Ge Li

Gé Lǐ
Lǐ in 2007
Alma mater	Peking University (BA) Columbia University (PhD)
Occupations	Businessman Philanthropist
Known for	Founder of WuXi AppTec
Spouse	Ning Zhao (-2023)

Gé Lǐ () is a Chinese-American business leader and philanthropist, recognized as the founder and chairman of WuXi AppTec, a contract research, development, and manufacturing organization (CRDMO) serving the pharmaceutical sector.

Early life and education

Originating from China, Lǐ completed his secondary education at the Affiliated High School of Peking University. He obtained a B.A. degree from Peking University in 1989, followed by a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Columbia University in 1994. During his doctoral studies at Columbia, he was guided by prominent advisors including W. Clark Still and Koji Nakanishi.

Career

During his tenure at Pharmacopeia, Inc., Lǐ undertook a business trip to China to set up a joint venture for the firm. In 2000, he departed Pharmacopeia to co-found WuXi AppTec in Shanghai alongside his wife, Ning Zhao. By 2016, WuXi AppTec had established operations in the United States with a facility in San Diego, California, offering services such as small molecule screening, discovery biology, process research and development, and Phase I GMP manufacturing for clients across North America. The company initially went public on the New York Stock Exchange before transitioning its listing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2018. In 2018, WuXi AppTec achieved a revenue increase of 23.8% compared to the previous year.

Lǐ became a member of the Committee of One Hundred in 2011.

As reported in 2022 by Forbes, Lǐ's net worth was estimated at $10 billion, reflecting the expansion and valuation growth of WuXi AppTec. Forbes ranked him as the second wealthiest executive in the American pharmaceutical industry in 2020, while Forbes China included him among its top ten Chinese chief executives in 2022.

Philanthropic activities

In 2018, Lǐ and Zhao contributed 100 million RMB to Peking University, establishing the "Li Ge-Zhao Ning Education Fund" and earning recognition as honorary trustees. Two years later, they donated $21.5 million to Columbia University to advance research initiatives and chemistry education. In 2021, they provided $20 million to support lung cancer research at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Personal life and family

Lǐ was married to Ning Zhao, who also graduated from Peking University and earned her Ph.D. at Columbia University. She held the position of senior vice president and global head of human resources at WuXi AppTec. Zhao passed away on May 16, 2023, after enduring a two-decade-long battle with cancer.