Novel Chinese Medicine Antiviral Solution
Our Projects
ABOUT US
Pishon Biotech Limited
Pishon Biotech, established in 2025, is a green biopharmaceutical company launched with the initiative focuses on pioneering innovative antiviral solutions for companion animals and livestock by harnessing the broad-spectrum antiviral potential of Justicia plants, a genus renowned in traditional Chinese medicine.
Spearheaded by a professional R&D team at Hong Kong Baptist University—including professors and researchers of PhD and Master degrees—the project builds on 30+ years of expertise in phytochemistry and natural product drug discovery. By integrating cutting-edge antiviral biotechnology with traditional knowledge, our goal is to mitigate the staggering economic losses caused by animal viruses, which exceed HK$1 trillion annually.
Team
Prof. Hongjie ZHANG
FOUNDER & CTO
He obtained a bachelor's degree from the Department of Chemistry of Yunnan University in 1985, and obtained master's and doctoral degrees from the Phytochemistry Laboratory of Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1988 and 1994 respectively. He worked as an assistant researcher/associate researcher/researcher at the Phytochemistry Department of the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences from 1991 to 2002. He then moved to US and worked as a research assistant professor/research associate professor at the School of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago from 2003 to 2011. During this period, as the project leader and collaborator, Prof. Zhang participated in research projects on natural medicines, traditional herbal medicines (including traditional Chinese medicine), organic synthesis and biosynthesis.
His current research interest is focusing on natural products drug discovery from natural resources (including anti-cancer, anti-AIDS virus, anti-avian influenza virus, anti-hepatitis C virus, anti-tuberculosis, etc.), as well as the development of botanical dietary supplements from herbal medicines. He has published more than 190 peer reviewed papers and more than 20 international and Chinese patents. Its intellectual property rights and research results can be widely used in personal care fields such as skin care, anti-fibrosis and anti-virus products.
The scientific research team led by Prof. Zhang with more than 20 PhD and postdoctoral researchers, all with senior backgrounds in phytochemistry, chemical synthesis, and biology. With the research background and experience of Prof. Zhang and his team, they are competent at achieving the project’s objectives.
Ms. Kid CHAN
Co-Founder & General Manager
Ms. Chan obtained a bachelor's degree of Pharmacy in Chinese Medicine with first-class honors from Hong Kong Baptist University in 2019, and obtained a master's degree of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Chinese Medicine at the same University in 2022 with full scholarship.
She is mainly responsible for R&D and marketing, and participating in the research, development and marketing of personal care products with natural Chinese herbal ingredients. With the five-year R&D and project management experience, she experts in quality control, product development, marketing and promotion.
She has also worked as a senior research assistant in Hong Kong Baptist University and mainly responsible for the research on bioactive ingredients in medicinal materials and searching for Chinese medicinal ingredients that can be used as raw materials for care products.
Through project managing and marketing experience during her working period in another biotech startup, she has gained an in-depth understanding of the products R&D and marketing in Hong Kong and rich experience in promoting Chinese medicine products, including advertising and promotion on online platforms and offline media.
Ms. Ping YAO
Co-Founder & Administrative Operations Manager
Ms. Yao obtained a bachelor’s degree of Science in Chinese Medicine from Guiyang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China in 1990. She then obtained a master's degree in Chemistry from Yunnan University, Kunming, China in 1998. She is mainly focusing on the research in phytochemistry and plant resources. She has been working in University of Illinois at Chicago, USA as a research specialist for 13 years and then working in Hong Kong University of Science and Technology as a research assistant for 7 years.
She has also worked as a senior scientist at another biotech startup for 7 years, proving her management abilities. She has also worked in Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug as Senior Research Associate and in charge of laboratory management and some R&D works.
With the R&D experience for over 20 years and company management experience she has gained, she is able to lead the team in running the project with high efficiency.
Dr. Wenjian XIE
Marketing Manager
Dr. Xie obtained a bachelor’s degree of Pharmacy in Guangdong Pharmaceutical University in 2010. He then came to Hong Kong Baptist University and obtained a Master’s degree of Pharmaceutical science in Chinese medicine in 2013. He obtained the PhD in Pharmaceutical Science in Chinese Medicine this year at the same university and has conducted extensive research in the field of phytochemistry.
His research projects have focused on the identification and evaluation of bioactive compounds from various plants, including Miliusa sinensis, Bridelia balansae Tutcher, and Isodon amethystoides. He has published multiple research papers in reputable journals, showcasing his expertise in the field of phytochemistry, especially the isolation of bioactive constituents, and anticancer progression evaluation.
Dr. Xie has experience as a worked as a senior research assistant at Hong Kong Baptist University, demonstrating his organizational and management skills. His research and project management experience as a PhD and senior research assistant indicates his potential for management roles and project coordination. He also has a in-depth knowledge about the market of Chinese medicine related products and the medical market in Hong Kong and mainland China with his background of studying and working in both area, which can help our project in the marketing aspect.
Research
7,000+ plant extracts and compounds database with exclusive screening technology
A database containing over 7,000 plant extracts and compounds, primarily from Chinese medicine, has been developed over the past 25+ years. It utilizes a systematic screening method for various activities, including antiviral effects, which offers a rapid and cost‐effective approach to screen a wide range of TCM active ingredients
An Integrated Platform for the AI-Driven Drug Discovery
We are currently building our integrated, automated, AI-driven drug discovery and development platform. This platform accelerates the natural product discovery and lead optimization timeline from months or years down to days or weeks. Applied to our plant extract libraries, this platform enables end-to-end acceleration—from automated hit identification and computational druggability optimization to regulatory intelligence mapping and clinical translation.
Discover Justicia plant displayed potent antiviral effects
Our medicinal plant research program has evaluated antiviral activity of more than 5,000 tropical plants, and discovered more than 50 active plant leads against HIV, Ebola virus, SARS-CoV-2, HCV and avian flu virus (H5N1). Justicia plants are among the most active antiviral plant leads, and we have identified a number of potent antiviral compounds from some Justicia plants.
Novel and unique antiviral evaluation protocol "One-Stone-Two-Birds"
An exclusive antiviral evaluation protocol designed by our research team that allows screening of a wide range of viruses and studying preliminary antiviral mechanisms. Compared with live virus experiments, this protocol offers the advantages of biosafety and stability, which accelerate research at lower cost.
Contact Us
EMAIL:
ADDRESS:
Unit 529, 5/F, 19W,
19 Science Park West Avenue,
Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong