Darers & Doers: The Quest for AI-Powered Cancer Vaccines

Darers & Doers: The Quest for AI-Powered Cancer Vaccines

Author: Caixin Global April 9, 2026 Duration: 33:01

Program description:

Darers and Doers, a special segment of China Business Uncovered, showcases groundbreaking innovations from China and features company founders and CEOs who are turning cool, bold ideas into reality. Produced by Caixin Global. 

Episode intro:

Cancer treatment has long relied on a largely fixed set of options: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and targeted drugs. But a new generation of biotech founders is trying to push the field toward something more precise — treatments built around the biology of a single patient.

In this debut episode of Darers & Doers, Likang Life Sciences Founder and CEO Chen Li explains how his Beijing-based biotech startup is using artificial intelligence to develop personalized mRNA cancer vaccines. 

Chen's entrepreneurial journey began with the cancer diagnosis of his mother, who later became his company's first patient. Ten years on, Likang's product, LK101, is already being used on patients in South China's Hainan province under a pilot policy, has won FDA approval, and is now advancing toward international clinical development.

Speaking with Caixin Global Managing Director Li Xin, Chen discusses how his approach aims to overcome the limits of current immunotherapy, how he sees the race between biotech startups and pharmaceutical giants, and why China's biotech boom matters to the rest of the world.

Chapters:

(01:41) Why current cancer treatments aren't enough

(04:44) Likang Life Science's approach and success

(07:19) A founder's personal mission

(10:56) Rethinking cancer treatment for solid tumors

(16:06) The race between startups and big players 

(21:09) From China lab to FDA approval

(24:04) Real world clinical application and scaling up

(26:45) Why China's biotech boom matters globally

This episode of Darers & Doers was recorded in Mandarin and produced in English with the help of AI.

Producers: Kelsey Cheng and Qing Na

Read more on Caixin Global:

Cover Story: Chinese Pharma Turns to Global Deals to Cure Capital Crunch

China Aims to Tame Cancer Gene Test Pricing With Bulk-Buying Plan

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Keeping a finger on the pulse of China's complex and fast-moving economy is a daily challenge. China Business Insider-News From Caixin Global cuts through the noise with concise, authoritative reporting you can digest on the go. Produced by the seasoned editors at Caixin Global, this podcast delivers essential intelligence directly from the ground, focusing on the pivotal shifts in finance, technology, and policy that define the business landscape. Each episode feels like a briefing from a well-informed colleague, unpacking the implications behind the headlines with clarity and context. You'll hear regular segments like the Caixin China Biz Roundup, which condenses the weekday's most critical developments into an efficient fifteen-minute listen, blending sharp analysis with a conversational tone. The feed also includes the deeper-dive Caixin-Sinica Business Brief and the narrative-driven China Stories, offering a multi-layered perspective. For professionals, investors, or anyone curious about the forces shaping global markets, this is an indispensable resource. It transforms distant news into understandable trends, making the intricate mechanics of China's economic engine accessible and relevant. Tune in for a direct line to the insights that matter, delivered with the credibility and depth Caixin is known for.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

China Business Insider -  News From Caixin Global
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