Valion Appoints Life Sciences Veteran Dean Zikria as Interim CEO and Announces Board Leadership Transitions
Valion reshapes its executive and Board leadership, naming Dean Zikria Interim CEO while keeping its focus on advancing Entolimod and related immune-modulating biologics.
Rhea-AI Summary
Valion Bio (VBIO) appointed Board member Dean Zikria as Interim CEO and announced multiple Board leadership changes as it advances its Entolimod program.
Zikria will oversee strategic priorities that include accelerating clinical development of Entolimod and pursuing commercial and government partnerships. He brings experience spanning academic drug invention, seven years in strategy and business development roles within Pfizer’s U.S. cardiovascular business, and advisory work with UC Berkeley’s SkyDeck accelerator. Lisa Wolf remains President, COO and CFO, reporting to Zikria.
Thomas Jensen becomes Chair of the Board and Chair of the Compensation Committee, while Jared Malbin assumes the role of Audit Committee Chair. Former Board Chair Sheryle Bolton has stepped down from the Board and its committees.
Valion continues to develop Entolimod and next‑generation TLR5 agonist Entolasta, supported by in‑house CDMO subsidiary Velocity Bioworks.
Positive
- Dean Zikria named Interim CEO, adding biotech, pharma and BD experience
- Thomas Jensen appointed Board Chair and Compensation Committee Chair
- Jared Malbin becomes Audit Committee Chair, clarifying Board oversight roles
- Lisa Wolf continues as President, COO and CFO for operational continuity
- Entolimod holds FDA Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations
Negative
- CEO role is interim, implying near-term leadership uncertainty
- Former Board Chair Sheryle Bolton has stepped down from the Board
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
SAN ANTONIO, TX / ACCESS Newswire / September 23, 2026 / Valion Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ:VBIO) ("Valion" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced decisive changes to its executive leadership team and Board of Directors (the "Board"). These leadership transitions are intended to strengthen organizational alignment and support focused execution as Valion advances its Entolimod and other development programs and evaluates strategic opportunities.
Dean Zikria, a current member of the Board, has been appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"). In this role, Mr. Zikria will oversee Valion's strategic priorities, including accelerating the clinical advancement of Entolimod and aggressively pursuing commercial and government partnerships.
Mr. Zikria brings a compelling blend of scientific innovation, pharmaceutical commercialization and emerging biotech experience to Valion's next phase of growth. His career began at Columbia University Medical Center, where he co-invented novel therapeutics studied for potential applications in traumatic brain injury, hemorrhagic shock and battlefield medicine, and later included seven years at Pfizer, where he held strategy and business development roles within its
Lisa Wolf will continue to serve as Valion's President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, leading the Company's financial and operational functions and reporting to Mr. Zikria.
Valion also announced that Thomas Jensen has been appointed Chair of the Board and Chair of its Compensation Committee. He succeeds Sheryle Bolton, who has stepped down from the Board and its committees. In addition, Jared Malbin has been appointed Chair of the Board's Audit Committee.
"On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Sheryle for her leadership, service and many contributions to Valion," said Mr. Jensen. "These transitions establish clear accountability and strengthen alignment between our Board and management team as Valion enters an important stage of its development. Dean's familiarity with the Company, its programs and its strategic priorities provides continuity while sharpening our focus on disciplined capital allocation, operational execution and long-term shareholder value."
"Dean brings the experience, judgment and strategic perspective needed to lead Valion during this next phase," Mr. Jensen continued. "The Board looks forward to working closely with him and the broader management team as the Company advances Entolimod, evaluates high-potential opportunities and works toward milestones that could create meaningful value for patients and shareholders."
"I am honored to assume this expanded role at an important point in Valion's evolution," said Mr. Zikria. "Valion has promising development programs and a dedicated team working to translate the Company's science into meaningful outcomes. My immediate priorities are to work closely with Lisa and the rest of our team to maintain momentum, sharpen execution and concentrate our resources on Entolimod and the opportunities we believe offer the greatest potential to create lasting value."
About Valion Bio, Inc.
Valion Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ:VBIO) is developing biologics that activate innate immune pathways for cytoprotection and modulate immune responses in conditions driven by radiation, disease and immune dysregulation.
The Company's lead candidate, Entolimod, is being developed as a potential medical countermeasure for Acute Radiation Syndrome and has been evaluated in animal models under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's ("FDA") Animal Rule, which allows the Agency to approve new drugs and biological products based on animal efficacy studies when human clinical trials are not ethical or feasible, such as in the case of acute radiation exposure. Entolimod is a novel Toll-like Receptor 5 agonist designed to activate NF-κB signaling pathways associated with cellular protection, tissue recovery and immune response. The product candidate has received Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations from the FDA.
Valion is also advancing Entolasta, a next-generation TLR5 agonist designed for potential use in broader therapeutic applications, including oncology supportive care. The Company's pipeline includes potential programs in neutropenia and immune dysfunction.
Valion's wholly owned subsidiary, Velocity Bioworks, is a biologics contract development and manufacturing organization providing development and manufacturing services to Valion to support its internal pipeline, with the objective of increasing manufacturing control, reducing costs, accelerating development timelines and strengthening domestic supply-chain security.
For more information, visit www.valionbio.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "seek," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "target," "aim," "should," "will" "would," or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on Valion's current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the continued listing of the Company's common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market; and the Company's ability to maintain compliance with applicable listing standards on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause Valion's actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see Valion's filings with the SEC, including, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2026, under the heading "Risk Factors"; as well as the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of this date, and Valion undertakes no duty to update such information except as required by applicable law.
Investor and Media Contact
Stephen Kilmer
(646) 274-3580
stephen.kilmer@valionbio.com
SOURCE: Valion Bio, Inc.
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
FAQ
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What are Dean Zikria’s key qualifications for leading Valion as Interim CEO?
Dean Zikria co-invented novel therapeutics at Columbia University Medical Center for potential use in traumatic brain injury, hemorrhagic shock and battlefield medicine. He spent seven years at Pfizer in strategy and business development roles within its approximately $7 billion U.S. cardiovascular business, supporting a portfolio that included LIPITOR. He also advises and serves on the selection committee for UC Berkeley’s SkyDeck accelerator, evaluating new therapeutic technologies and advising early-stage companies on R&D strategy, financing, leadership and commercialization.
How is Valion positioning its lead candidate Entolimod?
Entolimod is being developed as a potential medical countermeasure for Acute Radiation Syndrome. It has been evaluated in animal models under the FDA’s Animal Rule, which allows approval based on animal efficacy when human trials are not ethical or feasible. Entolimod is a Toll-like Receptor 5 agonist designed to activate NF-κB pathways linked to cellular protection, tissue recovery and immune response, and has received Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations from the FDA.
What other pipeline programs is Valion advancing beyond Entolimod?
Valion is advancing Entolasta, a next-generation TLR5 agonist designed for potential broader therapeutic applications, including oncology supportive care. The pipeline also includes potential programs in neutropenia and immune dysfunction, reflecting a broader focus on biologics that activate innate immune pathways and modulate immune responses.
What is the role of Velocity Bioworks within Valion’s business?
Velocity Bioworks is Valion’s wholly owned biologics contract development and manufacturing organization. It provides development and manufacturing services to support Valion’s internal pipeline, with objectives that include increasing manufacturing control, reducing costs, accelerating development timelines and strengthening domestic supply-chain security.