Selecting 9 molecules from 49 billion: Westlake Pharma’s AI-powered anti-COVID drug receives regulatory approval

Second stage: AI-powered virtual screening to filter out false positives. Westlake Pharma applied transfer learning and pre-trained models to virtually screen over 100 molecules identified via DNA-encoded library (DEL) screening, predicting which compounds truly bind to the target and which are merely noise. Ultimately, the team narrowed the candidates down to just nine molecules. What does this mean? Traditionally, each compound would need to be synthesized and experimentally validated one by one—costing RMB 10,000–20,000 per compound. AI virtual screening reduced the number of required wet-lab experiments from over 100 to just nine—not only saving substantial costs but, more critically, cutting months or even years off development time. Third stage: AI-assisted drug optimization. Identifying a hit compound is only the first step; next comes lead optimization—enhancing potency, improving drug-likeness, and reducing toxicity. Traditional lead optimization typically takes an average of three years. By integrating its AI platform WAND (Westlake AI for Novel Drug) with wet-lab experiments, Westlake Pharma compressed this phase to under one year. The core philosophy behind the WAND platform is 'structure-based AI drug design'—a methodology that integrates physics-informed AI techniques with structural biology, medicinal chemistry, and biochemistry, rather than relying solely on data-driven black-box models. The platform covers key stages including target discovery, molecular generation, and molecular optimization. It leverages large-scale experimental data generated in wet labs to iteratively train and refine predictive models, thereby continuously improving accuracy. Together, these three stages constitute the essential formula enabling Westlake Pharma to ‘complete ten years’ work in three.’ Yet one point must be clarified: AI here serves as an accelerator—not a creator ex nihilo. Westlake Pharma itself adopts a modest positioning: its drug is the ‘world’s first original small-molecule drug derived from DEL technology,’ with AI functioning strictly as an enabler of DEL—not the protagonist. DEL acts as the ‘preliminary round referee,’ while AI serves as the ‘final-round referee.’ Real drug design remains firmly in the hands of medicinal chemists. This stands in stark contrast to many market narratives touting ‘AI-designed de novo drugs.’ III. A Scientist-Led Bet Westlake Pharma is not an ‘AI-native’ company; it is a quintessential university-incubated biotech startup, rooted in Westlake University and the Westlake Laboratory. Three co-founders: Yu Hongtao, Chairman: B.S. in Chemistry from Peking University; Ph.D. and postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. Served as Assistant Professor then Full Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center; concurrently appointed Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator from 2008 to 2019. Returned to China full-time in 2019 to serve as Dean of the School of Life Sciences at Westlake University and Director of the Westlake Laboratory. His research focuses on cell cycle regulation and genome stability—fields not directly related to AI, yet he possesses deep expertise in fundamental biology and the underlying logic of drug discovery. Hu Qi, Co-founder: B.S. and M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Peking University, Ph.D. in Biology from Tsinghua University, and postdoctoral fellow at UCSF. He is a Distinguished Researcher at Westlake University and leads the Core Lab for AI-Driven Drug Design at the Westlake Laboratory. Within the team, he serves as the AI expert—and uniquely bridges both domains: ‘the most AI-savvy among pharmacologists, and the most pharma-savvy among AI specialists.’ Huang Jing, Co-founder: Professor at the School of Life Sciences, Westlake University. In terms of equity structure, the three founders collectively hold approximately 41.6% of shares directly; Westlake University holds about 4.6% directly—a classic ‘scientist-led ownership + university endorsement’ model.

2023 Financial Analysis Report of State-Owned Cultural and Tourism Groups

Generally speaking, state-owned cultural and tourism (C&T) groups fulfill multiple functions and deliver diverse value—including investment and financing for C&T projects, management and operation of state-owned C&T assets, cultivation and construction of regional C&T industry chains, and optimization of integrated regional industrial development. They bear major responsibilities and missions for promoting high-quality, innovative, and stable development across provincial or municipal C&T sectors. This report analyzes 61 state-owned C&T groups as a representative sample. By focusing on their core financial indicators for 2023, it provides a comprehensive and objective overview of their operational performance over the past year. Further, by examining each group’s business segments, the report assesses current layouts across the C&T ecosystem, evaluates the status of product and project development, dissects competitive dynamics and existing challenges, and forecasts future trends—offering strategic insights and practical implications for the planning and operations of state-owned C&T groups. Revenue and Net Profit of State-Owned C&T Groups in 2023: The 61 groups collectively reported total revenue of approximately RMB 524.8 billion. Revenue growth varied significantly across groups, with over 60% achieving positive year-on-year growth. Among the 61 groups, 48 were profitable—accounting for 78.69%. Revenue Performance of State-Owned C&T Groups in 2023: Due to differences in scale, primary business composition, and operating models, the 2023 revenue levels of these state-owned C&T groups exhibited pronounced disparities—clearly stratified into tiers. First Tier: Eight groups achieved revenue exceeding RMB 10 billion each—namely, Gansu Provincial Aviation & Highway Travel Group (Gansu GAHT), China Tourism Group, Beijing Tourism Group (BTG), Hubei Culture & Tourism Group, Hangzhou Business & Tourism Group (Hangzhou BTG), Zhejiang Tourism Investment Group (Zhejiang TIG), Shanxi Culture & Tourism Group, and Jiangxi Provincial Tourism Group. Six of these eight are provincial-level C&T groups. Gansu GAHT topped the list with RMB 152.44 billion in revenue—the sole state-owned C&T group surpassing RMB 100 billion—maintaining an absolute leadership position. Its revenue is predominantly driven by trading activities. Second-ranked is the centrally administered China Tourism Group, reporting RMB 93.885 billion in revenue. Its portfolio includes two listed subsidiaries—China Duty Free Group (CDF) and China Travel Service (Hong Kong). Its core businesses span seven areas: China Travel Service (Travel), China Travel Service (Investment), China Duty Free, among others—with duty-free sales accounting for roughly 72% of its core business revenue, serving as its primary income source. Third-ranked is Beijing-based BTG, with RMB 50.481 billion in revenue in 2023. Its listed subsidiaries include BTG Hotels, Wangfujing Department Store, and Quanjude, whose combined revenue accounts for approximately 42% of BTG’s total. Commodity sales and hotel & office building operations represent the two largest revenue streams, contributing roughly 30% and 28% of total revenue, respectively. Second Tier: Eight groups posted revenue between RMB 5 billion and RMB 10 billion—namely, Jingdezhen Ceramic Culture & Tourism Group, Yichang Transportation & Tourism Group, Longyan Culture & Tourism Huijin Group, Shaanxi Tourism Group, Guangxi Tourism Development Group, Urumqi Transportation & Tourism Investment Group, Fujian Provincial Tourism Development Group, and Tangshan Culture & Tourism Group—of which five are city-level C&T groups. From a business composition perspective, these groups are characterized by diversified, integrated operations—extending beyond cultural and tourism services to include intelligent manufacturing, foreign trade and commerce, education and training, digital technology, real estate development, transportation infrastructure, healthcare, financial services, and asset management. For example, Jingdezhen Ceramic Culture & Tourism Group’s 2023 main business revenue was primarily derived from urban infrastructure construction projects and commodity sales—both exceeding RMB 2 billion. In contrast, Fujian Provincial Tourism Development Group’s largest revenue contributor was foreign trade and commerce, accounting for about 76% of its total revenue; whereas its four tourism-related businesses—tourism services, scenic area operations, hotel & catering, and passenger transport—generated a combined revenue of approximately RMB 900 million, representing only 17% of its total revenue.

Westlake Corporation Revenue Breakdown – BMV:WLK

Jul 31, 2026

Westlake Chemical Corporation reported 201.37 billion MXN in revenue last year, with its Performance and Essential Materials segment contributing the most. The United States was the largest regional contributor at 143.39 billion MXN.

TradingView

2026-01-04

Expectations for Global PVC Production Cuts Intensify

2026-02-24

Westlake Q4 Earnings Beat Amid Accelerated Cost Cutting

2026-03-02

Westlake Chemical Partners LP Filed Annual Report

2026-03-05

Westlake Chemical Partners Posts Full 2025 Annual Report Online

2026-03-13

Westlake Chemical Partners LP Files S-3 Shelf Registration Statement