Avenzo Therapeutics Strengthens Executive Leadership With Appointments of Annie Chang and Aaron Hasnain
Avenzo Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation oncology therapies, has expanded its executive leadership team with the appointments of Annie Chang as senior vice president, investor relations and corporate communications, and Aaron Hasnain as senior vice president, business development. Both executives will serve as members of Avenzo’s executive leadership team as the company advances its clinical pipeline, develops strategic partnerships and prepares for a potential transition to the public markets.
The appointments add significant experience in investor relations, corporate communications, business development, strategic partnerships and alliance management to Avenzo’s leadership organization. The company said the new executives will play important roles as it continues developing its oncology portfolio and establishes the corporate and commercial infrastructure needed for its next phase of growth.
Avenzo is led by Athena Countouriotis, M.D., chair, president and chief executive officer. Countouriotis said the company was pleased to welcome Chang and Hasnain, describing their combined experience as an important addition to the organization.
“Their combined leadership and expertise will be instrumental in helping us continue to advance our potentially differentiated oncology pipeline, build and sustain strategic partnerships, and prepare for our transition to a public company,” Countouriotis said.
Annie Chang Joins as Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Chang joins Avenzo with more than two decades of experience spanning investment banking, investment management, corporate development and investor relations. Her background includes working with biotechnology companies on investor communications, capital markets activities and corporate positioning.
Most recently, Chang served as vice president of investor relations and corporate communications at 89bio. During her time at the company, she was involved in developing the investor narrative, supporting capital markets execution and contributing to the company’s strategic positioning. 89bio was acquired by Roche in 2025.
Chang’s experience at 89bio provides exposure to the corporate communications and financial activities that accompany the development of a biotechnology company. Her role involved communicating the company’s strategy and progress to the investment community while supporting broader corporate objectives.
Before joining 89bio, Chang served as vice president of investor relations at Sutro Biopharma. She also worked at Solebury Trout, an investor relations agency, where she led investor relations and communications programs for biotechnology companies.
Her experience across corporate investor relations and external communications is expected to support Avenzo as the company continues to communicate the progress of its clinical programs and prepares for its next stage of corporate development.
Chang said she was excited to join Avenzo at an important point in its evolution, particularly as the company prepares to enter the public markets.
“I am delighted to join Avenzo at such a pivotal time as it prepares to enter the public markets,” Chang said. She added that she looks forward to working with Countouriotis and the broader team to shape the company’s corporate narrative, highlight progress across its clinical programs and engage with the investment community.
Her responsibilities will include overseeing investor relations and corporate communications as Avenzo continues to develop its oncology pipeline. Effective communication will become increasingly important as the company advances clinical development and potentially moves toward a public-company structure.
Aaron Hasnain Appointed to Lead Business Development
Avenzo has also appointed Aaron Hasnain as senior vice president of business development. Hasnain brings 15 years of experience in biotechnology business development, strategic partnerships and alliance management.
Prior to joining Avenzo, Hasnain served as vice president of business development and alliance management at Gossamer Bio. In that position, he led business development initiatives and worked on strategic transactions and collaborations.
Among his responsibilities at Gossamer Bio was the execution and management of a global collaboration with Chiesi Group. The partnership focused on developing Gossamer’s lead asset in pulmonary disease, giving Hasnain experience in negotiating and managing a significant cross-company collaboration.
His experience extends beyond business development transactions to alliance management, an area that can be particularly important for biotechnology companies with partnered development programs. Maintaining strategic collaborations requires coordination between organizations, management of development objectives and alignment around long-term program goals.
Before Gossamer Bio, Hasnain was a founding employee of SENTE Labs, where he held leadership positions. His career has therefore included experience in both emerging biotechnology organizations and larger partnership-driven development environments.
At Avenzo, Hasnain will be responsible for helping identify and pursue business development opportunities while supporting existing strategic relationships.
Focus on Strategic Partnerships
Avenzo’s appointment of a dedicated senior executive for business development comes as the company continues to advance its oncology pipeline. Strategic partnerships can provide biotechnology companies with access to development resources, commercial capabilities, technology, geographic expertise and additional financial support.
For a clinical-stage company, business development can also help expand the potential reach of pipeline programs by identifying partners with complementary capabilities.
Hasnain said the quality of Avenzo’s team and the progress made in developing its oncology pipeline were among the factors that attracted him to the company.
“What drew me to Avenzo is the caliber of the team and the progress they’ve made building a potentially differentiated oncology pipeline,” Hasnain said.
He added that he plans to work with the leadership team to deepen existing partnerships and pursue strategic transactions that can advance Avenzo’s programs and support long-term value for patients and stakeholders.
His responsibilities will therefore include both maintaining existing relationships and evaluating potential new opportunities.
Building a Broader Corporate Platform
The appointments of Chang and Hasnain represent two complementary areas of corporate development for Avenzo. Chang will focus on communication with investors and other external stakeholders, while Hasnain will concentrate on strategic partnerships and business development.
Together, the roles are designed to support Avenzo as it moves through clinical development and prepares for a potential transition to the public markets.
For biotechnology companies approaching the public markets, establishing experienced leadership across investor relations, corporate communications and business development can be an important part of corporate preparation. Companies must communicate clinical progress, corporate strategy and development plans to a range of stakeholders while also evaluating opportunities to strengthen their pipelines.
Avenzo’s latest appointments add executives with direct experience in these areas.
Chang’s background in investor relations and communications provides experience in presenting biotechnology companies to the investment community. Her previous work with 89bio and Sutro Biopharma also gives her familiarity with the communications requirements of clinical-stage organizations.
Hasnain brings a complementary background in business development and strategic alliances. His previous work at Gossamer Bio involved global collaboration management and business development, providing experience relevant to Avenzo’s goal of expanding and strengthening strategic partnerships.
Advancing an Oncology Pipeline
At the center of Avenzo’s corporate strategy is its pipeline of next-generation oncology therapies. The company is focused on developing therapies intended to address significant needs in cancer treatment.
As Avenzo advances its clinical programs, the company will need to coordinate scientific development with business and corporate priorities. Clinical progress can create opportunities for additional partnerships, while strategic transactions can potentially provide resources and capabilities to support further development.
The company’s leadership expansion is designed to help manage these activities as Avenzo progresses through clinical development.
Countouriotis emphasized that Chang and Hasnain will contribute to the company’s efforts to advance its oncology pipeline while building and sustaining strategic partnerships.
The appointments also demonstrate Avenzo’s focus on establishing a leadership structure capable of supporting multiple areas of development simultaneously. Clinical-stage biotechnology companies must balance scientific priorities with financial planning, corporate communications, business development and organizational growth.
Investor Relations Role Gains Importance as Avenzo Prepares for Public Markets
Chang’s appointment comes as Avenzo prepares for a potential transition to a public company. Investor relations and corporate communications can play an important role during such a transition by establishing clear communication with investors and explaining the company’s development strategy.
Chang’s previous experience includes working directly on investor narratives and capital markets execution. At 89bio, she supported the company’s strategic positioning and investor communications before its acquisition by Roche.
At Avenzo, she will be responsible for communicating the company’s progress and corporate strategy while working with the executive leadership team.
Her experience with biotechnology companies may also be relevant as Avenzo communicates clinical milestones, pipeline developments and potential strategic transactions to the investment community.
Business Development to Support Future Opportunities
Hasnain’s appointment similarly reflects Avenzo’s emphasis on building strategic relationships. His experience with global collaborations and alliance management provides a background for working with external partners throughout the lifecycle of strategic agreements.
At Gossamer Bio, he led business development initiatives and helped manage the company’s collaboration with Chiesi Group. Such experience can be relevant to Avenzo as it evaluates opportunities to expand its pipeline and strengthen development capabilities.
The biotechnology sector frequently relies on partnerships to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative therapies. Strategic collaborations can bring together complementary expertise and resources while enabling companies to share development responsibilities.
Avenzo said Hasnain will work with its leadership team to pursue transactions that advance its programs and support long-term objectives.
The appointments of Annie Chang and Aaron Hasnain add substantial corporate and commercial experience to Avenzo Therapeutics’ executive leadership team.
Chang brings more than 20 years of experience across investment banking, investment management, corporate development and investor relations. Her recent role at 89bio, along with her previous position at Sutro Biopharma and experience at Solebury Trout, has provided her with extensive exposure to biotechnology investor communications and corporate positioning.
Hasnain brings 15 years of biotechnology experience in business development, strategic partnerships and alliance management. His work at Gossamer Bio and SENTE Labs has included developing partnerships, managing alliances and supporting business development initiatives.
Their appointments come as Avenzo continues to advance its clinical-stage oncology pipeline and prepares for a potential transition to the public markets. The company expects the new executives to contribute to its external communications, investor engagement, strategic partnerships and broader corporate development strategy.
With Chang responsible for investor relations and corporate communications and Hasnain leading business development, Avenzo is expanding its leadership capabilities across two areas that will be important as the company progresses its clinical programs.
The company remains focused on advancing its oncology pipeline while building strategic relationships and preparing its organization for future growth. The addition of experienced leaders in communications and business development provides Avenzo with additional expertise as it continues its development as a clinical-stage biotechnology company.
About Avenzo Therapeutics
Avenzo Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation oncology therapies for patients. The company’s pipeline includes potentially differentiated small molecules and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Avenzo’s small molecule inhibitors, AVZO-021 and AVZO-023, are novel, highly potent and selective inhibitors of CDK2 and CDK4, respectively, which are key enzymes involved in cell cycle regulation.
AVZO-021 is being studied in a Phase 1/2 study for the treatment of advanced solid tumors and in combinations in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer. AVZO-021 and AVZO-023 are being studied in the ORION-1 Phase 1/2 study for the treatment of HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, where AVZO-023 is administered in combination with endocrine therapy, with or without AVZO-021.
Avenzo’s first ADC drug candidate, AVZO-1418, is a potentially differentiated EGFR/HER3 bispecific ADC that is being studied in the AVENTINE-1 Phase 1/2 study for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. Avenzo’s second ADC drug candidate, AVZO-103, is a potentially differentiated Nectin4/TROP2 bispecific ADC that is being studied in the BEACON-1 Phase 1/2 study for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. Avenzo is headquartered in San Diego, California.