Member of the US National Academy of Engineering,
VP of MSD R&D Center in China
Recipient of MSD Presidential fellow, Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award, Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, AstraZeneca Award for Excellence in Green Chemistry and Engineering, Prix Galien USA Awards
Dr. Yongkui Sun, a distinguished alumnus of Caltech with a Ph.D. in Chemistry, initiated his esteemed career at MSD (known as Merck & Co., Inc. in North America) in 1993, taking on the role of a Senior Research Chemist. Over his tenure at MSD, he amassed a wealth of experience in R&D, business, and managerial roles, progressing through six departments, from the discovery and development of new therapeutics to setting the strategy and operations for China's R&D and business development and licensing. His significant scientific contributions at MSD included the development of noteworthy pharmaceuticals such as Crixivan, Maxalt, Emend, Cordaptive, Taranabant, and Januvia. He is credited with 72 publications, 54 of which are from his time at MSD.
In 2010, Dr. Sun embarked on a new journey leading the establishment of the MSD R&D Center in Beijing, which officially opened its doors in 2012. This marked the beginning of his role as Vice President in MSD’s Business Development and Licensing department, overseeing the exploration and evaluation of innovations in Greater China. His efforts led to the first-ever licensing of an innovative therapeutic candidate from Greater China, fortifying MSD's product pipeline.
Dr. Sun's exceptional contributions and leadership have been recognized through multiple honors. Internally at MSD, he was bestowed the title of a Presidential Fellow in 2006, the highest honor within MSD Research Laboratories. His external awards comprise the Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award (2009), the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award (2005 and 2006), UK’s Institute of Chemical Engineers' AstraZeneca Award for Excellence in Green Chemistry and Engineering (2005), and the "We Work for Health Champions" Award from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) in 2010. In 2016, he earned the esteemed recognition of being elected a member of the US National Academy of Engineering.