Zheng Fan

Fibrosis silently affects millions worldwide and is responsible for nearly half of all deaths in developed countries. Current treatments only slow disease progression and do not address the cellular root causes of organ scarring, leaving patients with limited options and reduced quality of life. 

Dr. Zheng Fan’s UZH Entrepreneur Fellowship project, FibriNova Therapeutics, leverages deep expertise in fibrosis biology, next-generation omics, and computational target discovery to develop novel therapies for fibrotic diseases. Using advanced preclinical models and working closely with hospital partners, the team integrates real-world clinical insights to ensure each step is aligned with patient needs and therapeutic feasibility. 

To translate discoveries efficiently, FibriNova collaborates with specialized external development partners and CROs for antibody engineering and drug-conjugate development. This model enables rapid progression from biological discovery to validated therapeutic candidates without building internal infrastructure prematurely. 

The initial focus is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)—a severe disease with mortality exceeding many cancers and an urgent unmet medical need. 

During the Fellowship, the team will validate its lead target, advance ADC development, and generate key in-vivo proof-of-concept data. Upon success, the platform will expand to address liver, kidney, and cardiac fibrosis. 

The mission for Zheng and his team is to deliver precision therapies that target disease-driving cells and meaningfully improve the lives of patients suffering from fibrosis.

Affiliation: Prof. Dr. med. Christian Stockmann 
Start date: 1.10.25