Dave Johnson

About Dave Johnson

Dave Johnson has 25 years of experience in biopharma. He is currently CEO of SolveTx, a venture backed start-up focused on developing next-generation mAb based oncology therapeutics. In Q421, the company closed a $126m Series A with Matrix, Decheng, General Atlantic, & Surveyor. SolveTx is clinical stage, filing two IND’s in 2025 for novel ADC constructs SLV-154 & SLV-324, both built with SolveTx proprietary targeting mAbs & hydrophilic linker technology. • Dave is chairman of Aura Biosciences (AURA), who’s proprietary technology platform utilizes viral-like drug conjugates (VDCs) analogous to ADCs that have a dual mechanism of action with targeted necrosis of cancer cells accompanied by a T-cell mediated anti-tumor response. Aura’s lead, AU-011 is now enrolling its Ph3 CoMpass trial, under a SPA with the FDA, for first-line treatment of choroidal melanoma, a vision and life-threatening form of eye cancer.• Dave is chairman of Zentalis Pharma (ZNTL), which is focused on the creation of differentiated small molecules targeting fundamental biological pathways of cancer. Clinical stage assets include ZN-c3 (oral WEE-1 inhibitor) and ZN-d5 (oral BCL-2 inhibitor).• Dave is chairman of Lengo Therapeutics (acquired by BPMC in Q421) developer of precision medicines targeting driver mutations in oncology. Lengo’s LNG-451, is a selective brain-penetrant targeting EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations.• Prior to SolveTx, Dave was CEO of VelosBio, which he founded in 2017, built out, and led through an acquisition by Merck in Q420 for $2.75B. Velos is a clinical-stage, oncology-focused, biopharmaceutical company advancing novel ROR1-directed ADCs and BiAbs. VLS-101 Phase 1 clinical POC data was presented at ASH 2020.• Prior to Velos, Dave was with Acerta, an oncology-focused pharma company focused on covalent technology where he rose to CEO, built out all facets of the company accelerating the growth of acalabrutinib, rapidly moving from early to late-stage clinical development. His tenure culminated in the execution of a strategic transaction with AstraZeneca valued at $7B.• Prior to Acerta, Dave had roles of increasing responsibility with Calistoga (acquired by GILD), Gloucester (acquired by CELG), MLMN (acquired by TAK), Immunex (acquired by AMGN), and Roche making contributions to many drugs garnering regulatory approval. He has raised $900m+ in biopharma capital and has delivered acquisitions with a cumulative value of $10B+. Dave is a coauthor on numerous publications including four NEJM manuscripts. He has a bachelors degree from Indiana University.

Experience

1. Board Member

   Zentalis Pharmaceuticals

   Dec 2019 — Present · San Diego, CA, US

   Dave is lead director of Zentalis Pharma (ZNTL), which is focused on the creation of differentiated small molecules targeting fundamental biological pathways of cancer. Clinical stage assets include ZN-c3 (oral WEE-1 inhibitor), ZN-d5 (oral BCL-2 inhibitor), ZN-c5, and ZN-e4.

Education

• Indiana University Bloomington

  Bachelor's degree

  1986 — 1991