- Co-founder Dr. Ali Tehrani to remain as an advisor to the Company to assist in the transition expected to occur on or before February 1, 2022
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Neil Klompas also promoted to the dual position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) and CFO effective immediately
VANCOUVER, British Columbia & SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Zymeworks, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing multifunctional biotherapeutics, today announced the appointment of Mr. Kenneth Galbraith as Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Zymeworks, effective on or before February 1, 2022. Mr. Galbraith will succeed Zymeworks co-founder Ali Tehrani, Ph.D., who has served as President and CEO since 2003. Dr. Tehrani will remain as an advisor to the Company to assist with the transition.
“Ken Galbraith is an outstanding global leader who brings more than 30 years of life science industry, venture capital and commercialization experience to Zymeworks, along with a proven track record of strong leadership and operational skills,” said Lota Zoth, Zymeworks’ current Board Chair. “The Board unanimously believes that Ken is the ideal leader to implement our next phase of development as we continue late-stage clinical trials for zanidatamab and expand our R&D pipeline. We thank and recognize Ali for his outstanding service in creating a solid foundation and advancing Zymeworks to a late-stage clinical company with valuable R&D programs, numerous productive pharmaceutical partnerships, and a high-quality management team.”
A former Zymeworks Board member from 2009 to 2013, Ken Galbraith has been working since 1987 as a life sciences executive, director, investor and advisor in the growth of both private and public companies from early-stage through regulatory approval and commercialization. Most recently, he served as executive-in-residence with Syncona (LSE:SYNC), a large British closed-ended healthcare investment trust dedicated to life science investments. He began his biotechnology career in Vancouver as CFO at QLT, where he was instrumental in growing the company to over 500 employees while gaining market approvals for several new medicines prior to his departure in 2000. During his lengthy career, Ken has played a pivotal role in the development of several successful biotechnology companies throughout North America, including AnorMED, Macrogenics, Alder Pharmaceuticals, Celator Pharmaceuticals, Novadaq and Angiotech, among others. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with honors from the University of British Columbia.
“I have long believed in the potential of innovative technology platforms to generate novel multispecific antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates and transform the treatment of cancer. Zymeworks’ innovative approach, technology platforms and emerging product pipeline represent a tremendous opportunity, and I look forward to leading the Company during this exciting period of innovation in cancer therapies,” said Ken Galbraith. “This year, we expect to progress our two ongoing pivotal clinical studies for zanidatamab, present important new data for zanidatamab and ZW49 to inform additional clinical development opportunities, further advance our preclinical product pipeline and gain insights from our pharmaceutical partners’ programs as they advance into and through clinical development.”
The Company also announced that CFO Neil Klompas was promoted to the dual position of COO and CFO, effective immediately.
Ken Galbraith added, “Neil has been instrumental to the growth and financing of Zymeworks for 15 years, and I look forward to working closely with him, our employees, our partners and our Board of Directors to develop the next generation of biotherapeutics with the potential to improve outcomes for patients around the world with difficult-to-treat cancers.”
About Zymeworks Inc.
Zymeworks is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of next-generation multifunctional biotherapeutics. Zymeworks’ suite of therapeutic platforms and its fully integrated drug development engine enable precise engineering of highly differentiated product candidates. Zymeworks’ lead clinical candidate, zanidatamab, is a novel Azymetric™ HER2-targeted bispecific antibody currently being evaluated in multiple Phase 1, Phase 2, and pivotal clinical trials globally as a targeted treatment option for patients with solid tumors that express HER2. Zymeworks’ second clinical candidate, ZW49, is a novel bispecific HER2‑targeted antibody-drug conjugate currently in Phase 1 clinical development and combines the unique design and antibody framework of zanidatamab with Zymeworks’ proprietary ZymeLink™ linker and cytotoxin. Zymeworks is also advancing a deep preclinical pipeline in oncology (including immuno-oncology agents) and other therapeutic areas. In addition, its therapeutic platforms are being leveraged through strategic partnerships with nine biopharmaceutical companies. For more information on our ongoing clinical trials visit www.zymeworksclinicaltrials.com. For additional information about Zymeworks, visit www.zymeworks.com and follow @ZymeworksInc on Twitter.
