Board did not recommend any final dividend for the Reporting Period.

The  Company  did  not  have  any  reserves  available  for  distribution  to  shareholders  as  of  December  31,  2023.  Details  of  movements 

in  the  reserves  of  the  Company  and  Zai  Lab  Limited  during  the  Reporting  Period  are  set  out  in  the  consolidated  statements  of 

shareholders’  equity  and  the  parent  company  statements  of  shareholder’s  equity  on  pages  201  and  247  of  this  annual  report, 

respectively.

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Details of movements in the property, plant and equipment of the Company during the Reporting Period are set out in Note 9 to the 

consolidated financial statements.

BORROWINGS

The Company did not have any borrowings from banks or any other financial institutions during the Reporting Period.

DONATION

The Company made charitable donations of approximately $11.2 million during the Reporting Period.

DEBENTURE ISSUED

The Company did not issue any debentures during the Reporting Period.

EQUITY-LINKED AGREEMENTS

Except as disclosed in the section headed “Equity Incentive Plans”, Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements and the section 

headed  “Collaboration  and  License  Agreement  with  argenx  (Efgartigimod)”  in  Note  18  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  no 

equity-linked agreements were entered into by the Company or existed during the Reporting Period.

145

DIRECTORS’ REPORTDIRECTORS

Unless otherwise noted, the Directors who held office during the Reporting Period and up to the date of this annual report are:

Executive Director

Dr. Samantha Du (Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer)

Independent Directors

Dr. John Diekman (Lead Independent Director) 

Professor Kai-Xian Chen

Dr. Richard Gaynor

Ms. Nisa Leung

Mr. William Lis

Mr. Scott W. Morrison

Mr. Leon O. Moulder, Jr.

Mr. Michel Vounatsos 

Mr. Peter Wirth

For  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Company  has  received  from  each  of  the  independent  non-executive  Directors  an  annual  confirmation  of 

independence pursuant to Rule 3.13 of the HK Listing Rules and considers each of the independent non-executive Directors are independent. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Biographical details of the Directors and senior management of the Company are set out in the section headed “Directors and Senior 

Management” above in this annual report.

EMOLUMENT POLICY AND DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION

Director Remuneration

The remunerations of the Directors are determined pursuant to our non-employee director compensation policy as summarized below.

For  2023,  unless  otherwise  noted,  each  member  of  the  Board  who  is  not  an  employee  of  the  Company  or  one  of  our  affiliates  was 

entitled to the following compensation under our non-employee director compensation policy: 

• 

• 

Annual cash retainer of $50,000 for each non-employee Director;

Additional annual cash retainer of $35,000 for the Lead Independent Director;

146

DIRECTORS’ REPORT• 

Additional  annual  cash  retainer  of  $20,000  for  the  Audit  Committee  chair  through  November  8,  2023,  upon  which  date  this 

retainer  was  increased  to  $25,000  in  recognition  of  the  time  commitment  of  the  committee  and  in  consideration  of  market 

practices;

• 

Additional  annual  cash  retainer  of  $10,000  for  each  Audit  Committee  member  through  November  8,  2023,  upon  which  date 

this retainer was increased to $12,500 in recognition of the time commitment of the committee and in consideration of market 

practices;

• 

Additional annual cash retainer of $15,000 for the Compensation Committee chair through November 8, 2023, upon which date 

this retainer was increased to $20,000 in recognition of the time commitment of the committee and in consideration of market 

practices;

• 

Additional annual cash retainer of $7,500 for each Compensation Committee member through November 8, 2023, upon which 

date  this  retainer  was  increased  to  $10,000  in  recognition  of  the  time  commitment  of  the  committee  and  in  consideration  of 

market practices;

• 

Additional  annual  cash  retainer  of  $10,000  for  the  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  chair  through 

November  8,  2023,  upon  which  date  this  retainer  was  increased  to  $12,250  in  recognition  of  the  time  commitment  of  the 

committee and in consideration of market practices;

• 

Additional  annual  cash  retainer  of  $5,000  for  each  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  member  through 

November  8,  2023,  upon  which  date  this  retainer  was  increased  to  $6,125  in  recognition  of  the  time  commitment  of  the 

committee and in consideration of market practices;

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Additional annual cash retainer of $15,000 for the Research and Development Committee chair;

Additional annual cash retainer of $7,500 for each Research and Development Committee member; 

Additional annual cash retainer of $15,000 for the Commercial Committee chair;

Additional annual cash retainer of $7,500 for each Commercial Committee member; and

An grant of restricted shares under our 2022 Plan.

In accordance with our non-employee director compensation policy, each non-employee Director, other than Mr. Vounatsos, received 

an  annual  grant  of  a  number  of  shares  of  Restricted  Shares  (as  defined  in  the  2022  Equity  Plan)  equal  to  $500,000  divided  by  the 

Nasdaq closing price of the Company’s ADS on the date of grant, rounded down to the nearest whole number, which vests in full on 

the first anniversary of the date of grant, subject to continued service as a member of the Board through such date. Mr. Vounatsos 

was  not  eligible  to  receive  an  annual  Director  grant  in  2023  pursuant  to  the  non-employee  director  compensation  policy  as  his 

appointment date was within 180 days of the date of grant of the annual equity award. Mr. Vounatsos received a new member equity 

147

DIRECTORS’ REPORTaward upon his appointment to the Board of a number of shares of Restricted Shares equal to $750,000 divided by the Nasdaq closing 

price of the Company’s ADS on the date of grant, rounded down to the nearest whole number, which vests ratably over three years on 

the anniversary of the date of grant, subject to continued service as a member of the Board through such date.

Our non-employee Directors are also reimbursed by the Company for reasonable and customary expenses incurred in connection with 

attendance at Board and committee meetings, in accordance with the Company’s policies. Dr. Samantha Du and Ms. Nisa Leung do not 

receive separate compensation for their service as Directors.

Details  of  Directors’  remuneration  for  the  Reporting  Period  are  set  out  in  Note  24  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements, 

respectively.

Executive Remuneration

The Compensation Committee actively reviews and assesses our executive compensation program in consideration of the significant 

competition  for  top  talent  in  our  industry;  the  challenges  of  recruiting,  retaining,  and  motivating  executives  in  an  industry  that 

generally  has  significant  risks  and  longer  business  cycles  than  other  commercial  industries;  and  evolving  compensation  governance 

and best practices. In addition, as a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, with a substantial presence in Greater China and the 

U.S. and dual-primary listing on Nasdaq and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, our leadership team must also possess, in addition to deep 

knowledge  of  the  U.S.  and  Hong  Kong  securities  laws  and  governance  requirements,  the  global  perspectives  and  expertise  required 

to navigate geopolitical challenges and to address novel and complex issues amid the evolving global regulatory landscape. Because 

the Company is designing an executive compensation program to attract, retain, and motivate global talent, with specific knowledge 

of  the  evolving  Chinese  regulatory  and  operating  environment,  the  Company’s  executive  compensation  program  may  differ  from 

our U.S. peers to reflect the competitive market in China, the need to attract a global skillset with deep knowledge of both U.S. and 

Chinese  regulatory  regimes,  and  the  Company’s  desire  to  incentivize  an  entrepreneurial  mindset  to  encourage  actions  that  support 

our long-term growth and strategy. For these reasons, the Compensation Committee looks at the totality of factors the Company faces 

when it considers and determines executive compensation.

The Compensation Committee strives to act in the long-term best interests of the Company and our shareholders and believes that our 

executive compensation program is strongly aligned with the long-term interests of our shareholders.

Details of the remuneration of the senior management of the Company by band, whose biographies are set out on pages 124 to 125 

and pages 133 to 134 of this annual report for the Reporting Period are set out below:

Remuneration band

$1,000,001–$2,000,000(1)

$3,000,001–$14,000,000

Notes:

Number of Individuals

1

5

(1) 

The remuneration of applicable member of senior management is calculated on pro-rata basis in connection with the promotion effective as of July 7, 2023.

148

DIRECTORS’ REPORTFor  more  details  about  share-based  compensation,  please  refer  to  the  section  headed  “Equity  Incentive  Plans”  and  Note  17  to  the 

consolidated financial statements contained in this annual report. 

Details of the five highest paid individuals for the Reporting Period are set out in Note 25 to the consolidated financial statements.

Employee Remuneration Policy

The  remuneration  policy  for  our  employees  is  periodically  reviewed  by  the  Compensation  Committee.  Employee  remuneration 

packages  are  determined  in  consideration  of  a  variety  of  factors,  including  market  data  for  companies  in  similar  industries  and 

companies with similar complexity and size. For more details about employee remuneration policy, please refer to the section headed 

“Employee and Remuneration Policy” contained in this annual report.

DIRECTORS’ SERVICE CONTRACTS

The  service  contract  entered  into  with  Dr.  Samantha  Du,  an  executive  Director,  Chairperson,  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  the 

Company, is determinable within one year, subject to payment of compensation in the sum of 18-month remuneration. 

Save  as  disclosed  above,  none  of  the  Directors  proposed  for  re-election  at  the  2024  annual  general  meeting  of  shareholders  has 

a  service  contract  with  members  of  the  Company  that  is  not  determinable  by  the  Company  within  one  year  without  payment  of 

compensation, other than statutory compensation.

DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS IN TRANSACTIONS, ARRANGEMENTS OR CONTRACTS OF 
SIGNIFICANCE

Except  as  disclosed  in  the  sections  headed  “Directors’  Service  Contracts”,  “Connected  Transactions  and  Continuing  Connected 

Transactions”, “Related Party Transactions” and Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements contained in this annual report, none 

of the Directors nor any entity connected with the Directors had a material interest, either directly or indirectly, in any transactions, 

arrangements or contracts of significance to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries was a party subsisting during or at the end of 

the Reporting Period.

PERMITTED INDEMNITY

Pursuant  to  the  Sixth  Restated  Articles  and  subject  to  the  applicable  laws  and  regulations,  every  Director  shall  be  indemnified  and  held 

harmless out of the assets and profits of the Company against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expense losses, damages or liabilities 

incurred or sustained by him/her in connection with the execution or discharge of his/her duties, powers, authorities or discretions as a 

Director or officer of the Company, unless such liability arises through the willful neglect or default of such Director or officer.

Such  permitted  indemnity  provision  has  been  in  force  for  the  Reporting  Period.  The  Company  has  taken  out  liability  insurance  to 

provide appropriate coverage for the Directors.

149

DIRECTORS’ REPORTMANAGEMENT CONTRACTS

Except as disclosed in the section headed “Directors’ Service Contracts” in this annual report, no contract concerning the management 

and  administration  of  the  whole  or  any  substantial  part  of  the  business  of  the  Company  was  entered  into  or  existed  during  the 

Reporting Period.

DIRECTORS’ RIGHTS TO ACQUIRE SHARES OR DEBENTURES

Except as disclosed in this annual report, at no time during the Reporting Period was the Company or any of its subsidiaries a party to 

any arrangements to enable the Directors to acquire benefits by means of the acquisition of shares in, or debentures of the Company 

or  any  other  body  corporate;  and  none  of  the  Directors,  or  any  of  their  spouse  or  children  under  the  age  of  18,  had  any  right  to 

subscribe for equity or debt securities of the Company or any other body corporate, or had exercised any such right.

DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS IN COMPETING BUSINESS

During  the  Reporting  Period,  none  of  the  Directors  had  any  interest  in  a  business,  apart  from  the  business  of  our  Company,  which 

competes  or  is  likely  to  compete,  directly  or  indirectly,  with  our  business,  which  would  require  disclosure  under  Rule  8.10  of  the 

HK Listing Rules. 

150

DIRECTORS’ REPORT 
DIRECTORS’ AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S INTERESTS AND SHORT POSITIONS IN 
SHARES AND UNDERLYING SHARES AND DEBENTURES OF THE COMPANY OR 
ANY OF ITS ASSOCIATED CORPORATIONS

As  of  December  31,  2023,  so  far  as  was  known  to  the  Directors  and  chief  executive  of  the  Company,  the  interests  and  short  positions 

of  the  Directors  and  chief  executive  of  the  Company  in  the  shares,  underlying  shares,  and  debentures  of  the  Company  or  its  associated 

corporations  within  the  meaning  of  Part  XV  of  the  SFO,  which  were  required  to  be  (a)  notified  to  the  Company  and  the  Hong  Kong 

Stock Exchange pursuant to Divisions 7 and 8 of Part XV of the SFO (including interests and short positions which they had taken or were 

deemed to have under such provisions of the SFO); (b) recorded in the register required to be kept by the Company pursuant to Section 352 

of the SFO; or (c) otherwise notified to the Company and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange pursuant to the Model Code were as follows:

Name of Director

Nature of interest

Samantha (Ying) Du

Beneficial owner

Beneficiary of a trust (other than a 

 discretionary interest)

Other

Founder of a discretionary trust who 

 can influence how the trustee 

 exercises his discretion

John David Diekman

Kai-Xian Chen

Beneficial owner

Beneficial owner

Richard Brian Gaynor

Beneficial owner

William David Lis

Beneficial owner

Nisa Bernice Wing-Yu Leung Beneficial owner

Scott William Morrison

Beneficial owner

Leon Oliver Moulder Jr.

Beneficial owner

Michel Pericles Vounatsos

Beneficial owner

Peter Karl Wirth

Beneficial owner

Notes:

Number of Shares

Approximate  
percentage of holding(1)

47,245,462(2)

4,174,978

3,061,410(3)
207,180(4)

676,850

472,750

278,150

422,330

630,950

262,480

405,180

183,320

3,616,660

4.78%

0.42%

0.31%

0.02%

0.06%

0.04%

0.02%

0.04%

0.06%

0.02%

0.04%

0.01%

0.36%

(1) 

These calculations are based on the total number of 988,387,430 Shares in issue as of December 31, 2023.

(2) 

These  Shares  include,  among  others,  Dr.  Du’s  entitlements  to  receive  up  to  (i)  37,621,160  Shares  pursuant  to  share  options  granted  to  her  and  not  yet  exercised  or 

expired, subject to any applicable conditions thereof; and (ii) 3,648,550 Shares pursuant to non-option awards granted to her and not yet vested, subject to satisfaction 

of applicable service-based or performance-based conditions thereof. 

(3) 

These 3,061,410 Shares are held by certain other shareholders, including members of the Company’s management and their affiliates, who have granted to Dr. Du the right 

to vote their Shares and for which Dr. Du may be deemed to have an “interest” based on her right to vote such Shares, however Dr. Du has no pecuniary interest therein. 

(4) 

These Shares are held by Ying Du Revocable Trust for the benefit of Dr. Du, of which Dr. Du is the trustee and is the founder having power to influence the exercise of 

the trustee’s discretion.

(5) 

All interests stated above are long positions.

151

DIRECTORS’ REPORTSUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS’ INTERESTS AND SHORT POSITIONS IN SHARES 
AND UNDERLYING SHARES

As  of  December  31,  2023,  so  far  as  was  known  to  the  Directors  and  based  on  the  information  filed  with  the  Disclosure  of  Interest 

Online (DION) System, the following persons (other than the Directors and chief executive of the Company) had interests and/or short 

positions in the Shares or underlying Shares which would be required to be disclosed to the Company pursuant to Divisions 2 and 3 of 

Part XV of the SFO or recorded in the register required to be kept by the Company pursuant to Section 336 of the SFO:

Name of Substantial 

Capacity/nature  

Shareholders

of interest

Number of

Shares held

Shareholding in the 
Company(2) 

L/S/P(1) 

Approximate  

Percentage of 

BAILLIE GIFFORD & 
 CO(i)
Citigroup Inc.(ii)

Investment manager

Interest of corporation controlled by you

Person having a security interest in shares

Interest of corporation controlled by you

Interest of corporation controlled by you

Approved lending agent

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Interest of corporation controlled by you

Interest of corporation controlled by you

Investment manager

Person having a security interest in shares

Trustee

Approved lending agent

Qiming Corporate 

Interest of corporation controlled by you

 GP IV, Ltd.

405,906 (3)
5,510,261 (3)

500 (3)(4)
31,314 (3)(4)
4,202 (3)(4)
5,200,946 (3)(4)

12,890,078 (5)
22,048,820 (5)
266,420 (5)
11,833,040 (5)
41,570 (5)
85,612,001 (5)

79,229,320

The Capital Group 

Interest of corporation controlled by you

70,340,770 (6)

 Companies, Inc.

Wellington 

Investment manager

 Management 

Investment manager

71,478,336 (7)
7,277 (7)

(L)

(L)

(L)

(L)

(S)

(P)

(L)

(S)

(L)

(L)

(L)

(L)

(L)

(L)

(L)

(S)

0.41%

5.57%

0.00%

0.03%

0.00%

5.26%

1.30%

2.23%

0.02%

1.19%

0.00%

8.66%

8.01%

7.11%

7.23%

0.00%

 Group LLP

Notes: 

(1) 

Long position (L)/ Short position(S)/ Lending pool (P)

(2) 

These calculations are based on the total number of 988,387,430 Shares in issue as of December 31, 2023.

(3) 

As the number of Shares held is based on the Corporate Substantial Shareholder Notice filed to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange before the Share Subdivision, for the 

purpose of calculating the shareholding percentage in this section, the relevant number of Shares has been adjusted to ten times of the original number of ordinary 

shares held to reflect the impact of the Share Subdivision.

(4) 

According  to  the  Corporate  Substantial  Shareholder  Notice  regarding  the  relevant  event  dated  September  28,  2020  submitted  by  Citigroup  Inc.  to  the  Hong  Kong 

Stock  Exchange  on  October  5,  2020,  an  aggregated  5,232,760  Shares  (long  position),  4,202  Shares  (short  position),  and  5,200,946  Shares  (lending  pool)  are  held  by 

Citigroup  Inc.  indirectly  through  its  certain  subsidiaries.  Among  them,  5,080,573  Shares  (long  position)  and  4,202  Shares  (short  position)  are  physically  settled  listed 

derivatives, and 137 Shares (long position) are cash settled unlisted derivatives.

152

DIRECTORS’ REPORT(5) 

According to the Corporate Substantial Shareholder Notice regarding the relevant event dated November 27, 2023 submitted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. to the Hong 

Kong  Stock  Exchange  on  November  30,  2023,  an  aggregated  110,643,109  Shares  (long  position),  22,048,820  Shares  (short  position),  and  85,612,001  Shares  (lending 

pool) are held by JPMorgan Chase & Co. indirectly through its certain subsidiaries. Among them, 9,200 Shares (long position) are physically settled unlisted derivatives, 

and 1,858,190 Shares (long position) and 711,960 Shares (short position) are cash settled unlisted derivatives.

(6) 

According to the Corporate Substantial Shareholder Notice regarding the relevant event dated October 26, 2023 submitted by The Capital Group Companies, Inc. to the 

Hong Kong Stock Exchange on October 28, 2023, an aggregated 70,340,770 Shares (long position), are held by The Capital Group Companies, Inc. indirectly through its 

certain subsidiaries. Among them, 61,289,170 Shares (long position) are physically settled listed derivatives. 

(7) 

According to the Corporate Substantial Shareholder Notice regarding the relevant event dated December 20, 2023 submitted by Wellington Management Group LLP 

to  the  Hong  Kong  Stock  Exchange  on  December  21,  2023,  an  aggregated  71,478,336  Shares  (long  position)  and  7,277  Shares  (short  position)  are  held  by  Wellington 

Management Group LLP as investment manager. Among them, 53,781,380 Shares (long position) are physically settled listed derivatives, and 418 Shares (long position) 

and 7,277 Shares (short position) are cash settled listed derivatives.

(i) 

According  to  the  Form  13F  filed  by  Baillie  Gifford  &  Co  with  the  SEC  on  August  8,  2022  ( https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1088875/000108887522000108/

xslForm13F_X01/edgbgcojun22.xml ), as of June 30, 2022, it held 737,152 ADSs of the Company. According to the Form 13F filed by Baillie Gifford & Co with the SEC on 

January  26,  2024  (https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1088875/000108887524000015/xslForm13F_X02/primary_doc.xml),  as  of  December  31,  2023,  it  did  not 

appear to hold any ADSs of the Company. No corresponding record is found on the DION System. 

(ii) 

According to the Form 13F filed by Citigroup Inc with the SEC on February 9, 2024 ( https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/831001/000083100124000027/xslForm13F_

X02/CITIGROUP_13F_HR_INFOTABLE.xml ), as of December 31, 2023, it held 2,680 ADSs of the Company. No corresponding record is found on the DION System.

(iii) 

According to the Form 13F filed by JPMorgan Chase & Co on February 12, 2024 ( https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000001961724000190/xslForm13F_

X02/Information_Table_12.31.2023.xml ), as of December 31, 2023, it held 40,884 ADSs of the Company. No corresponding record is found on the DION System.

(iv) 

According to the Form 13F filed by Wellington Management Group LLP on February 12, 2024 ( https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/902219/000090221924000290/

xslForm13F_X02/form13fInfoTable.xml ), as of December 31, 2023, it held 5,336,457 ADSs of the Company. No corresponding record is found on the DION System.

(v) 

According to the Form 13F filed by Capital World Investors with the SEC on February 13, 2024 ( https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1422849/000001728324000016/

xslForm13F_X02/form13fInfoTable.xml ), it held 5,218,843 ADSs of the Company. No corresponding record is found on the DION System.

Save as disclosed above and to the best knowledge of the Directors, as of December 31, 2023, the Directors are not aware of any other 

person (other than the Directors or the chief executive of the Company whose interests are set out in the section headed “Directors’ 

and  Chief  Executive’s  Interests  and  Short  Positions  in  Shares  and  Underlying  Shares  and  Debentures  of  the  Company  or  Any  of  its 

Associated Corporations” above) who had an interest or short position in the Shares or underlying Shares as recorded in the register 

required to be kept by the Company pursuant to Section 336 of the SFO.

EQUITY INCENTIVE PLANS

The Company has 3 equity incentive plans, namely the 2015 Plan, the 2017 Plan and the 2022 Plan. The 2022 Plan was adopted by the 

shareholders of the Company and took effect on the Primary Conversion Effective Date, and the Board determined that no new grants 

would be made under the 2015 Plan and the 2017 Plan after the Primary Conversion Date. 

As at January 1, 2023, the maximum number of Shares which may be issued upon exercise of all outstanding options granted and yet to 

be exercised under the 2015 Plan, 2017 Plan and 2022 Plan was 91,181,420. As at December 31, 2023, the maximum number of Shares 

which may be issued upon exercise of all outstanding options granted and yet to be exercised under the 2015 Plan, the 2017 Plan and 

the 2022 Plan was 104,584,050.

153

DIRECTORS’ REPORT 
1. 

2015 Plan

The  2015  Plan  was  approved  by  the  Board  on  March  5,  2015  and  most  recently  amended  with  effect  on  April  10,  2016.  The  Board 
determined that no new grants would be made under the 2015 Plan after the Primary Conversion Effective Date.

Details of the outstanding options under the 2015 Plan are set out below:

Name of  
grantee

Category of  
grantees

Date of 
grant

Vesting  
period (1) (2) (3)

Exercise 
period (4)

Price on day prior to 
exercise during the 
Reporting Period  
(in $) (6)

Exercise 
(grant) price 
(in $) (5)

Outstanding as of  
January 1, 2023

Number of shares underlying the options

Exercised 
during the 
Reporting 
Period

Cancelled 
during the 
Reporting 
Period

Lapsed 
during the 
Reporting 
Period

Outstanding  
as of 
December 31, 
2023

Directors and chief executive of the Company
Dr. Samantha Du Executive Director, 

10/22/2015

Chairperson and Chief 
Executive Officer

5 years

10 years

0.06

4.09

8,891,650

3,000,000

Dr. Samantha Du Executive Director, 

3/9/2016

5 years

10 years

0.12

Chairperson and Chief 
Executive Officer

Dr. Samantha Du Executive Director, 

8/25/2016

5 years

10 years

0.174

Chairperson and Chief 
Executive Officer

Employee Participants (other than chief executive)
3/5/2015
In aggregate
10/22/2015
In aggregate
3/9/2016
In aggregate
8/25/2016
In aggregate
8/25/2016
In aggregate
12/6/2016
In aggregate
5/12/2017
In aggregate
5/12/2017
In aggregate
5/12/2017
In aggregate

Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants

5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
3 years
3 years
5 years
3 years
4 years

10 years 
10 years 
10 years 
10 years 
10 years 
10 years 
10 years 
10 years 
10 years 

0.06
0.06
0.12
0.174
0.174
0.174
0.3
0.3
0.3

—

—

2.64
—
3.64
3.09
—
—
—
—
3.69

6,043,760

9,221,840

2,118,690
5,822,160
432,700
1,405,520
4,160
4,160
161,670
4,160
114,800

34,225,270

0

0

2,116,660
0
166,660
130,000
0
0
0
0
114,800

5,528,120

0

0

0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0

0

0

0

470
1,990
3,350
6,700
0
0
0
0
0

5,891,650

6,043,760

9,221,840

1,560
5,820,170
262,690
1,268,820
4,160
4,160
161,670
4,160
0

12,510

28,684,640

Total

Notes:

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

Where the vesting period is five years, one-fifth of the options shall vest on each anniversary of the date of grant for the next five years, in each case, subject to the 
grantee’s continued employment relationship with the Company on such vesting dates.

Where the vesting period is four years, one-fourth of the options shall vest on each anniversary of the date of grant for the next four years, in each case, subject to the 
grantee’s continued employment relationship with the Company on such vesting dates.

Where the vesting period is three years, one-third of the options shall vest on each anniversary of the date of grant for the next three years, in each case, subject to the 
grantee’s continued employment relationship with the Company on such vesting dates. 

The relevant portion of the options becomes exercisable upon vesting on each anniversary of the date of grant, with the validity period of the options being ten years 
from the date of grant.

(5) 

The stated exercise (grant) price was determined in good faith by the administrator of the 2015 Plan in the absence of an established market for the Shares.

(6) 

The stated price was the weighted-average closing price of the underlying ADSs as quoted on Nasdaq, divided by ten, on the trading day immediately prior to the date 
on which the options were exercised during the Reporting Period.

154

DIRECTORS’ REPORTPurposes

The  purposes  of  the  2015  Plan  are  to  (1)  attract  and  retain  the  best  available  personnel  for  positions  of  substantial  responsibility; 

(2) provide additional incentive to employees, Directors, and consultants; and (3) to promote the success of the Company’s business.

Eligible Participants

Management including officers, Directors, employees, and individual advisors who render services to the Company may participate in 

the 2015 Plan.

Maximum Number of Shares

The  initial  total  number  of  shares  available  for  issue  under  the  2015  Plan  is  44,833,110  Shares  (taking  into  account  the  Share 

Consolidation and the Share Subdivision), which represents approximately 4.52% of the issued shares of the Company as at the date 

of  this  annual  report.  The  Board  had  already  determined  that  no  new  grants  would  be  made  under  the  2015  Plan  after  the  Primary 

Conversion Effective Date. However, for illustration purpose only, as at January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, the number of Shares 

available for future grant under the 2015 Plan was 11,823,280 and 11,835,790 respectively.

Limit of Each Grantee

The 2015 Plan does not specify any limit on maximum number of options that can be granted to a grantee.

Expiration of the 2015 Plan

Unless sooner terminated by the Board, the 2015 Plan will continue in effect for a term of 10 years from the later of (1) the effective 

date  of  the  2015  Plan,  or  (2)  the  earlier  of  the  most  recent  Board  or  shareholder  approval  of  an  increase  in  the  number  of  Shares 

reserved for issuance under the 2015 Plan, i.e. April 10, 2026. The remaining life of the 2015 Plan is around two years as at the date of 

this annual report.

Vesting Period

At the time an option is granted, the administrator of the 2015 Plan will fix the relevant vesting period.

Exercise Period

At the time an option is granted, the administrator of the 2015 Plan will fix the period within which the option may be exercised. The 

term of each option granted under the 2015 Plan will be no more than 10 years from the date of grant.

Consideration

No cash consideration is required to be paid by the grantees for the grant of options under the 2015 Plan.

155

DIRECTORS’ REPORTExercise Price

The exercise price of each share option granted under the 2015 Plan shall be no less than 100% of the fair market value of a share on 

the date of grant (110% in the case of certain incentive share options).

2. 

2017 Plan

The 2017 Plan was approved by the Board on August 7, 2017. The 2017 Plan provides for the grant of share options, SARs, restricted 

and  unrestricted  shares,  and  share  units,  performance  awards,  and  other  awards  that  are  convertible  into  or  otherwise  based  on 

Shares. Dividend equivalents may also be provided in connection with awards under the 2017 Plan. The Board determined that no new 

grants would be made under the 2017 Plan after the Primary Conversion Effective Date.

Options

Details of the outstanding options under the 2017 Plan are set out below:

Name of  
grantee

Category of  
grantees

Date of 
grant

Vesting  
period (1) (2) (3)

Exercise 
period (4)

Price on day prior to 
exercise during the 
Reporting Period  
(in $) (6)

Exercise 
(grant) price 
(in $) (5)

Outstanding as of  
January 1, 2023

Number of shares underlying the options

Exercised 
during the 
Reporting 
Period

Cancelled 
during the 
Reporting 
Period

Lapsed 
during the 
Reporting 
Period

Outstanding  
as of 
December 31, 
2023

Directors and chief executive of the Company
Dr. Samantha Du Executive Director, 

3/28/2018

5 years

10 years

2.09

Chairperson and Chief 
Executive Officer

Dr. Samantha Du Executive Director, 

3/8/2019

5 years

10 years

3.893

Chairperson and Chief 
Executive Officer

Dr. Samantha Du Executive Director, 

3/12/2020

5 years

10 years

4.494

Chairperson and Chief 
Executive Officer

Dr. Samantha Du Executive Director, 

4/1/2021

5 years

10 years

13.096

Chairperson and Chief 
Executive Officer

Dr. Samantha Du Executive Director, 

4/1/2022

5 years

10 years

4.547

Chairperson and Chief 
Executive Officer

Employee Participants (other than chief executive)
9/20/2017
In aggregate
9/20/2017
In aggregate
1/22/2018
In aggregate
1/26/2018
In aggregate
3/2/2018
In aggregate
3/22/2018
In aggregate

Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants

3 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years

10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years

1.8
1.8
2.374
2.458
2.184
2.074

—

—

—

—

—

—
—
2.74
—
—
—

156

3,500,000

3,000,000

2,500,000

870,000

2,820,000

75,000
407,860
420,400
370,000
3,700,000
1,300,000

0

0

0

0

0

0
0
30,000
0
0
0

0

0

0

0

0

0
0
0
0
0
0

0

0

0

0

0

0
0
0
0
0
0

3,500,000

3,000,000

2,500,000

870,000

2,820,000

75,000
407,860
390,400
370,000
3,700,000
1,300,000

DIRECTORS’ REPORTCategory of  
grantees

Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants
Employee Participants

Date of 
grant

3/28/2018
6/4/2018
8/14/2018
11/16/2018
11/26/2018
2/25/2019
3/8/2019
3/27/2019
6/28/2019
9/30/2019
12/31/2019
10/14/2019
10/7/2019
3/12/2020
3/31/2020
6/30/2020
8/17/2020
9/21/2020
12/1/2020
12/21/2020
5/1/2021
3/1/2021
4/1/2021
6/1/2021
7/1/2021
8/1/2021
9/1/2021
10/1/2021
11/1/2021
11/1/2021
12/1/2021
12/1/2021
12/30/2021
1/1/2022
2/1/2022
3/1/2022
4/1/2022
5/1/2022
6/1/2022

Vesting  
period (1) (2) (3)
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
3 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
3 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
4 years
5 years
4 years
3 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years

Exercise 
(grant) price 
(in $) (5)
2.09
2.38
2.193
1.799
1.76
2.912
2.775
2.807
3.487
3.235
4.159
3.343
3.188
4.494
5.148
8.213
8.25
7.33
10.893
12.872
16.621
16.202
13.096
18
17.837
14.461
14.718
10.275
10.442
10.442
7.123
7.123
6.692
6.285
5.359
5.255
4.547
3.955
2.95

Exercise 
period (4)
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years
10 years

Name of  
grantee

In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate
In aggregate

Total

Price on day prior to 
exercise during the 
Reporting Period  
(in $) (6)
—
3.58
—
—
2.88
—
3.22
3.27
—
4.81
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
3

157

Number of shares underlying the options

Exercised 
during the 
Reporting 
Period

Cancelled 
during the 
Reporting 
Period

Lapsed 
during the 
Reporting 
Period

Outstanding  
as of 
December 31, 
2023

Outstanding as of  
January 1, 2023

600,000
3,450,000
495,000
300,000
833,000
50,000
776,000
1,285,210
315,000
116,000
314,130
250,000
25,000
910,000
2,985,000
860,310
377,500
473,410
94,000
810,330
36,000
110,600
3,178,110
111,700
63,920
16,000
130,390
359,670
146,940
744,000
98,290
78,000
29,000
13,000
424,170
497,890
11,117,990
567,790
286,240

52,292,850

0
500,000
0
0
370,000
0
13,000
67,000
0
8,000
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
800

988,800

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0

0
0
0
0
50,000
0
63,000
80,000
0
0
10,000
0
0
120,000
247,000
324,000
0
270,000
94,000
148,760
24,000
2,600
441,230
700
39,590
0
10,820
19,000
112,940
77,000
31,500
7,500
0
0
49,610
39,000
1,250,370
100,000
0

3,612,620

600,000
2,950,000
495,000
300,000
413,000
50,000
700,000
1,138,210
315,000
108,000
304,130
250,000
25,000
790,000
2,738,000
536,310
377,500
203,410
0
661,570
12,000
108,000
2,736,880
111,000
24,330
16,000
119,570
340,670
34,000
667,000
66,790
70,500
29,000
13,000
374,560
458,890
9,867,620
467,790
285,440

47,691,430

DIRECTORS’ REPORTNotes:

(1) 

Where the vesting period is five years, one-fifth of the options shall vest on each anniversary of the date of grant for the next five years, in each case, subject to the 

grantee’s continued employment relationship with the Company on such vesting dates.

(2) 

Where the vesting period is four years, one-fourth of the options shall vest on each anniversary of the date of grant for the next four years, in each case, subject to the 

grantee’s continued employment relationship with the Company on such vesting dates.

(3) 

Where the vesting period is three years, one-third of the options shall vest on each anniversary of the date of grant for the next three years, in each case, subject to the 

grantee’s continued employment relationship with the Company on such vesting dates.

(4) 

The relevant portion of the options becomes exercisable upon vesting on each anniversary of the date of grant, with the validity period of the options being ten years 

from the date of grant.

(5) 

The  stated  exercise  (grant)  price  was  the  closing  price  of  the  underlying  ADSs  as  quoted  on  Nasdaq,  divided  by  ten,  on  the  date  of  grant  or  the  Nasdaq  trading  day 

immediately prior to or after the date of grant if the date of grant is not a Nasdaq trading day.

(6) 

The stated price was the weighted-average closing price of the underlying ADSs as quoted on Nasdaq, divided by ten, on the trading day immediately prior to the date 

on which the options were exercised during the Reporting Period.

Non-option Awards

As  of  December  31,  2023,  the  Company  had  conditionally  granted  certain  non-option  awards  under  the  2017  Plan.  The  non-option 

awards include RSUs, PSUs and RSAs. The purchase price for the grant of such non-option awards under the 2017 Plan was nil.

Details of the unvested non-option awards under the 2017 Plan are set out below:

Name of 

grantee

Category of grantees

Type of 

award

Vesting  
period (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

vesting during the 
Reporting Period (in $) (6)

Date of grant

Unvested as of 

Reporting 

Reporting 

Reporting 

December 31, 

January 1, 2023

Period

Period

Period

2023

Number of shares underlying the non-option awards

Vested 

Cancelled 

Lapsed 

Unvested 

Price on day prior to  

during the 

during the 

during the 

as of

Directors and chief executive of the Company
Dr. Samantha Du Executive Director, 

Chairperson and Chief 

Executive Officer

PSU

12/1/2021

(1)

—

631,750

0

Dr. Samantha Du Executive Director, 

RSU

4/1/2021

5 years

3.33

136,000

34,000

Chairperson and Chief 

Executive Officer

Dr. Samantha Du Executive Director, 

RSU

4/1/2022

5 years

3.33

540,000

108,000

Chairperson and Chief 

Executive Officer

Dr. Samantha Du Executive Director, 

RSU

6/25/2022

4 years

2.53

2,352,000

588,000

Chairperson and Chief 

Executive Officer

158

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

631,750

102,000

432,000

1,764,000

DIRECTORS’ REPORTNumber of shares underlying the non-option awards

Vested 

Cancelled 

Lapsed 

Unvested 

Price on day prior to  

during the 

during the 

during the 

as of

Name of 

grantee

Category of grantees

Type of 

award

Vesting  
period (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

vesting during the 
Reporting Period (in $) (6)

Date of grant

Prof. Kai-Xian 

Independent non-executive 

RSA

1/1/2022

1 year

Chen

director

Dr. John Diekman Independent non-executive 

RSA

1/1/2022

1 year

director

Mr. William Lis

Independent non-executive 

RSA

1/1/2022

1 year

director

Mr. Leon O. 

Independent non-executive 

RSA

1/1/2022

1 year

Moulder, Jr.

director

Mr. Peter Wirth

Independent non-executive 

RSA

1/1/2022

1 year

director

Mr. Scott W. 

Independent non-executive 

RSA

10/13/2021

3 years

Morrison

director

Dr. Richard 

Independent non-executive 

RSA

11/19/2021

3 years

Gaynor

director

Employee Participants (other than chief executive)
RSA
In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

RSA

PSU

RSU

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

3/2/2018

6/4/2018

12/1/2021

8/14/2018

11/26/2018

3/8/2019

3/27/2019

12/31/2019

6/30/2020

8/17/2020

12/21/2020

3/1/2021

4/1/2021

5/1/2021

6/1/2021

7/1/2021

8/1/2021

9/1/2021

10/1/2021

11/1/2021

11/1/2021

12/1/2021

12/1/2021

1/1/2022

2/1/2022

5 years

5 years

(1)

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

4 years

4 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

3.07

3.07

3.07

3.07

3.07

2.36

2.76

4.04

3.57

—

2.58

2.84

3.82

—

2.73

2.65

2.41

2.88

3.72

3.33

3.5

3.25

2.77

3.01

2.55

2.43

2.52

2.52

2.73

2.73

3.07

4.21

159

Unvested as of 

Reporting 

Reporting 

Reporting 

December 31, 

January 1, 2023

77,630

Period

77,630

77,630

77,630

77,630

77,630

77,630

77,630

77,630

77,630

48,970

24,480

59,420

29,710

200,000

250,000

1,193,290

60,000

115,000

100,000

24,000

24,000

183,000

145,500

42,000

24,000

200,000

250,000

0

60,000

85,000

50,000

0

12,000

61,000

48,500

14,000

6,000

1,097,700

268,520

20,000

50,400

129,890

101,630

174,170

190,640

70,040

222,330

23,500

29,670

10,500

181,110

5,000

12,600

32,460

25,400

42,910

45,910

8,100

66,570

7,300

5,010

2,100

36,220

Period

Period

2023

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

24,490

29,710

0

0

140,390

1,052,900

0

30,000

10,000

24,000

0

72,000

0

0

0

81,770

4,800

0

10,800

0

3,300

7,000

39,140

22,500

2,500

9,600

0

15,570

0

0

40,000

0

12,000

50,000

97,000

28,000

18,000

747,410

10,200

37,800

86,630

76,230

127,960

137,730

22,800

133,260

13,700

15,060

8,400

129,320

DIRECTORS’ REPORTNumber of shares underlying the non-option awards

Vested 

Cancelled 

Lapsed 

Unvested 

Price on day prior to  

during the 

during the 

during the 

as of

Name of 

grantee

Category of grantees

Type of 

award

Vesting  
period (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

vesting during the 
Reporting Period (in $) (6)

Date of grant

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

RSU 

3/1/2022

4/1/2022

5/1/2022

6/1/2022

6/25/2022

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

4 years

3.72

3.33

3.5

3.25

2.53

Total

Notes:

Unvested as of 

Reporting 

Reporting 

Reporting 

December 31, 

January 1, 2023

250,910

3,723,560

252,410

143,260

16,953,700

30,142,500

Period

49,570

725,520

42,460

28,230

3,993,710

7,356,430

Period

0

0

0

0

0

0

Period

16,600

349,910

40,000

2,000

1,832,360

2,714,240

2023

184,740

2,648,130

169,950

113,030

11,127,630

20,071,830

(1) 

Vesting of PSUs is directly linked to achieving milestone goals. Up to 100% of the PSUs can be earned for maximum performance; 50% for threshold performance; 0% 

for below threshold performance. Any unearned awards at the end of the performance period from December 1, 2021 to December 31, 2025 will be forfeited.

(2) 

Where the vesting period is five years, one-fifth of the RSUs and RSAs shall vest on each anniversary of the date of grant for the next five years, in each case, subject to 

the grantee’s continued employment relationship with the Company on such vesting dates.

(3) 

Where the vesting period is four years, one-fourth of the RSUs shall vest on each anniversary of the date of grant for the next four years, in each case, subject to the 

grantee’s continued employment relationship with the Company on such vesting dates. 

(4) 

Where the vesting period is three years, such RSAs shall vest ratably over 3 years on the anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the grantee’s continued service as 

a member of the Board through such date.

(5) 

Where the vesting period is one year, such RSAs shall vest in full on the first anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the grantee’s continued service as a member of 

the Board through such date.

(6) 

The stated price was the weighted-average closing price of the underlying ADSs as quoted on Nasdaq, divided by ten, on the trading day immediately prior to the date 

on which the applicable non-option awards were vested during the Reporting Period. 

Purposes

The purposes of the 2017 Plan are to attract, retain, and reward key employees and Directors of, and consultants and advisors to, the 

Company and its subsidiaries, to incentivize them to generate shareholder value, to enable them to participate in the growth of the 

Company, and to align their interests with the interests of the Company’s shareholders.

Types of awards

The 2017 Plan provides for the grant of share options, SARs, restricted and unrestricted shares, and share units, performance awards, 

and other awards that are convertible into or otherwise based on our Shares. Dividend equivalents may also be provided in connection 

with awards under the 2017 Plan.

160

DIRECTORS’ REPORTStock options and SARs

The Administrator may grant share options, including ISOs, and SARs. A share option is a right entitling the holder to acquire shares 

upon payment of the applicable exercise price. An SAR is a right entitling the holder upon exercise to receive an amount (payable in 

cash or shares of equivalent value) equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares subject to the right over the base value 

from which appreciation is measured. The exercise price of each share option, and the base value of each SAR, granted under the 2017 

Plan shall be no less than 100% of the fair market value of a share on the date of grant (110% in the case of certain ISOs). Other than 

in connection with certain corporate transactions or changes to our capital structure, share options and SARs granted under the 2017 

Plan may not be repriced or substituted for with new share options or SARs having a lower exercise price or base value, nor may any 

consideration be paid upon the cancellation of any share options or SARs that have a per share exercise or base price greater than the 

fair market value of a share on the date of such cancellation, in each case, without shareholder approval. Each share option and SAR 

will have a maximum term of not more than 10 years from the date of grant (or 5 years, in the case of certain ISOs).

Restricted and unrestricted shares and share units 

The Administrator may grant awards of shares, share units, restricted shares, and restricted share units. A share unit is an unfunded and 

unsecured promise, denominated in shares, to deliver shares or cash measured by the value of shares in the future, and a restricted share 

unit is a share unit that is subject to the satisfaction of specified performance or other vesting conditions. Restricted shares are shares that 

are subject to restrictions requiring that they be redelivered or offered for sale to the Company if specified conditions are not satisfied.

Performance awards

The Administrator may grant performance awards, which are awards subject to performance criteria.

Other stock-based awards

The  Administrator  may  grant  other  awards  that  are  convertible  into  or  otherwise  based  on  shares,  subject  to  such  terms  and 

conditions as it determines.

Substitute awards

The  Administrator  may  grant  substitute  awards,  which  may  have  terms  and  conditions  that  are  inconsistent  with  the  terms  and 

conditions of the 2017 Plan.

Eligible Participants

The  Compensation  Committee  of  the  Board  shall  select  participants  of  the  2017  Plan  from  among  key  employees  and  Directors  of, 

and  consultants  and  advisors  to,  the  Company.  Eligibility  for  stock  options  intended  to  be  incentive  stock  options  (as  defined  under 

Section 422 of the Code) is limited to employees of the Company or certain affiliates. Eligibility for stock options, other than incentive 

stock options, and stock appreciation rights is limited to individuals who are providing direct services on the date of grant of the award 

to the Company or certain affiliates.

161

DIRECTORS’ REPORTMaximum Number of Shares

The  initial  total  number  of  shares  available  for  issue  under  the  2017  Plan  is  19,243,270  Shares  (taking  into  account  the  Share 

Consolidation and the Share Subdivision), which represents approximately 1.94% of the issued shares of the Company as at the date 

of  this  annual  report.  The  Board  had  already  determined  that  no  new  grants  would  be  made  under  the  2017  Plan  after  the  Primary 

Conversion Effective Date. However, for illustration purpose only, as at January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, the number of Shares 

available for future grant under the 2017 Plan was 64,776,700 and 71,103,560 respectively.

Limit of Each Grantee

The  total  number  of  Shares  underlying  the  share  options  that  may  be  granted  to  a  grantee  under  the  2017  Plan  within  a  calendar 

year shall not exceed 5,772,980 Shares (taking into account the Share Subdivision). In addition, the maximum grant date fair value of 

awards granted under the 2017 Plan to any non-employee Director of the Company in respect of his or her service as a Director with 

respect to any calendar year may not exceed $500,000, assuming maximum payout.

Expiration of the 2017 Plan

According to the terms of the 2017 Plan, no awards may be made after 10 years from the date of adoption of the 2017 Plan. However, 

the  Board  had  already  determined  that  no  new  grants  would  be  made  under  the  2017  Plan  after  the  Primary  Conversion  Effective 

Date. The remaining life of the 2017 Plan is around three years and three months as at the date of this annual report.

Vesting Period and Exercise Period

The  Compensation  Committee  of  the  Board  determines  the  terms  of  all  options  and  awards  granted  under  the  2017  Plan,  including 

the time or times an option or award vests or becomes exercisable, the terms on which an option or award remains exercisable, and 

the effect of termination of a participant’s employment or service on an option or award. The Compensation Committee of the Board 

may at any time accelerate the vesting or exercisability of an option or award. The maximum term of share options must not exceed 

10 years from the date of grant.

Consideration

No cash consideration is required to be paid by the grantees for the grant of options or awards under the 2017 Plan.

Exercise Price

The exercise price of each share option granted under the 2017 Plan shall be no less than 100% of the fair market value of a share on 

the date of grant (110% in the case of certain incentive share options).

162

DIRECTORS’ REPORT3. 

2022 Plan

The 2022 Plan was approved at the Company’s 2022 annual general meeting of shareholders on June 22, 2022. Under the 2022 Plan, 

the  Compensation  Committee  of  the  Board  may  award  share  options,  share  appreciation  rights,  restricted  shares,  restricted  share 

units,  performance-based  awards,  unrestricted  shares,  and  cash-based  awards  subject  to  such  conditions  and  restrictions  as  it  may 

determine. The Compensation Committee of the Board may also grant dividend equivalent rights that entitle the recipient to receive 

credits for dividends that would be paid if the recipient held a specified number of ordinary Shares. The equity-based incentive tools 

used in the 2022 Plan are substantially similar to those in the 2017 Plan, as the 2022 Plan is intended by the Company to replace the 

2017 Plan upon the Primary Conversion Effective Date.

The  number  of  Shares  that  may  be  issued  in  respect  of  the  options  and  awards  granted  under  the  2022  Plan  during  the  Reporting 

Period represented approximately 3.37% of the weighted average number of Shares in issue for the Reporting Period.

Options

Details of the outstanding options under the 2022 Plan are set out below: 

Name of  
grantee

Category of  
grantees

Date of 
grant

Vesting  
period (1) (2) (3)

Exercise 
period (4)

Price on day prior to 
exercise during the 
Reporting Period  
(in $) (6)

Exercise 
(grant) price 
(in $) (5)

Directors and chief executive of the Company
Dr. Samantha Du Executive Director, 

4/3/2023

4 years

10 years

3.395

Chairperson and Chief 

Executive Officer

Five highest paid individuals during the Reporting Period (other than Dr. Samantha Du)

In aggregate

Five highest paid 

8/15/2022

5 years

10 years

4.578

—

—

Number of shares underlying the options

Exercised 
during the 
Reporting 
Period

Cancelled 
during the 
Reporting 
Period

Lapsed 
during the 
Reporting 
Period

Outstanding  
as of 
December 31, 
2023

0

0

0

0

0

0

3,773,910

1,390,000

Outstanding as of  
January 1, 2023

0

1,390,000

individuals during 

the Reporting Period 

(other than Dr. 

Samantha Du)

163

DIRECTORS’ REPORTNumber of shares underlying the options

Name of  
grantee

Category of  
grantees

Date of 
grant

Vesting  
period (1) (2) (3)

In aggregate

Five highest paid 

12/30/2022

5 years

Exercise 
(grant) price 
(in $) (5)

3.07

Exercise 
period (4)

10 years

individuals during 

the Reporting Period 

(other than Dr. 

Samantha Du)

In aggregate

Five highest paid 

4/3/2023

4 years

10 years

3.395

individuals during 

the Reporting Period 

(other than Dr. 

Samantha Du)

Employee Participants (other than the five highest paid individuals during the Reporting Period)

In aggregate

Employee Participants

8/15/2022

5 years

In aggregate

Employee Participants

9/12/2022

5 years

In aggregate

Employee Participants

10/3/2022

5 years

In aggregate

Employee Participants

11/14/2022

5 years

In aggregate

Employee Participants

12/12/2022

5 years

In aggregate

Employee Participants

3/6/2023

5 years

In aggregate

Employee Participants

4/3/2023

4 years

In aggregate

Employee Participants

4/7/2023

3 years

In aggregate

Employee Participants

5/15/2023

4 years

In aggregate

Employee Participants

6/7/2023

4 years

In aggregate

Employee Participants

7/3/2023

4 years

In aggregate

Employee Participants

8/14/2023

4 years

In aggregate

Employee Participants

9/18/2023

4 years

In aggregate

Employee Participants

10/2/2023

4 years

In aggregate

Employee Participants

11/13/2023

4 years

In aggregate

Employee Participants

12/4/2023

4 years

Total

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

4.578

5.169

3.672

3.695

3.518

3.986

3.395

3.351

3.602

3.403

2.877

2.571

2.593

2.466

2.852

2.76

Price on day prior to 
exercise during the 
Reporting Period  
(in $) (6)

Outstanding as of  
January 1, 2023

Exercised 
during the 
Reporting 
Period

Cancelled 
during the 
Reporting 
Period

—

1,837,000

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

0

33,450

26,440

162,500

1,105,910

108,000

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4,663,300

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Lapsed 
during the 
Reporting 
Period

Outstanding  
as of 
December 31, 
2023

0

1,837,000

0

4,785,680

4,500

0

0

0

0

0

28,950

26,440

162,500

1,105,910

108,000

92,640

553,560

12,879,930

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

29,000

435,720

225,940

50,000

241,710

700,000

77,730

135,000

121,920

558,060

28,207,980

164

DIRECTORS’ REPORTDetails of the options granted under the 2022 Plan during the Reporting Period are as follows: 

Fair value on 

Price on day 

Price on 

day of grant 

prior to grant 

day prior to 

Number of shares underlying the options

Exercise 

during the 

during the 

exercise during 

Outstanding 

Granted 

Exercised 

Cancelled 

Lapsed 

Outstanding 

(grant) 

Reporting 

Reporting 

the Reporting 

as of 

during the 

during the 

during the 

during the 

as of 

Name of 

Category of 

Date of 

Vesting  

Exercise 

price  

grantee

grantees

grant

period (1) (2) (3)

period (4)

(in $) (5)

Period 

(in $) (7)

Period  

(in $) (8)

Period  

January 1, 

Reporting 

Reporting 

Reporting 

Reporting 

December 31, 

(in $) (6)

2023

Period

Period (6)

Period

Period

2023

Directors and chief executive of the Company

Dr. 

Executive 

4/3/2023

4 years

10 years

3.395

2.237

3.326

—

0

3,773,910

0

0

0

3,773,910

Samantha Du

Director, 

Chairperson 

and Chief 

Executive 

Officer

Five highest paid individuals during the Reporting Period (other than Dr. Samantha Du)

In aggregate

Five highest 

4/3/2023

4 years

10 years

3.395

2.237

3.326

—

0

4,785,680

0

0

0

4,785,680

paid 

individuals 

during the 

Reporting 

Period (other 

than Dr. 

Samantha Du)

Employee Participants (other than the five highest paid individuals during the Reporting Period)

In aggregate

Employee 

3/6/2023

5 years

10 years

3.986

2.697

4.091

Participants

In aggregate

Employee 

4/3/2023

4 years

10 years

3.395

2.237

3.326

Participants

In aggregate

Employee 

4/7/2023

3 years

10 years

3.351

2.149

3.333

Participants

In aggregate

Employee 

5/15/2023

4 years

10 years

3.602

2.175

3.357

Participants

In aggregate

Employee 

6/7/2023

4 years

10 years

3.403

1.81

3.354

Participants

In aggregate

Employee 

7/3/023

4 years

10 years

2.877

1.915

2.773

Participants

In aggregate

Employee 

8/14/2023

4 years

10 years

2.571

1.705

2.578

Participants

165

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

0

92,640

0

13,433,490

0

0

0

0

0

29,000

435,720

225,940

50,000

241,710

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

92,640

553,560

12,879,930

0

0

0

0

0

29,000

435,720

225,940

50,000

241,710

DIRECTORS’ REPORTFair value on 

Price on day 

Price on 

day of grant 

prior to grant 

day prior to 

Number of shares underlying the options

Exercise 

during the 

during the 

exercise during 

Outstanding 

Granted 

Exercised 

Cancelled 

Lapsed 

Outstanding 

(grant) 

Reporting 

Reporting 

the Reporting 

as of 

during the 

during the 

during the 

during the 

as of 

Name of 

Category of 

Date of 

Vesting  

Exercise 

price  

grantee

grantees

grant

period (1) (2) (3)

period (4)

(in $) (5)

In aggregate

Employee 

9/18/2023

4 years

10 years

2.593

Period 

(in $) (7)

1.722

Period  

(in $) (8)

2.576

Participants

In aggregate

Employee 

10/2/2023

4 years

10 years

2.466

1.587

2.431

Participants

In aggregate

Employee 

11/13/2023 4 years

10 years

2.852

1.792

2.817

Participants

In aggregate

Employee 

12/4/2023

4 years

10 years

2.76

1.791

2.75

Participants

Total

Notes:

Period  

January 1, 

Reporting 

Reporting 

Reporting 

Reporting 

December 31, 

(in $) (6)

2023

Period

Period (6)

Period

Period

—

—

—

—

0

0

0

0

700,000

77,730

135,000

121,920

0

24,102,740

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2023

700,000

77,730

135,000

121,920

0

0

0

0

553,560

23,549,180

(1) 

Where the vesting period is five years, one-fifth of the options shall vest on each anniversary of the date of grant for the next five years, in each case, subject to the 

grantee’s continued employment relationship with the Company on such vesting dates.

(2) 

Where the vesting period is four years, one-fourth of the options shall vest on each anniversary of the date of grant for the next four years, in each case, subject to the 

grantee’s continued employment relationship with the Company on such vesting dates.

(3) 

Where the vesting period is three years, one-third of the options shall vest on each anniversary of the date of grant for the next three years, in each case, subject to the 

grantee’s continued employment relationship with the Company on such vesting dates.

(4) 

The relevant portion of the options becomes exercisable upon vesting on each anniversary of the date of grant, with the validity period of the options, being ten years 

from the date of grant.

(5) 

The stated exercise (grant) price represents the higher of (i) the closing price of the underlying ADSs, divided by ten, on the date of grant, and (ii) the average closing 

price of the underlying ADSs, divided by ten, for the five Nasdaq trading days immediately preceding the date of grant.

(6) 

No options granted under the 2022 Plan during the Reporting Period had been vested and became exercisable as of December 31, 2023, and there was no exercise of 

options under the 2022 Plan during the Reporting Period.

(7) 

The fair value of options at the date of grant was determined on the basis of the Black-Scholes option valuation model, the key inputs into the model are as follows: (i) risk-free 

rate based on the average daily treasury rate at the time of grant for the period equal to the expected term; (ii) expected volatility primarily based on the historical volatility 

of the trading of the Shares on Nasdaq); (iii) expected dividends yield of zero as we have never paid dividends and do not currently anticipate paying any in the foreseeable 

future); and (iv) expected term which is based on the average period the share options are expected to remain outstanding. As the Company does not have sufficient historical 

information since its IPO to develop reasonable expectations about future exercise patterns and post-vesting employment termination behavior, the expected term of options 

granted is derived from the average midpoint between the weighted average vesting and the contractual term, also known as the simplified method.

(8) 

The stated price was the closing price of the underlying ADSs as quoted on Nasdaq, divided by ten, on the trading day immediately prior to the date of grant.

(9) 

Except for RSAs granted to Mr. Michel Vounatsos on March 3, 2023, RSUs granted to Dr. Samantha Du, and RSAs granted to seven independent Directors on June 29, 

2023 under the 2022 Plan, which involved a total of 2,225,330 existing Shares, none of the options and awards granted under the 2022 Plan during the Reporting Period 

involved existing Shares.

166

DIRECTORS’ REPORTNon-option Awards

As of December 31, 2023, the Company granted certain RSUs and RSAs under the 2022 Plan. The purchase price for the grant of such 

non-option awards under the 2022 Plan was nil.

Details of the unvested non-option awards under the 2022 Plan are set out below:

Name of 

grantee

Category of grantees

Type of 

award

Vesting  
period (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

vesting during the 
Reporting Period (in $) (6)

Date of grant

Unvested as of 

Reporting 

Reporting 

Reporting 

December 31, 

January 1, 2023

Period

Period

Period

2023

Number of shares underlying the non-option awards

Vested 

Cancelled 

Lapsed 

Unvested 

Price on day prior to  

during the 

during the 

during the 

as of

Directors and chief executive of the Company
Dr. Samantha Du Executive Director, 

RSU

6/29/2023

4 years

Chairperson and Chief 

Executive Officer

Mr. Michel 

Independent non-executive 

RSA

3/3/2023

3 years

Vounatsos

director

Prof. Kai-Xian 

Independent non-executive 

RSA

6/29/2023

1 year

Chen

director

Dr. John Diekman Independent non-executive 

RSA

6/29/2023

1 year

director

Mr. William Lis

Independent non-executive 

RSA

6/29/2023

1 year

director

Mr. Leon O. 

Independent non-executive 

RSA

6/29/2023

1 year

Moulder, Jr.

director

Mr. Peter Wirth

Independent non-executive 

RSA

6/29/2023

1 year

director

Mr. Scott W. 

Independent non-executive 

RSA

6/29/2023

1 year

Morrison

director

Dr. Richard 

Independent non-executive 

RSA

6/29/2023

1 year

Gaynor

director

Five highest paid individuals during the Reporting Period (other than Dr. Samantha Du)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

In aggregate

Five highest paid individuals 

RSU

8/15/2022

5 years

2.56

795,000

159,000

during the Reporting Period 

(other than Dr. Samantha Du)

In aggregate

Five highest paid individuals 

RSU

12/30/2022

5 years

2.73

1,050,000

210,000

during the Reporting Period 

(other than Dr. Samantha Du)

167

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

718,800

183,320

189,030

189,030

189,030

189,030

189,030

189,030

189,030

636,000

840,000

DIRECTORS’ REPORTName of 

grantee

Category of grantees

Type of 

award

Vesting  
period (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

vesting during the 
Reporting Period (in $) (6)

Date of grant

Unvested as of 

Reporting 

Reporting 

Reporting 

December 31, 

January 1, 2023

Period

Period

Number of shares underlying the non-option awards

Vested 

Cancelled 

Lapsed 

Unvested 

Price on day prior to  

during the 

during the 

during the 

as of

2023

0

913,510

83,040

8,080

99,200

522,600

244,000

83,250

0

0

30,800

5,600

0

0

0

0

226,890

4,513,970

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

242,580

120,550

29,000

75,500

406,000

51,430

54,000

59,730

263,290

11,207,770

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Period

210,000

In aggregate

Five highest paid individuals 

RSU

12/30/2022

1 year

2.73

210,000

during the Reporting Period 

(other than Dr. Samantha Du)

In aggregate

Five highest paid individuals 

RSU

4/3/2023

4 years

—

0

0

during the Reporting Period 

(other than Dr. Samantha Du)

Employee Participants (other than the five highest paid individuals during the Reporting Period)

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

In aggregate

Employee Participants

Total

RSU

RSU

RSU

RSU

RSU

RSU

RSU

RSU

RSU

RSU

RSU

RSU

RSU

RSU

RSU

8/15/2022

9/12/2022

10/3/2022

11/14/2022

12/12/2022

3/6/2023

4/3/2023

5/15/2023

6/7/2023

7/3/2023

8/14/2023

9/18/2023

10/2/2023

11/13/2023

12/4/2023

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

5 years

4 years

4 years

4 years

4 years

4 years

4 years

4 years

4 years

4 years

2.56

2.65

2.38

2.7

2.66

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

138,050

16,090

124,000

653,250

305,000

24,210

2,410

24,800

130,650

61,000

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3,291,390

822,070

168

DIRECTORS’ REPORTDetails of the non-option awards granted under the 2022 Plan during the Reporting Period are as follows:

Fair value on 

Price on day 

Price on day 

day of grant 

prior to grant 

prior to vesting 

Number of shares underlying the non-option awards

Name of 

Category of 

Type of 

Date of 

grantee

grantees

award

grant

Vesting  
period (1) (2) (4) (5)

during the 

Reporting 

Period  
(in $) (7)

during the 

Reporting 

Period  
(in $) (8)

during the 

Granted 

Vested 

Cancelled 

Lapsed 

Unvested 

Reporting 

Unvested as 

during the 

during the 

during the 

during the 

as of 

Period  
(in $) (6)

of January 1, 

Reporting 

2023

Period

Reporting 
Period (6)

Reporting 

Reporting 

December 31, 

Period

Period

2023

Directors and chief executive of the Company
Dr. Samantha 

Executive 

RSU

6/29/2023

4 years

2.645

2.648

—

0

718,800

Du

Director, 

Chairperson 

and Chief 

Executive 

Officer

Mr. Michel 

Independent 

RSA

3/3/2023

3 years

4.091

3.693

Vounatsos

non-executive 

director

Prof. Kai-Xian 

Independent 

RSA

6/29/2023

1 year

2.645

2.648

Chen

non-executive 

director

Dr. John 

Diekman

Independent 

RSA

6/29/2023

1 year

2.645

2.648

non-executive 

director

Mr. William 

Independent 

RSA

6/29/2023

1 year

2.645

2.648

Lis

non-executive 

director

Mr. Leon O. 

Independent 

RSA

6/29/2023

1 year

2.645

2.648

Moulder, Jr.

non-executive 

director

Mr. Peter 

Independent 

RSA

6/29/2023

1 year

2.645

2.648

Wirth

non-executive 

director

Mr. Scott W. 

Independent 

RSA

6/29/2023

1 year

2.645

2.648

Morrison

non-executive 

director

Dr. Richard 

Independent 

RSA

6/29/2023

1 year

2.645

2.648

Gaynor

non-executive 

director

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

183,320

189,030

189,030

189,030

189,030

189,030

189,030

189,030

169

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

718,800

183,320

189,030

189,030

189,030

189,030

189,030

189,030

189,030

DIRECTORS’ REPORTFair value on 

Price on day 

Price on day 

day of grant 

prior to grant 

prior to vesting 

Number of shares underlying the non-option awards

Name of 

Category of 

Type of 

Date of 

grantee

grantees

award

grant

Vesting  
period (1) (2) (4) (5)

during the 

Reporting 

Period  
(in $) (7)

during the 

Reporting 

Period  
(in $) (8)

during the 

Granted 

Vested 

Cancelled 

Lapsed 

Unvested 

Reporting 

Unvested as 

during the 

during the 

during the 

during the 

as of 

Period  
(in $) (6)

of January 1, 

Reporting 

2023

Period

Reporting 
Period (6)

Reporting 

Reporting 

December 31, 

Period

Period

2023

Five highest paid individuals during the Reporting Period (other than Dr. Samantha Du)
4/3/2023
In aggregate Five highest 

4 years

3.395

RSU

paid individuals 

during the 

Reporting 

Period (other 

than Dr. 

Samantha Du)

Employee Participants (other than the five highest paid individuals during the Reporting Period)
In aggregate Employee 

3/6/2023

5 years

3.986

RSU

Participants

In aggregate Employee 

RSU

4/3/2023

4 years

Participants

In aggregate Employee 

RSU

5/15/2023

4 years

Participants

In aggregate Employee 

RSU

6/7/2023

4 years

Participants

In aggregate Employee 

RSU

7/3/2023

4 years

Participants

In aggregate Employee 

RSU

8/14/2023

4 years

Participants

In aggregate Employee 

RSU

9/18/2023

4 years

Participants

In aggregate Employee 

RSU

10/2/2023

4 years

Participants

In aggregate Employee 

RSU

11/13/2023 4 years

Participants

In aggregate Employee 

RSU

12/4/2023

4 years

Participants

Total

Notes:

3.395

3.365

2.866

2.877

2.557

2.578

2.383

2.704

2.699

3.326

—

0

913,510

4.091

3.326

3.357

3.354

2.773

2.578

2.576

2.431

2.817

2.75

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

83,250

4,740,860

242,580

120,550

29,000

75,500

406,000

51,430

54,000

59,730

9,001,740

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

913,510

0

83,250

226,890

4,513,970

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

242,580

120,550

29,000

75,500

406,000

51,430

54,000

59,730

226,890

8,774,850

(1) 

Where  the  vesting  period  is  five  years,  one-fifth  of  the  RSUs  shall  vest  on  each  anniversary  of  the  date  of  grant  for  the  next  five  years,  in  each  case,  subject  to  the 

grantee’s continued employment relationship with the Company on such vesting dates.

(2) 

Where the vesting period is four years, one-fourth of the RSUs shall vest on each anniversary of the date of grant for the next four years, in each case, subject to the 

grantee’s continued employment relationship with the Company on such vesting dates.

170

DIRECTORS’ REPORT(3) 

Where  the  vesting  period  is  one  year,  such  RSUs  shall  vest  in  full  on  the  first  anniversary  of  the  date  of  grant,  subject  to  the  grantee’s  continued  employment 

relationship with the Company on such vesting dates.

(4) 

Where the vesting period is three years, such RSAs shall vest ratably over three years on the anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the grantee’s continued service 

as a member of the Board through such date.

(5) 

Where the vesting period is one year, such RSAs shall vest in full on the first anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the grantee’s continued service as a member of 

the Board through such date.

(6) 

No awards granted under the 2022 Plan during the Reporting Period had been vested as of December 31, 2023.

(7) 

The fair value of awards at the date of grant was determined based on the closing price of the underlying ADSs as quoted on Nasdaq, divided by ten, on the date of 

grant or the immediately following trading day if the date of grant is not a Nasdaq trading day.

(8) 

The stated price was the closing price of the underlying ADSs as quoted on Nasdaq, divided by ten, on the trading day immediately prior to the date of grant.

(9) 

Except for RSAs granted to Mr. Michel Vounatsos on March 3, 2023, RSUs granted to Dr. Samantha Du, and RSAs granted to seven independent Directors on June 29, 2023 under the 

2022 Plan, which involved a total of 2,225,330 existing Shares, none of the options and awards granted under the 2022 Plan during the Reporting Period involved existing Shares.

Purposes

The purposes of the 2022 Plan are to attract, retain, and reward key employees and Directors of, and consultants and advisors to, the 

Company and its subsidiaries, to incentivize them to generate shareholder value, to enable them to participate in the growth of the 

Company, and to align their interests with the interests of the Company’s shareholders.

Eligible Participants

The  Compensation  Committee  of  the  Board  shall  select  participants  of  the  2022  Plan  from  among  key  employees  and  Directors  of, 

and  consultants  and  advisors  to,  the  Company.  Eligibility  for  stock  options  intended  to  be  incentive  stock  options  (as  defined  under 

Section 422 of the Code) is limited to employees of the Company or certain affiliates. Eligibility for share options, other than incentive 

stock options, and stock appreciation rights is limited to individuals who are providing direct services on the date of grant of the award 

to the Company or certain affiliates.

Maximum Number of Shares

The initial total number of shares available for issue under the 2022 Plan is 97,908,743 Shares, which represents 10% of the issued shares 

of the Company as of June 22, 2022 and approximately 9.87% of the issued shares of the Company as at the date of this annual report. As 

at January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, 89,954,053 Shares and 57,670,923 Shares are still available for future grant under the 2022 

Plan respectively.

171

DIRECTORS’ REPORTLimit of Each Grantee

Unless  approved  by  the  Company’s  shareholders,  the  total  number  of  Shares  issued  and  to  be  issued  upon  the  exercise  of  share 

options granted and to be granted under the 2022 Plan and any other plan of the Company to any person within any 12-month period 

shall not exceed 1% of the Shares in issue at the date of any grant. In addition, the maximum grant date value of awards granted to 

any  non-employee  Director  in  any  calendar  year,  assuming  a  maximum  payout,  may  not  exceed,  in  the  case  of  newly  appointed 

non-employee Director, $750,000 in the first year of his/her appointment, or otherwise $500,000 (subject to applicable laws).

Expiration of the 2022 Plan

Unless  sooner  terminated  by  the  Board,  the  term  of  the  2022  Plan  will  expire  10  years  from  the  date  of  adoption,  i.e.,  on  April  20, 

2032. The remaining life of the 2022 Plan is around eight years as at the date of this annual report.

Vesting Period and Exercise Period

The  Compensation  Committee  of  the  Board  determines  the  terms  of  all  awards  granted  under  the  2022  Plan,  including  the  time  or 

times  an  award  vests  or  becomes  exercisable,  the  terms  on  which  an  award  remains  exercisable,  and  the  effect  of  termination  of  a 

participant’s employment or service on an award. The Compensation Committee of the Board may at any time accelerate the vesting 

or exercisability of an option or award. The maximum term of share options must not exceed 10 years from the date of grant.

Consideration

No cash consideration is required to be paid by the grantees for the grant of options or awards under the 2022 Plan.

Exercise Price

The  exercise  price  of  each  share  option  granted  under  the  2022  Plan  shall  be  no  less  than  the  fair  market  value  of  a  share  on  the 

date of grant (110% in the case of certain incentive share options). Pursuant to a waiver granted by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, 

the exercise price of the options will be determined based on the higher of: (i) the per-share closing price of the Company’s ADSs on 

Nasdaq on the date of grant, which must be a Nasdaq trading day; and (ii) the average per-share closing price of the Company’s ADSs 

on  Nasdaq  for  the  five  Nasdaq  trading  days  immediately  preceding  the  date  of  grant,  in  each  case  of  (i)  and  (ii),  multiplied  by  the 

applicable conversion ratio from an ADS to ordinary share, subject to the condition that the Company shall not issue any share options 

with an exercise price denominated in Hong Kong dollars unless such exercise price complies with Rule 17.03E of the HK Listing Rules.

172

DIRECTORS’ REPORTPRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS

There are no provisions for pre-emptive rights under our Sixth Restated Articles or the laws of the Cayman Islands that would oblige 

the Company to offer new Shares on a pro-rata basis to existing shareholders.

TAX RELIEF AND EXEMPTION

The  Directors  are  not  aware  of  any  tax  relief  or  exemption  available  to  shareholders  by  reason  of  their  holding  of  the  Company’s 

securities.

COMPLIANCE WITH THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE

The Company’s corporate governance practices are based on the principles and code provisions set forth in Part 2 of the CG Code.

Pursuant  to  code  provision  C.2.1  of  the  CG  Code,  companies  listed  on  the  Hong  Kong  Stock  Exchange  are  expected  to  comply  with, 

but may choose to deviate from, the requirement that the responsibilities of the Chairperson and the Chief Executive Officer should 

be  segregated  and  should  not  be  performed  by  the  same  individual.  Dr.  Samantha  Du  currently  serves  as  our  Chairperson  and 

Chief  Executive  Officer.  The  Board  believes  that  Dr.  Du  is  the  director  best  suited  to  serve  as  Chairperson.  Dr.  Du  has  an  extensive 

understanding  of  our  business  and  industry,  is  adept  at  identifying  strategic  opportunities,  promoting  the  effective  execution  of 

those strategic initiatives, and facilitating the flow of information between management and the Board. To promote strong corporate 

governance  while  the  roles  of  Chairman  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  are  combined,  the  Board  has  established  a  lead  independent 

director and appointed Dr. John Diekman to serve in this important position. Our lead independent director, among other things, leads 

meetings  of  the  Board  when  the  Chairperson  is  not  present,  serves  as  liaison  between  the  Chairperson  and  independent  directors, 

has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors, and, if requested by a significant portion of our shareholders, will be 

available for consultation and direct communication. The Board believes that the balance of power and authority on the Board will not 

be impaired due to this arrangement. The Board will continue to review the corporate governance structure and practices from time to 

time and shall make changes the Board considers appropriate.

Except as disclosed above, during the Reporting Period and up to the date of this annual report, the Company has complied with the 

code provisions set out in Part 2 of the CG Code.

The Board will continue to periodically review and monitor its corporate governance practices for compliance with the CG Code and 

maintain a high standard of corporate governance practices of the Company.

PURCHASE, SALE OR REDEMPTION OF THE COMPANY’S LISTED SECURITIES

During the Reporting Period, the Company did not purchase, sell, or redeem any of the Company’s listed securities.

173

DIRECTORS’ REPORTAUDIT COMMITTEE REVIEW OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The  Audit  Committee  oversees  the  accounting  and  financial  reporting  processes  of  the  Company  and  the  audits  of  the  Company’s 

financial  statements,  including  but  not  limited  to  assisting  the  Board  in  its  oversight  of  the  integrity  of  the  consolidated  financial 

statements  of  the  Company,  the  Company’s  compliance  program,  and  the  Company’s  risk  management  and  internal  control 

over  financial  reporting.  The  Audit  Committee  consists  of  three  members,  namely  Mr.  Scott  W.  Morrison,  Dr.  John  Diekman,  and 

Mr. Peter Wirth, all of whom are independent Directors. Mr. Morrison is the chairperson of the Audit Committee.

The  Audit  Committee  has  reviewed  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  annual  results  of  the  Company  for  the  year  ended 

December  31,  2023.  The  Audit  Committee  has  also  discussed  matters  with  respect  to  the  accounting  policies  and  practices  adopted 

by the Company and internal controls with members of senior management and the external auditor of the Company, KPMG, a public 

interest  entity  auditor  registered  in  accordance  with  the  Accounting  and  Financial  Reporting  Council  Ordinary  in  Hong  Kong.  The 

consolidated financial statements included in this annual report have been audited by KPMG.

CONTINUING DISCLOSURE OBLIGATIONS PURSUANT TO THE HK LISTING RULES

The Company does not have any disclosure obligations under Rules 13.20, 13.21, and 13.22 of the HK Listing Rules.

PUBLIC FLOAT

Based on the information that is publicly available to the Company and to the knowledge of the Directors of the Company as at the 

latest practicable date prior to the issue of this annual report, the Company has maintained the minimum public float required by the 

Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

On behalf of the Board

Zai Lab Limited

Dr. Samantha Du

Director, Chairperson, and Chief Executive Officer

Shanghai

April 29, 2024

174

DIRECTORS’ REPORTThe Board is pleased to present the corporate governance report for the Company for the Reporting Period.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES

We  seek  to  implement  and  follow  corporate  governance  practices  in  line  with  best  practices  in  our  industry.  The  Board  has  adopted 

Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are available on our website at https://ir.zailaboratory.com/corporate-governance/highlights. 

The  Board  periodically  reviews  and  updates  these  Guidelines,  as  deemed  appropriate,  such  as  in  consideration  of  evolving  legal  and 

regulatory requirements and corporate governance best practices.

Our corporate governance practices include the following:

• 

• 

• 

• 

Each of our Directors is independent, except for the Chairperson who also serves as our Chief Executive Officer;

The  Board  has  a  lead  independent  director  to,  among  other  things,  lead  meetings  of  the  Board  when  the  Chairperson  is  not 

present,  serve  as  liaison  between  the  Chairperson  and  independent  Directors,  and  preside  over  executive  sessions  of  our 

independent Directors;

Our Directors are elected annually;

The Audit Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and the Compensation Committee are comprised 

solely of independent Directors;

• 

Each of the Board committees operates pursuant to a written charter that has been approved by the Board and is available on 

our website;

Independent Directors meet regularly without management;

The Company provides new Directors with a Director orientation program to help familiarize them with our business, policies, 

and procedures and makes available to Directors continuing education programs;

• 

• 

• 

The Board and Board committees are provided access to senior management as well as independent advisors as necessary to 

perform their duties and, for committees, in accordance with their respective charters;

• 

• 

The Board and Board committees conduct an annual self-evaluation; and

The Board periodically reviews the Company’s succession planning.

The  Company’s  corporate  governance  practices  are  based  on  the  principles  and  code  provisions  set  forth  in  the  CG  Code  which  are 

applicable to the Company.

175

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORTPursuant  to  code  provision  C.2.1  of  the  CG  Code,  companies  listed  on  the  Hong  Kong  Stock  Exchange  are  expected  to  comply  with, 

but may choose to deviate from, the requirement that the responsibilities of the Chairperson and the Chief Executive Officer should 

be segregated and should not be performed by the same individual. Dr. Samantha Du currently serves as our Chairperson and Chief 

Executive  Officer.  The  Board  believes  that  Dr.  Du  is  the  director  best  suited  to  serve  as  Chairperson,  including  due  to  her  extensive 

understanding  of  our  business  and  industry  and  her  ability  to  identify  strategic  opportunities,  promote  the  effective  execution  of 

strategic initiatives, and facilitate the flow of information between management and the Board. The Board believes that the balance 

of power and authority on the Board will not be impaired due to this arrangement. The Board will review the corporate governance 

structure and practices from time to time and shall make changes the Board considers appropriate.

Except  as  disclosed  above,  during  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Company  has  complied  with  the  provisions  set  out  in  Part  2  of  the 

CG Code.

The Board will continue to periodically review and monitor its corporate governance practices for compliance with Part 2 of the CG Code and 

maintain a high standard of corporate governance practices of the Company.

CORPORATE CULTURE

Zai  Lab’s  corporate  culture  is  intertwined  with  its  business  objectives,  emphasizing  entrepreneurship,  innovation,  a  patient-first 

mindset, collaboration, dedication, and integrity. To promote high standards of commitment and best practices across the Company, 

our corporate culture is integrated into the daily operations, policies and practices of the Company.

The Company will review its business model, strategy and goals and evaluate the performance, and make adjustments, if necessary, 

based on the change and development in market and take prompt and proactive measures to respond to the changes and meet the 

market needs to foster the long-term development of the Company.

MODEL CODE FOR SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

The  Company  has  adopted  its  own  securities  dealing  policies  on  terms  no  less  exacting  than  those  in  the  Model  Code  regarding 

director dealings in the securities of the Company.

Having made specific enquiry of all of the Directors, all of the Directors confirmed that they have complied with the required standards 

set forth in the Company’s insider dealing policies during the Reporting Period.

176

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORTBOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board currently comprises ten members, consisting of one executive Director and nine independent Directors.

During the Reporting Period, unless otherwise noted, the Board comprised the following Directors:

Executive Director

Dr. Samantha Du (Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer)

Independent Directors

Dr. John Diekman (Lead Independent Director)

Professor Kai-Xian Chen 

Dr. Richard Gaynor 

Ms. Nisa Leung 

Mr. William Lis 

Mr. Scott W. Morrison 

Mr. Leon O. Moulder, Jr. 

Mr. Michel Vounatsos 

Mr. Peter Wirth 

The biographical details of the Directors are set out in the section headed “Directors and Senior Management” of this annual report. 

None of the members of the Board is related to one another.

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

To  enhance  our  corporate  governance  while  the  roles  of  Chairperson  of  the  Board  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  are  combined, 

the  Board  established  a  lead  independent  director  and  appointed  Dr.  John  Diekman  to  serve  in  this  important  role.  The  Lead 

Independent Director’s authority and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, leading meetings when the Chairperson is not 

present  or  is  conflicted;  serving  as  a  liaison  between  the  Chairperson  and  the  independent  Directors;  having  the  authority  to  call 

meetings of the independent directors; and, if requested by a significant portion of our shareholders, being available for consultation 

and direct communication. 

During  the  Reporting  Period,  the  Board  at  all  times  met  the  requirements  of  the  HK  Listing  Rules  relating  to  the  appointment  of  at 

least three independent Directors, who are considered “independent non-executive directors” for the purpose of Rule 3.10 of the HK 

Listing Rules, representing at least one-third of the Board, with one possessing appropriate professional qualifications or accounting or 

related financial management expertise.

The Board has received from each of the independent Directors a written annual confirmation of his or her independence pursuant to 

Rule 3.13 of the HK Listing Rules and considers each of them to be independent.

177

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORTAPPOINTMENT AND RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

In accordance with the Sixth Restated Articles, each Director shall be elected annually for terms expiring at the next annual general 

meeting of the Company, at which he or she may be eligible for re-election, until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

RESPONSIBILITIES, ACCOUNTABILITIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE BOARD

The Board is responsible for the Company’s risk management and internal control systems on an ongoing basis and for reviewing their 

effectiveness.  Such  systems  are  designed  to  manage  rather  than  eliminate  risks  of  failure  to  achieve  the  business  objectives  of  the 

Company and to only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss.

The  Board  oversees  the  management  of  risks  inherent  in  the  operation  of  our  business  and  the  implementation  of  our  business 

strategies. The Board performs this oversight role directly and with the support of its committees. For example, in connection with its 

review of our operations and corporate functions, the Board oversees risks associated with those operations and corporate functions. 

In addition, the Board reviews the risks associated with our business strategies periodically throughout the year.

Each  of  the  Board  committees  oversees  risk  management  within  its  areas  of  responsibility.  In  performing  this  function,  each 

committee has full access to management, as well as the ability to engage advisors. For example, the Audit Committee oversees the 

operation of our enterprise risk management program, including the identification of the primary risks associated with our business 

and  periodic  updates  to  such  risks,  and  reports  to  the  Board  regarding  these  activities.  The  Audit  Committee  also  oversees  risks 

related  to  our  financial  reporting,  compliance  with  applicable  laws  and  regulations,  and  our  cybersecurity,  IT  systems,  processes, 

and  data.  With  respect  to  cybersecurity,  to  date,  we  have  not  experienced  a  cyberattack  or  other  cybersecurity  incident  that  has 

materially  affected  us,  though  there  can  be  no  guarantee  that  we  will  not  experience  such  an  incident  in  the  future.  For  more 

information regarding our cybersecurity program and oversight, refer to Item 1C. Cybersecurity in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 

10-K. In connection with its risk management role, the Audit Committee meets privately with representatives from our independent 

registered  public  accounting  firms  and  receives  regular  reporting  from  management,  including  our  Chief  Financial  Officer  and  Chief 

Compliance Officer. Our Chief Financial Officer is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and implementing risk management controls 

and methodologies to address financial reporting risks, and our Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for enterprise risk management 

program  more  broadly.  The  Compensation  Committee  considers  risks  related  to  our  compensation  policies  and  practices,  and  the 

Commercial Committee oversees risks related to our commercial programs.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

As  of  the  date  of  this  annual  report,  the  Board  has  five  standing  committees:  the  Audit  Committee,  the  Compensation  Committee, 

the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Research and Development Committee, and the Commercial Committee. 

The  Audit  Committee,  the  Compensation  Committee,  and  the  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  are  comprised 

solely  of  independent  Directors.  The  Company’s  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Chairperson  participates  as  a  member  of  the  Research 

and  Development  Committee  and  the  Commercial  Committee.  These  committees  perform  important  oversight  and  advisory 

functions  on  behalf  of  the  Board  and  meet  regularly.  All  of  our  committees  operate  in  accordance  with  written  charters,  which 

were  approved  by  the  Board  and  are  available  on  the  websites  of  the  Hong  Kong  Stock  Exchange  and  on  the  Company’s  website  at 

https://ir.zailaboratory.com/corporate-governance/highlights.

178

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORTThe  membership  of  each  committee  as  of  the  date  of  this  annual  report,  a  brief  description  of  their  primary  responsibilities,  the 

number of meetings held during the Reporting Period and summary of their work during the Reporting Period are included below.

Audit Committee

Scott Morrison (Chair), John Diekman, and Peter Wirth currently serve on the Audit Committee. The Board has determined that each 

member of the Audit Committee is “independent” for Audit Committee purposes as that term is defined in SEC and Nasdaq rules and 

the  HK  Listing  Rules.  The  Board  has  evaluated  the  background  of  Scott  Morrison  and,  upon  so  doing,  designated  him  as  an  “audit 

committee  financial  expert,”  as  defined  in  SEC  rules.  The  Board  has  also  determined  that  Mr.  Morrison  has  the  relevant  accounting 

qualification as required under the HK Listing Rules. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include:

• 

• 

• 

• 

Overseeing the integrity of our consolidated financial statements;

Overseeing our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;

Overseeing the qualifications, independence, and performance of our independent auditor;

Overseeing  the  performance  of  the  Company’s  internal  audit  function,  including  reviewing  the  internal  audit  department’s 

responsibilities,  budget,  staffing,  and  any  recommended  changes  in  the  planned  scope  of  the  internal  audit  with  the 

independent auditor and management;

• 

Deciding  whether  to  appoint,  retain,  or  terminate  our  independent  auditors  and  approving  all  audit,  audit-related,  and 

permitted non-audit services, including tax and other services, if any, to be provided by the independent auditors as well as the 

related fees and terms for such services;

• 

Reviewing  and  discussing  with  management  and  the  independent  auditor  our  annual  audited  financial  statements  and  our 

quarterly and interim financial statements and related disclosures as well as significant financial reporting judgments and critical 

accounting policies and practices used by us;

• 

Overseeing  our  controls  and  procedures,  including:  reviewing  the  adequacy  of  our  internal  control  over  financial  reporting; 

overseeing  our  procedures  for  the  receipt,  retention,  and  treatment  of  financial  and  accounting-related  complaints  and 

concerns;  establishing  and  overseeing  policies  and  procedures  regarding  the  review  and  approval  of  proposed  related  party 

transactions and reviewing and determining whether to approve related party transactions to the extent required in accordance 

with  such  policies  and  procedures;  overseeing  our  policies  and  procedures  for  compliance  with  insider  trading  requirements; 

and overseeing our ethics and compliance function;

• 

• 

Discussing with senior management our enterprise risk management program;

Overseeing  our  cybersecurity  risk  management  and  the  integrity  of  our  information  technology  systems,  processes,  and  data 

and reviewing and discussing with management and the internal auditor the adequacy of security for our IT systems, processes, 

and data and our incidence response and contingency plans; 

• 

Recommending,  based  upon  the  Audit  Committee’s  review  and  discussions  with  management  and  the  independent  auditor, 

whether our annual audited financial statements should be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and 

our annual report and annual results announcement filed with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange;

179

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT• 

• 

Preparing the Audit Committee report and other disclosures required by SEC rules to be included in our annual proxy statement; and 

Reviewing our earnings releases and unaudited financial statements to be included in our quarterly and interim filings with the 

SEC and Hong Kong Stock Exchange, as applicable.

The  Audit  Committee  held  eleven  meetings  in  2023.  During  the  Reporting  Period,  among  others,  the  Audit  Committee  reviewed  and 

discussed  with  management  and  our  independent  auditor  the  audited  financial  statements  in  our  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for 

the  year  ended  December  31,  2022  and  the  unaudited  consolidated  financial  statements  and  interim  results  of  the  Company  for  the 

six months ended June 30, 2023, discussed with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed with the Audit Committee 

by the applicable requirements of the PCAOB and SEC, and also reviewed and discussed matters with respect to the accounting policies 

and practices adopted by the Company, internal controls, and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal audit function with members 

of senior management and the independent registered public accounting firms and auditors of the Company, KPMG LLP and KPMG.

Compensation Committee

Peter  Wirth  (Chair),  John  Diekman,  and  Leon  O.  Moulder,  Jr.  currently  serve  on  the  Compensation  Committee.  The  Board  has 

determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is “independent” as that term is defined in Nasdaq requirements and 

HK Listing Rules. The Compensation Committee’s responsibilities include: 

• 

Reviewing  and  approving  the  Company’s  executive  and  Director  compensation  programs,  policies,  structure,  and  long-term 

compensation  strategy  and  determining  the  types  of  stock  and  other  compensation  plans  to  be  used  by  the  Company  and  its 

subsidiaries;

• 

Reviewing the corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our CEO, evaluating the performance of our CEO in 

light of such corporate goals and objectives, and recommending to the Board for approval the compensation of our CEO based on 

that evaluation;

• 

• 

• 

• 

Reviewing and approving the compensation of our executive officers other than the CEO;

Reviewing and recommending to the Board for approval the compensation of our non-employee Directors;

Overseeing the administration of our equity incentive plans and other incentive or compensation plans;

Reviewing and discussing with management the compensation discussion and analysis and other compensation-related disclosure 

and  preparing  the  Compensation  Committee  Report  to  be  included  in  our  annual  proxy  statement  and  the  Company’s  Annual 

Report on Form 10-K;

• 

Overseeing  the  management  of  risks  relating  to  our  executive  compensation  and  overall  compensation  and  benefits  strategies, 

plans, arrangements, practices, and policies;

180

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT• 

Overseeing  our  compliance  with  applicable  rules  and  regulations  regarding  shareholder  approval  of  certain  executive 

compensation matters, including advisory votes on executive compensation and the frequency of such votes and the approval of 

equity compensation plans, and considering shareholder votes and feedback with respect to executive compensation policies and 

practices; and

• 

Evaluating and assessing any legal counsel, compensation consultants, and other advisors the Compensation Committee retains in 

accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and exchange requirements, including in conducting the independent assessment set 

forth in the Nasdaq listing rules to the extent required.

The Compensation Committee held five meetings in 2023. During the Reporting Period, among others, the Compensation Committee 

reviewed and recommended to the Board in respect of the compensation policy and structure by benchmarking peer companies with 

a  similar  scale  to  ensure  that  the  Company’s  compensation  packages  are  competitive  to  recruit  top  talents  in  our  industry  and  to 

retain key staff, reviewed and recommended to the Board on the compensation packages for the Directors, assessed performance of 

and reviewed and approved adjustments to the compensation packages for senior management, and reviewed and approved matters 

relating to equity-based grants under the 2022 Plan.

In  respect  of  material  matters  related  to  the  2022  Plan,  the  Compensation  Committee  discussed  and  approved  the  grant  of  options 

to  subscribe  for  an  aggregate  of  2,410,274  ADSs,  RSAs  covering  an  aggregate  of  150,653  ADSs,  and  RSUs  covering  an  aggregate 

of  749,521  ADSs  to  employees  and  Directors  during  the  Reporting  Period,  the  details  of  which  are  disclosed  in  the  relevant  grant 

announcements  made  by  the  Company.  In  respect  of  the  grants  made  to  Directors  and  senior  management,  the  Compensation 

Committee  considered  it  was  appropriate  to  approve  such  grants,  taking  into  account  their  potential  and/or  actual  contribution 

to  the  Company  and  past  performance,  as  well  as  the  non-employee  director  compensation  policy  in  respect  of  grants  made  to 

non-employee  Directors.  There  were  no  performance  targets  attached  to  any  of  the  grants  made  during  the  Reporting  Period  and 

such  grants  were  not  subject  to  any  clawback  mechanism.  The  Compensation  Committee  was  of  the  view  that  the  grants  without 

performance  targets  or  a  clawback  mechanism  were  market  competitive,  consistent  with  the  Company’s  customary  practice,  and 

aligned with the purpose of the 2022 Plan. The Compensation Committee considered that the grants could recognize and reward the 

grantees  for  their  contribution  to  the  Company,  and  to  provide  additional  incentives  to  them  to  maintain  and  further  promote  the 

success of the Company’s business, and therefore aligned with the purpose of the 2022 Plan and aligned the grantees’ interest with 

those of the Company’s and its shareholders.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Leon O. Moulder, Jr. (Chair), John Diekman, and William Lis currently serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. 

The Board has determined that each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is “independent” as that term 

is defined in the Nasdaq and HK listing rules. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s responsibilities include:

• 

Identifying  and  recommending  candidates  for  membership  on  the  Board  and  committees  to  the  Board  in  accordance  with 

criteria approved by the Board;

• 

Assessing the independence of our non-executive Directors;

181

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT• 

• 

Reviewing our practices and policies with respect to the Board, including the structure, size, and composition of the Board;

Reviewing  the  functions,  duties,  and  composition  of  the  committees  of  the  Board  and  the  frequency  and  structure  of  Board 

committee meetings;

• 

Recommending to the Board or to the appropriate Board committee processes for the annual evaluation of the performance of 

the Board, the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, and the committees of the Board;

• 

• 

Considering and reporting to the Board any questions regarding potential conflicts of interest;

Communicating  governance  expectations  to  Directors,  including  with  respect  to  duties,  responsibilities,  and  engagement,  and 

overseeing Director training including new Director orientation and continuing education;

• 

Overseeing  the  maintenance  and  presentation  of  the  Board  or  management’s  plans  for  succession  to  our  senior 

management positions;

• 

Reviewing  the  Company’s  corporate  governance  principles,  including  the  Company’s  Corporate  Governance  Guidelines,  on  an 

annual basis, or more frequently if appropriate; and

• 

Overseeing the Company’s ESG strategy, commitments, goals, and activities.

The  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  held  four  meetings  in  2023.  During  the  Reporting  Period,  among  others, 

the  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  reviewed  the  structure,  size  and  composition  of  the  Board,  considered 

and  made  recommendations  to  the  Board  on  the  appointment  and  re-election  of  Directors  at  the  2023  annual  general  meeting 

with  reference  to  the  criteria  set  forth  in  the  Corporate  Governance  Guidelines  and  the  Board  Diversity  Policy,  and  reviewed 

the  Company’s  2022  ESG  report.  The  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  has  also  assessed  the  independence  of 

the Directors, taking into account of the independence guidelines under applicable SEC rules and regulations, HK Listing Rules, and 

Nasdaq and Hong Kong Stock Exchange requirements. 

Research and Development Committee

Richard  Gaynor  (Chair),  Kai-Xian  Chen,  Samantha  Du,  and  Michel  Vounatsos  currently  serve  on  the  Research  and  Development 

Committee. The Research and Development Committee’s responsibilities include: 

• 

Reviewing and discussing with management our strategic research and development objectives, goals, and priorities, identifying 

opportunities for further research and development projects, and assessing, informing, and recommending to the Board such 

strategies and opportunities that it deems suitable for the Company;

• 

• 

• 

Overseeing, assessing, and, where applicable, approving ongoing Company research and development programs; 

Providing feedback and advice to the Board regarding our ongoing research and development programs and activities; and

Reviewing assessments regarding the benefits, risks, and safety of our products and product candidates, as deemed appropriate.

The Research and Development Committee held four meetings in 2023.

182

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORTCommercial Committee

Michel  Vounatsos  (Chair),  Samantha  Du,  and  Leon  O.  Moulder,  Jr.  currently  serve  on  the  Commercial  Committee.  The  Commercial 

Committee’s responsibilities include: 

• 

Overseeing our commercialization strategy including reviewing and discussing with management our product commercialization 

plans and efforts and competitiveness of our commercial programs;

• 

Overseeing  commercial  risk  management,  including  reviewing  and  discussing  with  management  our  risk  assessment  and  risk 

management policies and procedures relating to commercial programs;

• 

Reviewing  the  capabilities  and  performance  of  our  commercial  team  and  the  adequacy  of  the  resources  for  our  commercial 

programs; and

• 

Providing feedback and advice to the Board regarding commercial performance goals abd performance with respect to those goals.

The Commercial Committee held three meetings in 2023.

BOARD DIVERSITY POLICY

The Company’s Board Diversity Policy, which is available on our website at https://ir.zailaboratory.com/corporate-governance/highlights, 

sets  out  the  Company’s  approach  to  promote  diversity  on  the  Board.  The  Company  sees  increasing  diversity  at  the  Board  level  as  an 

important element in supporting its development and the attainment of its strategic objectives and development. All Board appointments 

will be based on meritocracy, and candidates will be considered against appropriate criteria, which have been approved by the Board, 

having due regard for the benefits of diversity on the Board. 

Pursuant  to  the  Board  Diversity  Policy,  the  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  will  report  annually  on  the  Board’s 

composition, including with respect to diversity and other director qualifications and characteristics, and will monitor and evaluate the 

implementation of the Board Diversity Policy.

In reviewing the Board’s composition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers a variety of factors, one of which 

is diversity. Diversity will be considered across multiple dimensions, including, but not limited to, diversity in experiences, perspectives, 

and viewpoints as well as diversity with respect to gender, age, culture, ethnicity, and nationality. The ultimate decision on whether to 

recommend a director candidate for approval will be based on merit and the expected contributions that the proposed candidates will 

bring to the Board. 

The  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  will  review  and  reassess  the  adequacy  of  this  Policy,  as  appropriate.  The 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will recommend any proposed changes to the Board.

183

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORTThe below chart provides information on each of our Director’s voluntary, self-identified characteristics. 

Board Diversity Matrix

Board Size:
Total Number of Directors

Gender Identity
Directors
Demographic Background
Asian
White
Did not disclose demographic background

10

Female

2

2
0
0

Male

8

1
6
1

Twenty  percent  of  the  Board’s  Directors  are  female,  including  the  Chairperson  of  the  Board  who  also  serves  as  the  Company’s  Chief 

Executive Officer. The Board will continue to consider gender diversity as an important factor when evaluating the suitability of future 

Director candidates in light of the needs of the Board at that time. The Company is of the view that gender diversity in respect of the 

Board has been achieved. 

Our  commitment  to  diversity  is  reflected  in  the  composition  of  our  workforce.  As  of  December  31,  2023,  approximately  60%  of  the 

workforce are female, and 53% of all our management positions (including junior, middle, and senior management) are held by women. 

Accordingly, the Company considers that gender diversity is also achieved in its workforce generally.

NOMINATION POLICY

The  Board  is  responsible  for  nominating  and  recommending  Director  candidates  to  the  Company’s  shareholders  for  election  at  the 

annual general meeting or for appointing Directors to the Board to fill a vacancy or as an addition to the existing Board between annual 

general  meetings.  The  Board  has  delegated  to  the  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  the  responsibility  to  identify, 

evaluate,  and  recommend  Director  candidates  to  the  Board  for  their  consideration,  as  deemed  appropriate.  From  time  to  time,  the 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee utilizes third-party search firms to identify Director candidates.

In  accordance  with  the  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  Charter,  the  Corporate  Governance  Guidelines,  and  the 

Board  Diversity  Policy,  the  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  will  periodically  review  the  size  of  the  Board  and 

recommend any proposed changes to the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing, 

on an annual basis, the qualification criteria for the Board as a whole and its individual members. 

In evaluating the suitability of individual candidates (both new candidates and current Board members), the Board and the Nominating 

and Corporate Governance Committee will take into account many factors, including:

• 

• 

• 

personal and professional integrity, character, reputation and business judgment;

qualifications, skills, expertise, experience, and educational background;

diversity across multiple dimensions, including diversity in experiences, perspectives, and skills as well as diversity with respect 

to gender, age, culture, ethnicity, and nationality;

184

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT• 

• 

• 

dedication and time availability in light of other commitments, including service on other boards;

any actual or perceived conflicts of interest; and

any  other  relevant  factors  that  the  Committee  deems  appropriate  in  the  context  of  the  needs  of  the  Board  and  the  overall 

diversity and composition of the Board. 

With  respect  to  the  above,  the  Board  and  the  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  will  also  consider  the  candidate’s 

ability  to  make  independent  analytical  inquiries,  general  understanding  of  marketing,  finance,  and  other  elements  relevant  to  the 

success  of  a  publicly  traded  company  in  today’s  business  environment,  experience  in  the  Company’s  industry,  understanding  of  the 

Company’s  business  on  a  technical  level,  other  board  service  and  educational  and  professional  background.  Each  Director  nominee 

must also possess fundamental qualities of intelligence, honesty, good judgment, ethics and integrity, fairness, and responsibility. In 

determining  whether  to  recommend  a  Director  for  re-election,  the  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  should  also 

consider the Director’s past attendance at meetings and participation in and contributions to the activities of the Board.

Overall,  the  Board  and  the  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  will  be  guided  to  select  and  recommend  Director 

candidates that they determine are best suited to meet the needs of the Board and further the interests of our shareholders through 

their  established  record  of  professional  accomplishment,  ability  to  contribute  positively  to  the  collaborative  culture  among  board 

members,  knowledge  of  our  business,  understanding  of  the  competitive  landscape,  and  professional  and  personal  experiences 

and  relevant  expertise.  Shareholder(s)  may  request  the  Company  to  convene  an  extraordinary  general  meeting  for  the  purpose  of 

nominating a person pursuant to the section titled “General Meetings” of the Sixth Restated Articles. 

After  the  publication  of  the  notice  of  the  general  meeting  by  the  Company,  if  a  shareholder  wishes  to  propose  a  person  (the 

“Candidate”)  for  election  as  a  Director  of  the  Company  at  the  general  meeting,  he/she  shall  lodge  a  written  notice  (the  “Notice”) 

to:  Zai  Lab  Limited,  314  Main  Street,  4th  Floor,  Suite  100  Cambridge,  MA  02142  USA,  Attention:  Chief  Legal  Officer  and  Corporate 

Secretary, with a copy forwarded to the registered office of the Company. The Notice (i) must include the personal information of the 

Candidate as required by Rule 13.51(2) of the HK Listing Rules; and (ii) must be signed by the shareholder concerned and signed by 

the Candidate indicating his/her willingness to be elected and consent to the publication of his/her personal information. The period 

for lodgement of the Notice shall be a period commencing on the day after the dispatch of the notice of such meeting and end on the 

earlier of (i) seven (7) days after the date of such Notice, or (ii) seven (7) days prior to the date of such meeting (or such other period, 

being  a  period  of  not  less  than  seven  (7)  days,  commencing  no  earlier  than  the  day  of  dispatch  of  the  notice  of  such  meeting  and 

ending no later than seven (7) days prior to the date appointed for such meeting, as may be determined by the Directors from time to 

time). In order to allow the Company’s shareholders to have sufficient time to consider the proposal of election of the Candidate as a 

Director of the Company, shareholders who wish to make the proposal are urged to submit and lodge the Notice as early as practicable 

before  the  relevant  general  meeting.  Please  refer  to  the  Company’s  Procedures  for  Shareholders  to  Propose  a  Person  for  Election 

as a Director of the Company (which is available on the Company’s website) and the Sixth Restated Articles for further details of the 

procedures involved.

185

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCE FUNCTION

The Board is responsible for performing the functions set out in code provision A.2.1 of the CG Code.

The Board has reviewed and monitored the training and continuous professional development of Directors and senior management; 

reviewed practices on the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; developed and reviewed code of conduct 

applicable  to  employees  and  Directors;  and  reviewed  the  Company’s  compliance  with  the  CG  Code  and  disclosure  in  the  Corporate 

Governance Report.

BOARD MEETINGS, COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS

The  attendance  records  of  each  Director  at  Board  meetings,  committee  meetings  and  shareholder  meetings  during  the  Reporting 

Period are set out below. 

Name of Director

Board

Committee

Committee

Committee

Committee

Committee

Meeting

Audit 

Compensation 

Governance 

Development 

Commercial 

Shareholder 

Attendance/Number of Meeting(s)

Nominating 

and Corporate 

Research and 

Executive Director:
Dr. Samantha Du (1)

Independent Directors:
Dr. John Diekman (2)

Prof. Kai-Xian Chen

Dr. Richard Gaynor

Ms. Nisa Leung

Mr. William Lis
Mr. Scott W. Morrison (3)
Mr. Leon O. Moulder, Jr. (4)
Mr. Michel Vounatsos (5)
Mr. Peter Wirth (5)

Notes:

4/4

4/4

3/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

N/A

N/A 

11/11

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

11/11

N/A

N/A

11/11

5/5

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

5/5

N/A

5/5

N/A

4/4

N/A

N/A

N/A

4/4

N/A

4/4

N/A

N/A

4/4

N/A

0/4

4/4

N/A

3/4

N/A

N/A

4/4

N/A

AGM

June 20

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

3/3

N/A

2/3

3/3

N/A

(1) 

Dr.  Du  attended  3  Audit  Committee  meetings,  1  Compensation  Committee  meeting  and  1  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  meeting  as  a  non-

member guest.

(2) 

Dr. Diekman attended 2 R&D Committee meetings as a non-member guest.

(3) 

Mr. Morrison attended 1 Commercial Committee and 1 R&D Committee meeting as a non-member guest.

186

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT(4) 

Mr. Moulder attended 2 R&D Committee meetings as a non-member guest.

(5) 

Mr. Vounatsos attended 1 Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meeting as a non-member guest.

(6) 

Mr. Wirth attended 3 R&D Committee meetings as a non-member guest.

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITY IN RESPECT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Directors acknowledge their responsibility for preparing the financial statements of the Company for the Reporting Period.

The  Directors  of  the  Company  are  responsible  for  the  oversight  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements  for  the  Reporting  Period 

that  give  a  true  and  fair  view  in  accordance  with  U.S.  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  and  the  disclosure  requirements  of 

the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance, and for such internal control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation 

of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. During the Reporting 

Period,  the  Audit  Committee  oversees  the  accounting  and  financial  reporting  processes  of  the  Company  and  the  audits  of  the 

Company’s  financial  statements,  including  but  not  limited  to  assisting  the  Board  in  its  oversight  of  the  integrity  of  the  consolidated 

financial statements of the Company, the Company’s compliance program, and the Company’s risk management and internal control 

over financial reporting.

The  Directors  are  not  aware  of  any  material  uncertainties  relating  to  events  or  conditions  that  may  cast  significant  doubt  upon  the 

Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF DIRECTORS

The Directors intend to keep abreast of their responsibilities as Directors of the Company and of the conduct, business activities, and 

development of the Company.

The  Company  arranges  a  formal  and  comprehensive  induction  to  a  newly  appointed  Director  so  that  the  Director  has  a  proper 

understanding of the Company’s operations and business and is fully aware of the director’s responsibilities under the HK Listing Rules 

and SFO, and other legal and regulatory requirements.

The  Company  arranges  trainings  to  provide  Directors  with  updates  on  developments  and  changes  in  the  HK  Listing  Rules  and  other 

relevant legal and regulatory requirements from time to time. The Directors are also provided with regular updates on the Company’s 

performance, position, and prospects to enable the Board as a whole and each Director to discharge his or her duties. The Company 

also encourages the Directors to attend relevant training courses provided by legal advisors and/or any appropriate institutions.

187

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORTFor  the  Reporting  Period,  all  Directors  (namely,  Dr.  Samantha  Du,  Dr.  John  Diekman,  Professor  Kai-Xian  Chen,  Dr.  Richard  Gaynor, 

Ms.  Nisa  Leung,  Mr.  William  Lis,  Mr.  Scott  W.  Morrison,  Mr.  Leon  O.  Moulder,  Jr.,  Mr.  Michel  Vounatsos,  and  Mr.  Peter  Wirth) 

participated in continuing professional development regarding their duties and responsibilities as a director of a listed company which 

included reading materials and/or attending training.

Effective January 7, 2023, Mr. Michel Vounatsos was appointed to the Board. Mr. Michel Vounatsos has been appropriately trained as 

to Hong Kong law on directors’ duties, responsibilities, and obligations under the HK Listing Rules and the SFO.

MECHANISMS TO ENSURE INDEPENDENT VIEWS AND INPUT FOR THE BOARD

The Company has established different channels to enable all Directors, including the independent Directors to express their opinions in an 

open and honest manner to the Board and, if necessary, in a confidential manner. All Directors also have separate and independent access 

to the management of the Company and full and timely access to information of the Company in order to make informed decisions.

The Board may obtain independent views and input through the following mechanisms:

(a) 

 the  Board  should  have  at  least  three  independent  Directors,  and  at  least  one-third  of  its  members  should  be  independent 

Directors,  such  that  there  is  always  a  strong  element  of  independence  on  the  Board  that  can  effectively  exercise  independent 

judgment;

(b) 

 the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee should strictly comply with the independence assessment criteria for the 

nomination and appointment of independent non-executive Directors as set out in the HK Listing Rules;

(c) 

 the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is authorized to assess the independence of the independent Directors 

annually  in  accordance  with  the  independence  criteria  set  out  in  the  HK  Listing  Rules,  so  as  to  ensure  that  they  are  able  to 

exercise independent judgment;

(d) 

 the independent Directors are required to provide an annual confirmation of their independence to the Company and to notify 

the Company as soon as possible of any change in their personal information that may materially affect their independence;

(e) 

 all  Directors,  including  the  independent  Directors,  have  the  right  to  seek  further  information  and  documents  from  the 

management  for  matters  discussed  at  Board  meetings,  and,  if  necessary,  may  seek  independent  professional  advice  at  the 

expense of the Company;

(f) 

 all Directors, including the independent Directors or any of their close associates who have a material interest in any matter to 

be considered in a meeting should declare their interest before the meeting and abstain from voting on the relevant resolution, 

and shall not be included in the quorum of the meeting. Independent Directors who, and whose associates, have no interest in 

the matter should attend the meeting; and 

(g) 

 the  chairman  of  the  Board  should  hold  at  least  one  meeting  every  year,  with  the  independent  non-executive  Directors  and 

without the presence of other Directors, to discuss significant matters and any concerns.

188

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORTDuring the Reporting Period, the Board reviewed the above mechanisms to ensure that it can obtain independent views and input, and 

believed that the existing mechanisms remained effective. The Board shall continue to review the implementation and effectiveness of 

such mechanisms on an annual basis.

AUDITORS’ REMUNERATION

The following table presents the fees billed to the Company by KPMG LLP and its affiliates for 2023 and 2022 ($ in thousands). KPMG 

LLP has been our independent registered public accounting firm and auditor since 2022.

Audit Fees(1)

Audit-Related Fees(2)

Tax Fees(2)

All Other Fees(2)

Total

Year Ended December 31,

2023

3,365

—

—

—

2022

4,716

—

—

—

3,365

4,716

(1) 

Audit fees consist of fees for the audit of our consolidated financial statements, reviews of our interim financial statements, and the audit of the effectiveness of our 

internal control over financial reporting. Audit fees also include services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings. 

(2) 

KPMG LLP and its affiliates did not provide any audit-related, tax advisory, or other non-audit services.

CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS AND CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS

During the Reporting Period, the Company did not have any connected transaction or continuing connected transaction which should 

be disclosed pursuant to the requirements of Rule 14A.71 of the HK Listing Rules.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The  related  party  transaction  disclosed  in  Note  16  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements  does  not  constitute  a  connected 

transaction  or  continuing  connected  transaction  subject  to  independent  shareholders’  approval,  annual  review  and  all  disclosure 

requirements in Chapter 14A of the HK Listing Rules. 

189

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORTRISK MANAGEMENT AND INTERNAL CONTROLS

During the Reporting Period, we have conducted an annual review of the effectiveness of our risk management and internal control 

systems,  which  we  consider  to  be  effective  and  adequate.  Such  review  covers  the  adequacy  of  resources,  staff  qualifications  and 

experience,  training  programs  and  budget  of  the  issuer’s  accounting,  internal  audit,  financial  reporting  functions,  as  well  as  those 

relating  to  the  issuer’s  ESG  performance  and  reporting,  and  the  matters  covered  in  code  provision  D.2.3  of  the  CG  Code.  For  more 

details  about  the  Company’s  risk  management  and  internal  control  systems,  please  see  Business  —  Risk  Management  and  Internal 

Control and Corporate Governance Report — Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Contributions of the Board.

Procedures and Internal Controls for the Handling and Dissemination of Inside Information 

The Company follows the requirements of the SFO and the HK Listing Rules and discloses inside information to the public as soon as 

reasonably practicable unless the information falls within any of the safe harbors of the SFO. Before such disclosure, the information 

should  be  kept  strictly  confidential.  In  addition,  the  Company  has  adopted  a  policy  of  disclosing  relevant  information  only  to 

appropriate staff within the Company or to its professional advisers who have a need to know such information.

JOINT COMPANY SECRETARIES

The  Company  appointed  Mr.  F.  Ty  Edmondson  and  Ms.  Nelly  Au-Yeung  as  joint  company  secretaries  of  the  Company,  with  effect 

from the Primary Conversion Effective Date. Mr. Edmondson has extensive experience in legal and compliance matters but presently 

may  not  possess  all  of  the  qualifications  under  Rules  3.28  and  8.17  of  the  HK  Listing  Rules,  and  may  not  be  able  to  solely  fulfill  the 

requirements of the HK Listing Rules. Therefore, the Company has appointed Ms. Au-Yeung as one of the joint company secretaries 

of  the  Company.  Ms.  Au-Yeung  is  currently  a  Senior  Manager  of  Tricor  Services  Limited,  a  global  professional  services  provider 

specializing in integrated business, corporate and investor services. Ms. Au-Yeung is a chartered secretary, an associate of both The 

Hong  Kong  Chartered  Governance  Institute  and  The  Chartered  Governance  Institute  (formerly  known  as  The  Institute  of  Chartered 

Secretaries  and  Administrators).  Ms.  Au-Yeung  has  around  10  years  of  experience  in  the  corporate  secretarial  field  and  is  currently 

the company secretary of Anton Oilfield Service Group (Stock Code: 3337). Ms. Au-Yeung holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and 

Finance  from  Hong  Kong  Shue  Yan  University  and  obtained  a  Master  of  Corporate  Governance  from  The  Hong  Kong  Polytechnic 

University. Ms. Au-Yeung, who fully meets the requirements stipulated under Note 1 to Rule 3.28 and Rule 8.17 of the HK Listing Rules, 

acts as the other joint company secretary to provide assistance to Mr. Edmondson for an initial period of three years from the Primary 

Conversion Effective Date to enable Mr. Edmondson to acquire the “relevant experience” under Note 2 to Rule 3.28 of the HK Listing 

Rules so as to fully comply with the requirements set forth under Rules 3.28 and 8.17 of the HK Listing Rules.

The Company’s principal business activities are primarily outside of Hong Kong. The Company believes that it is in the best interests 

of the Company and the corporate governance of the Company to have as its joint company secretary a person like Mr. Edmondson, 

who  is  an  employee  of  the  Company  and  the  Chief  Legal  Officer  and  who  has  day-to-day  knowledge  of  the  Company’s  affairs.  Mr. 

Edmondson  has  the  necessary  nexus  to  the  Board  and  close  working  relationships  with  management  of  the  Company  in  order  to 

perform the function of a joint company secretary and to take necessary actions in an effective and efficient manner.

Each of the joint company secretaries has taken no less than 15 hours of relevant professional training during the Reporting Period in 

compliance with Rule 3.29 of the HK Listing Rules.

190

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORTSHAREHOLDERS’ RIGHTS

Convening of Extraordinary General Meetings by Shareholders 

Pursuant to Articles 57 and 58 of the Sixth Restated Articles, an extraordinary general meeting of our Company shall be convened on 

a members’ requisition put forth by our shareholders holding at the date of deposit of the requisition not less than one-tenth of the 

share capital of the Company as at that date carries the right of voting at general meetings of the Company. The requisition must state 

the objects of the meeting and must be signed by the requisitionists and deposited at the principal place of business of the Company 

(with  a  copy  forwarded  to  the  registered  office),  and  may  consist  of  several  documents  in  like  form  each  signed  by  one  or  more 

requisitionists. If the Directors do not within 21 calendar days from the date of the deposit of the requisition duly proceed to convene 

a general meeting to be held within a further 21 calendar days, the requisitionists, or any of them representing more than one half of 

the total voting rights of all of them, may themselves convene a general meeting, but any meeting so convened shall not be held after 

the expiration of three months after the expiration of the second said 21 calendar days.

Putting Forward Proposals at General Meetings

Shareholders  may  present  proper  proposals  for  inclusion  in  our  proxy  statement  and  for  consideration  at  our  next  annual  general 

meeting of shareholders by submitting their proposals in writing to us in a timely manner. In order to be considered for inclusion in 

the  proxy  statement  for  the  2024  annual  general  meeting  of  shareholders,  shareholder  proposals  must  be  received  at  our  principal 

executive  offices  no  later  than  December  30,  2023,  and  must  otherwise  comply  with  the  requirements  of  the  Exchange  Act.  If  we 

do not receive notice of the proposal at our principal executive offices prior to such date, such proposal will be considered untimely 

for  purposes  of  the  Exchange  Act.  Any  other  shareholder  proposal  for  the  2024  annual  general  meeting  of  shareholders  which  is 

submitted outside the processes of Exchange Act shall be considered untimely unless received by the Company in writing no later than 

March 14, 2024. A copy of all notices of proposals by shareholders should be sent to Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, Zai Lab 

Limited, 314 Main Street, Fourth Floor, Suite 100, Cambridge, MA 02142.

Putting Forward Enquiries to the Board and Contact Details

The  Board  provides  every  shareholder  the  ability  to  communicate  with  the  Board,  as  a  whole,  and  with  individual  Directors  on  the 

Board  through  an  established  process  for  shareholder  communication.  For  a  shareholder  communication  directed  to  the  Board  as  a 

whole, shareholders may send such communication to the attention of our Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary via regular mail 

or expedited delivery service to: Zai Lab Limited, 314 Main Street, Fourth Floor, Suite 100, Cambridge, MA 02142, Attention: Board c/o 

Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary.

For a shareholder communication directed to an individual Director in his or her capacity as a member of the Board, shareholders may 

send such communication to the attention of the individual Director via Regular Mail or Expedited Delivery Service to: Zai Lab Limited, 

314 Main Street, Fourth Floor, Suite 100, Cambridge, MA 02142, Attention: [Name of Individual Director].

Communications will be distributed to the Board, or to any individual Director or Directors as deemed appropriate, depending on the 

facts and circumstances outlined in the communications. Items that are unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the Board may be 

excluded, such as junk mail and mass mailings, resumes and other forms of job inquiries, surveys, and solicitations or advertisements.

191

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT 
COMMUNICATION WITH SHAREHOLDERS AND INVESTOR RELATIONS

The  Company  considers  that  effective  communication  with  shareholders  is  essential  for  enhancing  investor  relations  and  investor 

understanding  of  the  Company’s  business  performance  and  strategies.  The  Company  endeavors  to  maintain  an  on-going  dialogue  with 

shareholders and in particular, through annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings. The Company provides the shareholders 

with  relevant  information  on  the  resolution(s)  proposed  at  a  general  meeting  in  a  timely  manner  in  accordance  with  the  HK  Listing  Rules, 

to  provide  information  that  the  Company  deems  reasonably  necessary  to  enable  the  shareholders  to  make  an  informed  decision  on  the 

proposed resolution(s). Shareholders are encouraged to participate in general meetings. At the forthcoming 2024 annual general meeting, 

Directors (or their delegates as appropriate) will be available in person or via teleconference to meet shareholders and answer their enquiries.

The  Company  has  in  place  a  Shareholder  Communication  Policy,  which  aims  to  promote  effective  communication  with  shareholders  and 

other  stakeholders;  encourage  the  shareholders  to  engage  actively  with  the  Company;  and  enable  the  shareholders  to  exercise  their 

rights  as  shareholders  effectively.  The  Shareholder  Communication  Policy  provides  investors  with  various  sources  of  communication, 

including  corporate  communication  in  Hong  Kong,  announcements,  and  other  documents  pursuant  to  the  HK  Listing  Rules,  corporate 

website, shareholder meetings, and shareholder inquiries. The Board has reviewed the implementation and effectiveness of the Company’s 

Shareholder Communication Policy during the Reporting Period and considered that the policy was able to facilitate an open and on-going 

communication with the shareholders on fair disclosure basis. 

CHANGE IN CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS

There was no change in the Sixth Restated Articles during the Reporting Period.

192

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORTIndependent auditor’s report

to the shareholders of Zai Lab Limited

(Incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability)

OPINION

We  have  audited  the  consolidated  financial  statements  of  Zai  Lab  Limited  (“the  Company”)  and  its  subsidiaries  (collectively, 

“the Group”) set out on pages 197 to 247, which comprise the consolidated balance sheet as at December 31, 2023, the consolidated 

statement of operations, the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss, the consolidated statement of shareholders’ equity and 

the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year then ended and notes, comprising accounting policy information.

In  our  opinion,  the  consolidated  financial  statements  give  a  true  and  fair  view  of  the  consolidated  financial  position  of  the  Group 

as  at  December  31,  2023  and  of  its  consolidated  financial  performance  and  its  consolidated  cash  flows  for  the  year  then  ended  in 

accordance  with  U.S.  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  and  have  been  properly  prepared  in  compliance  with  the  disclosure 

requirements of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance.

BASIS FOR OPINION

We conducted our audit in accordance with Hong Kong Standards on Auditing (“HKSAs”) issued by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified 

Public  Accountants  (“HKICPA”).  Our  responsibilities  under  those  standards  are  further  described  in  the  Auditor’s  responsibilities 

for  the  audit  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements  section  of  our  report.    We  are  independent  of  the  Group  in  accordance  with 

the  HKICPA’s  Code  of  Ethics  for  Professional  Accountants  (“the  Code”),  and  we  have  fulfilled  our  other  ethical  responsibilities  in 

accordance with these requirements and the Code.  We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate 

to provide a basis for our opinion.

KEY AUDIT MATTER

Key audit matter is the matter that, in our professional judgement, was of most significance in our audit of the consolidated financial 

statements of the current period. This matter was addressed in the context of our audit of the consolidated financial statements as a 

whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on this matter.

193

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORTEVALUATION OF ACCRUED PRECLINICAL AND CLINICAL TRIAL EXPENSES

Refer to note 11 to the consolidated financial statements and the accounting policies on page 213.

The Key Audit Matter

The Company’s research and development 
expenses include costs associated with payments 
to contract research organizations (“CROs”) and 
contract manufacturing organizations (“CMOs”) 
for various preclinical and clinical trial activities. 
Expenses related to preclinical and clinical trial 
activities are accrued based on the Company’s 
estimates of the actual services performed by the 
CROs and CMOs. As disclosed in the consolidated 
financial statements, as of December 31, 2023, 
the Company recorded $113.0 million in accounts 
payable, which included the accrued preclinical and 
clinical trial expenses.

We identified the evaluation of accrued preclinical 
and clinical trial expenses as a key audit matter. 
Specifically, evaluating the estimate of services 
performed for certain research and development 
activities at year-end required subjective judgment.

How the matter was addressed in our audit
Our audit procedures to evaluate the accrued preclinical and clinical trial 
expenses included the following:

• 

• 

• 

evaluating the design and testing the operating effectiveness of 
certain internal controls related to accrued preclinical and clinical 
trial expenses. This included controls related to the estimation of the 
services performed by the CROs and CMOs during the period that are 
included in accounts payable at the end of each reporting period; 

on a sample basis, examining contracts, purchase orders, invoices, 
and third-party confirmations and comparing them to the Company’s 
estimation of services performed by the CROs and CMOs; and

examining certain invoices received and/or payments made after 
year-end and evaluating whether they were associated with services 
received prior to that date and whether they were included in the 
Company’s estimate of costs incurred at year-end.

INFORMATION OTHER THAN THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
AND AUDITOR’S REPORT THEREON

The  directors  are  responsible  for  the  other  information.  The  other  information  comprises  all  the  information  included  in  the  annual 

report, other than the consolidated financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon.

Our  opinion  on  the  consolidated  financial  statements  does  not  cover  the  other  information  and  we  do  not  express  any  form  of 

assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the consolidated financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing 

so,  consider  whether  the  other  information  is  materially  inconsistent  with  the  consolidated  financial  statements  or  our  knowledge 

obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. 

If,  based  on  the  work  we  have  performed,  we  conclude  that  there  is  a  material  misstatement  of  this  other  information,  we  are 

required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

194

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORTRESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS

The directors are responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements that give a true and fair view in accordance 

with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and the disclosure requirements of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance and for 

such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are 

free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In  preparing  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  the  directors  are  responsible  for  assessing  the  Group’s  ability  to  continue  as  a 

going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the 

directors either intend to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

The directors are assisted by the Audit Committee in discharging their responsibilities for overseeing the Group’s financial reporting 

process.

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE CONSOLIDATED 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Our  objectives  are  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about  whether  the  consolidated  financial  statements  as  a  whole  are  free  from 

material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion.  This report is made 

solely to you, as a body, and for no other purpose.  We do not assume responsibility towards or accept liability to any other person for 

the contents of this report.  

Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with HKSAs will always 

detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually 

or  in  the  aggregate,  they  could  reasonably  be  expected  to  influence  the  economic  decisions  of  users  taken  on  the  basis  of  these 

consolidated financial statements. 

As part of an audit in accordance with HKSAs, we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional skepticism throughout 

the audit. We also:

• 

Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, 

design  and  perform  audit  procedures  responsive  to  those  risks,  and  obtain  audit  evidence  that  is  sufficient  and  appropriate 

to  provide  a  basis  for  our  opinion.  The  risk  of  not  detecting  a  material  misstatement  resulting  from  fraud  is  higher  than  for 

one resulting  from  error,  as  fraud  may  involve  collusion, forgery,  intentional omissions, misrepresentations or the override of 

internal control.

• 

Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the 

circumstances but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control.

• 

Evaluate  the  appropriateness  of  accounting  policies  used  and  the  reasonableness  of  accounting  estimates  and  related 

disclosures made by the directors.

195

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT• 

Conclude on the appropriateness of the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence 

obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s 

ability  to  continue  as  a  going  concern.  If  we  conclude  that  a  material  uncertainty  exists,  we  are  required  to  draw  attention  in 

our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the consolidated financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to 

modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, 

future events or conditions may cause the Group to cease to continue as a going concern.

• 

Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the consolidated financial statements, including the disclosures, and 

whether the consolidated financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair 

presentation.

• 

Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities within the 

Group  to  express  an  opinion  on  the  consolidated  financial  statements.  We  are  responsible  for  the  direction,  supervision  and 

performance of the group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion.

We communicate with the Audit Committee regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant 

audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

We  also  provide  the  Audit  Committee  with  a  statement  that  we  have  complied  with  relevant  ethical  requirements  regarding 

independence  and  communicate  with  them  all  relationships  and  other  matters  that  may  reasonably  be  thought  to  bear  on  our 

independence and, where applicable, actions taken to eliminate threats or safeguards applied.

From the matters communicated with the Audit Committee, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of 

the consolidated financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our 

auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we 

determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably 

be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.

The engagement partner on the audit resulting in this independent auditor’s report is Frankie C.Y. Lai.

KPMG

Certified Public Accountants

8th Floor, Prince’s Building

10 Chater Road

Central, Hong Kong

March 28, 2024

196

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORTCONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands of $, except for number of shares and per share data)

Assets

Current assets

 Cash and cash equivalents

 Short-term investments

 Accounts receivable (net of allowance for credit loss of $17 and $11 as of

  December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively)

 Notes receivable

 Inventories, net

 Prepayments and other current assets

Total current assets

 Restricted cash, non-current

 Long-term investments 

 Prepayments for equipment

 Property and equipment, net

 Operating lease right-of-use assets

 Land use rights, net

 Intangible assets, net

 Long-term deposits

Total assets 

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Current liabilities

 Accounts payable

 Current operating lease liabilities

 Other current liabilities

Total current liabilities

 Deferred income

 Non-current operating lease liabilities

 Other non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Notes

2023

2022

December 31,

3

5

6

7

4

8

9

10

11

10

14

10

790,151

16,300

59,199

6,134

44,827

22,995

1,008,470

—

39,963

8,608

31,621

35,674

939,606

1,124,336

1,113

9,220

111

53,734

14,844

3,069

13,389

1,209

803

6,431

1,396

57,863

19,512

6,892

1,511

1,396

1,036,295

1,220,140

112,991

7,104

82,972

203,067

28,738

8,047

325

240,177

65,974

7,050

66,818

139,842

21,360

13,343

—

174,545

197

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)
(In thousands of $, except for number of shares and per share data) (Continued)

Commitments and contingencies (Note 22)

Shareholders’ equity

 Ordinary shares (par value of $0.000006 per share; 

  5,000,000,000 shares authorized, 977,151,270 and 

  962,455,850 shares issued as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, 

  respectively; 972,239,070 and 960,219,570 shares issued and 

  outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively)

 Additional paid-in capital

 Accumulated deficit

 Accumulated other comprehensive income 

 Treasury stock (at cost, 4,912,200 and 2,236,280 shares as of 

  December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively)

Total shareholders’ equity

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 

December 31,

2023

2022

6

2,975,302

(2,195,980)

37,626

(20,836)

796,118

1,036,295

6

2,893,120

(1,861,360)

25,685

(11,856)

1,045,595

1,220,140

198

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands of $, except for number of shares and per share data)

Revenues

 Product revenue, net

 Collaboration revenue

   Total revenues

Expenses

 Cost of sales

 Research and development

 Selling, general and administrative

Gain on sale of intellectual property

Loss from operations

 Interest income

 Foreign currency loss

 Other income, net

Loss before income tax and share of loss from 

 equity method investment

Income tax expense

Share of loss from equity method investment

Net loss

Loss per share — basic and diluted

Weighted-average shares used in calculating net 

 loss per ordinary share — basic and diluted

Year ended December 31,

Notes

2023

2022

12

19

13

15

266,719

—

266,719

(95,816)

(265,868)

(281,608)

10,000

(366,573)

39,797

(14,850)

7,006

212,672

2,368

215,040

(74,018)

(286,408)

(258,971)

—

(404,357)

14,582

(56,403)

3,113

(334,620)

(443,065)

—

—

(334,620)

(0.35)

—

(221)

(443,286)

(0.46)

966,394,130

958,067,140

Note:  All the numbers of ordinary shares and per share data in these consolidated financial statements have been retrospectively adjusted, where applicable, as a result of 

the Share Subdivision that became effective on March 30, 2022. Refer to Note 2(a) for additional information.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

199

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands of $)

Net loss

Other comprehensive income, net of tax of nil:

 Foreign currency translation adjustments

Comprehensive loss

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Year ended December 31,

2023

2022

(334,620)

(443,286)

11,941

(322,679)

49,330

(393,956)

200

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands of $, except for number of shares)

Accumulated 

Ordinary shares

Additional 

other 

Treasury Stock 

Number of 

paid 

Accumulated 

comprehensive 

Number of 

Shares

Amount

in capital

deficit

income (loss) 

Shares

Amount

Total

Balance at December 31, 2021

955,363,980

Issuance of ordinary shares upon 

 vesting of restricted shares

Exercise of share options

Receipt of shares netted to satisfy tax

 withholding obligations related to 

 share-based compensation

Share-based compensation

Net loss

Foreign currency translation

1,940,680

5,151,190

—

—

—

—

Balance at December 31, 2022

962,455,850

Issuance of ordinary shares upon 

 vesting of restricted shares

Exercise of share options

Receipt of shares netted to satisfy tax 

 withholding obligations related to 

 share-based compensation

Share-based compensation

Net loss

Foreign currency translation

Balance at December 31, 2023

8,178,500

6,516,920

—

—

—

—

977,151,270

6

0

0

—

—

—

—

6

0

0

—

—

—

—

6

2,825,948

(1,418,074)

(23,645)

(382,930)

(4,279)

1,379,956

0

5,870

—

61,302

—

—

—

—

—

—

(443,286)

—

2,893,120

(1,861,360)

0

2,548

—

79,634

—

—

—

—

—

—

(334,620)

—

2,975,302

(2,195,980)

—

—

—

—

—

49,330

25,685

—

—

—

—

—

11,941

37,626

—

—

—

—

—

5,870

(1,853,350)

(7,577)

—

—

—

—

—

—

(7,577)

61,302

(443,286)

49,330

(2,236,280)

(11,856)

1,045,595

—

—

—

—

—

2,548

(2,675,920)

(8,980)

—

—

—

—

—

—

(4,912,200)

(20,836)

(8,980)

79,634

(334,620)

11,941

796,118

The  accompanying  notes  are  an  integral  part  of  these  consolidated  financial  statements.  “0”  in  above  table  means  less  than  1,000 

dollars.

201

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands of $)

Cash flows from operating activities

Net loss

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

  Allowance for credit loss

  Inventory write-down

  Depreciation and amortization expenses

  Impairment of property and equipment

  Amortization of deferred income

  Share-based compensation

  Share of loss from equity method investment

  (Gain) loss from fair value changes of equity investment with 

   readily determinable fair value

  Loss on disposal of property and equipment

  Gain on disposal of land use right

  Noncash lease expenses

  Gain from sale of intellectual property

  Foreign currency remeasurement loss

  Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

   Accounts receivable

   Notes receivable

   Inventories

   Prepayments and other current assets

   Long-term deposits

   Value added tax recoverable

   Accounts payable

   Other current liabilities

   Operating lease liabilities

   Deferred income

   Other non-current liabilities

Net cash used in operating activities

202

Year ended December 31,

2023

2022

(334,620)

(443,286)

6

973

9,029

57

(3,383)

79,634

—

(2,789)

159

(408)

8,708

(10,000)

14,850

(20,040)

2,352

(14,907)

12,246

187

—

36,803

19,810

(8,351)

11,181

325

1

477

8,227

—

(2,602)

61,302

221

8,952

560

—

8,350

—

56,403

4,330

(1,976)

(15,382)

(19,258)

(527)

22,781

(53,773)

7,392

(8,455)

(1,379)

—

(198,178)

(367,642)

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
(In thousands of $) (Continued)

Year ended December 31,

2023

2022

(134,000)

117,700

(7,212)

122

(1,279)

10,000

3,893

(10,776)

2,369

(8,802)

(6,433)

(2,622)

(218,009)

1,009,273

791,264

2,474

11,516

—

3,668

—

790,151

1,113

791,264

(260,274)

705,274

(24,585)

—

(399)

—

—

420,016

5,870

(7,600)

(1,730)

(6,274)

44,370

964,903

1,009,273

5,269

163

2

14,801

64

1,008,470

803

1,009,273

Cash flows from investing activities

 Purchase of short-term investments

 Proceeds from maturity of short-term investment

 Purchase of property and equipment

 Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment

 Acquisition of intangible assets

 Proceeds from sale of intellectual property

 Proceeds from disposal of land use right

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

 Proceeds from exercises of stock options

 Taxes paid related to settlement of equity awards

Net cash used in financing activities

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and 

 restricted cash

Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash — beginning of the year

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash — end of the year

Supplemental disclosure on non-cash investing and financing activities

Payables for purchase of property and equipment

Payables for acquisition of intangible assets

Payables for treasury stock

Right-of-use asset acquired under operating leases

Receivables for disposal of property and equipment

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

Cash and cash equivalents

Restricted cash, non-current

Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

203

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.  ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

Zai  Lab  Limited  was  incorporated  on  March  28,  2013  in  the  Cayman  Islands  as  an  exempted  company  with  limited  liability 

under  the  Companies  Act  of  the  Cayman  Islands  (as  amended).  The  Company  is  focused  on  discovering,  developing,  and 

commercializing products that address medical conditions with significant unmet needs in the areas of oncology, autoimmune 

disorders, infectious disease, and neuroscience.

The  Company’s  principal  operations  and  geographic  markets  are  in  Greater  China  (mainland  China,  Hong  Kong,  Macau,  and 

Taiwan, collectively). The Company has a substantial presence in Greater China and the United States. 

As of December 31, 2023, Zai Lab Limited had the following 16 subsidiaries:

Name of Company

Incorporation

Registered Capital

of Ownership

Operation

Place of

Particulars of Issued/

Percentage  

Principal Activities and Place of 

Zai Lab (Hong Kong) 
 Limited

Hong Kong

HK$1

100%

Operating company for business 

 development and R&D activities 

 and commercialization of 

 innovative medicines and device; 

ZLIP Holding Limited

Cayman Islands

ZL Capital Limited

British Virgin Islands

Hong Kong

Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands

ZL China Holding Two 
 Limited
Zai Anti Infectives 
 Limited
Zai Auto Immune 
 Limited
Zai Lab (Shanghai) 
 Co., Ltd.

$1

$1

HK$1

$1

$1

100%

100%

100%

 Hong Kong

Investment holding

Investment holding

Investment holding

100%

Investment holding

100%

Investment holding

Mainland China*

$466,500,000

100%

Development and 
 commercialization 
 of innovative medicines and devices; 
 mainland China
Clinical trial activities; Australia

Development and commercialization 
 of innovative medicines; mainland 
 China

Zai Lab (AUST) Pty. Ltd.

Australia

A$100

Zai Lab (Suzhou) 
 Co., Ltd.

Mainland China*

RMB166,500,000

100%

100%

204

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS1.  ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

Name of Company

Incorporation

Registered Capital

of Ownership

Operation

Place of

Particulars of Issued/

Percentage  

Principal Activities and Place of 

Zai Biopharmaceutical 
 (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.

Mainland China*

$15,000,000

100%

Zai Lab (US) LLC

United States

$1

100%

Zai Lab International 
 Trading (Shanghai) 
 Co., Ltd.
Zai Auto Immune 
 (Hong Kong) Limited

Zai Anti Infectives 
 (Hong Kong) Limited
Zai Lab (Taiwan) 
 Limited
Zai Lab Trading 
 (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.

Mainland China*

RMB1,000,000

100%

Hong Kong

HK$100

100%

Hong Kong

HK$100

100%

Taiwan

TWD1,000,000

100%

Mainland China*

RMB10,000,000#

100%

* 

Limited liability company established in mainland China.

# 

Out of RMB10,000,000 registered capital, RMB1,000,000 is paid up.

Development and 
 commercialization of innovative 
 medicines; mainland China
Operating company for business 
 development, R&D activities and 
 certain business activities, 
 including legal, compliance and 
 communication functions of the 
 Company; United States
Commercialization of innovative 
 medicines and devices; mainland 
 China
Operating company for business 
 development and R&D activities; 
 Hong Kong
No substantial business activities

Commercialization of innovative 
 medicines and devices; Taiwan
Commercialization of innovative 
 medicines and devices; mainland 
 China

205

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a)  Basis of Presentation

The  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  U.S.  GAAP.  Significant  accounting  policies 

followed by the Company in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements are summarized below.

Effective  as  of  March  30,  2022,  the  Company  subdivided  each  of  its  issued  and  unissued  ordinary  shares  into  ten  ordinary 

shares. Following the Share Subdivision, the Company’s authorized share capital became $30,000 divided into 5,000,000,000 

shares  with  a  par  value  of  $0.000006  per  share.  The  numbers  of  issued  and  unissued  ordinary  shares  and  per  share  data  as 

disclosed  elsewhere  in  these  consolidated  financial  statements  and  notes  thereto  are  presented  on  a  basis  after  taking  into 

account the effects of the Share Subdivision and have been retrospectively adjusted, where applicable. In connection with the 

Share Subdivision, the conversion ratio of its ADSs to ordinary shares changed from one ADS to one ordinary share to a new 

ratio of one ADS to ten ordinary shares. The Share Subdivision and ADS Ratio Change did not result in any change to the number 

of outstanding ADSs of the Company.

In  2022,  the  Company  began  to  separately  present  foreign  currency  (loss)  gain  on  the  consolidated  statements  of 

operations.  This  amount  was  previously  included  in  other  income,  net.  Additionally,  the  Company  began  to  provide 

a  breakdown  of  other  income,  net  in  Note  19.    The  Company  also  began  to  separately  present  the  amount  of  foreign 

currency remeasurement loss (gain) on the consolidated statements of cash flows. This amount was previously included 

in  changes  in  other  current  liabilities.  This  change  did  not  have  any  impact  on  net  cash  used  in  operating  activities. 

Corresponding amounts in the prior periods of the consolidated financial statements have been presented to conform to 

the current period presentation.

(b)  Principles of Consolidation

The  consolidated  financial  statements  include  the  accounts  of  Zai  Lab  Limited  and  its  subsidiaries,  which  are  wholly 

owned. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated upon consolidation.

(c)  Use of Estimates

The  preparation  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  U.S.  GAAP  requires  management  to  make 

estimates,  judgments,  and  assumptions  that  affect  the  reported  amounts  of  assets  and  liabilities  and  disclosures  of 

contingent  assets  and  liabilities  at  the  date  of  the  financial  statements  and  the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and 

expenses during the period. Areas where management uses subjective judgment include, but are not limited to, accrual 

of  rebates,  recognition  of  research  and  development  expenses  to  the  appropriate  financial  reporting  period  based  on 

actual  services  performed,  fair  value  of  share-based  compensation  expenses,  and  recoverability  of  deferred  tax  assets. 

These estimates, judgments, and assumptions can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of 

the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Actual 

results could differ from these estimates.

206

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

(d)  Foreign Currency Translation

The  functional  currency  of  Zai  Lab  Limited,  Zai  Lab  (Hong  Kong)  Limited,  Zai  Lab  (US)  LLC,  and  Zai  Auto  Immune 

(Hong Kong) Limited is $. The Company’s subsidiaries in mainland China determined their functional currency to be RMB. 

The Company’s subsidiary in Australia determined its functional currency to be A$. The Company’s subsidiary in Taiwan 

determined  its  functional  currency  to  be  TWD.  The  determination  of  the  respective  functional  currency  is  based  on  the 

criteria of ASC 830, Foreign Currency Matters. The Company uses the U.S. dollar as its reporting currency.

Assets  and  liabilities  are  translated  from  each  entity’s  functional  currency  to  the  reporting  currency  at  the  exchange 

rate  on  the  balance  sheet  date.  Equity  amounts  are  translated  at  historical  exchange  rates.  Revenues,  expenses,  gains, 

and  losses  are  translated  using  the  average  rate  for  the  period  presented.  The  resulted  foreign  currency  translation 

adjustments are recorded as a component of other comprehensive loss in the consolidated statements of comprehensive 

loss, and the accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other 

comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity.

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the applicable functional currencies are translated 

into the functional currencies at the prevailing rates of exchange at the balance sheet date.

Non-monetary  assets  and  liabilities  are  translated  into  the  applicable  functional  currencies  at  historical  exchange 

rates.  Transactions  in  currencies  other  than  the  applicable  functional  currencies  during  the  year  are  converted  into  the 

functional currencies at the applicable rates of exchange prevailing at the transaction dates. Transaction gains and losses 

are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.

(e)  Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash 

equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of cash on hand, demand deposits, and highly liquid investments 

with maturity of less than three months and are stated at cost, which approximates fair value.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash mainly consists of bank deposits held as collateral for issuances of letters of credit.

207

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

(f) 

Short-Term Investments

Short-term  investments  are  time  deposits  with  original  maturities  between  three  months  and  one  year.  Short-term 

investments are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. Interest earned is included in interest income.

(g)  Accounts Receivable

The  Company’s  accounts  receivable  arise  from  product  sales  and  represent  amounts  due  from  its  customers.  From 

January  1,  2020,  the  Company  adopted  the  ASU  2016-13,  Credit  Losses,  Measurement  of  Credit  Losses  on  Financial 

Instruments.  Accounts  receivable  are  recorded  at  the  amounts  net  of  allowances  for  credit  losses.  The  allowance 

for  credit  losses  reflects  the  Company’s  current  estimate  of  credit  losses  expected  to  be  incurred  over  the  life  of  the 

receivables.  The  Company  considers  various  factors  in  establishing,  monitoring,  and  adjusting  its  allowance  for  credit 

losses including the aging of receivables and aging trends, customer creditworthiness, and specific exposures related to 

particular  customers.  The  Company  also  monitors  other  risk  factors  and  forward-looking  information,  such  as  country-

specific risks and economic factors that may affect a debtor’s ability to pay in establishing and adjusting its allowance for 

credit losses. Accounts receivable are written off when deemed uncollectible.

(h)  Notes Receivable

Notes receivable are equal to contractual amounts owed from signed, secured promissory notes issued from customers 

to the Company. The Company considers the notes receivable to be fully collectible. Accordingly, no allowance for credit 

loss has been established as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

(i) 

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined on a weighted average basis. The 

Company periodically reviews the composition of inventory and shelf life of inventory to identify obsolete, slow-moving, 

or otherwise non-saleable items. The Company will record a write-down to its net realizable value in cost of sales in the 

period that the decline in value is first identified.

(j) 

Prepayments for Equipment

The  prepayments  for  equipment  purchase  are  recorded  in  long-term  prepayments  considering  the  prepayments  are  all 

related to property and equipment.

208

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

(k)  Property and Equipment

Property  and  equipment  are  stated  at  cost,  less  accumulated  depreciation.  Depreciation  is  computed  using  the 

straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets as follows:

Office equipment

Electronic equipment

Vehicles

Laboratory equipment

Manufacturing equipment

Leasehold improvements

Useful life

3 years

1.25–3 years

4 years

5 years

10 years

lesser of useful life or lease term

Construction in progress represents property and equipment under construction and pending installation and is stated at 

cost less impairment losses, if any.

(l) 

Leases

The  Company  leases  facilities  for  its  offices,  research  and  development  center,  and  manufacturing  facilities  in  mainland 

China,  Hong  Kong,  Taiwan  and  the  United  States.  On  January  1,  2019,  the  Company  adopted  the  ASC  842,  using  the 

modified  retrospective  transition  approach  by  applying  the  new  standard  to  all  leases  existing  at  the  date  of  initial 

application and not restating historical periods before the adoption date.

The Company assessed whether an arrangement contains a lease at inception. The Company’s leases are all classified as 

operating leases with fixed lease payments, or minimum payments, as contractually stated in the lease agreements. The 

Company’s leases do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

Operating  leases  are  included  in  operating  lease  right-of-use  assets  and  operating  lease  liabilities  in  the  consolidated 

balance  sheets.  Operating  lease  liabilities  that  become  due  within  one  year  of  the  balance  sheet  date  are  classified  as 

current operating lease liabilities. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

At  the  commencement  date  of  a  lease,  the  Company  recognizes  a  lease  liability  for  future  fixed  lease  payments  and  a 
ROU asset representing the right to use the underlying asset during the lease term. The lease liability is initially measured 
as the present value of the future fixed lease payments that will be made over the lease term. The lease term includes 
periods  for  which  the  Company  is  reasonably  certain  that  the  renewal  options  will  be  exercised  and  the  termination 
options will not be exercised. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the 
commencement date in determining the lease liabilities as the Company’s leases generally do not provide an implicit rate. 
The incremental borrowing rate is reevaluated upon a lease modification. The Company considered information available 
at the adoption date of ASC 842 to determine the incremental borrowing rate for leases in existence as of this date.

209

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

(l) 

Leases (Continued)

The  ROU  asset  is  measured  at  the  amount  of  the  lease  liability  with  adjustments,  if  applicable,  for  lease  prepayments 
made prior to or at lease commencement, initial direct costs incurred by the Company, and lease incentives. Under ASC 
842, land use rights agreements are also considered to be operating lease contracts.

The  Company  elected  to  apply  each  of  the  practical  expedients  described  in  ASC  842  which  allow  companies  (i)  not  to 
reassess  prior  conclusions  on  whether  any  expired  or  existing  contracts  are  or  contain  a  lease,  lease  classification,  and 
initial  direct  costs  upon  adoption  of  ASC  842,  (ii)  combine  lease  and  non-lease  components  for  all  underlying  assets 
groups, and (iii) not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities for short term leases. A short-term lease is a lease that, at the 
commencement date, has a lease term of 12 months or less and does not include an option to purchase the underlying 
asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise.

(m)  Land Use Rights

All  land  in  mainland  China  is  subject  to  government  or  collective  ownership.  Land  use  rights  can  be  purchased  for  a 

specified period of time. The purchase price of land use rights represents the operating lease prepayments under ASC 842 

and is recorded as land use rights on the consolidated balance sheet, which is amortized over the remaining lease term.

The  Company  acquired  land  use  rights  in  2019  for  a  term  of  30  years  from  the  local  Bureau  of  Land  and  Resources  in 

Suzhou  for  the  purpose  of  constructing  and  operating  a  research  center  and  biologics  manufacturing  facility  in  Suzhou. 

In 2023, the Company returned a portion of the land use rights and received cash in an amount equal to the respective 

portion of the original acquisition cost.

(n)  Long-Term Deposits

Long-term deposits represent amounts paid in connection with the Company’s long-term lease agreements.

(o) 

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets mainly consist of capitalized sales-based milestone fees and externally purchased software. Sales-based 

milestone fees are capitalized based on contract terms upon achievement of the sales levels and are amortized over the 

estimated remaining useful life of the related product, which is generally based on expected patent life, the contractual 

period  of  the  underlying  license  agreement,  and  expected  commercial  benefits  of  the  products.  Externally  purchased 

software are amortized over three to five years on a straight-line basis. As of December 31, 2023, the intangible assets, 

net  consist  of  $11.2  million  of  capitalized  sales-based  milestone  fees  and  $2.2  million  of  software.  As  of  December  31, 

2022,  the  intangible  assets,  net  consist  of  $1.5  million  of  software.  Amortization  expenses  for  2023  and  2022  were 

$0.7 million and $0.5 million, respectively. Amortization expenses of the Company’s intangible assets are expected to be 

approximately $3.1 million, $2.9 million, $2.7 million, $2.5 million, and $2.3 million, and nil for 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 

2028, and thereafter, respectively.

210

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

(p) 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The  Company  evaluates  long-lived  assets,  which  includes  intangible  assets,  tangible  assets,  and  ROU  assets  for 

impairment  whenever  events  or  changes  in  circumstances  indicate  that  the  carrying  value  of  these  assets  may  not  be 

recoverable. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of the related asset group 

to its future undiscounted cash flows. The Company measures the amount of impairment, if any, based on the difference 

between the carrying value and the estimated fair value of the impaired asset group.

(q)  Fair Value Measurements

The Company applies ASC 820, in measuring fair value. ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring 

fair value, and requires disclosures to be provided on fair value measurement.

ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

Level 1 — Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 — Include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity.

ASC  820  describes  three  main  approaches  to  measuring  the  fair  value  of  assets  and  liabilities:  (i)  market  approach; 

(ii) income approach; and (iii) cost approach. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated 

from  market  transactions  involving  identical  or  comparable  assets  or  liabilities.  The  income  approach  uses  valuation 

techniques to convert future amounts to a single present value amount. The measurement is based on the value indicated 

by  current  market  expectations  about  those  future  amounts.  The  cost  approach  is  based  on  the  amount  that  would 

currently be required to replace an asset.

Equity  investments  with  readily  determinable  fair  value  are  measured  using  level  1  inputs  and  were  $9.2  million  and 

$6.4 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The unrealized gains and losses from fair value changes are 

recognized in other income, net in the consolidated statements of operations.

Financial  instruments  of  the  Company  primarily  include  cash,  cash  equivalents  and  restricted  cash,  short-term 

investments,  accounts  receivable,  notes  receivable,  prepayments,  and  other  current  assets,  accounts  payable,  and 

other  current  liabilities.  As  of  December  31,  2023  and  2022,  the  carrying  values  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  short-

term  investments,  accounts  receivable,  prepayments,  and  other  current  assets,  accounts  payable,  and  other  current 

liabilities  approximated  their  fair  values  due  to  the  short-term  maturity  of  these  instruments,  and  the  carrying  value  of 

notes receivable and restricted cash approximated their fair value based on the nature of the assessment of the ability to 

recover these amounts.

211

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

(r)  Revenue Recognition

In  2018,  the  Company  adopted  ASC  606.  Under  ASC  606,  the  Company  recognizes  revenue  when  its  customer  obtains 

control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange 

for  those  goods  or  services.  To  determine  revenue  recognition  for  arrangements  that  the  Company  determines  are 

within the scope of ASC 606, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; 

(ii)  identify  the  performance  obligations  in  the  contract;  (iii)  determine  the  transaction  price,  including  variable 

consideration, if any; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize 

revenue  when  (or  as)  the  Company  satisfies  a  performance  obligation.  The  Company  only  applies  the  five-step  model 

to  contracts  when  it  is  probable  that  the  Company  will  collect  the  consideration  to  which  it  is  entitled  in  exchange  for 

the  goods  or  services  it  transfers  to  the  customer.  Once  a  contract  is  determined  to  be  within  the  scope  of  ASC  606  at 

contract  inception,  the  Company  reviews  the  contract  to  determine  which  performance  obligations  it  must  deliver  and 

which of these performance obligations are distinct. The Company recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction 

price that is allocated to each performance obligation when that performance obligation is satisfied or as it is satisfied.

The  Company’s  revenue  is  mainly  from  product  sales.  The  Company  recognizes  revenue  from  product  sales  when  the 

Company has satisfied the performance obligation by transferring control of the product to the customers. Control of the 

product  generally  transfers  to  the  customers  when  the  delivery  is  made  and  when  title  and  risk  of  loss  transfers  to  the 

consumers. Cost of sales mainly consists of the acquisition cost of products, the manufacturing cost of products, royalty 

fees, and amortization of sales-based milestone payments.

The Company has applied the practical expedients under ASC 606 with regard to assessment of the financing component 

and  concluded  that  there  is  no  significant  financing  component  given  that  the  period  between  delivery  of  goods  and 

payment is generally one year or less. The Company’s product revenues were mainly generated from the sale of ZEJULA® 

(niraparib), OPTUNE® (Tumor Treating Fields), QINLOCK® (ripretinib), NUZYRA® (omadacycline), and VYVGART to customers.

In  mainland  China,  the  Company  sells  these  products  to  distributors,  who  ultimately  sell  the  products  to  health  care 

providers. Based on the nature of the arrangements, the performance obligations are satisfied upon the delivery of the 

products  to  distributors.  Rebates  are  offered  to  distributors,  consistent  with  pharmaceutical  industry  practices.  The 

estimated  amount  of  unpaid  or  unbilled  rebates,  if  any,  are  recorded  as  a  reduction  of  revenue.  Estimated  rebates  are 

determined  based  on  contracted  rates  and  sales  volumes  and,  to  a  lesser  extent,  distributor  inventories.  The  Company 

regularly reviews the information related to these estimates and adjusts the amount accordingly.

In  Hong  Kong,  the  Company  sells  the  products  to  customers,  which  are  typically  healthcare  providers  such  as  oncology 

centers.  The  Company  utilizes  a  third  party  for  warehousing  services.  Based  on  the  nature  of  the  arrangements,  the 

Company has determined that it is a principal in the transaction since the Company is primarily responsible for fulfilling 

the promise to provide the products to the customers, maintains inventory risk until delivery to the customers, and has 

latitude in establishing the price. Revenue is recognized at the amount to which the Company is expected to be entitled in 

exchange for the sale of the products, which is the sales price agreed with the customers. Consideration paid to the third 

party is recognized in operating expenses.

The Company did not recognize any contract assets or contract liabilities as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

212

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

(s)  Collaborative Arrangements

The  Company  analyzes  its  collaboration  arrangements  to  assess  whether  such  arrangements  involve  joint  operating 

activities  performed  by  parties  that  are  both  active  participants  in  the  activities  and  exposed  to  significant  risks  and 

rewards  dependent  on  the  commercial  success  of  such  activities  and  therefore  within  the  scope  of  ASC  808.  This 

assessment is performed throughout the life of the arrangement based on changes in the responsibilities of all parties in 

the arrangement.

For  collaboration  arrangements  within  the  scope  of  ASC  808  that  contain  multiple  elements,  the  Company  first 

determines  which  elements  of  the  collaboration  are  deemed  to  be  within  the  scope  of  ASC  808  and  which  elements  of 

the collaboration are more reflective of a vendor-customer relationship and therefore within the scope of ASC 606. For 

elements of collaboration arrangements that are accounted for pursuant to ASC 808, an appropriate recognition method 

is determined and applied consistently.

(t)  Research and Development Expenses

Elements  of  research  and  development  expenses  primarily  include  (i)  payroll  and  other  related  costs  of  personnel 

engaged  in  research  and  development  activities;  (ii)  in-licensed  patent  rights  fees  for  exclusive  development  rights 

for  products  granted  to  the  Company;  (iii)  costs  related  to  pre-clinical  testing  of  the  Company’s  technologies  under 

development  and  clinical  trials  such  as  payments  to  CROs  and  CMOs,  investigators,  and  clinical  trial  sites  that  conduct 

its  clinical  studies;  (iv)  costs  to  develop  the  product  candidates,  including  raw  materials  and  supplies,  product 

testing,  depreciation,  and  facility-related  expenses;  and  (v)  other  research  and  development  expenses.  Research  and 

development expenses are charged to expense as incurred when they have no alternative future uses. Liabilities related 

to  third-party  research  and  development  expenses  are  primarily  included  in  accounts  payable  on  the  consolidated 

balance sheet.

The Company has acquired rights to develop and commercialize certain product candidates. Upfront payments that relate 
to the acquisition of a new product compound, as well as pre-commercial milestone payments, are immediately expensed 
as acquired in-process research and development in the period in which they are incurred, provided that the new product 
compound does not  also  include processes or activities that would constitute a “business” as defined under U.S. GAAP. 
Milestone payments made to third parties subsequent to regulatory approval which meet the capitalization criteria would 
be capitalized as intangible assets and amortized over the estimated remaining useful life of the related product, which 
is  generally  based  on  expected  patent  life,  the  contractual  period  of  the  underlying  license  agreement,  and  expected 
commercial benefits of the products.

213

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

(u)  Deferred Income

Deferred  income  mainly  consists  of  deferred  income  from  government  grants  and  upfront  payments  received  from 
Huizheng, a subsidiary of Hanhui.

Government  grants  consist  of  cash  subsidies  received  by  the  Company’s  subsidiaries  in  mainland  China  from  local 
governments.  Grants  received  as  incentives  for  conducting  business  in  certain  local  districts  with  no  performance 
obligation or other restriction as to the use are recognized as other income when cash is received. Grants received with 
government  specified  performance  obligations  are  recognized  as  other  income  when  all  obligations  have  been  fulfilled. 
If  such  obligations  are  not  satisfied,  the  Company  may  be  required  to  refund  the  subsidy.  The  grant  received  before 
the  fulfillment  of  specified  performance  obligations  is  recorded  in  deferred  income.  The  Company  had  $2.1  million  and 
$0.9 million of government grants in deferred income as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

In  March  2020,  the  Company  entered  into  an  exclusive  promotion  agreement  with  Huizheng  so  that  the  Company  could 
leverage  Hanhui’s  infrastructure  for  sales  of  NUZYRA  in  mainland  China.  In  exchange  for  exclusive  promotion  rights  in 
mainland  China,  Huizheng  agreed  to  pay  the  Company  non-creditable  upfront  payments  of  RMB230.0  million,  of  which 
RMB90.0 million was paid in 2020, RMB70.0 million in 2022, and RMB70.0 million in 2023. The Company is amortizing the 
upfront  payments  through  the  end  of  the  contract  term.  The  Company  had  $26.7  million  and  $20.5  million  in  deferred 
income related to the upfront payments as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

(v)  Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive  loss  is  defined  as  the  changes  in  equity  of  the  Company  during  a  period  from  transactions  and  other 

events and circumstances excluding transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. For 

each  of  the  periods  presented,  the  Company’s  comprehensive  loss  includes  net  loss  and  foreign  currency  translation 

adjustments, which are presented in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

(w)  Share-Based Compensation

The Company grants share options and non-vested restricted shares to eligible employees, non-employees, and Directors 

and accounts for these share-based awards in accordance with ASC 718.

The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The grant-date fair 

value of non-vested restricted shares is the market value of the underlying stock on the award’s grant date.

The Company has elected to use the straight-line method to recognize compensation expenses for share awards with graded 

vesting  based  on  service  conditions,  provided  that  the  minimum  amount  of  cumulative  compensation  expense  recognized 

is not less than the portion of the award vested to date. For share-based awards with service conditions only, the Company 

recognizes  expenses  (i)  immediately  at  grant  date  if  no  vesting  conditions  are  required;  or  (ii)  using  a  straight-line  method 

over  the  requisite  service  period,  which  is  the  vesting  period,  if  vesting  conditions  are  required.  For  share-based  awards 

containing performance conditions, the Company recognizes expenses based on the estimated number of performance-based 

awards expected to vest using the graded vesting attribution method. The Company accounts for the effect of forfeitures as 

they occur.

214

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

(x) 

Income Taxes

Income tax expense includes (i) deferred tax expense, which generally represents the net change in the deferred tax asset 

or  liability  balance  during  the  year  plus  any  change  in  valuation  allowances;  (ii)  current  tax  expense,  which  represents 

the  amount  of  tax  currently  payable  to  or  receivable  from  a  taxing  authority;  and  (iii)  non-current  tax  expense,  which 

represents the increases and decreases in amounts related to uncertain tax positions from prior periods and not settled 

with cash or other tax attributes.

The  Company  recognizes  deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  for  temporary  differences  between  the  financial  statement 

and income tax bases of assets and liabilities, which are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect 

when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some 

portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

The  Company  evaluates  its  uncertain  tax  positions  using  the  provisions  of  ASC  740,  Income  Taxes,  which  requires  that 

realization of an uncertain income tax position be recognized in the financial statements. The benefit to be recorded in 

the financial statements is the amount most likely to be realized assuming a review by tax authorities having all relevant 

information  and  applying  current  conventions.  It  is  the  Company’s  policy  to  recognize  interest  and  penalties  related 

to  unrecognized  tax  benefits,  if  any,  as  a  component  of  income  tax  expense.  No  unrecognized  tax  benefits  and  related 

interest and penalties were recorded in the periods presented.

(y) 

Loss Per Share

Basic  loss  per  ordinary  share  is  computed  by  dividing  net  loss  attributable  to  ordinary  shareholders  by  the  weighted 

average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.

Diluted  loss  per  ordinary  share  reflects  the  potential  dilution  that  could  occur  if  securities  were  exercised  or  converted 

into  ordinary  shares.  The  Company  had  stock  options  and  non-vested  restricted  shares,  which  could  potentially  dilute 

basic  loss  per  share  in  the  future.  To  calculate  the  number  of  shares  for  diluted  loss  per  share,  the  effect  of  the  stock 

options and non-vested restricted shares is computed using the treasury stock method. The computation of diluted loss 

per share does not assume exercise or conversion of securities that would have an anti-dilutive effect.

(z) 

Segment Information

In  accordance  with  ASC  280,  Segment  Reporting,  the  Company’s  chief  operating  decision  maker,  the  Chief  Executive 

Officer, reviews the consolidated results when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of 

the Company as a whole, and therefore, the Company has only one operating and reportable segment.

215

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

(aa)  Concentration of Risks

Concentration of Customers

One customer accounted for 10% or more of revenue, with $59.4 million and $52.5 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Concentration of Suppliers

The  Company  did  not  have  any  suppliers  accounted  for  10%  or  more  of  research  and  development  expenses  and 

inventory purchases in 2023 or 2022.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial  instruments  that  are  potentially  subject  to  significant  concentration  of  credit  risk  consist  of  cash  and  cash 

equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, and notes receivable.

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments represent the maximum amount of loss 

due  to  credit  risk.  As  of  December  31,  2023  and  2022,  all  of  the  Company’s  cash  and  cash  equivalents  and  short-term 

investments  were  held  by  major  financial  institutions  located  in  mainland  China  and  international  financial  institutions 

outside  of  mainland  China  which  management  believes  are  of  high  credit  quality  and  continually  monitors  the  credit 

worthiness of these financial institutions.

Accounts  receivable  are  typically  unsecured  and  are  derived  from  product  sales.  The  Company  manages  credit  risk  of 

accounts  receivable  through  ongoing  monitoring  of  outstanding  balances  and  limits  the  amount  of  credit  extended 

based upon payment history and credit worthiness. Historically, the Company has collected receivables from customers 

within the credit terms with no significant credit losses incurred. One customer accounted for 10% or more of accounts 

receivable, with $7.8 million and $9.3 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Certain  accounts  receivable  balances  may  be  settled  in  the  form  of  notes  receivable.  As  of  December  31,  2023,  notes 

receivable  represented  bank  acceptance  promissory  notes  that  are  non-interest  bearing  and  due  within  six  months. 

Notes  receivable  were  used  to  collect  the  receivables  based  on  an  administrative  convenience,  given  these  notes  are 

readily convertible to be known amounts of cash. In accordance with the sales agreements, whether to use cash or bank 

acceptance promissory notes to settle the receivables is at the Company’s discretion, and this selection does not impact 

the agreed contractual purchase prices.

216

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

(aa)  Concentration of Risks (Continued)

Foreign Currency Risk

RMB  is  not  a  freely  convertible  currency.  The  State  Administration  of  Foreign  Exchange,  under  the  authority  of  the 

People’s Bank of China, controls the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies. The value of RMB is subject to changes 

in central government policies and to international economic and political developments affecting supply and demand in 

the China Foreign Exchange Trading System market. The cash and cash equivalents of the Company included aggregated 

amounts  denominated  in  RMB  of  $25.1  million  and  $45.5  million  as  of  December  31,  2023  and  2022,  respectively, 

representing 3% and 5% of cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

(ab)  Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In  December  2023,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  issued  ASU  No.  2023-09,  Improvements  to  Income  Tax 

Disclosures  (Topic  740).  This  ASU  requires  disaggregated  information  about  a  reporting  entity’s  effective  tax  rate 

reconciliation  as  well  as  additional  information  on  income  taxes  paid.  This  ASU  is  effective  on  a  prospective  basis  for 

annual  periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2024.  Early  adoption  is  permitted.  This  ASU  will  result  in  the  required 

additional  disclosures  being  included  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  once  adopted.  The  Company  is  currently 

evaluating the impact of this ASU and expects to adopt it for the year ending December 31, 2025.

The  Company  has  not  adopted  any  new  accounting  standards  in  2023  that  have  a  material  impact  on  the  Consolidated 

Financial Statements.

3.  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

The following table presents the Company’s cash and cash equivalents ($ in thousands):

Cash

Cash equivalents (i)

Denominated in:

US$

RMB (ii)

HK$

A$

TW$

December 31,

2023

789,051

1,100

790,151

762,436

25,093

1,974

587

61

2022

1,007,423

1,047

1,008,470

957,824

45,486

4,378

598

184

790,151

1,008,470

(i) 

Cash equivalents represent short-term and highly liquid investments in a money market fund.

(ii) 

Certain cash and bank balances denominated in RMB were deposited with banks in mainland China. The conversion of these RMB denominated balances into 

foreign currencies is subject to the rules and regulations of foreign exchange control promulgated by the Chinese government.

217

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS4.  RESTRICTED CASH, NON-CURRENT

The Company’s restricted cash balance was $1.1 million and $0.8 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and 

consisted of long-term bank deposits held as collateral for issuance of letters of credit. These deposits will be released when the 

related letters of credit are settled by the Company.

5.  SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

Short-term investments are primarily comprised of time deposits with original maturities between three months and one year. 

The short-term investments balance was $16.3 million and nil as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. No allowance for 

credit loss was recorded as of December 31, 2023.

6.  ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

The following table presents the Company’s accounts receivable as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 ($ in thousands):

Accounts receivable, gross

Allowance for credit loss

Accounts receivable, net

December 31,

2023

59,216

(17)

59,199

2022

39,974

(11)

39,963

The  Company’s  trading  terms  with  its  customers  are  mainly  on  credit,  and  the  credit  period  generally  ranges  from  40  to  90  days.  The 

Company seeks to maintain strict control over its outstanding receivables and overdue balances are regularly reviewed. The Company does 

not hold any collateral or other credit enhancements over its accounts receivable balances. Accounts receivable are non-interest-bearing.

The following table presents an aging analysis of the accounts receivable, based on the invoice date ($ in thousands):

Within 3 months

3 months to 6 months

6 months to 1 year

Total

December 31,

2023

59,199

—

—

2022

39,953

4

6

59,199

39,963

218

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS7. 

INVENTORIES, NET

The following table presents the Company’s inventories, net ($ in thousands):

Finished goods

Raw materials

Work in progress

Inventories, net

December 31,

2023

22,702

17,655

4,470

44,827

2022

12,156

19,029

436

31,621

The  Company  writes  down  inventory  for  any  excess  or  obsolete  inventories  or  when  the  Company  believes  that  the  net 

realizable value of inventories is less than the carrying value. The Company recorded write-downs of inventory in cost of sales of 

$1.0 million and $0.5 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

8.  LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS

In July 2021, the Company made an equity investment in MacroGenics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and 

commercializing  innovative  monoclonal  antibody-based  therapeutics  for  the  treatment  of  cancer,  in  a  private  placement  with 

total contributions of $30.0 million and obtained 958,467 newly issued common shares of MacroGenics at $31.30 per share. The 

Company recorded this investment at acquisition cost and subsequently measured it at fair value, with the changes in fair value 

recognized in other income, net in the consolidated statements of operations. The equity investments with readily determinable 

fair value are measured using level 1 inputs and were $9.2 million and $6.4 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. 

The Company recognized a fair value gain of $2.8 million in 2023, and fair value losses of $9.0 million in 2022.

219

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS9.  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

The following table presents the components of the Company’s property and equipment, net ($ in thousands):

Office equipment

Electronic equipment

Vehicle

Laboratory equipment

Manufacturing equipment

Leasehold improvements

Construction in progress

Less: accumulated depreciation

Property and equipment, net

December 31,

2023

1,047

9,161

199

20,140

17,680

11,371

24,272

83,870

(30,136)

53,734

2022

977

7,416

202

18,726

17,055

11,300

24,251

79,927

(22,064)

57,863

Depreciation expense was $8.4 million and $7.7 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

10.  LEASES

The Company leases facilities for its offices, research and development center, and manufacturing facilities in mainland China, 

Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States. Lease terms vary based on the nature of operations and market dynamics; however, 

all leased facilities are classified as operating leases with remaining lease terms between one and five years.

The  following  table  presents  operating  lease  costs  ($  in  thousands).  Total  lease  expense  related  to  short-term  leases  was 

insignificant for those periods presented.

Operating fixed lease cost

The following table presents operating cash flows related to leases ($ in thousands):

Cash paid for amounts included in measurement of lease liabilities

Non-cash operating lease liabilities arising from obtaining 

 operating right-of-use assets

220

Year ended December 31,
2022

2023

8,691

8,774

Year ended December 31,
2022

2023

9,317

3,668

8,084

14,801

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS10.  LEASES (CONTINUED)

The maturities of lease liabilities in accordance with ASC Topic 842, Leases in each of the next five years and thereafter were as 

follows ($ in thousands):

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

Thereafter

Total lease payments

Less: imputed interest

Present value of minimum operating lease payments

Weighted-average remaining lease terms and discount rates were as follows:

Weighted-average remaining lease term

Weighted-average discount rate

11.  ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Year ended
December 31, 
2023

7,444

5,143

1,811

822

391

—

15,611

(460)

15,151

December 31,

2023

2.5 years

3.0%

2022

2.6 years

3.4%

The following table presents an aging analysis of the accounts payable, based on the invoice date ($ in thousands):

Within 3 months

3 months to 6 months

6 months to 1 year

Over 1 year

Total

The accounts payable are non-interest-bearing and repayable within the normal operating cycle.

221

December 31,

2023

112,328

497

2

164

2022

65,249

132

577

16

112,991

65,974

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
12.  REVENUE

Product Revenue

The  Company’s  product  revenue  is  derived  from  the  sales  of  its  commercial  products  primarily  in  mainland  China.  The  table 

below presents the Company’s net product revenue ($ in thousands):

Product revenue — gross

Less: Rebates and sales returns

Product revenue — net

Year ended December 31,
2022

2023

298,911

(32,192)

266,719

234,009

(21,337)

212,672

Sales rebates are offered to distributors in mainland China, and the amounts are recorded as a reduction of revenue. Estimated 

rebates are determined based on contracted rates, sales volumes, and level of distributor inventories.

The following table presents the Company’s net revenue by product ($ in thousands):

ZEJULA

OPTUNE

QINLOCK

NUZYRA

VYVGART

Product revenue — net

Year ended December 31,

2023

168,843

46,969

19,240

21,656

10,011

266,719

2022

145,194

47,321

14,957

5,200

—

212,672

222

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS13.  INCOME TAX

Cayman Islands

Zai Lab Limited, ZLIP Holding Limited, Zai Auto Immune Limited, and Zai Anti Infectives Limited are incorporated in the Cayman 

Islands.  Under  the  current  laws  of  the  Cayman  Islands,  Zai  Lab  Limited,  ZLIP  Holding  Limited,  Zai  Auto  Immune  Limited,  and 

Zai Anti Infectives Limited are not subject to tax on income or capital gain. Additionally, the Cayman Islands does not impose a 

withholding tax on payments of dividends to shareholders.

British Virgin Islands Taxation

ZL  Capital  Limited  is  incorporated  in  the  British  Virgin  Islands.  Under  the  current  laws  of  the  British  Virgin  Islands,  ZL  Capital 

Limited is not subject to income tax.

Australia

Zai Lab (AUST) Pty. Ltd. is incorporated in Australia and is subject to corporate income tax at a rate of 30%. Zai Lab (AUST) Pty. 

Ltd. had no taxable income for the periods presented; therefore, no provision for income taxes is required.

United States

Zai  Lab  (US)  LLC  is  incorporated  in  the  United  States  and  is  subject  to  U.S.  federal  corporate  income  tax  at  a  rate  of  21%.  Zai 

Lab (US) LLC is also subject to state income tax in Delaware. Zai Lab (US) LLC had no taxable income for the periods presented; 

therefore, no provision for income taxes is required.

Taiwan

Zai  Lab  (Taiwan)  Limited  is  incorporated  in  Taiwan  and  is  subject  to  corporate  income  tax  at  a  rate  of  20%.  Zai  Lab  (Taiwan) 

Limited had no taxable income for the periods presented; therefore, no provision for income taxes is required.

Hong Kong

Zai  Lab  (Hong  Kong)  Limited,  ZL  China  Holding  Two  Limited,  Zai  Auto  Immune  (Hong  Kong)  Limited,  and  Zai  Anti  Infectives 

(Hong  Kong)  Limited  are  incorporated  in  Hong  Kong.  Companies  registered  in  Hong  Kong  are  subject  to  Hong  Kong  profits 

tax  on  the  taxable  income  as  reported  in  their  respective  statutory  financial  statements  adjusted  in  accordance  with  relevant 

Hong  Kong  tax  laws.  Under  the  two-tiered  profits  tax  rates  regime  in  Hong  Kong,  the  first  HK$2.0  million  of  profits  of  the 

qualifying group entity will be taxed at 8.25%, and profits above HK$2.0 million will be taxed at 16.5%. In 2023 and 2022, Zai Lab 

(Hong Kong) Limited, ZL China Holding Two Limited, Zai Auto Immune (Hong Kong) Limited, and Zai Anti Infectives (Hong Kong) 

Limited did not make any provisions for Hong Kong profit tax as there were no assessable profits derived from or earned in Hong 

Kong for any of the periods presented. Under the Hong Kong tax law, Zai Lab (Hong Kong) Limited, ZL China Holding Two Limited, 

Zai Auto Immune (Hong Kong) Limited, and Zai Anti Infectives (Hong Kong) Limited are exempted from income tax on its foreign-

derived income, and there are no withholding taxes in Hong Kong on remittance of dividends.

223

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS13.  INCOME TAX (CONTINUED)

People’s Republic of China

Under EIT Law, the statutory income tax rate is 25%, and the EIT rate will be reduced to 15% for state-encouraged HNTE. Zai Lab 

(Shanghai) Co., Ltd., first obtained an HNTE certificate in 2018 and began to enjoy the preferential tax rate of 15% from 2018 to 

2020 and further extended the certificate in 2021 effective for 2021 to 2023. Zai Lab International Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., 

Zai  Lab  (Suzhou)  Co.,  Ltd.,  Zai  Biopharmaceutical  (Suzhou)  Co.,  Ltd.,  and  Zai  Lab  Trading  (Suzhou)  Co.,  Ltd.  are  subject  to  the 

statutory rate of 25%.

No  provision  for  income  taxes  has  been  required  to  be  accrued  because  the  Company  is  in  a  cumulative  loss  position  for  the 

periods presented.

The following table presents loss (income) before income taxes ($ in thousands):

Cayman Islands

British Virgin Islands

Mainland China

Hong Kong

United States

Australia

Taiwan

Year ended December 31,

2023

(16,792)

—

253,274

4,483

92,869

14

772

2022

19,454

2

290,056

53,425

79,620

(260)

989

334,620

443,286

Reconciliations of the differences between the Chinese statutory income tax rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate 

were as follows:

Statutory income tax rate

Tax-exempted income

Share-based compensation

Research and development super deduction

Non-deductible expenses

Prior year tax filing adjustment

Effect of different tax rate of subsidiary operation in other jurisdictions

Preferential tax rate

Expiration of deductible qualified donation 

Changes in valuation allowance

Effective income tax rate

224

Year ended December 31,

2023

25%

0.19%

(2.08%)

7.11%

(2.83%)

1.32%

0.02%

(7.12%)

2.28%

(23.89%)

—%

2022

25%

—%

(1.40%)

2.51%

(2.31%)

6.33%

(2.85%)

(6.26%)

—%

(21.02%)

—%

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS13.  INCOME TAX (CONTINUED)

People’s Republic of China (Continued)

The following table presents the principal components of deferred tax assets and liabilities ($ in thousands):

Deferred tax assets:

 Depreciation of property and equipment, net

 Research and experimental capitalization

 Share-based compensation

 Accrued expenses

 Government grants

 Deferred revenue

 Qualified donation

 Lease liability

Net operating loss carry forwards

Less: valuation allowance

Total Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities:

 Right-of-use assets

Deferred tax assets, net

Year ended December 31,

2023

2022

131

30,429

3,422

707

467

4,354

22,992

2,967

295,313

(357,956)

2,826

(2,826)

—

98

22,476

1,787

1,800

189

3,378

12,947

3,738

241,397

(284,072)

3,738

(3,738)

—

ASC 740, Income Taxes, provides for the recognition of deferred tax assets if realization of such assets is more likely than not. 

The  Company’s  ability  to  realize  deferred  tax  assets  depends  on  its  ability  to  generate  sufficient  taxable  income  within  the 

carry  forward  periods  provided  for  in  the  tax  law.  In  assessing  the  need  for  any  additional  valuation  allowance  for  2023,  the 

Company considered all available evidence both positive and negative, including potential for prudent and feasible tax planning 

strategies, recent losses, and forecasts of future profitability. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company determined that 

the deferred tax assets on temporary differences and net operating loss carry forwards related to certain subsidiaries will not be 

realized, and as such it has fully provided the corresponding valuation allowance.

225

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS13.  INCOME TAX (CONTINUED)

People’s Republic of China (Continued)

The following table presents that movement of the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets ($ in thousands):

Balance as of January 1,

Additions

Balance as of December 31,

2023

(284,072)

(73,884)

(357,956)

2022

(189,684)

(94,388)

(284,072)

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had net operating loss carry forwards of $1,804.9 million and $1,483.2 million, 

respectively.  As  of  December  31,  2023,  net  operating  loss  carryforwards  related  to  the  Company’s  subsidiaries  in  mainland 

China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United States, and Australia and were $1,492.0 million, $51.0 million, $2.1 million, $256.0 million, 

and $3.8 million, respectively. Net operating loss carryforwards in mainland China and Taiwan expire through 2033 and those in 

Hong Kong, the United States, and Australia do not expire.

Uncertainties  exist  with  respect  to  how  the  current  income  tax  law  in  mainland  China  applies  to  the  Company’s  overall 

operations,  and  more  specifically,  with  regard  to  tax  residency  status.  The  EIT  Law  includes  a  provision  specifying  that  legal 

entities  organized  outside  of  mainland  China  will  be  considered  residents  for  Chinese  income  tax  purposes  if  the  place  of 

effective management or control is within mainland China. The implementation rules to the EIT Law provide that non-resident 

legal  entities  will  be  considered  Chinese  residents  if  substantial  and  overall  management  and  control  over  the  manufacturing 

and business operations, personnel, accounting, and properties occurs within mainland China. Despite the present uncertainties 

resulting  from  the  limited  Chinese  tax  guidance  on  the  issue,  the  Company  does  not  believe  that  the  legal  entities  organized 

outside  of  mainland  China  within  the  Company  should  be  treated  as  residents  for  EIT  Law  purposes.  If  the  Chinese  tax 

authorities  subsequently  determine  that  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  registered  outside  of  mainland  China  should  be 

deemed resident enterprises, the Company and its subsidiaries registered outside of mainland China will be subject to Chinese 

income taxes, at a rate of 25%. The Company is not subject to any other uncertain tax position.

According  to  the  PRC  Tax  Administration  and  Collection  Law,  the  statute  of  limitation  is  three  years  if  the  underpayment  of 

taxes is due to computational errors made by the taxpayer or the withholding agent. The statute of limitation is extended to five 

years under special circumstances where the underpayment of taxes is more than RMB0.1 million. In the case of transfer pricing 

issues, the statute of limitation is 10 years. There is no statute of limitation in the case of tax evasion. The income tax returns of 

the Company’s PRC subsidiary for the years from 2014 to 2023 are open to examination by the PRC tax authorities.

For  Hong  Kong  income  tax  purposes,  the  statute  of  limitations  is  six  years  after  the  relevant  year  of  assessment.  This  can  be 

extended to 10 years in the case of fraud of willful evasion of taxes. There are no provisions that govern the time limit for tax 

collection.

226

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS13.  INCOME TAX (CONTINUED)

People’s Republic of China (Continued)

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the statute of limitations is generally 3 years after the due date of the return, or 3 years 

after the date the return was actually filed, whichever is later. The statute of limitations does not apply to fraud or tax evasion. 

Also, the statute of limitations is indefinite if no tax return is filed. For state income tax purposes, the statute of limitations is 

generally  4  years  from  the  return  filing  date  or  due  date  in  states  including  California,  Kentucky,  and  New  Jersey,  subject  to 

certain exceptions (e.g., fraud, failure to file).

14.  OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

The following table presents the Company’s other current liabilities ($ in thousands):

Accrued payroll

Accrued professional service fee

Payables for purchase of property and equipment

Accrued rebate to distributors

Tax payables

Other (i)

Total

(i) 

Other mainly includes accrued travel, business-related expenses, and other payables to employees.

December 31,

2023

33,711

7,520

2,474

16,926

16,988

5,353

82,972

2022

31,689

4,080

5,269

8,443

13,283

4,054

66,818

227

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS15.  LOSS PER SHARE

The following table presents the computation of the basic and diluted net loss per share ($ in thousands, except share and per 

share data):

Numerator:

Year ended December 31,

2023

2022

Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders

(334,620)

(443,286)

Denominator:

Weighted average number of ordinary shares — basic and diluted

Net loss per share-basic and diluted

966,394,130

958,067,140

(0.35)

(0.46)

As  a  result  of  the  Company’s  net  loss  for  2023  and  2022,  share  options  and  non-vested  restricted  shares  outstanding  in  the 

respective periods were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

Share options

Non-vested restricted shares

16.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

December 31,

2023

104,584,050

31,279,600

2022

91,181,420

33,433,890

The Company incurred research and development expenses for product research and development services provided by MEDx, 

over which an immediate family member of its Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Board held significant influence. 

The Company incurred development expenses with MEDx of insignificant amount in 2023, and $0.4 million in 2022, respectively.

17.  SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

The  Company  has  adopted  equity  incentive  plans,  pursuant  to  which  the  Company  grants  share  options,  SARs,  restricted  and 

unrestricted  shares,  and  share  units,  performance  awards,  and  other  awards  that  are  convertible  into  or  otherwise  based  on 

ordinary  shares  to  employees  and  Directors  of  the  Company  as  well  as  to  certain  advisors  and  service  providers.  In  March 

2015,  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company  approved  the  2015  Plan.  In  August  2017,  in  connection  with  the  completion  of 

the IPO, the Board of Directors approved the 2017 Plan). No new equity-based awards would be granted under the 2015 Plan 

subsequent to the IPO; new equity-based awards would be granted under the 2017 Plan. 

The  Company  adopted  the  2022  Plan,  which  became  effective  in  June  2022  following  required  approvals  from  the  Company’s 

shareholders and Board of Directors. No new equity-based awards will be made under the 2017 Plan as of the effective date of the 

2022 Plan. The initial aggregate number of shares available for issuance under the 2022 Plan was 97,908,743 ordinary shares. 

228

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS17.  SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

The  share  options  granted  under  the  equity  incentive  plans  described  above  have  a  contractual  term  of  ten  years.  Share 

options  granted  since  April  2023  generally  vest  ratably  over  a  four-year  period,  and  share  options  granted  prior  to  April  2023 

generally  vest  ratably  over  a  five-year  period,  with  25%  or  20%  of  the  awards  vesting  on  each  anniversary  of  the  grant  date, 

respectively,  subject  to  continued  employment/service  with  the  Company  on  the  vesting  date.  The  restricted  shares  granted 

generally  vest  ratably  over  a  specified  period  on  the  anniversary  of  the  grant  date,  subject  to  continued  employment/service 

with the Company on the vesting date. The shares underlying restricted share grants represent shares not yet vested until they 

have  met  related  consideration  or  vesting  requirements,  which  are  generally  continued  employment/service  to  the  Company 

or satisfaction of specified performance conditions. The restricted shares will be released from the restrictions once they vest. 

Upon termination of the award holders’ service with the Company for any reason, any shares that are outstanding and not yet 

vested will be immediately forfeited unless otherwise set forth in an agreement between the Company and the award holder.

Before November 2023, upon each settlement date of the share awards, shares were generally withheld to cover the required 

withholding  tax,  which  was  based  on  the  value  of  a  share  on  the  settlement  date  as  determined  by  the  closing  price  of  the 

ADSs  on  the  trading  day  of  the  applicable  settlement  date.  The  remaining  shares  after  the  withholding  were  delivered  to  the 

recipient. The amount remitted to the tax authorities for employee tax obligations was reflected as a financing activity on the 

consolidated statements of cash flows. These shares withheld by the Company as a result of the net settlement were accounted 

for as treasury stock and considered issued but not outstanding.

Stock Option Activity

The following table presents a summary of option activity and related information in 2023: 

Weighted
average 
exercise
price 
($)

3.05

3.36

0.39

6.68

3.14

2.11

Number of
options

91,181,420

24,102,740

(6,516,920)

(4,183,190)

104,584,050

58,695,320

Weighted 
average 
remaining
contractual 
term
(years)

Aggregate 
intrinsic 
value
($ in thousands)

5.89

115,969

5.97

3.93

83,424

83,266

Outstanding at December 31, 2022

Granted

Exercised

Forfeited

Outstanding at December 31, 2023

Vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2023

The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised in 2023 and 2022 were $20.3 million and $14.3 million, respectively. 

229

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS17.  SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

Stock Option Valuation Assumptions

The following table presents the assumptions used to estimate the fair values of the share options granted:

Risk-free rate of return

Expected term (in years)

Estimated volatility rate

Expected dividend rate

2023

3.5%–4.7%

6, 6.25, or 6.5

70%

0%

2022

1.4%–4.0%

6.5 

65%

0%

Options  granted  are  measured  based  on  grant-date  fair  value  using  the  Black-Scholes  option  pricing  model.  The  weighted-

average grant-date fair value per share for options granted in 2023 and 2022 were $2.21 and $2.74 per share, respectively.

Non-Vested Restricted Shares Activity

The following table summarized the Company’s non-vested restricted share activity in 2023: 

Non-vested as of December 31, 2022

Granted

Vested

Forfeited

Non-vested as of December 31, 2023

Weighted
average
remaining
contractual 
term 
(years)

Aggregate
intrinsic value
($ in thousands)

3.55

102,642

2.75

85,487

Numbers of 
non-vested 
restricted shares

33,433,890

9,001,740

(8,178,500)

(2,977,530)

31,279,600

The grant-date fair value of restricted shares is the fair value of the underlying stock on the award’s grant date. The weighted-

average  grant-date  fair  value  per  share  for  restricted  shares  granted  in  2023  and  2022  were  $3.18  and  $3.71  per  share, 

respectively.

230

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS17.  SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

Stock-Based Compensation Expenses

The following table presents the share-based compensation expense which has been reported in the Company’s consolidated 

statements of operations ($ in thousands): 

Selling, general and administrative

Research and development

Total

Year ended December 31,

2023

48,017

31,617

79,634

2022

38,118

23,184

61,302

As  of  December  31,  2023,  there  was  unrecognized  share-based  compensation  expense  related  to  unvested  share  options  and 

unvested restricted shares of $104.2 million and $104.1 million, respectively, which the Company expects to recognize over a 

weighted-average period of 3.05 years and 2.75 years, respectively.  

18.  LICENSE AND COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS 

The  Company  may  enter  into  collaboration  agreements  with  third  parties  to  license  intellectual  property.  These  agreements 

may  require  the  Company  to  make  upfront  payments  and  payments  related  to  certain  future  development,  regulatory,  and 

sales-based  milestones  as  well  as  certain  royalties  at  tiered  percentage  rates  on  annual  sales  of  the  licensed  products  in  the 

licensed  territory.  These  agreements  generally  remain  in  effect,  unless  earlier  terminated,  until  the  expiration  of  the  last-to-

expire royalty term for the last licensed product. The royalty terms generally continue until the latest of: (i) the expiration of the 

last-to-expire valid claim with respect to licensed patent rights; (ii) the expiration of market or regulatory exclusivity; or (iii) or 

a specified period of time, generally around ten years, after the date of the first commercial sale of the licensed product. These 

agreements  also  contain  customary  provisions  for  termination  by  either  party,  including  in  the  event  of  a  material  breach  by 

the other party that remains uncured; by the Company for convenience upon a specified notice period; for certain bankruptcy, 

insolvency, or other similar events; and by its partners upon challenge of their licensed patent rights. 

Payments under these agreements generally become due and payable upon the achievement of such milestones or sales. These 

commitments  are  not  recorded  as  liabilities  on  the  consolidated  balance  sheet  because  the  achievement  and  timing  of  these 

milestones are not fixed and determinable. The following is a description of the Company’s significant license and collaboration 

agreements as of December 31, 2023, including milestone fees incurred in 2023 and 2022. 

231

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
18.  LICENSE AND COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Significant License and Collaboration Arrangements

License and Collaboration Agreement with GSK (Niraparib) 

In  September  2016,  the  Company  entered  into  a  collaboration,  development,  and  license  agreement  with  Tesaro,  Inc.,  a 

company  later  acquired  by  GSK,  pursuant  to  which  the  Company  obtained  an  exclusive  sublicense  under  certain  patents  and 

know-how of GSK to develop, manufacture, and commercialize GSK’s proprietary PARP inhibitor, niraparib, for the diagnosis and 

prevention of any human diseases or conditions (other than prostate cancer) in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. 

The  Company  recorded  development  milestone  fees  into  research  and  development  expenses  of  $4.0  million  in  2022.  The 

Company  recorded  sales-based  milestone  fees  of  $12.0  million  in  2023.  The  Company  may  be  required  to  pay  an  additional 

aggregate amount of up to $16.0 million in development, regulatory, and sales-based milestones as well as certain royalties at 

tiered percentages rates ranging from mid- to high-teens on annual net sales of the licensed products in the licensed territories.

License and Collaboration Agreement with NovoCure (Tumor Treating Fields)

In  September  2018,  the  Company  entered  into  a  license  and  collaboration  agreement  with  NovoCure,  pursuant  to  which 

it  obtained  an  exclusive  license  under  certain  patents  and  know-how  of  NovoCure  to  develop  and  commercialize  any 

Tumor  Treating  Fields  treatment  or  delivery  system,  including  the  device  branded  as  OPTUNE,  in  all  human  therapeutic  and 

preventative uses in the field of oncology in Greater China. 

The Company may be required to pay an additional aggregate amount of up to $68.0 million in development, regulatory, and 

sales-based milestones as well as certain royalties at tiered percentage rates ranging from low- to mid-teens on annual net sales 

of  the  licensed  products  in  the  licensed  territory.  The  Company  will  purchase  licensed  products  exclusively  from  NovoCure  at 

NovoCure’s fully burdened manufacturing cost. 

License and Collaboration Agreement with Deciphera (Ripretinib)

In June 2019, the Company entered into a license agreement with Deciphera, pursuant to which it obtained an exclusive license 

under certain patents and know-how of Deciphera to develop and commercialize products containing ripretinib in the field of 

the prevention, prophylaxis, treatment, cure, or amelioration of any disease or medical condition in humans in Greater China. 

The Company will purchase licensed products exclusively from Deciphera.

The Company may be required to pay an additional aggregate amount of up to $173.0 million in development, regulatory, and 

sales-based milestones as well as certain royalties at tiered percentage rates ranging from low- to high-teens on annual net sales 

of the licensed products in the licensed territory.

232

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS18.  LICENSE AND COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS (CONTINUED)

License and Collaboration Agreement with Novo Holdings (Omadacycline)

In  April  2017,  the  Company  entered  into  a  license  and  collaboration  agreement  with  Paratek,  a  subsidiary  of  Paratek 

Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.  (which  was  subsequently  acquired  by  Gurnet  Point  Capital  and  Novo  Holdings  A/S),  pursuant  to  which 

the Company obtained both an exclusive license under certain patents and know-how of Paratek and an exclusive sub-license 

under  certain  intellectual  property  that  Paratek  licensed  from  Tufts  University  to  develop,  manufacture,  and  commercialize 

products containing omadacycline as an active ingredient in the field of all human therapeutic and preventative uses other than 

biodefense in Greater China.

The Company may be required to pay an additional aggregate amount of up to $40.5 million in development, regulatory, and 

sales-based  milestones  as  well  as  certain  royalties  at  tiered  percentages  rates  ranging  from  low-  to  mid-teens  on  annual  net 

sales of licensed products in the licensed territory. 

Collaboration and License Agreement with argenx (Efgartigimod)

In January 2021, the Company entered into a collaboration and license agreement with argenx pursuant to which the Company 

obtained an exclusive license under certain patients and know-how of argenx to develop and commercialize products containing 

efgartigimod  as  an  active  ingredient  in  all  human  and  animal  uses  for  any  preventative  or  therapeutic  indications  in  Greater 

China. The Company will purchase licensed products exclusively from argenx.

Pursuant to the collaboration and license agreement, the Company and argenx entered into a share issuance agreement. The 

Company issued as an upfront payment to argenx of 5,681,820 ordinary shares of the Company. In determining the fair value of 

the ordinary shares at closing, the Company considered the closing price of the ordinary shares on the closing date and included 

a  lack  of  marketability  discount  because  the  shares  were  subject  to  certain  restrictions.  The  fair  value  of  the  shares  on  the 

closing date was determined to be $62.3 million in the aggregate. 

The  Company  may  be  required  to  pay  certain  royalties  at  tiered  percentages  rates  ranging  from  mid-teen  to  low-twenties  on 

annual net sales of the licensed products in the licensed territory.

License and Collaboration Agreement with Amgen (Bemarituzumab)

In December 2017, the Company entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Five Prime (a company later acquired 

by Amgen, pursuant to which it obtained an exclusive license under certain patents and know-how of Five Prime to develop and 

commercialize products containing Five Prime’s proprietary afucosylated FGFR2b antibody known as bemarituzumab (FPA144) 

as an active ingredient in the treatment or prevention of any disease or condition in humans in Greater China.  The Company will 

purchase licensed products exclusively from Amgen.

233

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS18.  LICENSE AND COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS (CONTINUED)

License and Collaboration Agreement with Amgen (Bemarituzumab) (Continued)

The  Company  may  be  required  to  pay  an  additional  aggregate  amount  of  up  to  $37.0  million  in  development  and  regulatory 

milestones as well as certain royalties at tiered percentage rates ranging from high-teens to low twenties on annual net sales of 

the licensed product in the licensed territory. 

Under  the  terms  of  the  agreement,  provided  that  the  Company  enrolls  and  treats  a  specified  number  of  patients  in  the 

bemarituzumab FPA144-004 study in mainland China, the Company is eligible to receive a low single-digit percentage quarterly 

royalty, on a licensed product-by-licensed product basis on net sales of all licensed product outside of the licensed territory until 

the tenth (10th) anniversary of the first commercial sale of each such licensed product outside of the licensed territory. 

License and Collaboration Agreement with Innoviva (SUL-DUR)

In  April  2018,  the  Company  entered  into  a  license  and  collaboration  agreement  with  Entasis,  a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of 

Innoviva,  pursuant  to  which  it  obtained  an  exclusive  license  under  certain  patents  and  know-how  of  Entasis  to  develop  and 

commercialize products containing Entasis’s proprietary compounds known as durlobactam with Sulbactam (the combination, 

SUL-DUR) with the possibility of developing and commercializing a combination of such compounds with Imipenem in all human 

diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic uses in Greater China, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, 

the Philippines, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. The Company’s rights to develop and commercialize the licensed 

products are limited to the lead product (Sulbactam) until such lead product receives initial FDA approval in the United States. 

The Company will purchase licensed products exclusively from Innoviva.

The  Company  recorded  development  milestone  fees  into  research  and  development  expenses  of  $3.0  million  in  2023.  The 

Company  may  be  required  to  pay  an  additional  aggregate  amount  of  up  to  $88.6  million  in  development  and  sales-based 

milestones as well as certain royalties at tiered percentage rates ranging from high single digits to low-teens on annual net sales 

of the licensed products in the licensed territory. The Company is also responsible for a portion of the costs of the global pivotal 

Phase III ATTACK clinical trial of SUL-DUR outside of the licensed territory.

License Agreement with BMS (Repotrectinib)

In  July  2020,  the  Company  entered  into  an  exclusive  license  agreement  with  Turning  Point  Therapeutics,  Inc.  (a  company 

later  required  by  BMS)  pursuant  to  which  the  Company  received  an  exclusive  license  to  develop  and  commercialize  products 

containing  repotrectinib  as  an  active  ingredient  in  all  human  therapeutic  indications  in  Greater  China.  The  Company  will 

purchase licensed products exclusively from BMS.

The  Company  recorded  development  milestone  fees  into  research  and  development  expenses  of  $5.0  million  in  2023.  The 

Company  may  be  required  to  pay  an  additional  aggregate  amount  of  up  to  $141.0  million  in  development,  regulatory,  and 

sales-based  milestones  as  well  as  certain  royalties  at  tiered  percentage  rates  ranging  from  mid-  to  high-teens  on  annual  net 

sales of the licensed product in the licensed territory. 

234

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS18.  LICENSE AND COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Collaboration and License Agreement with BMS (Adagrasib)

In  May  2021,  the  Company  entered  into  a  collaboration  and  license  agreement  with  Mirati  (a  company  later  acquired  by 

BMS)  pursuant  to  which  the  Company  obtained  the  right  to  research,  develop,  manufacture,  and  exclusively  commercialize 

adagrasib  in  all  indications  in  Greater  China,  with  Mirati  retaining  exclusive  rights  for  the  development,  manufacturing,  and 

commercialization  of  adagrasib  outside  of  Greater  China  and  certain  co-commercialization,  manufacture,  and  development 

rights in Greater China. The Company will purchase licensed products exclusively from BMS.

The  Company  recorded  development  milestone  fees  of  $10.0  million  in  2022.  The  Company  may  be  required  to  pay  an  additional 

aggregate amount of up to $263.0 million in development, regulatory, and sales-based milestones as well as certain royalties at tiered 

percentage rates ranging from high-teens to low-twenties on annual net sales of the licensed product in the licensed territory.

License Agreement with BMS (Xanomeline-Trospium)

In November 2021, the Company entered into a license agreement with Karuna Therapeutics, Inc. (a company later acquired by 

BMS), pursuant to which the Company obtained an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize xanomeline-

trospium (KarXT) in Greater China.

The  Company  recorded  development  milestone  fees  of  $10.0  million  into  research  and  development  expenses  in  2022.  The 

Company may be required to pay an additional aggregate amount of up to $142.0 million in development, regulatory, and sales-

based milestones as well as certain royalties at tiered percentage rates ranging from low- to high-teens on annual net sales of 

the licensed products in Greater China.

Collaboration and License Agreement with Pfizer (Tisotumab Vedotin)

In September 2022, the Company entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Seagen (a company later acquired by Pfizer, 

pursuant to which the Company and Seagen agreed to collaboratively develop and commercialize tisotumab vedotin (TIVDAK). Under 

the agreement, the Company obtained an exclusive license to develop and commercialize TIVDAK in Greater China.

The  Company  recorded  an  upfront  payment  of  $30.0  million  into  research  and  development  expenses  in  2022.  The  Company 

may  be  required  to  pay  an  additional  aggregate  amount  of  up  to  $263.0  million  in  development,  regulatory,  and  sales-based 

milestone payments as well as certain royalties at tiered percentage rates ranging from mid-teens to low-twenties on annual net 

sales of the licensed products in Greater China. 

Other License and Collaboration Arrangements That Are Not Individually Significant

The  Company  recorded  an  upfront  payment  of  $10.0  million  in  2023  for  other  license  and  collaboration  agreements  that  are 

not individually significant. The Company may be required to pay an additional aggregate amount of up to $2,202.1 million in 

development, regulatory, and sales-based milestones as well as certain royalties at tiered percentage rates on annual net sales 

under such agreements.

235

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS19.  OTHER INCOME, NET 

The following table presents the Company’s other income, net ($ in thousands):

Government grants

Gain (Loss) on equity investments with readily determinable fair value

Other miscellaneous gain

Total

20.  RESTRICTED NET ASSETS

Year ended December 31,
2022

2023

2,433

2,789

1,784

7,006

11,471

(8,952)

594

3,113

The  Company’s  ability  to  pay  dividends  may  depend  on  the  Company  receiving  distributions  of  funds  from  its  Chinese 

subsidiaries. Relevant Chinese laws and regulations permit payments of dividends by the Company’s Chinese subsidiaries only 

out of its retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. The results 

of  operations  reflected  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements  prepared  in  accordance  with  U.S.  GAAP  differ  from  those 

reflected in the statutory financial statements of the Company’s Chinese subsidiaries.  

In accordance with the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China, a domestic enterprise is required to provide statutory 

reserves  of  at  least  10%  of  its  annual  after-tax  profit  until  such  reserve  has  reached  50%  of  its  respective  registered  capital 

based  on  the  enterprise’s  Chinese  statutory  accounts.  A  domestic  enterprise  may  provide  discretionary  surplus  reserve,  at 

the  discretion  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  from  the  profits  determined  in  accordance  with  the  enterprise’s  Chinese  statutory 

accounts. The aforementioned reserves can only be used for specific purposes and are not distributable as cash dividends. The 

Company’s  Chinese  subsidiaries  were  established  as  domestic  enterprises  and  therefore  are  subject  to  the  above-mentioned 

restrictions on distributable profits. 

No  appropriation  to  statutory  reserves  was  made  in  2023  and  2022  because  the  Chinese  subsidiaries  had  substantial  losses 

during such periods. 

As  a  result  of  these  Chinese  laws  and  regulations,  subject  to  the  limits  discussed  above  that  require  annual  appropriations 

of  10%  of  after-tax  profit  to  be  set  aside,  prior  to  payment  of  dividends,  as  a  general  reserve  fund,  the  Company’s  Chinese 

subsidiaries are restricted in their ability to transfer out a portion of their net assets. 

Foreign  exchange  and  other  regulation  in  mainland  China  may  further  restrict  the  Company’s  subsidiaries  in  mainland  China 

from  transferring  out  funds  in  the  form  of  dividends,  loans,  and  advances.  As  of  December  31,  2023  and  2022,  amounts 

restricted  were  the  paid-in  capital  of  the  Company’s  subsidiaries  in  mainland  China,  which  were  $506.0  million  and  $456.0 

million, respectively.

236

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS21.  EMPLOYEE DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS

Full-time  employees  of  the  Company  in  mainland  China  participate  in  a  government  mandated  defined  contribution  plan, 

pursuant to which certain pension benefits, medical care, employee housing fund, and other welfare benefits are provided to 

employees.  Chinese  labor  regulations  require  that  the  Company’s  subsidiaries  in  mainland  China  make  contributions  to  the 

government  for  these  benefits  primarily  based  on  certain  percentages  of  the  employees’  salaries  subject  to  certain  caps  and 

other government requirements. The total amounts for such employee benefits, which were expensed as incurred, were $25.8 

million and $23.6 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The Company’s employees who are U.S. taxpayers and who meet certain age and service requirements are eligible to participate 

in a broad-based, defined contribution retirement plan which is qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code. The 

Company  makes  a  matching  contribution  equal  to  100%  in  2023  and  50%  in  2022  of  the  first  5%  of  the  employee’s  elective 

contributions  under  the  plan,  up  to  5.0%  of  an  employee’s  eligible  compensation.  Contributions  made  by  the  Company  vest 

100%  upon  contribution.  The  total  amounts  for  such  employee  benefits,  which  were  expensed  as  incurred,  were  $1.0  million 

and $0.5 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively. 

The Company also provides required Mandatory Provident Fund contribution for its full-time employees located in Hong Kong 

and  provides  social  benefits  contribution  for  its  full-time  employees  located  in  Taiwan.  The  total  amounts  for  these 

contributions, which were expensed as incurred, were $0.2 million and $0.2 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively. 

There is no forfeiture of contribution related to any of the Company’s employee defined contribution plans as described above.

22.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

(a)  Purchase Commitments

The  Company’s  commitments  related  to  purchase  of  property  and  equipment  contracted  but  not  yet  reflected  in  the 

consolidated  financial  statements  were  $1.2  million  as  of  December  31,  2023  and  were  expected  to  be  incurred  within 

one year. 

(b)  Legal Proceedings

The  Company  is  not  currently  a  party  to  any  material  legal  proceedings.  Each  quarter,  the  Company  evaluates  whether 

there have been any developments in legal proceedings that would require an accrual. In accordance with the accounting 

guidance  for  contingencies,  the  Company  will  accrue  for  losses  that  are  both  probable  and  reasonably  estimable.  The 

Company will record any legal and other third-party costs related to its legal contingencies as incurred.

237

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS22.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)

(c) 

 Indemnifications

In  the  normal  course  of  business,  the  Company  enters  into  agreements  that  indemnify  others  for  certain  liabilities 

that  may  arise  in  connection  with  a  transaction  or  certain  events  and  activities.  If  the  indemnified  party  were  to  make 

a  successful  claim  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  the  indemnification,  the  Company  may  be  required  to  reimburse  the  loss. 

These  indemnifications  are  generally  subject  to  various  restrictions  and  limitations.  The  Company’s  exposure  under 

these agreements is unknown because it involves claims that may be made against the Company in the future but have 

not yet been made. To date, the Company has not paid any claims or been required to defend any action related to its 

indemnification obligations.

23.  SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In February 2024, the Company entered into certain debt arrangements with the Bank of China, SPD Bank, and Ningbo Bank to 

support its working capital needs in mainland China.

Bank of China Working Capital Loan Facility

On February 5, 2024, the Company entered into an uncommitted facility letter with the BOC HK pursuant to which the BOC HK 

will provide standby letters of credit for loans of up to $100.0 million for a term of one year. In connection with this agreement, 

the  Company  paid  a  one-time,  non-refundable  fee  of  $0.7  million.  On  February  6,  2024,  upon  the  Company’s  application,  the 

BOC  HK  provided  a  standby  letter  of  credit  in  favor  of  the  BOC  Pudong  Branch  for  $50.0  million  which  are  or  may  become 

payable  by  the  Company’s  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Zai  Lab  Shanghai,  and  Zai  Lab  Shanghai  subsequently  entered  into  a 

working capital loan contract with the BOC Pudong Branch on February 7, 2024 for a loan of RMB340.0 million (approximately 

$47.8  million).  The  working  capital  loan  has  a  one-year  term  and  is  subject  to  a  floating  interest  rate  of  approximately  2.95% 

initially, and is subject to adjustment every six months.

SPD Bank Working Capital Loan Facility

On February 6, 2024, the Company entered into a maximum-amount guarantee contract with the SPD Bank pursuant to which 

the Company will guarantee working capital loans of up to RMB300.0 million (approximately $42.0 million) from SPD Bank to Zai 

Lab Shanghai over a three-year period. To date, Zai Lab Shanghai has entered into working capital loan contracts with SPD Bank 

under  this  debt  facility  for  an  aggregate  principal  amount  of  RMB100.0  million  (approximately  $13.9  million).  These  working 

capital loans have one-year terms and are subject to a fixed interest rate of 3.45%.

238

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS23.  SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (CONTINUED)

Ningbo Bank Working Capital Loan Facility

On February 6, 2024, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Zai Lab Suzhou, entered into the Ningbo Bank Agreements with Bank 

of Ningbo Co., Ltd. Suzhou Sub-branch. The Ningbo Bank Agreements permit Zai Lab Suzhou to utilize, including through discounting 

or working capital loan agreements and subject to the terms and conditions in related master agreements, up to RMB230.3 million 

(approximately $32.4 million), of which the Company is authorized to utilize up to RMB160.0 million (approximately $22.5 million). In 

connection with the arrangements described in the Ningbo Bank Agreements, Zai Lab Suzhou agreed to pledge interests in certain real 

property it owns in Suzhou. To date, Zai Lab Suzhou has not entered into any discounting arrangements or working capital loans under 

this Ningbo Bank working capital loan facility.

24.  DIRECTOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE REMUNERATION

Director and chief executive remuneration in 2023 and 2022 are disclosed pursuant to the HK Listing Rules, section 383(1)(a), 

(b), (c) and (f) of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance, and Part 2 of the Companies (Disclosure of Information about Benefits of 

Directors) Regulation and were as follows ($ in thousands):

Fees

Other emoluments:

Salaries, allowances and benefits in kind

Performance related and discretionary bonuses

Share-based compensation expenses*

Pension scheme contributions

Total other emoluments

Total fees and other emoluments

Year ended December 31,

2023

590

894

868

14,490

14

16,266

16,856

2022

473

861

832

12,438

6

14,137

14,610

* 

The fair value of share-based compensation, which has been recognized in the consolidated statements of operations over the vesting period, was determined 

on the date of grant in accordance with ASC 718. Refer to Note 17 for additional information.

None of the Company’s Directors waived any emoluments in 2023 and 2022.

In 2023 and 2022, no emoluments were paid or payable by the Company to any of the Company’s Directors as an inducement to 

join or upon joining the Company or as compensation for loss of office.

239

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS24.  DIRECTOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE REMUNERATION (CONTINUED)

The remuneration of each Director in 2023 and 2022 were as follows ($ in thousands):

Year ended December 31, 2023

Fees

Executive director and chief executive
Dr. Samantha DuNote (i)

Independent non-executive directors
Prof. Kai-Xian Chen

Dr. John Diekman

Ms. Nisa Leung

Mr. William Lis

Mr. Leon O. Moulder, Jr.

Mr. Peter Wirth

Mr. Scott W. Morrison

Dr. Richard Gaynor
Mr. Michel VounatsosNote (ii)

—

58

108

—

67

74

76

71

65

71

Salaries, 
allowances and
benefits 
in kind

Performance 
related and 
discretionary 
bonuses

Share-based 
compensation 
expense

Pension 
scheme 
contributions

Total 
remuneration

894

868

12,009

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

254

254

—

254

254

254

502

502

207

14

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

13,785

312

362

—

321

328

330

573

567

278

Year Ended December 31, 2022

Fees

Salaries, 
allowances and 
benefits
 in kind

Performance 
related and 
discretionary 
bonuses

Share-based 
compensation 
expense

Pension 
scheme 
contributions

Total 
remuneration

Executive director and chief executive
Dr. Samantha DuNote (i)

Independent non-executive directors
Prof. Kai-Xian Chen

Dr. John Diekman

Ms. Nisa Leung

Mr. William Lis

Mr. Leon O. Moulder, Jr.

Mr. Peter Wirth

Mr. Scott W. Morrison

Dr. Richard Gaynor

Notes:

—

56

88

—

61

68

75

64

61

861

832

9,438

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

500

500

—

500

500

500

250

250

6

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

11,137

556

588

—

561

568

575

314

311

(i) 

The Company compensates its independent non-executive Directors pursuant to its non-employee director compensation policy. Dr. Samantha Du, as the Chief 

Executive Officer of the Company, is not compensated separately for her service to the Company as executive Director.

(ii) 

Effective on January 7, 2023, the Board appointed Mr. Michel Vounatsos as an independent Director of the Company.

240

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS25.  FIVE HIGHEST PAID INDIVIDUALS

The five highest paid individuals in 2023 and 2022 included the following number of Directors and chief executive (headcount):

Director and chief executive# 

Neither Director nor chief executive 

Year ended December 31,

2023

2022

1

4

5

1

4

5

# 

Details of the remuneration of the Director and chief executive are set out in Note 24 above.

The aggregate of the emoluments in respect of the remaining individuals who are neither a Director nor chief executive of the 

Company were as follows ($ in thousands):

Salaries, allowances and benefits in kind

Performance related and discretionary bonuses

Share-based compensation expenses*

Pension scheme contributions

Inducement to join or upon joining the Company

Year ended December 31,

2023

2,519

1,456

11,591

52

750

16,368

2022

2,238

1,084

12,176

34

—

15,532

* 

The fair value of share-based compensation, which has been recognized in the consolidated statements of operations over the vesting period, was determined 

on the date of grant in accordance with ASC 718. Refer to Note 17 for additional information.

241

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS25.  FIVE HIGHEST PAID INDIVIDUALS (CONTINUED)

The  number  of  non-Director  and  non-chief  executive  highest  paid  individuals  whose  remuneration  fell  within  the  following 

bands is as follows (headcount):

HK$26,500,001 to HK$27,000,000

HK$28,000,001 to HK$28,500,000

HK$29,000,001 to HK$29,500,000

HK$29,500,001 to HK$30,000,000

HK$33,000,001 to HK$33,500,000

HK$33,500,001 to HK$34,000,000

HK$36,000,001 to HK$36,500,000

2023

2022

—

1

—

—

2

1

—

4

1

—

1

1

—

—

1

4

Share-based compensation amount is included in the above disclosures. The fair value of share-based compensation, which has been 

recognized in the consolidated statements of operations over the vesting period, was determined on the date of grant in accordance 

with ASC 718. Refer to Note 17 for additional information.

In 2023 and 2022, no emoluments were paid or payable by the Company to any of the five highest paid individuals of the Company as 

compensation for loss of office.

26.  AUDITORS’ REMUNERATION

The  fees  paid  or  payable  by  the  Company  in  relation  to  audit  services  in  2023  and  2022  were  $3.4  million  and  $4.7  million, 

respectively.  The  auditor’s  remuneration  paid  or  payable  by  the  Company  in  relation  to  non-audit  services  in  2023  and  2022 

were both nil.

27.  DIVIDENDS

The Board did not recommend any final dividend in 2023 and 2022.

242

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS28.   RECONCILIATION BETWEEN U.S. GAAP AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL 

REPORTING STANDARDS

The  consolidated  financial  statements  of  the  Company  are  prepared  in  accordance  with  U.S.  GAAP,  which  differ  in  certain 

respects from IFRS. The following tables present the effect of material differences on the financial information of the Company 

prepared under U.S. GAAP and IFRS.

Reconciliation of consolidated statements of operations ($ in thousands)

Consolidated statements of operations

Expenses

Research and development

Selling, general and administrative

Net loss

Consolidated statements of operations

Expenses

Research and development

Selling, general and administrative

Net loss

Year ended December 31, 2023
IFRS adjustments
Share-based
compensation
(note (i))

Amounts as
reported under
U.S. GAAP

Amounts as
reported under
IFRS

(265,868)

(281,608)

(334,620)

(8,102)

(7,393)

(15,495)

(273,970)

(289,001)

(350,115)

Year ended December 31, 2022
IFRS adjustments
Share-based
compensation
(note (i))

Amounts as
reported under
U.S. GAAP

Amounts as
reported under
IFRS

(286,408)

(258,971)

(443,286)

(4,726)

(10,644)

(15,370)

(291,134)

(269,615)

(458,656)

243

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS28.   RECONCILIATION BETWEEN U.S. GAAP AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL 

REPORTING STANDARDS (CONTINUED)

Reconciliation of consolidated balance sheets ($ in thousands)

As of December 31, 2023
IFRS adjustments
Share-based
compensation
(note (i))

Amounts as
reported under
U.S. GAAP

Amounts as
reported under
IFRS

2,975,302

(2,195,980)

796,118

61,565

(61,565)

3,036,867

(2,257,545)

—

796,118

As of December 31, 2022
IFRS adjustments
Share-based
compensation
(note (i))

Amounts as
reported under
U.S. GAAP

Amounts as
reported under
IFRS

2,893,120

(1,861,360)

1,045,595

46,070

(46,070)

2,939,190

(1,907,430)

—

1,045,595

Consolidated balance sheets

Additional paid-in capital

Accumulated deficit

Total shareholders’ equity

Consolidated balance sheets

Additional paid-in capital

Accumulated deficit

Total shareholders’ equity

NOTES:

(i) 

Share-Based Compensation

Under  U.S.  GAAP,  the  Company  has  elected  to  use  the  straight-line  method  to  recognize  compensation  expense  for 

instruments granted to employees with graded vesting based on service conditions, subject to the minimum amount of 

cumulative compensation expense recognized being no less than the portion of the award vested to date.

Under IFRS, the graded vesting method must be applied to recognize compensation expense.

In  addition,  under  U.S.  GAAP,  the  Company  has  elected  to  recognize  the  effect  of  award  forfeitures  as  they  occur,  and 

previously recognized compensation cost is reversed in the period that the award is forfeited. 

Under  IFRS,  the  number  of  instruments  that  are  expected  to  vest  is  estimated  by  the  Company  initially  at  the  time  of 

grant. Subsequently, these estimates are adjusted for differences between the number of instruments expected to vest 

and the actual number of instruments vested. 

244

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS28.   RECONCILIATION BETWEEN U.S. GAAP AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL 

REPORTING STANDARDS (CONTINUED)

NOTES: (CONTINUED)

(i) 

Share-Based Compensation (Continued)

A  difference  of  $15.5  million  and  $15.4  million  arose  between  the  amount  of  share-based  compensation  (included  in 

research and development expenses, and selling, general and administrative expenses) recognized under U.S. GAAP and 

IFRS in 2023 and 2022, respectively. 

The  accumulated  differences  on  share-based  compensation  recognized  in  accumulated  deficit  and  additional  paid  in 

capital under U.S. GAAP and IFRS were $61.6 million and $46.1 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

(ii) 

Leases

Under U.S. GAAP, as a lessee, the Company recognized a lease liability based on the present value of the total remaining 

lease  payments,  and  a  corresponding  right  of  use  asset.  The  amortization  of  the  right-of-use  assets  and  the  interest 

expenses related to the lease liabilities are recorded together as a single total lease expense on a straight-line basis on the 

consolidated statements of operations.

Under  IFRS,  the  amortization  of  the  right-of-use  assets  is  recognized  on  a  straight-line  basis  while  the  interest  expense 

related  to  the  lease  liabilities  is  recognized  on  the  basis  that  the  lease  liabilities  are  measured  at  amortized  cost. 

Compared to U.S. GAAP, this changes the allocation and the total amount of expenses recognized for each period of the 

lease terms, and results in a higher total charge to profit or loss in the early years and a decreasing expense during the 

latter years of the lease terms. The amortization on the right-of-use assets and the interest expense on the lease liabilities 

are separately recorded on the consolidated statements of operations.

Based  on  the  Company’s  assessment,  the  differences  on  leases  recognized  on  the  consolidated  financial  statements  as 

of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, under 

U.S. GAAP and IFRS were not material.

245

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS29.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF PARENT COMPANY

Parent Company Balance Sheets

(In thousands of $, except for number of shares and per share data)

Assets

Current assets:

 Cash and cash equivalents

 Prepayments and other current assets

Total current assets

 Investment in subsidiaries

Total assets

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Liabilities

Current liabilities:

 Other current liabilities 

Total current liabilities 

Total liabilities

Shareholders’ equity

 Ordinary shares (par value of $0.000006 per share; 

  5,000,000,000 shares authorized, 977,151,270 and 

  962,455,850 shares issued as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, 

  respectively; 972,239,070 and 960,219,570 shares issued and 

  outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively)

 Additional paid-in capital

 Accumulated deficit

 Accumulated other comprehensive income

 Treasury stock

Total shareholders’ equity

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

246

December 31,

2023

2022

565,981

7,423

573,404

224,954

798,358

2,240

2,240

2,240

944,649

10,203

954,852

93,363

1,048,215

2,620

2,620

2,620

6

2,975,302

(2,195,980)

37,626

(20,836)

796,118

798,358

6

2,893,120

(1,861,360)

25,685

(11,856)

1,045,595

1,048,215

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS29.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF PARENT COMPANY (CONTINUED)

Parent Company Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

(In thousands of $, except for number of shares)

Balance at December 31, 2021
Issuance of ordinary shares upon 
 vesting of restricted shares
Exercise of share options
Receipt of shares netted to satisfy tax
   withholding obligations related to 
  share-based compensation
Share-based compensation
Net loss
Foreign currency translation
Balance at December 31, 2022
Issuance of ordinary shares upon 
 vesting of restricted shares
Exercise of share options
Receipt of shares netted to satisfy tax
  withholding obligations related to 
 share-based compensation
Share-based compensation
Net loss
Foreign currency translation
Balance at December 31, 2023

Ordinary shares

Number of 
Shares
955,363,980

1,940,680
5,151,190

—
—
—
—
962,455,850

8,178,500
6,516,920

—
—
—
—
977,151,270

Amount
6

0
0

—
—
—
—
6

0
0

—
—
—
—
6

“0” in above table means less than 1,000 dollar.

Additional 
paid 
in capital
2,825,948

Accumulated 
deficit
(1,418,074)

Accumulated 
other 
comprehensive 
income (loss) 
(23,645)

Treasury Stock

Number of 
Shares
(382,930)

Amount
(4,279)

Total
1,379,956

0
5,870

—
—

—
—

—
—

—
—

—
5,870

—
61,302
—
—
2,893,120

0
2,548

—
79,634
—
—
2,975,302

—
—
(443,286)
—
(1,861,360)

—
—

—
—
(334,620)
—
(2,195,980)

—
—
—
49,330
25,685

—
—

—
—
—
11,941
37,626

(1,853,350)
—
—
—
(2,236,280)

(7,577)
—
—
—
(11,856)

(7,577)
61,302
(443,286)
49,330
1,045,595

—
—

—
—

—
2,548

(2,675,920)
—
—
—
(4,912,200)

(8,980)
—
—
—
(20,836)

(8,980)
79,634
(334,620)
11,941
796,118

The above statement of financial position of the Company has been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and in conformity 

with the disclosure requirements of the HK Listing Rules and the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance.

247

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS“2015 Plan”

the  2015  Equity  Incentive  Plan  approved  by  the  Board  on  March  5,  2015  and  most  recently  amended  with 
effect on April 10, 2016

“2017 Plan”

the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan approved by the Board on August 7, 2017

“2022 Plan”

the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan approved by the Board and at the Company’s 2022 annual general meeting of 
shareholders on April 20, 2022 and June 22, 2022, respectively

“401(k) plan”

a broad-based, defined contribution retirement plan which is qualified under Section 401 of the Code

“AACR”

American Association for Cancer Research

“ADS Ratio Change”

the change in the conversion ratio of Zai Lab Limited’s ADSs to ordinary shares from one ADS to one ordinary 
share to a new ratio of one ADS to ten ordinary shares

“ADS(s)”

“affiliate(s)”

American depositary share(s), each representing ten ordinary shares, on deposit with a U.S. banking institution 
selected by the Company and which are registered pursuant to a Form F-1

with respect to any specified person or any other person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or 
under direct or indirect common control with such specified person

“Amgen”

Amgen Inc.

“Archives Rules”

Provisions  on  Strengthening  Confidentiality  and  Archives  Administration  of  Overseas  Securities  Offering  and 
Listing by Domestic Companies

“argenx”

argenx BV

“ASC”

Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard Codification

“ASC 606”

ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers

“ASC 718”

ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation

“ASC 808”

ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements 

“ASC 820”

ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures 

“ASC 842”

ASC 842, Leases

“Asia Pacific”

Greater  China,  South  Korea,  Vietnam,  Thailand,  Cambodia,  Laos,  Malaysia,  Indonesia,  the  Philippines, 
Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan

“Audit Committee”

Audit Committee of the Board

“BIO” 

“BLA”

Biotechnology Innovation Organization

Biologics License Application

248

DEFINITIONS “BMS”

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

“Board”

the board of directors of the Company

“BOC HK”

Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited

“BOC Pudong Branch” Bank of China Pudong Development Zone Branch

“BTD”

“CFIUS”

“CG Code”

breakthrough therapy designation

the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment

the Corporate Governance Code as set out in Appendix 14 to the HK Listing Rules (i.e., the new Appendix C1 to 
the HK Listing Rules with effect from December 31, 2023)

“chief executive”

has the meaning ascribed to it in the HK Listing Rules

“China”, “P.R. 
 China” or the 
 “PRC”

“CMOs”

“Code”

“Commercial 
 Committee”

“commercial 
 products”

the People’s Republic of China

contract manufacturing organizations

the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, as amended

Commercial Committee of the Board

ZEJULA, OPTUNE, QINLOCK, NUZYRA, and VYVGART, collectively

“Commission-
 Identified Issuer”

an issuer that has filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that 
is  located  in  a  foreign  jurisdiction  and  that  the  PCAOB  has  determined  it  is  unable  to  inspect  or  investigate 
completely because of a restriction imposed by a non-U.S. authority in the auditor’s local jurisdiction 

“Companies
 Ordinance”

the Companies Ordinance (Chapter 622 of the Laws of Hong Kong), as amended, supplemented, or otherwise 
modified from time to time

“Company”, “we”, 
 “us”, or “our”

Zai Lab Limited, a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability on March 28, 2013, and its 
subsidiaries from time to time

“CROs”

“CSRC”

“CTA”

“D&O”

contract research organizations

China Securities Regulatory Commission

clinical trial application

director and officer

249

DEFINITIONS “Deciphera”

Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

“Director(s)”

the director(s) of the Company

“ECS”

Emerging Companies Section 

“EIT Law”

the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China

“EMA”

European Medicines Agency

“Entasis”

Entasis Therapeutics Holdings Inc.

“ESG”

“EU”

Environmental, Social, and Governance

European Union

“Exchange Act”

the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

“FCPA”

“FDA”

U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

“Five Prime”

Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc.

“Global Offering”

the global offering of the Company as described in the Prospectus

“GMPs”

Good Manufacturing Practices

“Greater China”

mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, collectively

“GSK”

GlaxoSmithKline plc 

“Hanhui”

Hanhui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

“HFCAA”

Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, as amended

“HK dollar”
 or “HK$”

Hong Kong dollars, the lawful currency of Hong Kong

“HK Listing Rules”

the  Rules  governing  the  Listing  of  Securities  on  The  Stock  Exchange  of  Hong  Kong  Limited,  as  amended, 
supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time

“HKMA”

Hong Kong Monetary Authority

“HNTE”

high and new technology enterprises

“Hong Kong”
 or “HK”

the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC

250

DEFINITIONS “Hong Kong share
 register”

“Hong Kong Stock
 Exchange”

a branch register of members in Hong Kong

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited

“Huizheng”

Huizheng (Shanghai) Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd. 

“IFRS”

International Financial Reporting Standards

“IMCCTs”

International Multi-Center Clinical Trials

“Innoviva”

Innoviva, Inc.

“IPO”

“ISOs”

the Company’s initial public offering on Nasdaq 

incentive share options

“Karuna”

Karuna Therapeutics, Inc.

“Lilly”

“MAA”

Eli Lilly and Company 

marketing authorization application

“Macau”

the Macau Special Administrative Region of the PRC

“MacroGenics”

MacroGenics Inc.

“MediLink”

MediLink Therapeutics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.

“MEDx”

“Mirati”

MEDx (Suzhou) Translational Medicine Co., Ltd. 

Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. 

“Model Code”

the  Model  Code  for  Securities  Transactions  by  Directors  of  Listed  Issuers  set  out  in  Appendix  10  to  the 
HK Listing Rules (i.e., the new Appendix C3 to the HK Listing Rules with effect from December 31, 2023)

“MOFCOM”

Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China

“Nasdaq”

Nasdaq Global Market

“NDA”

“NHSA”

new drug application

National Healthcare Security Administration of the People’s Republic of China

“Ningbo Bank”

Bank of Ningbo Co., Ltd. Suzhou Sub-branch

251

DEFINITIONS “Ningbo Bank
 Agreements”

a  Maximum  Credit  Contract,  an  Electronic  Commercial  Draft  Discounting  Master  Agreement,  and  an  Online 
Working  Capital  Loan  Master  Agreement  dated  February  6,  2024  between  Zai  Lab  Suzhou  and  Ningbo  Bank, 
collectively

“NMPA”

National Medical Products Administration of the People’s Republic of China

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board

“Nominating and
 Corporate 
 Governance 
 Committee”

“NovoCure”

NovoCure Ltd.

“Novo Holdings”

Novo Holdings A/S

“NRDL”

China’s National Reimbursement Drug List

“OPTUNE”

Tumor Treating Fields devices marketed under various brand names, including OPTUNE GIO for GBM

“ordinary share(s)”

ordinary share(s) in the authorized share capital of the Company with a par value of $0.000006 per share after 
the Share Subdivision (or $0.00006 per share before the Share Subdivision)

“Paratek”

Paratek Bermuda Ltd.

“PBOC”

People’s Bank of China

“PCAOB”

U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board

“PDUFA”

Prescription Drug User Fee Act

“PFIC”

“Pfizer”

“PMA”

“Primary 
 Conversion 
 Effective Date”

a passive foreign investment company

Pfizer Inc.

premarket approval

the date on which the Company’s voluntary conversion from secondary listing status to primary listing on the 
Hong Kong Stock Exchange became effective, i.e., June 27, 2022

“Prospectus”

the prospectus of the Company dated September 17, 2020

“PSU”

“R&D”

performance-based restricted share unit

research and development

“Reporting Period”

the year ended December 31, 2023

252

DEFINITIONS “Research and
 Development 
 Committee”

Research and Development Committee of the Board

“RMB” or “Renminbi” Renminbi, the lawful currency of PRC

“ROU”

“RSA”

“RSU”

“SAFE”

“SAR”

“sBLA”

right-of-use 

restricted share award

restricted share unit

State Administration of Foreign Exchange of China 

share appreciation right

supplemental BLA

“Seagen”

Seagen Inc.

“SEC”

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

“Securities Act”

the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended

“Security Assessment 
 Measures”

Measures on Security Assessment of Cross-Border Data Transfer 

“SFO”

the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong), as amended, supplemented, or 
otherwise modified from time to time

“Share(s)”

ordinary share(s), or ADS(s) represented by such number of ordinary shares

“Shareholder(s)”

holder(s) of the Share(s)

“Share Consolidation” a six (6) to one (1) share consolidation of all classes of the Company’s shares effective as of August 30, 2017, 
pursuant  to  which  each  six  (6)  shares  will  be  reclassified,  as,  combined,  converted  and  reduced  into  one  (1) 
fully-paid and non-assessable share

“Share Subdivision”

the  subdivision  of  each  of  the  Company’s  issued  and  unissued  ordinary  shares  into  ten  ordinary  shares 
effective as of March 30, 2022

“SIMM”

Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica 

“Sixth Restated
 Articles”

the  Sixth  Amended  and  Restated  Memorandum  and  Articles  of  Association  of  Zai  Lab  Limited  adopted  by  a 
special resolution passed on June 22, 2022

“sNDA”

supplemental NDA

“SPD Bank”

Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd. Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Sub-branch

253

DEFINITIONS “subsidiary(ies)”

has the meaning ascribed to it thereto in section 15 of the Companies Ordinance

“substantial 
 shareholder”

“trade secret(s)”

has the meaning ascribed to it in the HK Listing Rules

technical  and  business  information  that  is  unknown  to  the  public  that  has  utility  and  may  create  business 
interests or profits for its legal owners or holders and is maintained as a secret by its legal owners or holders

“TWD”

Taiwan dollar

“United States” or
 “U.S.”

“U.S. dollars”, 
 “US$”, or “$”

the United States of America, its territories, its possessions, and all areas subject to its jurisdiction

United States dollars, the lawful currency of the United States

“U.S. GAAP”

United States generally accepted accounting principles

“Zai Lab Shanghai”

Zai Lab (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

“Zai Lab Suzhou”

Zai Lab (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. 

254

DEFINITIONS “ABSSSI”

“AChR”

“ADC”

“ADP”

acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections

anti-acetylcholine receptor

antibody drug conjugate 

Alzheimer’s disease with psychosis

“bemarituzumab FPA144-004 Study”

the global Phase III registrational trial of bemarituzumab (FPA144) in combination with 

FOLFOX in front-line gastric and gastroesophageal cancer

“CABP”

“CCR8”

“CIDP”

“CRAB”

“CRC”

“FcRn”

community-acquired bacterial pneumonia 

chemokine receptor 8

chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

carbapenem-resistant

colorectal cancer

neonatal Fc receptor

“FGFR2b”

fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 isoforma IIb

“fourth-line GIST”

adult patients with advanced GIST who have received prior treatment with three or more 

kinase inhibitors, including imatinib

“FPA144”

Five Prime’s proprietary afucosylated FGFR2b antibody known as bemarituzumab

“GBM”

“GEJ”

“GIST”

“gMG”

“HABP”

glioblastoma multiforme

gastroesophageal junction

gastrointestinal stromal tumors

generalized myasthenia gravis

hospital acquired bacterial pneumonia

255

GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS“HER2”

“IgG”

“IV”

“KarXT”

“MDR”

“MG”

“MMAE”

“NSCLC”

“NTRK”

“OS”

human epidermal growth factor receptor 2

immunoglobulin G

intravenous

xanomeline-trospium

multidrug-resistant

myasthenia gravis

monomethyl auristatin E

non-small cell lung cancer

neurotrophic tropomyosin-receptor kinase

overall survival

“ovarian cancer”

epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, collectively

“PARP”

“PDGFRα”

poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase

platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha

“SC efgartigimod”

subcutaneous formulation of efgartigimod

“SUL-DUR”

Sulbactam/durlobactam 

“TKI”

“TMZ”

“TTFields”

“VABP”

tyrosine kinase inhibitor

temozolomide 

Tumor Treating Fields

ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia

256

GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMSwww.zailaboratory.com

Incorporated in the Cayman Islands 
with limited liability

HKEX: 9688

NASDAQ: ZLAB

2023
Annual
Report

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