We are a global biopharmaceutical company that invents life-changing medicines for people with serious diseases.
Our company was founded on the idea that the research and development of innovative medicines could be accelerated. Within a decade, we discovered and secured global approvals for two breakthrough medicines and assembled a promising pipeline of investigational therapies.
Today, we are bolder and more ambitious than ever before in our effort to improve and extend the lives of many more patients with serious diseases.
A look inside our labs
Our scientists merge expertise in bioinformatics, structural and cell biology, and world-class drug design capabilities to advance our discovery portfolio. Our approach enables us to rapidly identify compelling disease targets and design innovative therapies that treat root causes of disease.
The result is a robust and diverse portfolio of clinical- and research-stage programs in allergy/inflammation and oncology/hematology. With a steadfast commitment to scientific excellence and to patients, we aim to rapidly and unequivocally change the face of medicine.
Meet our Scientists
Guang Yang: Senior Principal Scientist, Translational Medicine
My path
I received my Ph.D. training in Immuno-Oncology at the Cancer Institute & Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) & Peking Union Medical College (PUMC). After graduation, I joined the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for my postdoctoral training in Hematology Oncology. Then, I earned an appointment as an Instructor in Medicine at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & Harvard Medical School, and subsequently became a Senior Scientist at Bing Center for Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (WM).
My experience
During my years at Dana-Farber, I was involved in the development of a treatment for WM. We first identified the MYD88 L265P mutation in 95% of WM patients and then Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) as a downstream target. The translational study and drug development experience around BTK and other kinases in B-cell lymphoma inspired me to join Blueprint Medicines, a leading company in developing kinase-targeting drugs for mast cell-related diseases.
My biggest achievement
I was fortunate enough to be involved in the discovery of the MYD88 L265P mutation in WM and its downstream targets, which led to a successful clinical trial in WM. The reverse-translational studies I led to identify the mechanisms of resistance and further drug development efforts to overcome this resistance represented a typical model of “bench-to-bedside and bedside-to-bench” for increasing WM patients’ survival and improving their quality of life.
My recent scientific publications
“A new role for the SRC family kinase HCK as a driver of SYK activation in MYD88 mutated lymphomas,” published in Blood Advances in 2022
“The HCK/BTK inhibitor KIN-8194 is active in MYD88-driven lymphomas and overcomes mutated BTKCys481 ibrutinib resistance,” published in Blood in 2021
“Phase 1 study of ibrutinib and the CXCR4 antagonist ulocuplumab in CXCR4-mutated Waldenström macroglobulinemia,” published in Blood in 2021
“SYK is activated by mutated MYD88 and drives pro-survival signaling in MYD88 driven B-cell,” published in Blood Cancer Journal in 2020
“Expression of the prosurvival kinase HCK requires PAX5 and mutated MYD88 signaling in MYD88-driven B-cell lymphomas,” published in Blood Advances in 2020
“Genomic Landscape of Waldenström Macroglobulinemia and Its Impact on Treatment Strategies,” published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2020
“Bruton tyrosine kinase degradation as a therapeutic strategy for cancer,” published in Blood in 2019
“BTKCys481Ser drives ibrutinib resistance via ERK1/2, and protects BTKWild-Type MYD88 mutated cells by a paracrine mechanism,” published in Blood in 2018 (Issue highlights with commentary)
“HCK is a survival determinant transactivated by mutated MYD88 and a direct target of ibrutinib,” published in Blood in 2016
“Ibrutinib in previously treated Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia,” published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2015
“A mutation in MYD88 (L265P) supports the survival of lymphoplasmacytic cells by activation of Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase in Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia,” published in Blood in 2013
“MYD88 L265P somatic mutation in Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia,” published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2012
My Blueprint Medicines
Joining Blueprint Medicines allowed me to get involved in drug development directly and have the opportunity to use reverse translational strategies in directing future drug development to benefit patients.
Percy Carter, MBA, Ph.D., Chief Science OfficerWhen we think about research innovation at scale at Blueprint, it begins with our talent. Our team combines a deep expertise in the basic science that underpins modern drug discovery, with extensive experience in the applied and translational sciences behind science-led nonclinical development. This enables us to take advantage of our integrated research platform and create transformative new medicines for patients.
Scientific Advisory Board
Our Scientific Advisory Board provides their renowned expertise to provide guidance on our scientific approach and help shape our portfolio of innovative medicines.
George Demetri, M.D. (Chair)
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Brian Druker, M.D.*
Chief Executive Officer, Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute, and JELD-WEN Chair of Leukemia Research
Mark Goldberg, M.D.
Lecturer in Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Faculty Member, Hematology Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Scott Lowe, Ph.D.*
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Chair, Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Nicholas Lydon, Ph.D.*
Scientific Founder, Blueprint Medicines
Charles L. Sawyers, M.D.*
Director, Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
*Scientific Founder of Blueprint Medicines