Tempest Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: TPST) appointed Andrew Fang as head of business development to lead global partnership efforts and cross-border licensing activities, the clinical-stage biotechnology company said.

Fang will focus on expanding Tempest's outreach in China and supporting partnership discussions for the company's Phase 3-ready amezalpat program for hepatocellular carcinoma. The appointment reflects Tempest's emphasis on business development as a strategic priority.

"Andrew brings deep experience in cross-border licensing, strategic transactions and capital markets, particularly across the United States and Chinese biotech ecosystems," said Matt Angel, Tempest's president and chief executive officer.

Tempest received clearance to proceed with a pivotal trial of amezalpat in China, building on prior alignment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medical Agency on the Phase 3 study design. The company is seeking partnerships for the program and pursuing regional collaborations.

Fang is a founding partner and principal of YQ Advisors, where he focuses on strategic transactions and value creation in biotechnology. He has experience in cross-border licensing, asset transactions, biotech financing and public-company strategic initiatives.

At YQ Advisors, Fang worked on licensing, merger and acquisition opportunities involving public biotechnology companies and incubation of early-stage platforms in cell and gene therapy and AI-enabled biotechnology. He has connectivity to Chinese biotech clinical resources, strategic investors and potential operating partners.

Tempest develops CAR-T cell therapy candidates and small molecule programs to treat cancer. The company is headquartered in Brisbane, California.