Avenzo Therapeutics Announces Appointment of Scott Lipman as Chief Financial Officer, Strengthening Executive Leadership to Advance Next-Generation Oncology Pipeline
Avenzo Therapeutics, Inc. (“Avenzo”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation oncology therapies, today announced a significant expansion of its leadership team with the appointment of Scott Lipman, M.B.A., as the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In addition to assuming the CFO role, Mr. Lipman will continue to serve as Chief Business Officer (CBO), a position he has held since November 2024. He succeeds Paolo Tombesi, who has retired after serving as Avenzo’s Chief Financial Officer and playing a foundational role in shaping the company’s financial strategy in its formative years.
The announcement marks an important moment for Avenzo Therapeutics as the company continues advancing a growing pipeline of potential best-in-class oncology assets and accelerating its clinical development programs. With multiple drug candidates in clinical studies and increasing external interest in its differentiated portfolio, Avenzo is placing strategic emphasis on strengthening operational leadership, capital stewardship, and business development capabilities.
Leadership Perspective on the Appointment
Commenting on the transition, Athena Countouriotis, M.D., Co-founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer at Avenzo Therapeutics, emphasized Mr. Lipman’s deep involvement in shaping the company’s strategic trajectory and supporting the expansion of its differentiated oncology pipeline.
Scott has played an integral role in driving our business development and financing efforts, and building a portfolio of four potential best-in-class oncology assets,” said Dr. Countouriotis. “I look forward to working with him in his expanded role as Chief Financial Officer as we continue to execute our strategic priorities and develop next-generation oncology therapies. I want to thank Paolo for his dedication and valuable contributions that laid the financial foundation for Avenzo Therapeutics. I wish him all the best in his retirement.”
Dr. Countouriotis noted that the dual role reflects Avenzo’s long-term strategic vision and the company’s confidence in Mr. Lipman’s ability to lead both corporate finance and business development functions during a critical period of growth.
A Broader Leadership Role for Mr. Lipman
In his new capacity as CFO, Mr. Lipman will oversee all finance and accounting operations, guide the company’s long-term financial strategy, and support capital deployment necessary to advance Avenzo’s clinical programs. At the same time, he will continue leading corporate development activities, including partnerships, licensing opportunities, and strategic collaborations across the oncology innovation ecosystem.
Reflecting on his expanded responsibilities, Mr. Lipman shared:
I’m honored to take on the additional role of Chief Financial Officer as we continue to advance our clinical-stage oncology programs,” said Scott Lipman, M.B.A., Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer. “I look forward to continuing to work closely with our leadership team and the Board in this new role to drive our strategic and financial objectives to support the company’s next stage of growth.”
A Track Record of Strategic Impact
Mr. Lipman joined Avenzo Therapeutics in March 2023 as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, bringing a mix of deep oncology business expertise and broad financial experience. In November 2024, he was promoted to Chief Business Officer, where he played a central role in positioning Avenzo as an emerging leader in next-generation oncology therapeutics.
Prior to joining Avenzo Therapeutics, Mr. Lipman served on the leadership team at Turning Point Therapeutics, a precision oncology company known for developing small-molecule kinase inhibitors. During his tenure, he contributed significantly to the company’s strategic and transactional initiatives, including its acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb for $4.1 billion in 2022, a landmark deal in the biotech sector. His involvement in the acquisition underscored his ability to guide companies through transformative stages of growth and value creation.
Before working in biotech corporate leadership, Mr. Lipman spent several years in Healthcare Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs, where he advised biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies on mergers, acquisitions, financings, and strategic transactions. Earlier in his career, he worked as a management consultant at ZS Associates, where he supported life sciences companies on commercial strategy, market analytics, and operational planning.
Mr. Lipman holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, giving him a strong foundation in both technical science and strategic leadership.
Avenzo Therapeutics: Advancing a Clinical-Stage Pipeline of Next-Generation Oncology Therapies
Avenzo Therapeutics is focused on developing innovative, next-generation therapies designed to address unmet needs in oncology. The company’s rapidly advancing portfolio includes small molecule inhibitors targeting key cell cycle regulators as well as novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with bispecific targeting mechanisms intended to optimize therapeutic efficacy and safety.
Below is an overview of the company’s clinical pipeline:
Small Molecule Programs
AVZO-021: CDK2 Inhibitor
AVZO-021 is Avenzo’s lead small molecule drug candidate, a highly potent and selective inhibitor of CDK2, a critical kinase involved in regulating cell cycle progression. CDK2 dysregulation is implicated in tumor growth, especially in cancers resistant to existing CDK4/6 inhibitors.
AVZO-021 is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating its safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy in patients with advanced solid tumors. The company is also exploring its use in combination regimens for HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, where CDK2 inhibition may address mechanisms of resistance and improve clinical outcomes.
AVZO-023: CDK4 Inhibitor
AVZO-023 is a next-generation, highly selective CDK4 inhibitor, designed to overcome limitations associated with earlier-generation CDK4/6 inhibitors. The molecule is being assessed in a Phase 1/2 clinical study in patients with advanced solid tumors and, like AVZO-021, is being evaluated in combination approaches for HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer.
Together, AVZO-021 and AVZO-023 reflect Avenzo’s strategy to develop a pipeline of synergistic molecules that address critical pathways in tumor proliferation and therapeutic resistance.
Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) Programs
AVZO-1418: EGFR/HER3 Bispecific ADC
AVZO-1418 is Avenzo’s first antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) to enter clinical development. It is a bispecific ADC designed to target both EGFR and HER3, two receptors implicated in oncogenic signaling and therapy resistance in multiple tumor types. This dual-targeting mechanism, combined with an optimized linker-payload architecture, aims to achieve a best-in-class therapeutic profile.
AVZO-1418 is being investigated in a Phase 1/2 trial for the treatment of advanced solid tumors, where EGFR and HER3 overexpression contributes to disease progression.
AVZO-103: Nectin4/TROP2 Bispecific ADC
Avenzo’s second ADC, AVZO-103, is a bispecific conjugate targeting Nectin4 and TROP2, two well-characterized tumor-associated antigens. By simultaneously targeting these antigens, AVZO-103 seeks to broaden therapeutic reach across multiple cancer types while reducing the likelihood of resistance associated with single-antigen targeting.
This candidate is also in a Phase 1/2 clinical study in patients with advanced solid tumors, positioning it alongside AVZO-1418 as part of Avenzo’s expanding ADC strategy.
A Company Positioned for Growth
Avenzo Therapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, California, a major hub for biotechnology innovation. The company’s leadership team, bolstered by the appointment of Mr. Lipman as CFO, is focused on driving clinical development, expanding strategic partnerships, and efficiently deploying capital to support continued pipeline advancement.Avenzo Therapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, California. For more information, visit us at www.avenzotx.com or on LinkedIn.
As Avenzo moves toward upcoming clinical milestones, the company aims to strengthen its position as a developer of next-generation oncology therapies capable of addressing tumor resistance, improving precision targeting, and delivering meaningful clinical benefit to patients.
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