Zentalis Pharmaceuticals Announces the Appointment of Dr. Kimberly Blackwell to its Board of Directors

NEW YORK and SAN DIEGO, July 01, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZNTL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing small molecule therapeutics targeting fundamental biological pathways of cancers, today announced the appointment of Kimberly Blackwell, M.D. to its Board of Directors. Dr. Blackwell is a renowned breast cancer researcher who has made significant contributions to the biopharmaceutical industry for more than two decades. 

“We are delighted to welcome Kim, a biopharma veteran with extensive experience in oncology research, to our Board of Directors,” said Dr. Anthony Sun, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zentalis Pharmaceuticals. “Throughout her career, she has led numerous clinical programs, mainly in breast cancer, that have resulted in successful regulatory approvals. This impressive background will be vital in helping us bring potentially life changing treatments to patients with a range of cancers.”

Dr. Blackwell is currently the Chief Medical Officer of Tempus, a technology company advancing precision medicine through the practical application of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Prior to Tempus, she was Vice President of Early Phase Oncology and Immuno-oncology at Eli Lilly, where she led the clinical development teams in advancing early stage therapeutics. Throughout her 24 year tenure at Duke Cancer Institute, Dr. Blackwell directed the Women’s Cancer Program, Strategic Collaborations, and the Precision Medicine Initiative. In addition, she has served as the principal or co-principal investigator on over 50 cancer clinical trials. Dr. Blackwell’s innovative work in developing non-chemotherapy based approaches for the treatment of breast cancer led to her inclusion on TIME magazine’s 2013 list of the 100 most influential people in the world. She received her undergraduate degree in bioethics from Duke University and holds an M.D. from Mayo Clinic School of Medicine.

“As a previous member of the Scientific Advisory Board, I am honored by the opportunity to expand my role at Zentalis,” said Dr. Kimberly Blackwell. “I look forward to continuing to assist the Zentalis team and its distinguished Board of Directors in building and evolving its potentially best-in-class oncology pipeline, with the goal of making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives.”