• Adam Schayowitz, Ph.D., MBA appointed as Head of R&D
• Scott Platshon appointed as Chief Business Officer
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zymeworks Inc. (Nasdaq: ZYME), a biotechnology company managing a portfolio of licensed healthcare assets, while developing a diverse pipeline of novel, multifunctional biotherapeutics, today announced the full-time appointments of Dr. Adam Schayowitz and Mr. Scott Platshon as of April 9, 2026, from their previously interim roles. Both Dr. Schayowitz and Mr. Platshon will report directly to Kenneth Galbraith, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Zymeworks.
“These appointments come at a pivotal time for Zymeworks as we enter a year focused on execution across our pipeline, partnerships, and broader corporate strategy,” said Galbraith. “Adam’s deep oncology and R&D expertise will accelerate our clinical development and unlock additional value, while Scott’s investment acumen and strategic vision will be instrumental in helping to expand our asset portfolio and drive long-term returns. Together with the recent appointment of Ms. Kristin Stafford as Chief Financial Officer, these leadership additions better position Zymeworks to execute on its strategy and deliver sustained value for patients and shareholders.”
Dr. Schayowitz has been appointed as Executive Vice President and Head of Research & Development. He will work closely with Zymeworks’ R&D and Business Development teams to advance the Company’s portfolio of product candidates, while supporting its strategy to integrate partnerships and collaborations into its wholly-owned R&D pipeline. With nearly two decades of experience in oncology drug development, Dr. Schayowitz will play a key role in advancing programs in areas of high unmet need and preparing additional product candidates for progression into clinical studies.
Mr. Platshon will serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer and continue to lead Zymeworks’ asset aggregation strategy while managing expected future cash flows from Ziihera® (zanidatamab-hrii) and other licensed healthcare assets, including pasritamig, which is being advanced into Phase 3 registration studies by Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. In his full-time role as Chief Business Officer, he is responsible for executing Zymeworks’ strategy to build and actively manage a diversified portfolio of revenue-generating assets to help drive long-term shareholder value.
Dr. Schayowitz and Mr. Platshon both join the executive leadership team from EcoR1 Capital, a significant shareholder in Zymeworks.
Recent milestones, including the Phase 1 study initiation for ZW251 and expanding global approvals of zanidatamab, underscore Zymeworks’ continued momentum across its development pipeline and strategic partnerships. The Company remains focused on disciplined execution while advancing a differentiated strategy that integrates R&D innovation with strategic collaborations.
Building on this progress, Zymeworks is advancing a diversified portfolio of revenue-generating assets supported by its asset aggregation strategy. Positive Phase 3 HERIZON-GEA-01 data for zanidatamab further strengthens the Company’s position to drive long-term value through a balanced approach that combines internal pipeline advancement with active management and expansion of its royalty and licensed asset portfolio. This integrated model is designed to optimize future cash flows while supporting continued investment in innovative therapeutics.
About Zymeworks Inc.
Zymeworks is a global biotechnology company managing a portfolio of licensed healthcare assets and developing a diverse pipeline of novel, multifunctional biotherapeutics to improve the standard of care for difficult-to-treat diseases, including cancer, inflammation, and autoimmune disease. Zymeworks’ asset and royalty aggregation strategy focuses on optimizing positive future cash flows from an emerging portfolio of licensed products such as Ziihera® (zanidatamab-hrii) and other licensed products and product candidates, such as pasritamig. In addition, Zymeworks is also building a portfolio of healthcare assets that can generate strong cash flows, while supporting the development of innovative medicines.
Zymeworks engineered and developed Ziihera, a HER2-targeted bispecific antibody using the Zymeworks’ proprietary Azymetric™ technology and has entered into separate agreements with BeOne Medicines Ltd. (formerly BeiGene, Ltd.) and Jazz Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited granting each exclusive rights to develop and commercialize zanidatamab in different territories. Zymeworks is rapidly advancing a robust pipeline of product candidates, leveraging its expertise in both antibody drug conjugates and multispecific antibody therapeutics targeting novel pathways in areas of significant unmet medical need.
Zymeworks’ complementary therapeutic platforms and fully integrated drug development engine provide the flexibility and compatibility to precisely engineer and develop highly differentiated antibody-based therapeutics. These capabilities have been further leveraged through strategic partnerships with global biopharmaceutical companies. For information about Zymeworks, visit www.zymeworks.com and follow @ZymeworksInc on X.
