Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has appointed Eddie C. Cheung, M.D., FACG, to lead Strategic Medical Affairs in Asia. In this newly created role with Hepion, Dr. Cheung will explore and identify possible partnerships, and will liaise with national and regional regulatory authorities and thought leaders to advance rencofilstat's clinical development strategy in China and other parts of Asia. Dr. Cheung's current appointments include Professor of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Academic Leader and Director of Hepatology, and Doctoral Supervisor at the Seventh Affiliated Hospital at Sun Yat-sen University in Shenzhen, China.

In addition, he has been Professor of Internal Medicine, Clinical Nutrition and Gastroenterology/Hepatology at the California Northstate University College of Medicine; Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology/Hepatology at the University of California at Davis School of Medicine; as well as Honorary Professor at the 302 Military Hospital, Translational Hepatology Institute of the Capital Medical University in Beijing and Honorary Director of Sino-U.S. International Liver Disease Center at the Zhejiang University Shulan Health Group, Hangzhou, China. He is on the National Board of Directors and the Medical Advisory Board of the American Liver Foundation. Dr. Cheung founded the Asian Cancer Coalition and was a member of the Coalition to Eradicate Viral Hepatitis in Asia Pacific, as well as the U.S. National Task Force for Hepatitis B. He was previously the Chair, Asian-American Pacific Islander Workgroup of the American Cancer Society and served on the Clinical Faculty at Stanford University School of Medicine and the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine.

Additionally, he was Chair of the Board of Directors, Northern California, and Nevada Division of the American Liver Foundation. He received the Salute to Excellence Outstanding Community Service Award from the American Liver Foundation, Outstanding Contribution to Health Award from the Community Health Charities, the Distinguished Community Service Award from the Salvation Army, and the Special Contribution Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Cheung earned his medical degree from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan in 1974 and completed his Fellowship of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Clinical Nutrition at the University of Louisville, Kentucky in 1980.