Lady Mireille Gillings PhD, Hon DSc, is the Founder and Executive Chair of HUYABIO International, where she has pioneered a new model for bringing innovative medicines from China to global markets. With over 25 years of experience in biotech and clinical research, she has helped advance treatments in cancer, immunotherapy, and cardiovascular diseases. She has served on the boards of Quintiles (now IQVIA), Institute Pasteur US and is the Co-Founder of GHO Capital, a private equity firm. In addition to multiple honorary degrees for her contributions to science, business, and philanthropy, the French Government awarded her the Knight of the Legion of Honor in 2019.
Company: HUYA Bioscience International
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Lady Mireille Gillings: Thank you. I’m very delighted to be here.
My background is in neuroscience, and I’ve always been interested in how scientific discoveries can lead to real treatments that improve people’s lives. After completing my Ph.D. and postdoctoral research in Europe and the U.S., I became increasingly aware of the challenges in drug development: long timelines, high costs, and a gap between research and patient outcomes.
In 2004, I founded HUYABIO International to help address those challenges. I saw strong scientific work emerging from China’s biopharma sector, but little global engagement with it. While most companies weren’t looking there for novel drug candidates, I believed there was a real opportunity to build partnerships and accelerate development.
Over the past 20 years, we’ve done just that by creating a model that helps bring forward promising therapies more efficiently and at lower risk. One example is HIYASTA, our lymphoma treatment that was commercialized in Japan in under six years, about half the typical timeline.
This past year marked our 20th anniversary, which is a meaningful milestone for us. HUYABIO continues to grow, with a focus on advancing new treatments in areas like oncology and cardiac arrhythmia. For me, it’s always been about making sure important science reaches the patients who need it most.
What are your top personal and professional goals for 2025, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Lady Mireille Gillings: Professionally, one of my main goals for 2025 is to grow HUYABIO’s global development model in ways that make an even bigger impact. We’ve shown that connecting innovation in Asia with regulatory and commercial expertise in the West can bring treatments to patients faster and more efficiently. Now we’re looking to build on that momentum. This next phase is about expanding our oncology and cardiovascular pipelines and strengthening the infrastructure needed to support that growth. My focus this year is making sure we have the right strategy, partnerships, and talent in place to scale without losing sight of our mission.
On a personal level, I’m committed to helping create more opportunities for future leaders in science and healthcare. That goes beyond mentorship. It means making real investments in people, supporting individuals who have the drive and vision to make a difference but may not always have the access. Supporting education, leadership development, and global collaboration is something I care deeply about, and this year I plan to do even more to help others take their first steps toward meaningful impact to help them reach their career goals.
Looking back at 2024, what was the biggest lesson you learned, and how will it influence your approach in 2025?
Lady Mireille Gillings: Looking back at 2024, the biggest lesson I took away was the importance of celebrating the people who make the work possible. Last year marked HUYABIO’s 20th anniversary, and we took time to acknowledge how far we’ve come. We held celebrations in both China and the United States, and what stood out to me was the pride, camaraderie, and energy across our teams. In a field that moves quickly and demands constant focus, it’s easy to keep looking ahead. But this milestone reminded me how important it is to pause, reflect on what we’ve achieved together, and simply enjoy the moment.
That experience is shaping how I approach 2025. We have ambitious goals this year, but I want to carry forward a stronger focus on people and culture. That means taking time to recognize the wins, fostering moments of connection across our global teams, and making space to enjoy the journey, not just the outcomes. Success is never just about the science. It’s about the people who show up every day with passion and purpose, and I want to make sure that remains at the heart of everything we do.
What trends or innovations do you predict will significantly impact your industry this year?
Lady Mireille Gillings: One of the biggest trends that has been shaping our industry is the continued push toward faster, more globally integrated drug development. Regulatory agencies have been collaborating more closely, which has the potential to streamline cross-border approvals and accelerate access to critical therapies. Recently the US administration is causing uncertainty about the degree with which this trend will continue. For companies like HUYABIO, which operate across Asia, the United States, and Europe, this means we must plan for geographic pathways as well as global pathways. Political uncertainty may require the flexibility to develop products across Asia and the US both in partnership and with regulatory separation. We are keeping a careful eye on this. There’s also a growing recognition that scientific innovation is no longer limited to a few traditional biotech hubs. More investors and partners are looking to new regions for breakthrough research, which validates the global model we’ve been building for the last 20 years.
As these partnerships expand, cultural understanding is becoming just as important as scientific alignment. We’re living in a time of increased geopolitical tension, and that can complicate collaboration and innovation if there isn’t a strong foundation of trust. One thing we’ve learned at HUYABIO is that real progress happens when people take the time to truly understand and respect each other’s values, working styles, and perspectives. In 2025, I believe companies that invest in building those relationships will be better positioned to navigate global challenges and lead with both credibility and compassion.
How do you approach goal-setting and maintaining focus throughout the year?
Lady Mireille Gillings: I’ve found that the most effective goals are the ones grounded in purpose, not just metrics. At HUYABIO, our mission to bring innovative treatments to patients drives every decision we make. At the start of the year, I focus on setting a few bold but clear priorities that stretch us while staying true to that mission. From there, it’s about empowering our teams from East to West to bring those goals to life in ways that reflect their expertise and the unique challenges they’re solving. Staying focused over the course of the year requires discipline, but also the ability to step back, listen, and adjust when needed. I always make time to reconnect with the bigger picture, because when you stay close to the “why,” the “how” becomes much more powerful.
What advice would you give to other leaders and entrepreneurs looking to make 2025 their best year yet?
Lady Mireille Gillings: My advice is to be intentional about what you want more of this year, not just what you want to achieve. Start by asking what gave you the most energy or clarity in the past year. HUYABIO being showcased and recognized alongside global Fortune 500 biopharmaceutical industry leaders at a healthcare conference in Beijing reminded me of how important it is to stay connected to purpose.
I also had a moment that really shifted my thinking about leadership; that is to remember that you’ll never win if you never begin. The year ahead will always be unpredictable, but you can shape how you show up in it. Focus on the people, priorities, and values that matter most and let those guide you forward.
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