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In the words of our judges
”John has guided BeOne Medicines’ expansion to 11,000 employees, bringing life-changing cancer therapies to 1.5 million patients and pioneering global innovation through profitable growth and impactful partnerships.”
John Oyler started his entrepreneurial journey at MIT, outside the classroom. To pay his tuition, he worked at various jobs and experienced firsthand a tried-and-true formula: Know your customer and solve for their needs. In an early gig, he sold doughnuts on campus. Then, he and his roommate sold dorm essentials, from refrigerators and area rugs to bookshelves.
Oyler, who would go on to receive his MBA from Stanford, lost several close friends to cancer, which shaped the trajectory of his entrepreneurial journey. The tragedies ignited his determination to make a meaningful impact on patients.
After working at several startups, he cofounded BeiGene in 2010. Oyler was determined to create affordable, impactful medicines to fight cancer. BeiGene’s mission is to “build the first next-generation oncology company — one that expands the highest quality therapies to more people around the world — through courage, persistent innovation and challenging the status quo.”
Initially, BeiGene relied on clinical research organizations (CROs) for trials, which caused delays in patient enrollment and higher costs. Oyler focused on developing the technology that would enable BeiGene to operate independently, expanding trial capacity while reducing costs to build a sustainable business model. The company opened sites in high-patient areas, working directly with clinicians for improved efficiency, accelerated enrollment and reduced costs — bringing treatments to patients faster.
Now known as BeOne Medicines, the company conducts research and development 30% faster and at lower cost than competitors. It has launched affordable, accessible products, including a BTK inhibitor that outperforms the leading competitor yet costs over $36,000 less.
Today, BeOne Medicines has over 11,000 employees in more than 40 locations on six continents. As of Q1 2025, the company had over 70 market approvals for three internally developed medicines, two of which are sold worldwide. Oyler’s early lesson to “know your customer” has grown into an approach driven by his desire to having a meaningful impact on an entire industry and patients worldwide.