Founder & CEO

Lingbing Zhang, PhD is a scientist and entrepreneur specializing in cancer immunology and therapeutic innovation. After earning his Ph.D. in immunology from Jilin University, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford School of Medicine, where he uncovered that immune dysregulation, not just muscle wasting, drives the progression of cachexia in late-stage cancer patients.

Inspired by these findings and the shortcomings of treatments targeting muscle wasting alone, Dr. Zhang founded Yinuoke Ltd. in 2016 to develop therapies addressing immune dysfunction. Now, as the founder of Akexis, he is advancing a groundbreaking immunomodulator program with the potential to revolutionize care for late-stage cancer patients, offering new hope for those battling this debilitating condition

Watch Dr. Zhang’s 2019 TED Talk: “A New Life-saving Approach to Cancer Treatment”

Co-Founder & COO

Suzanne Kennedy, PhD is a seasoned biotech executive with a doctorate in microbiology and immunology from Virginia Commonwealth University Medical School. Inspired by the loss of a childhood friend to leukemia, she has dedicated her career to advancing cancer research and therapeutic innovation.

Suzanne has held key roles at Bio-Path Holdings, GlycosBio, and ViuHealth, driving clinical programs, R&D, and strategic partnerships that have advanced life sciences and pharmaceutical innovations. As co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Akexis, she leads efforts to develop groundbreaking cancer therapeutics, transforming treatment for late-stage cancer patients.

Chief Development Officer

Cassie Bernhardt is a dynamic leader in development and strategic fundraising, with a proven track record of success across academic and corporate sectors. As Chief Development Officer at The University of Texas, she spearheaded large-scale funding initiatives, cultivated impactful partnerships, and refined her expertise in communications and external relations. Building on this experience, Cassie founded Impresa Advisors, where she serves as Principal Managing Partner, guiding organizations in optimizing development strategies and achieving their funding goals.

At Akexis, Cassie brings her extensive background in development and external relations to her role as Chief Development Officer. Her strategic leadership supports Akexis’s mission to revolutionize late-stage cancer care and bring hope to patients through innovative therapeutics.

Chief Financial Officer

Phillip Johnson is a seasoned financial executive with over 30 years of experience in corporate finance, strategic planning, and operational leadership. As a senior finance leader, Phil has extensive experience driving financial strategy and operations, leading to significant revenue growth and successful capital raises. Phillip holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. His extensive experience in financial management and strategic execution positions him to effectively guide Akexis's financial strategy and support its mission to revolutionize cancer care.

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Philip Bonomi brings over 47 years of experience as a medical oncologist and Professor of Medicine at Rush University Medical Center. A renowned expert in lung cancer and mesothelioma, Dr. Bonomi has played a pivotal role in advancing cancer care, contributing to the development of groundbreaking therapies and combination treatments that have significantly improved patient outcomes.

Dr. Bonomi has authored or co-authored over 150 publications on the detection and treatment of small-cell lung cancer and is an esteemed member of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

He earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, completed his internal medicine residency at Geisinger Medical Center, and pursued a fellowship in medical oncology at Rush University. Dr. Bonomi's decades-long dedication to innovation and patient care continue to shape the future of cancer therapeutics at Akexis.

Principal Investigator

Dr. Andrew Hendifar serves as Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical School. He is also the Medical Director of Pancreatic Cancer and Gastrointestinal Oncology Disease Research at Cedars-Sinai Cancer Institute.

Dr. Hendifar specializes in developing innovative therapies for pancreatic cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, and cancer cachexia. He leads the Gastrointestinal Disease Research Group at Cedars-Sinai and plays a pivotal role in national initiatives, including the NIH Neuroendocrine Tumor Task Force and the Precision Promise Consortium. Dr. Hendifar’s groundbreaking work continues to advance the frontiers of cancer care and supportive treatments.

Scientific Advisory Board Member

Ulrich Mueller, PhD is a veteran biotechnology leader with deep expertise in oncology drug development, translational medicine, and industry partnerships. He has held executive roles at Bio-Path Holdings and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, where he played a key role in advancing clinical research, commercialization, and biotech spinouts, including Juno Therapeutics and Adaptive Biotechnologies. Prior to that, he led technology commercialization at MD Anderson Cancer Center, overseeing licensing and industry collaborations. His experience in translating scientific discoveries into clinical solutions will be invaluable in guiding Akexis’ efforts to develop groundbreaking therapies for cancer cachexia.

Scientific Advisory Board Member

David Kiewlich, PhD is a serial biotech entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in the industry and six startups of his own. As the founder of Tomorrow Biotech, he has built a network of biotech incubators that have supported dozens of early-stage companies, with an impressive track record of success. His expertise in guiding pre-commercialization startups, along with his work as CSO of a cell-based therapy company and advisor to multiple biotech ventures, makes him a valuable addition to the Akexis Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Kiewlich is also a passionate advocate for sustainability and DEI in the sciences.