The board of directors of Akeso, Inc. announced that with effect from June 30, 2024, Mr. XIA Yu (Ph.D.) has resigned as an executive Director and Dr. ZHOU Yi has resigned as a non-executive Director in order to devote more time to their other work commitments. The Board announced that with effect from June 30, 2024, Dr. ZHANG Peng has been appointed as an executive Director. Dr. ZHANG, aged 48, is a co-founder of the Group.

He has been a vice president of the Group since April 2012, and is currently the senior vice president of the Company. Dr. ZHANG is mainly responsible for corporate operations and government affairs of the Group. Dr. ZHANG has served as a vice president of Akeso Biopharma Co.

Ltd. since early 2012. He has been a director of AD Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. since February 2017, and a director of Akeso Pharma Co.

Ltd. since November 2018. Dr. ZHANG has approximately 20 years of experience in the therapeutic biologics industry. Prior to commencing his career in the Group, Dr. ZHANG served as a teaching assistant in the Chemistry department of the University of Louisville in the U.S. from August 2001 to July 2002.

From August 2002 to February 2007, he served as a teaching assistant in the Chemistry department of the University of Kentucky in the U.S. Dr. ZHANG served as a scientist in PDL BioPharma, Inc. from February 2007 to May 2008 and then as a senior director of the protein chemical department of Crown Bioscience Inc. from September 2008 to April 2012. In addition, since June 2010, he also served as the senior director and deputy general manager of Taicang CrownBio Analysis and Testing Company, Limited, where he was primarily responsible for general management, business development and project management. Dr. ZHANG obtained his bachelor's degree in chemistry and master's degree in analytical chemistry from Shandong University in the PRC in July 1998 and June 2001, respectively.

Dr. ZHANG subsequently obtained his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Kentucky in the U.S. in May 2007. Dr. ZHANG was selected as a member of The Pearl River Talent Program in April 2018, and recognized as a level three talent of the Shortage of High Level Talents of Zhongshan in February 2020. Dr. ZHANG was awarded the Most Beautiful Constructor in Zhongshan 2022 (2022) in March 2023, and the Guangdong Province May 1st Labor Medal in April 2023.

Dr. ZHANG was selected as one of the first directors of the Zhongshan New Social Class Federation in July 2018. Dr. ZHANG has entered into a service contract with the Company in relation to his appointment as an executive Director for an initial term of three years commencing from June 30, 2024. Dr. ZHANG will not receive any remuneration for serving as an executive Director.

Dr. ZHANG shall hold office until the first annual general meeting of the Company after his appointment and shall then be eligible for re-election at that meeting. Dr. ZHANG is subject to retirement by rotation and re-election at the general meetings of the Company in accordance with the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and the memorandum and articles of association of the Company.