# Zhen Su

> Zhen Su is the CEO of Marengo Therapeutics, a Cambridge biotech reprogramming T cells to wake up the immune system against cancer. A physician-scientist with nearly three decades in oncology, he ran a billion-dollar global cancer franchise at Merck KGaA, helped deliver eight regulatory approvals as CMO of EMD Serono, and now steers Marengo's STAR platform into the clinic on the back of a $2.8B Ipsen partnership.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at Marengo Therapeutics
- **Organizations:** Marengo Therapeutics, Karyopharm Therapeutics, CytomX Therapeutics, Galvanize Therapeutics, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)
- **Education:** Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Technical University of Dresden, Germany, Post-doctoral training in Cancer Immunotherapy, Duke University Medical Center, MBA, University of Toronto, Canada
- **Known for:** Led Marengo Therapeutics from $80M launch through clinical-stage with a $2.8B Ipsen partnership, Drove a turnaround of Merck KGaA's global oncology franchise to double-digit growth and >$1B annual revenue, Contributed to 8 major regulatory approvals across oncology and neurology as CMO of EMD Serono

## Career timeline

- **2001-2006** — Faculty member at Duke University Medical School, leading early oncology clinical studies in mRNA-based and cell-based immunotherapy
- **2006-2009** — Director of the Cell and Gene Therapy program at the University of Florida
- **2009-2010s** — Leadership roles at GlaxoSmithKline across Oncology, Respiratory and Urology
- **2010s** — Leadership roles at Sanofi Oncology, including work on Taxotere and Jevtana
- **2010s** — Chief Medical Officer of EMD Serono; instrumental in 8 major regulatory approvals including Bavencio, Tepmetko, Erbitux and Mavenclad
- **late 2010s** — Senior Vice President and Global Head of Oncology Business Franchise at Merck KGaA; led turnaround to double-digit organic growth and over $1B annual revenue
- **2021-07** — Appointed CEO and board member of Marengo Therapeutics, which launched with $80M from Apple Tree Partners
- **2022-07** — Established strategic partnership with Ipsen worth up to $2.8B around the STAR platform
- **2023-09** — Appointed to the Board of Directors of Karyopharm Therapeutics (Nasdaq: KPTI)
- **2024** — Second Ipsen partnership announced around the Tri-STAR platform; serves on boards of CytomX and Galvanize Therapeutics
- **2026** — Marengo reports initial Phase 2 results for invikafusp alfa plus Trodelvy and advances a second partnered STAR program into Phase 1

## Achievements

- Led Marengo Therapeutics from $80M launch through clinical-stage with a $2.8B Ipsen partnership
- Drove a turnaround of Merck KGaA's global oncology franchise to double-digit growth and >$1B annual revenue
- Contributed to 8 major regulatory approvals across oncology and neurology as CMO of EMD Serono
- Founding Chair of the Biotech Committee of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)
- Serves on the boards of three public/private biotechs: Karyopharm, CytomX, and Galvanize

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Marengo reported late-breaking initial Phase 2 results from invikafusp alfa plus Trodelvy and unveiled a partnered STAR program in Phase 1 at AACR 2026.
- **2024-10** — Discussed the state of immuno-oncology with Kristen Hege ahead of SITC24 on BiotechTV.

## Links

- Website: https://marengotx.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhen-su-md-mba-5222245

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/zhen-su
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-04