John Zhihua Zhang, MD PhD

Head of Toxicology

Dr. Zhang has more than twenty-six years’ experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry. His professional expertise is in the areas of preclinical development and early clinical development, such as toxicology, pharmacology, DMPK/ADME, and clinical pharmacology. He has worked for many big and small pharmaceutical companies including Abbvie, Roche, Enzon, Pharmacopeia, and Tesaro. Dr. Zhang’s experience in leading preclinical teams and his participation in numerous IND and NDA projects, brings an invaluable asset to all the teams he collaborates with. His contributions have led to the successful filing of an upwards of twenty-five INDs, five NDAs with the US FDA, and four MAAs with the EMA including the high-profile drugs of Humira (adalimumab) and Zejula (niraparib). He has a proven track in the management of outsourced studies/programs and in strategic alliances with CROs worldwide. Dr. Zhang’s passion for this field of study has led him to author more than 15 scientific publications thus far in his career. Dr. Zhang graduated from medical school in China, obtained his Master of Science in Public Health from UCLA, and Ph.D in toxicology from Rutgers University/UMDNJ. He joined the pharmaceutical industry after completing 3 years postdoctoral training in NCI/NIH. Dr. Zhang is a certified toxicologist by the American Board of Toxicology.