Lihua Zheng

CEO at Z-Star Therapeutics

Panellist

Dr. Lihua Zheng is a successful serial entrepreneur and biotech executive. He is currently co-founder and CEO of Z-Star Therapeutics Inc., a New York City-based biotech company developing the next generation oncology and immunology therapeutics. Previously he co-founded AnHeart Therapeutics in 2018 as its Board Director and Chief Business/Strategy Officer responsible for business development, financing, legal and US operation. He led the successful in-licensing of three clinical-stage oncology assets from Daiichi Sankyo. He also led the successful out-licensing of commercial rights separately to Nippon Kayaku (TSE:4272), Innovent Biologics (XHKG: 1801) and NewG labs with upfront and milestone payments totaling more than $300 million plus double-digit royalties. He further led the private financings and raised more than $100 million before AnHeart was merged into Nuvation Bio (NYSE: NUVB) in Q1 2024. Lihua was an experienced transactional attorney at an international law firm Proskauer before he co-founded at a boutique law firm in New York City. He received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and a Ph.D. in Molecular and Human Genetics from Baylor College of Medicine. He obtained his Masters and Bachelor of Science degree from Fudan University.