Zentalis Pharmaceuticals Appoints Kimberly Freeman as Chief Strategy Officer
NEW YORK and SAN DIEGO, Aug. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zentalis® Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZNTL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing clinically differentiated small molecule therapeutics targeting fundamental biological pathways of cancers, today announced the appointment of Kimberly Freeman as Chief Strategy Officer. In this role, she will support and implement Zentalis’ long-term portfolio strategy. Ms. Freeman joins Zentalis with over 25 years of clinical development and strategic leadership experience, including deep expertise in oncology, particularly in gynecologic malignancies and the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway.
“Kimberly brings an outstanding track record of building and executing drug development and franchise strategies that will be invaluable to Zentalis as we seek to capitalize on the significant opportunity we see with azenosertib across a broad array of tumor types,” said Dr. Kimberly Blackwell, Chief Executive Officer of Zentalis. “We welcome her unique skill set, which is ideally suited to helping us advance azenosertib to patients with ovarian and uterine cancers, as well as expand to other Cyclin E1 positive tumor types where patients typically face poor prognosis. Kimberly has successfully driven multiple cancer programs from early clinical development to FDA approval, led a billion-dollar product franchise, and has a deep network in the gynecologic oncology community.”
Prior to joining Zentalis, Ms. Freeman was Vice President, US Head of DDR Franchise, Oncology at AstraZeneca. She was responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and cross-functional efforts for LYNPARZA® (olaparib) and other therapies targeting the DDR pathway, which is an important hallmark in ovarian and other cancers. Previously, she held various leadership roles at biopharmaceutical companies including Adaptimmune, Boehringer Ingelheim and GlaxoSmithKline. Ms. Freeman has also served on the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) Cell Therapy Advisory Committee and has been recognized by Women in Bio as a Female Pioneer in the Life Sciences. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Cornell University, Ms. Freeman was a Research Scientist in the Department of Hematology/Medical Oncology at Weill Cornell Medical Center and later pursued Graduate Studies at SUNY Upstate Medical Center. Ms. Freeman also received Finance and Marketing Certificates from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
“It is a privilege to join the Zentalis management team at such an exciting time in the Company’s history. I look forward to working with the team to shape and advance the Company’s strategic priorities,” said Ms. Freeman. “I see tremendous opportunity for azenosertib to change the therapeutic paradigm in a number of solid tumor types as it continues to emerge as a promising new therapeutic for cancer patients.”
About Zentalis Pharmaceuticals
Zentalis® Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing small molecule therapeutics targeting fundamental biological pathways of cancers. Utilizing its Integrated Discovery Engine, the Company is developing a focused pipeline of potentially best-in-class oncology candidates, which include azenosertib (ZN-c3), a WEE1 inhibitor for advanced solid tumors, ZN-d5, a BCL-2 inhibitor for hematologic malignancies and related disorders, and a heterobifunctional degrader of BCL-xL for solid and hematological malignancies. The Company is also leveraging its extensive experience and capabilities across cancer biology and medicinal chemistry to advance its research on protein degraders. Zentalis has operations in both New York and San Diego.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the anticipated contribution and value of management team members; our goal of capitalizing on the azenosertib opportunity; our goals of advancing azenosertib in ovarian and uterine cancer indications and expanding to other Cyclin E1 positive tumor types; and the potential opportunity with and benefits of azenosertib. The terms “advance,” “expand,” “look forward,” “opportunity,” “promising,” “seek,” “will,” and similar references are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: our limited operating history, which may make it difficult to evaluate our current business and predict our future success and viability; we have and expect to continue to incur significant losses; our need for additional funding, which may not be available; our plans, including the costs thereof, of development of any diagnostic tools, if needed; the outcome of preclinical testing and early trials may not be predictive of the success of later clinical trials; failure to identify additional product candidates and develop or commercialize marketable products; potential unforeseen events during clinical trials could cause delays or other adverse consequences; risks relating to the regulatory approval process or ongoing regulatory obligations; failure to obtain U.S. or international marketing approval; our product candidates may cause serious adverse side effects; inability to maintain our collaborations, or the failure of these collaborations; our reliance on third parties; effects of significant competition; the possibility of system failures or security breaches; risks relating to intellectual property; our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel, and risks relating to management transitions; significant costs as a result of operating as a public company; and the other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed periodic report on Form 10-K or 10-Q and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and our other filings with the SEC. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.
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Contact:
Katie Beach Oltsik
Evoke Canale
