Ruchun Ji

Sidley represented SanReno Therapeutics (SanReno), a clinical-stage company specializing in the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative therapies for kidney diseases, in its acquisition by Novartis, a global medicines company. Following the acquisition’s closure, SanReno becomes an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Novartis. The founding investors of SanReno, including Pivotal bioVenture Partners China, Frazier Life Sciences, Samsara BioCapital, and Versant Ventures, have sold their equity securities in SanReno. Established in late 2021 as a joint venture between the investor consortium and Chinook Therapeutics (now part of Novartis), SanReno holds exclusive rights in Greater China and Singapore for two late-stage assets targeting Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN): atrasentan and zigakibart. Sidley previously represented the investor consortium in connection with the founding of SanReno and the licensing of the two assets from Chinook Therapeutics. The multidisciplinary Sidley team was led by partner Ruchun Ji. The transaction involved a cross-border team working across several practice areas, including the following: Corporate and M&A: partners Ruchun Ji, Feifei Bian, and Robert Darwin, senior managing associate Jing Peng, associates Jihyun (Jamie) Yoon and Rui Liu; PRC Employment: counsel Ling Chen; Employee Benefits: partner Eric Wolf and associate Ryan McLeod; and Tax: partners Rachel Kleinberg and Oliver Currall, senior managing associate Jonathan Westreich, and associate Fraser Tudor. Sidley’s Global Life Sciences practice, which comprises more than 200 dedicated lawyers globally, offers cross-disciplinary, full-service solutions for life science clients, ranging from M&A and private equity, licensing and collaboration transactions, capital markets, regulatory compliance and enforcement, and dispute resolutions, assisting biotech and pharmaceutical clients around the world. Sidley’s China Life Sciences practice, an integral part of the firm’s Global Life Sciences practice, is the only Band One international firm ranked by Chambers Asia Pacific/Greater China Region for 14 consecutive years.~~Sidley represented SanReno Therapeutics (SanReno), a clinical-stage company specializing in the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative therapies for kidney diseases, in its acquisition by Novartis, a global medicines company. Following the acquisition’s closure, SanReno becomes an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Novartis. The founding investors of SanReno, including Pivotal bioVenture Partners China, Frazier Life Sciences, Samsara BioCapital, and Versant Ventures, have sold their equity securities in SanReno. Established in late 2021 as a joint venture between the investor consortium and Chinook Therapeutics (now part of Novartis), SanReno holds exclusive rights in Greater China and Singapore for two late-stage assets targeting Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN): atrasentan and zigakibart. Sidley previously represented the investor consortium in connection with the founding of SanReno and the licensing of the two assets from Chinook Therapeutics. The multidisciplinary Sidley team was led by partner Ruchun Ji. The transaction involved a cross-border team working across several practice areas, including the following: Corporate and M&A: partners Ruchun Ji, Feifei Bian, and Robert Darwin, senior managing associate Jing Peng, associates Jihyun (Jamie) Yoon and Rui Liu; PRC Employment: counsel Ling Chen; Employee Benefits: partner Eric Wolf and associate Ryan McLeod; and Tax: partners Rachel Kleinberg and Oliver Currall, senior managing associate Jonathan Westreich, and associate Fraser Tudor. Sidley’s Global Life Sciences practice, which comprises more than 200 dedicated lawyers globally, offers cross-disciplinary, full-service solutions for life science clients, ranging from M&A and private equity, licensing and collaboration transactions, capital markets, regulatory compliance and enforcement, and dispute resolutions, assisting biotech and pharmaceutical clients around the world. Sidley’s China Life Sciences practice, an integral part of the firm’s Global Life Sciences practice, is the only Band One international firm ranked by Chambers Asia Pacific/Greater China Region for 14 consecutive years.

Jan 5

3 min

Sidley represented Zylox-Tonbridge Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (HKEX: 2190, “Zylox-Tonbridge”), a leading medical device company in the neuro- and peripheral-vascular interventional market in China, in connection with a private investment in public security (or PIPE) transaction to purchase a total of up to US$15 million of preferred and common stock of Avinger, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGR), a NASDAQ-listed Delaware corporation. Avinger is a commercial-stage medical device company developing and marketing the first and only intravascular image-guided, catheter-based systems for diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease. The PIPE transaction is part of the strategic partnership concurrently entered into by Zylox-Tonbridge and Avinger pursuant to a licensing agreement and a strategic collaboration agreement. Based in Hangzhou, China, Zylox-Tonbridge was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2021. The company operates two major subsidiaries, Zylox Medical and Tonbridge Medical, each specializing in peripheral and neurovascular interventions, respectively. With its comprehensive product portfolio and rapid commercialization process, Zylox-Tonbridge has emerged as one of the leading vascular intervention medical device platforms in the Greater China. The Sidley team was led by partner Ruchun Ji. Other team members included senior managing associate Jing Peng, associate Weiya Mu, and partner David Ni. Sidley’s Global Life Sciences practice, which comprises more than 200 dedicated lawyers globally, offers cross-disciplinary, full-service solutions for life science clients, including M&A and private equity, licensing and collaboration transactions, capital markets, regulatory compliance and enforcement, and dispute resolutions, assisting biotech and pharmaceutical clients around the world. Sidley’s China Life Sciences practice, an integral part of the firm’s Global Life Sciences practice, is the only Band One international firm ranked by Chambers Asia Pacific/Greater China Region for 15 consecutive years.~~Sidley represented Zylox-Tonbridge Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (HKEX: 2190, “Zylox-Tonbridge”), a leading medical device company in the neuro- and peripheral-vascular interventional market in China, in connection with a private investment in public security (or PIPE) transaction to purchase a total of up to US$15 million of preferred and common stock of Avinger, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGR), a NASDAQ-listed Delaware corporation. Avinger is a commercial-stage medical device company developing and marketing the first and only intravascular image-guided, catheter-based systems for diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease. The PIPE transaction is part of the strategic partnership concurrently entered into by Zylox-Tonbridge and Avinger pursuant to a licensing agreement and a strategic collaboration agreement. Based in Hangzhou, China, Zylox-Tonbridge was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2021. The company operates two major subsidiaries, Zylox Medical and Tonbridge Medical, each specializing in peripheral and neurovascular interventions, respectively. With its comprehensive product portfolio and rapid commercialization process, Zylox-Tonbridge has emerged as one of the leading vascular intervention medical device platforms in the Greater China. The Sidley team was led by partner Ruchun Ji. Other team members included senior managing associate Jing Peng, associate Weiya Mu, and partner David Ni. Sidley’s Global Life Sciences practice, which comprises more than 200 dedicated lawyers globally, offers cross-disciplinary, full-service solutions for life science clients, including M&A and private equity, licensing and collaboration transactions, capital markets, regulatory compliance and enforcement, and dispute resolutions, assisting biotech and pharmaceutical clients around the world. Sidley’s China Life Sciences practice, an integral part of the firm’s Global Life Sciences practice, is the only Band One international firm ranked by Chambers Asia Pacific/Greater China Region for 15 consecutive years.

Mar 8

2 min

Sidley represented OnCusp Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming cutting-edge preclinical innovation into clinically validated treatments for cancer patients worldwide, in the oversubscribed US$100 million (more than RMB700 million) Series A financing round, which was co-led by Novo Holdings, OrbiMed, and F-Prime Capital, alongside Sofinnova Investments, Catalio Capital Management, Marshall Wace, Forge Life Science Partners, Blackbird BioVentures, CJNV BioVenture, BioTrack Capital, and others. The proceeds from this financing will be used to advance CUSP06, an ADC targeting CDH6, toward clinical proof-of-concept. Additionally, the capital will aid in expanding the OnCusp portfolio and team. The Sidley team was led by partners Ruchun Ji (Shanghai) and Geoffrey Levin (New York). Other team members included partners Eric Wolf (New York) and James Mendenhall (Washington, D.C.), managing associates Yahel Kaplan and Joel Lifshitz (New York), senior managing associate Carys Golesworthy (Washington, D.C.), associate Rui Liu (Shanghai), and law clerk Milly Kim (New York). Sidley’s Global Life Sciences practice, which comprises more than 200 dedicated lawyers globally, offers cross-disciplinary, full-service solutions for life science clients, ranging from M&A and private equity, licensing and collaboration transactions, capital markets, regulatory compliance and enforcement, and dispute resolutions, assisting biotech and pharmaceutical clients around the world. Sidley’s China Life Sciences practice, an integral part of the firm’s Global Life Sciences practice, is the only Band One international firm ranked by Chambers Asia Pacific/Greater China Region for 14 consecutive years.~~Sidley represented OnCusp Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming cutting-edge preclinical innovation into clinically validated treatments for cancer patients worldwide, in the oversubscribed US$100 million (more than RMB700 million) Series A financing round, which was co-led by Novo Holdings, OrbiMed, and F-Prime Capital, alongside Sofinnova Investments, Catalio Capital Management, Marshall Wace, Forge Life Science Partners, Blackbird BioVentures, CJNV BioVenture, BioTrack Capital, and others. The proceeds from this financing will be used to advance CUSP06, an ADC targeting CDH6, toward clinical proof-of-concept. Additionally, the capital will aid in expanding the OnCusp portfolio and team. The Sidley team was led by partners Ruchun Ji (Shanghai) and Geoffrey Levin (New York). Other team members included partners Eric Wolf (New York) and James Mendenhall (Washington, D.C.), managing associates Yahel Kaplan and Joel Lifshitz (New York), senior managing associate Carys Golesworthy (Washington, D.C.), associate Rui Liu (Shanghai), and law clerk Milly Kim (New York). Sidley’s Global Life Sciences practice, which comprises more than 200 dedicated lawyers globally, offers cross-disciplinary, full-service solutions for life science clients, ranging from M&A and private equity, licensing and collaboration transactions, capital markets, regulatory compliance and enforcement, and dispute resolutions, assisting biotech and pharmaceutical clients around the world. Sidley’s China Life Sciences practice, an integral part of the firm’s Global Life Sciences practice, is the only Band One international firm ranked by Chambers Asia Pacific/Greater China Region for 14 consecutive years.

Jan 11

2 min

Sidley represented Resolian, a global bioanalytical contract research organization (CRO) specializing in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics for small and large molecules, in the acquisition of Denali Medpharma, a leading China-based bioanalytical CRO. Resolian has bioanalysis laboratory operations in the U.S., UK, Australia, and China. The multidisciplinary Sidley team was led by partner Ruchun Ji. The transaction involved a cross-border team working across several practice areas, including the following: Corporate and M&A: partner Ruchun Ji, senior managing associate Jing Peng and counsel Ling Chen; Regulatory: senior counsel Chen Yang and senior managing associate Mulai Xu; Tax: partner Oliver Currall; and Antitrust: partner Patrick Harrison, and associates Iva Todorova and Fiona Shajko. Sidley’s Global Life Sciences practice, which comprises more than 200 dedicated lawyers globally, offers cross-disciplinary, full-service solutions for life science clients, ranging from M&A and private equity, licensing and collaboration transactions, capital markets, regulatory compliance and enforcement, and dispute resolutions, assisting biotech and pharmaceutical clients around the world. Sidley’s China Life Sciences practice, an integral part of the firm’s Global Life Sciences practice, is the only Band One international firm ranked by Chambers Asia Pacific/Greater China Region for 14 consecutive years.~~Sidley represented Resolian, a global bioanalytical contract research organization (CRO) specializing in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics for small and large molecules, in the acquisition of Denali Medpharma, a leading China-based bioanalytical CRO. Resolian has bioanalysis laboratory operations in the U.S., UK, Australia, and China. The multidisciplinary Sidley team was led by partner Ruchun Ji. The transaction involved a cross-border team working across several practice areas, including the following: Corporate and M&A: partner Ruchun Ji, senior managing associate Jing Peng and counsel Ling Chen; Regulatory: senior counsel Chen Yang and senior managing associate Mulai Xu; Tax: partner Oliver Currall; and Antitrust: partner Patrick Harrison, and associates Iva Todorova and Fiona Shajko. Sidley’s Global Life Sciences practice, which comprises more than 200 dedicated lawyers globally, offers cross-disciplinary, full-service solutions for life science clients, ranging from M&A and private equity, licensing and collaboration transactions, capital markets, regulatory compliance and enforcement, and dispute resolutions, assisting biotech and pharmaceutical clients around the world. Sidley’s China Life Sciences practice, an integral part of the firm’s Global Life Sciences practice, is the only Band One international firm ranked by Chambers Asia Pacific/Greater China Region for 14 consecutive years.

Jan 3

2 min

Sidley is representing Squirrel Enlivened International Co., Ltd. (Squirrel), a brand marketing and strategy consulting solutions provider in China, as U.S. counsel in its business combination with Horizon Space Acquisition I Corp. (Nasdaq: HSPO), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company. The board of directors of both Squirrel and HSPO have approved the business combination, and Squirrel and HSPO entered into the business combination agreement on September 16, 2024. Upon the completion of the business combination of Squirrel and HSPO, Squirrel will be listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals as well as other customary conditions. Squirrel is a holding company of Shenzhen Squirrel Enlivened Media Group Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen Squirrel). Shenzhen Squirrel helps brands expand and grow their businesses by providing a combination of brand marketing solutions, including digital marketing, blockbuster product development, and brand image enhancement, as well as strategy consulting solutions. It harnesses the power of technology, innovation, and creation to drive significant business growth for a wide array of blue-chip and startup companies in China. The Sidley team was led by partners David Kalani Lee and Meng Ding and includes managing associates Gilbert Han and Misha Yang, and senior legal assistants Iris Lau and Sancy Chen. Partners David Ni, Ruchun Ji, Michael Heinz, and Joshua G. DuClos also provided support.~~Sidley is representing Squirrel Enlivened International Co., Ltd. (Squirrel), a brand marketing and strategy consulting solutions provider in China, as U.S. counsel in its business combination with Horizon Space Acquisition I Corp. (Nasdaq: HSPO), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company. The board of directors of both Squirrel and HSPO have approved the business combination, and Squirrel and HSPO entered into the business combination agreement on September 16, 2024. Upon the completion of the business combination of Squirrel and HSPO, Squirrel will be listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals as well as other customary conditions. Squirrel is a holding company of Shenzhen Squirrel Enlivened Media Group Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen Squirrel). Shenzhen Squirrel helps brands expand and grow their businesses by providing a combination of brand marketing solutions, including digital marketing, blockbuster product development, and brand image enhancement, as well as strategy consulting solutions. It harnesses the power of technology, innovation, and creation to drive significant business growth for a wide array of blue-chip and startup companies in China. The Sidley team was led by partners David Kalani Lee and Meng Ding and includes managing associates Gilbert Han and Misha Yang, and senior legal assistants Iris Lau and Sancy Chen. Partners David Ni, Ruchun Ji, Michael Heinz, and Joshua G. DuClos also provided support.

Sep 19

2 min