SystImmune Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has appointed Dr. Jonathan Cheng as Chief Medical Officer.
 
Cheng joins SystImmune from Bristol Myers Squibb, where he served as the Senior Vice President and Therapeutic Area Oncology Head, overseeing late-stage clinical development of the oncology portfolio. Cheng succeeds Dr. Martin Olivo, who is leaving SystImmune to pursue external opportunities.
 
“I am excited to welcome Dr. Cheng to our leadership team,” said Jie D’Elia, Ph.D., CEO of SystImmune. “His global oncology development expertise and in-depth regulatory knowledge will accelerate our efforts to advance SystImmune’s pipeline and transform patient care.”
 
Dr. Yi Zhu, Chairman of SystImmune, added, “Dr. Cheng brings a wealth of expertise and a remarkable track record in oncology drug development, making him an invaluable addition to SystImmune’s executive leadership team.”

Experience

Cheng’s career spans both the pharmaceutical industry and academia, where he has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and a passion for advancing cancer treatments. Under Cheng’s leadership, BMS developed and received regulatory approval for multiple important medicines, including Nivolumab, Ipilimumab, Relatlimab, and Repotrectinib. His strategic vision also enhanced BMS’s internal and collaboration portfolio.
 
Previously, Cheng served as Vice President and Oncology Therapeutic Area Head at Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) and led teams in securing approvals for Pembrolizumab and Lenvatinib across multiple oncology indications.
 
Prior to his career in the pharmaceutical industry, Cheng had a successful academic career at Fox Chase Cancer Center, where he conducted groundbreaking research as the principal investigator in tumor stromal biology, resulting in over 150 original manuscripts and abstracts.