Austin, TX — March 4, 2025

Akexis, a biopharmaceutical startup dedicated to advancing treatments for late-stage cancer, introduces Dr. Lingbing Zhang, our founder and CEO.
A distinguished scientist and entrepreneur, Dr. Zhang brings decades of expertise in cancer immunology and therapeutic innovation. After earning his Ph.D. in immunology from Jilin University, Dr. Zhang completed a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine under the mentorship of Dr. Jeffrey Norton, a world-renowned surgical oncologist and researcher in cancer cachexia.

During his time at Stanford, Dr. Zhang conducted groundbreaking research on cachexia, a life-threatening wasting condition affecting many late-stage cancer patients. Challenging the common understanding that cachexia is a metabolic disorder, Dr. Zhang’s research revealed that severe immune system dysfunction plays a central role in the condition’s progression.

Motivated by the limitations of conventional treatments focused solely on muscle preservation - which had repeatedly failed in clinical trials - Dr. Zhang made a bold and life-changing decision in 2016 to leave his academic role at Stanford. He founded his first venture to develop therapies targeting immune dysregulation, an approach that had the potential to reverse cachexia and restore strength to patients battling advanced cancer.

Since then, Dr. Zhang’s work has continued to break new ground. Now at the helm of Akexis, he leads a team advancing a novel immunomodulator program designed to correct the immune imbalances underlying cachexia. Early results have shown tremendous promise, offering a renewed sense of hope for late-stage cancer patients and their families.

Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Zhang shares: “The decision to switch to industry was not easy, but it was necessary. I realized that staying in academia would limit the speed and scale at which I could develop meaningful treatments. Founding Akexis gave me the freedom to  develop innovative therapeutics that are urgently needed by patients who have run out of options.”

As Akexis continues to pioneer life-saving solutions for late-stage cancer patients, Dr. Zhang’s mission remains clear: to conquer cancer cachexia and improve survival and  quality of life for those fighting advanced cancer.

Learn More: Watch Dr. Zhang’s 2019 TED Talk: “A New Life-Saving Approach to Cancer Treatment” to hear more about his inspiring journey and groundbreaking research.

For more information, please visit www.akexis.com