編者按：“讓天下沒有難做的藥，難治的病”，是初心，更是愿景。自成立以來，藥明康德步履不停：從一間實驗室，到覆蓋亞洲、歐洲和北美的全球網(wǎng)絡(luò)。從早期的化學(xué)合成服務(wù)，到貫穿研究（R）、開發(fā)（D）和生產(chǎn)（M）的一體化平臺。從第一位客戶，到全球三十多個國家的數(shù)千合作伙伴。不斷發(fā)展的，是規(guī)模與能力；始終堅守的，是夢想與承諾。

致敬來時路，共譜新篇章！在這一系列訪談中，我們以“逐夢者”視角，回顧藥明康德成長發(fā)展的崢嶸歲月，回望賦能客戶創(chuàng)新的并肩往事，更以獨特的“藥明精神”展望未來新篇章。

黎明時分，劍橋還沉浸在寧靜之中，Dave Madge博士已坐在辦公桌前，查看一份客戶的研究方案。分子是全新的、構(gòu)想大膽，而交付周期又非常緊迫。

但這對Dave來說，并不陌生。這樣的清晨，他已經(jīng)經(jīng)歷了無數(shù)個。科學(xué)的未知、策略的博弈、發(fā)現(xiàn)的悸動，在這靜謐的黎明中悄然交匯，成為他每天清晨的序章。

每天幫助科學(xué)家驗證他們的假設(shè)，確認(rèn)藥物靶點，篩選出最有潛力的分子，并將這些“可能”轉(zhuǎn)化為“可行”。在他看來，這不僅是技術(shù)的實現(xiàn)，更是夢想的落地。他說：“正是這段從藥物發(fā)現(xiàn)到療法的旅程，支撐著我一路走來?！?/p>

作為藥明康德研發(fā)服務(wù)部的副總裁，Dave更像是一位“橋梁的建造者”——搭建著歐洲充滿活力的產(chǎn)業(yè)生態(tài)圈與藥明康德遍布全球的CRDMO一體化平臺之間的橋梁。他的任務(wù)，就是將那些尚在紙面上的科學(xué)構(gòu)想，在賦能平臺上一步步轉(zhuǎn)化為現(xiàn)實。

從科研者到賦能者

早年，Dave在帝國理工攻讀博士學(xué)位期間，就對新藥研發(fā)充滿好奇心，“一個實驗室里的靈光一閃，究竟是怎么變成真正能治病救人的新藥？”這段經(jīng)歷不僅賦予他深厚的科學(xué)素養(yǎng)，更在他心底埋下了一顆種子。

這顆種子，在隨后的歲月里不斷生長。他開始管理實驗室，親手搭建科研團隊；后來，他與志同道合的伙伴共同創(chuàng)辦了一家新藥發(fā)現(xiàn)公司，第一次對從科學(xué)構(gòu)想到商業(yè)轉(zhuǎn)化的全流程有了更為清晰的認(rèn)知。正是在那時，他意識到自己真正的熱情所在——不是僅僅做研究，而是“讓研究走得更遠(yuǎn)”。

“我一直關(guān)心的，是如何把早期的科學(xué)發(fā)現(xiàn)，轉(zhuǎn)化成真正可行的新藥開發(fā)策略。”他說。

2013年，一個轉(zhuǎn)折點悄然來臨?！拔矣H眼見過藥明康德的工作方式，是業(yè)內(nèi)一家以高效和嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)著稱的CRDMO企業(yè)?！彼貞浀?，“速度快得驚人，但每一步又都穩(wěn)扎穩(wěn)打?！边@種看似矛盾卻完美融合的能力，讓他深深折服。選擇加入藥明康德，對他而言，不是冒險，而是順理成章的選擇。

十二年過去，藥明康德曾經(jīng)令他印象深刻的高效服務(wù)模式，如今已成為他工作的一部分。Dave主導(dǎo)的每一個項目，都在復(fù)刻當(dāng)年他所欣賞的那種節(jié)奏：快速響應(yīng)、無縫銜接、全球協(xié)同。

每次面對新客戶，他總會提到一個詞——“效率”。

“我們不是只提供某一項服務(wù)，”他解釋道，“而是把化學(xué)、生物學(xué)、藥代藥理學(xué)等多種能力整合在一起，讓客戶通過一個合作就能推進整個項目?！?/p>

很多客戶對這種高效的賦能模式感到難以置信：幾周內(nèi)甚至幾天后，項目就已經(jīng)啟動，并很快交付實驗結(jié)果?！澳銈兪窃趺醋龅降模俊彼麄兂３＿@樣問。

答案，就藏在全球協(xié)作的脈絡(luò)之中。

英國的團隊可能在設(shè)計一個分子或篩選候選物，而藥明康德遍布各地的團隊則在不同時區(qū)合成化合物、開展試驗。有時，次日清晨就能形成初步結(jié)果。

“這就是‘藥明速度’，”Dave說，“不是靠一個人，而是靠體系的力量——把全球范圍內(nèi)的專業(yè)人員、儀器設(shè)備、流程工藝全部串聯(lián)起來，讓科學(xué)無縫銜接，晝夜不停?！?/strong>

他至今記得一家英國初創(chuàng)公司。他們手握一項極具潛力的技術(shù)，卻面臨資金鏈斷裂的危機。投資人給了最后通牒：幾周內(nèi)拿出關(guān)鍵藥效數(shù)據(jù)，否則融資失敗。時間緊迫，接到客戶的需求后，Dave立即協(xié)調(diào)跨國團隊，啟動并行測試：分子篩選、活性驗證、毒性評估同步展開。七天后，完整測試報告準(zhǔn)時送達(dá)客戶手中。

圖片來源：123RF

之后，那位CEO特意發(fā)來郵件：“是你們讓我們活了下來。如果沒有那些數(shù)據(jù)，我們可能就挺不過去了?！?/p>

那一刻，Dave忽然明白，他們所做的，不只是加速研發(fā)，更是在為希望爭取時間。

“這時你才會真正體會到，我們工作的意義?！彼f。

將信任轉(zhuǎn)化為合作

在Dave的眼中，速度與信任從來都是攜手并行的。他常說：“贏得客戶的信任，并不是簡單地提供服務(wù)，而是像伙伴一樣與客戶同行。”當(dāng)藥明康德的科學(xué)家與客戶一起設(shè)計實驗、一同評審數(shù)據(jù)、甚至共同慶祝每一次微小卻關(guān)鍵的突破時，真正的合作關(guān)系才真正建立起來。

這種深度合作，無論對于大型藥企還是小型生物技術(shù)初創(chuàng)公司都尤為重要。在將科學(xué)構(gòu)想轉(zhuǎn)化為實際進展的過程中，產(chǎn)業(yè)需要像藥明康德這樣的伙伴提供全方位的支持。

“我們不只是執(zhí)行任務(wù)，而是在并肩作戰(zhàn)?！盌ave解釋道?！拔覀兂３椭蛻魠f(xié)同推進化學(xué)、生物學(xué)和DMPK（藥物代謝與藥代動力學(xué)）研究，讓原本線性的流程變得并行高效，大大縮短了研發(fā)周期。”

而最令他自豪的，是這些合作往往會持續(xù)下去，許多熟悉的面孔在他職業(yè)生涯的不同階段反復(fù)出現(xiàn)?！皫啄旰螅以?jīng)一起做實驗的科學(xué)家打來電話，說‘Dave，我現(xiàn)在創(chuàng)辦了新公司，你能再幫我們一次嗎？’”他笑著回憶。這種跨越時間與距離的持續(xù)回歸，不是偶然，而是信任的積累——一種建立在共同承擔(dān)、高效執(zhí)行和科學(xué)共鳴基礎(chǔ)上的深厚聯(lián)結(jié)。

“那一刻你就知道，我們不只是服務(wù)商，而是他們整個科研旅程中的同行者。”

有些客戶與藥明康德的合作已超過二十年。從最初一次簡單的科學(xué)探討，發(fā)展到委托開展藥物發(fā)現(xiàn)項目，再到推進至臨床階段，甚至邁向新藥上市之路——Dave親歷了無數(shù)這樣的歷程。

“能夠參與一個想法從萌芽到最終造?；颊叩娜^程，是一種莫大的幸運?！?/p>

充滿創(chuàng)新機遇的歐洲

Dave對歐洲生命科學(xué)的未來滿懷信心，因為他親眼見證了它的蛻變。五年前，這里或許只有十個知名的生物技術(shù)聚集地；而今天，從北歐到南歐，從大學(xué)實驗室到城市創(chuàng)新園區(qū)，越來越多的生物科技中心如雨后春筍般涌現(xiàn)。

“基礎(chǔ)研究的質(zhì)量越來越高，將科學(xué)轉(zhuǎn)化為新療法的能力也越來越強?！彼f，“更重要的是，政府和投資者開始意識到：生物科技不僅是醫(yī)學(xué)的希望，更是經(jīng)濟增長的新引擎。”

政策支持、產(chǎn)業(yè)孵化器興起、研究資助增加、大學(xué)與產(chǎn)業(yè)之間的壁壘正在被打破——一股系統(tǒng)性的變革正在歐洲發(fā)生。而藥明康德，正抓住機遇參與其中?！拔覀儾恢皇翘峁┢脚_和技術(shù)，更是在幫助這些新興中心把卓越的科學(xué)想法變成真正的藥物?！?/p>

在歐洲這片孕育科學(xué)與創(chuàng)新的土地上，小型生物科技公司正悄然成長為生命科學(xué)領(lǐng)域的中堅力量。這些專注垂直領(lǐng)域的初創(chuàng)企業(yè)背后，往往只有寥寥數(shù)名科學(xué)家、有限的資金和巨大的不確定性。多年來，Dave和他的團隊已攜手?jǐn)?shù)百家這樣的初創(chuàng)公司走過從構(gòu)想到驗證的每一步。

“他們來找我們，從來不只是為了買一項服務(wù)，”Dave說，“他們是在尋找能真正解決問題的伙伴——一個能幫他們降低科學(xué)風(fēng)險、贏得投資人信任，并在關(guān)鍵時刻做出正確決策的同行者?！?/p>

圖片來源：藥明康德

在哥德堡北歐生命科學(xué)日期間的“藥明之夜”上，在維也納BioEurope大會的走廊間，Dave常常與風(fēng)險投資人并肩交談。他知道，投資人的力量讓早期研究更具系統(tǒng)性和目標(biāo)感。“風(fēng)投懂得如何聚焦關(guān)鍵問題，設(shè)計出能快速驗證假設(shè)的試驗路徑。而我們的角色，就是與這些富有遠(yuǎn)見的企業(yè)家和投資人緊密協(xié)作，讓項目以更快的速度、更高的效率邁向下一個里程碑?！?/p>

在這場科學(xué)與信念的長跑中，每一個堅持到底的初創(chuàng)公司都值得被支持。而對Dave來說，能夠成為他們旅程中值得信賴的一環(huán)，便是這份工作最深的意義所在。

進化永不止步

談到藥明康德的愿景“讓天下沒有難做的藥，難治的病”對他的意義時，Dave沉思片刻。

“對我而言，這不僅僅是一句口號，”他緩緩說道，“這是一種科學(xué)與社會之間的承諾。”

在他看來，現(xiàn)代醫(yī)學(xué)正站在前所未有的轉(zhuǎn)折點上。每天都有新的靶點被發(fā)現(xiàn)，新的機制被揭示，科學(xué)正在以前所未有的速度解碼疾病的本質(zhì)?！暗庥邪l(fā)現(xiàn)還不夠，”Dave強調(diào)，“真正重要的是，如何把這些洞見轉(zhuǎn)化為患者能用上的新藥。而我們的使命，就是降低那些擋在科學(xué)與療法之間的壁壘——無論是技術(shù)的、資源的，還是時間的。”

他腦海中浮現(xiàn)出過去二十年里合作過的項目：有些來自大型制藥公司，資源雄厚；但更多是那些默默無聞的小團隊，懷抱著一個可能改變生命的分子，在資金耗盡前尋找一線希望。正是這些時刻，讓他深刻體會到藥明康德存在的意義——成為那個讓“不可能”變“可能”的橋梁。

展望未來，Dave的眼中充滿了期待?！拔磥淼?5年，將會是轉(zhuǎn)化醫(yī)學(xué)的黃金時代?！彼A(yù)測道，“我們會看到更多創(chuàng)新的分子類型、給藥方式、更高精度的靶向治療，以及跨學(xué)科、跨國界的深度協(xié)作，科學(xué)的邊界正在不斷擴展。”

“而藥明康德的角色，不會改變，只會進化?！彼f，“我們要持續(xù)賦能——讓研發(fā)更快、更聰明、更高效，也讓它更加全球化。無論科學(xué)家身處斯德哥爾摩、蘇黎世，還是上海、新加坡，藥明康德一直都會是創(chuàng)新者可靠的合作伙伴?！?/p>

盡管Dave已經(jīng)多次見證產(chǎn)業(yè)浪潮的發(fā)展與變遷，但對這份事業(yè)依然保持著一份深切的熱忱。

“我們始終在努力做得更好，”他說，“這種努力，從未停止過?！?/p>

Bridging Science Across Europe and Beyond

Editor’s Note: “Every drug can be made and every disease can be treated.” Since 2000, from a single laboratory to a global network spanning Asia, Europe, and North America; from early chemical synthesis services to an integrated platform that connects Research (R), Development (D), and Manufacturing (M); from its very first customer to thousands of partners across more than 30 countries, WuXi AppTec has never stopped moving forward to realize its enduring vision.

In tribute to the journey, we look back through the eyes of our “dream-makers”: revisiting the stories of partnership that empowered global innovation, and the unique spirit that continues to guide us toward the next chapter.

At dawn, when Cambridge is still quiet, Dr. Dave Madge is already at his desk, looking over a client’s research proposal. The molecule is brand new, the idea behind it is bold, and the deadline is close. For him, mornings like this are nothing new: they mix science, strategy, and the excitement of discovery.

“I’ve always been fascinated by how an idea in a lab becomes a medicine that helps people,” he says. “That journey, from discovery to treatment, is what keeps me going.”

As Vice President of Discovery Services at WuXi AppTec, Dave’s group helps scientists test ideas, confirm targets, and turn promising research into potential new drugs. He describes his role as “building bridges between ideas and results,” connecting Europe’s vibrant research community with one of the world’s most integrated CRDMO platforms.

From Scientist to Enabler

Dave’s career has followed a clear path. After earning his Ph.D. from Imperial College London, he built his work around strong science. He ran research labs, co-founded a discovery company, and moved from academia into biotech leadership. “I’ve always been interested in how we turn early scientific discoveries into real strategies for developing new medicines,” he says.

Before joining WuXi AppTec in 2013, Dave already knew the company well. “I’d seen how WuXi AppTec’s teams approached science with both speed and care,” he recalls. That experience made joining a natural step. Twelve years later, he now leads the kinds of partnerships he once looked for himself, helping transform scientific ideas into real progress.

When meeting new clients, one word he often uses is “efficiency.” “Our services cover a wide range, and we often bring several capabilities together in a single collaboration,” Dave explains. This allows clients to move quickly without getting slowed down by complex paperwork. “In many cases, we’re already running studies just a few weeks, or even a few days, after our first conversation,” he adds. “Many clients tell us they find that speed incredible.”

That speed depends on teamwork across the globe. A company in the UK might design a molecule, or select a molecule for testing, while WuXi AppTec’s teams across continents synthesize the compound, or run laboratory tests, during the day and the initial results are ready to share the next morning. “That’s what we call WuXi Speed, bringing together scientists, tools, and systems so everything moves forward smoothly.” Dave says.

He recalls one British startup that needed quick results to secure its next round of funding. They had just weeks to gather key results for a new disease area. WuXi AppTec’s teams across several countries worked together, ran tests at the same time, and delivered what was needed in only a week. After securing its funding round, “The company told us we helped keep them alive,” Dave says. “That’s when you see the true impact of what we do.”

Trust, Translated into Collaboration

For Dave, speed and trust always go together. “Earning a client’s trust isn’t about selling a service,” he says. “It’s about sharing responsibility. When we design experiments together, review results together, and celebrate breakthroughs together — that’s when real partnership happens.”

This collaboration is especially important for small startups. Over the past decade, Dave has seen early-stage drug discovery led more and more by emerging biotech companies. “Many of these clients are experts in one specific area, like biology or chemistry,” he explains. “But they rely on us to provide the wider support they need to turn their ideas into real progress.” His team often helps these clients by running discovery chemistry, biology, and DMPK studies in parallel, making the process faster and more efficient.

That partnership, he adds, often lasts far beyond a single project. “Sometimes our clients leave to start a new company and then come back to work with us again.That shows we’re not just part of one program, we’re part of their journey.”

Today, many clients have worked with WuXi AppTec for over twenty years. Watching those relationships grow is one of the most rewarding parts of Dave’s work. “Some started with simple scientific discussions, then moved into discovery programs, and later advanced into development and even clinical studies,” he says. “Being part of that full journey, from an idea to something that helps patients, is an incredible privilege.”

He recalls one client in Cambridge whose project began as an academic study in oncology. That idea grew into a startup, and WuXi AppTec continued to support them as they progressed through every stage of discovery and development. “We stayed with them the whole way. Different teams across WuXi AppTec worked together to keep things moving smoothly, from the lab bench to clinical studies.”

Source：123RF

For Dave, this kind of long-term partnership, built on trust and shared success, is what truly defines their work. “Seeing that progress firsthand, and knowing we’ve played a part in it, is deeply satisfying,” he says.

Europe’s Moment

For small biotech companies — the heart of Europe’s innovation scene — steady support can make all the difference. Many of these young companies have only a few employees and limited funding. “They come to us not just for services, but for solutions,” Dave says. “They want partners who can reduce the risks in their science, help them meet investor goals, and make clear decisions quickly.”

Over the years, his team has worked with hundreds of such clients, some of whom return again and again as they move to new companies. “It’s common for a scientist I worked with years ago to call me from their new job and say, ‘Dave, can you help us again?’ That ongoing trust is one of our proudest achievements.”

Dave feels positive about the future of Europe’s life sciences because he can see the change happening now. “Five years ago, you could probably name ten main biotech centers in Europe,” he says. “Now there are many more established and emerging biotech hubs in Europe as the quality of the basic science performed, and the scope for its translation into new treatments efficiently, is becoming better recognized.”

He credits this growth to local governments and investors who now see biotech as both a source of innovation and a driver of the economy. “Across Europe, we’re seeing new incubators, research funding, and stronger links between universities and industry,” he explains. “WuXi AppTec is excited to be part of that change, helping these hubs turn great science into real medicines.”

Source：WuXi AppTec

Dave often meets venture investors at events such as WuXi Nights in Gothenburg during the recent Nordic Life Sciences event, and in Vienna during BioEurope, where scientists, entrepreneurs, and funders share ideas. “Venture capital brings structure and focus to discovery,” he says. “They understand how to measure risk and plan studies that answer critical questions early. By working closely with such entrepreneurs, we help their portfolio companies reach key milestones faster and more efficiently.”

Excitement Never Stops

Asked what WuXi AppTec’s mission — Every drug can be made, and every disease can be treated — means to him, Dave pauses. “To me, it’s a promise between science and society,” he says. “Science keeps revealing new ways to understand disease. Our job is to remove the barriers that prevent those discoveries from becoming therapies.”

Looking ahead, he sees an even more connected ecosystem, where ideas can travel faster from lab bench to patient bedside. “The next 25 years will bring more modalities, more precision, and more collaboration,” he predicts. “Our role will be to keep enabling that, to make translation faster, smarter, and more global.”

“The excitement,” he says with a smile, “never really stops.”

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