Zentalis Pharmaceuticals has appointed James B. Bucher, JD, as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, effective September 18, 2025, as the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advances its potentially first-in-class WEE1 inhibitor azenosertib into registration-intent clinical trials for ovarian cancer and other tumor types.
Bucher brings over 30 years of legal experience in the life sciences sector, including significant expertise in corporate strategy, corporate governance, capital raising, securities law compliance, licensing and mergers and acquisitions. Most recently, he served as Chief Legal Officer at Harpoon Therapeutics, where he played a pivotal role in orchestrating the company's acquisition by Merck in 2024.
Leadership Transition and Strategic Timing
The appointment follows the departure of Andrea Paul, who has served as Zentalis' Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary since 2022 and will be joining the partnership of a large, international law firm.
"We are excited to welcome Jim Bucher, whom I had the privilege of working with at Harpoon Therapeutics, to lead our legal and compliance functions as we advance our registration-intent clinical trials," said Julie Eastland, Chief Executive Officer of Zentalis. "Jim's extensive experience in life sciences transactions across the spectrum of drug development and commercial readiness, and public company matters, combined with our proven ability to work together effectively, will be instrumental as we advance azenosertib in ovarian cancer and continue to build shareholder value."
Paul acknowledged her contributions to the company's progress: "It has been a privilege to work with the talented team at Zentalis and to contribute to the Company's development of azenosertib, a drug candidate that has the potential to be an important treatment option for patients with ovarian cancer."
Extensive Life Sciences Experience
Bucher's career spans multiple successful biopharmaceutical companies and major transactions. Prior to Harpoon Therapeutics, he served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel and Head of Human Resources at Eliem Therapeutics, where he was a key founding member of the leadership team responsible for all legal affairs and corporate strategy, including the execution of three private placements and the company's initial public offering.
He also served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Alder Biopharmaceuticals, where he supported launch preparations for Vyepti® and subsequently played a leading role in the company's $2.4 billion acquisition by Lundbeck. At Exelixis, he oversaw more than $1 billion in capital raising transactions.
Earlier in his career, Bucher was a Partner at Shearman & Sterling LLP (now known as A&O Shearman), where he advised companies on a wide range of corporate and securities matters. He earned his JD with distinction from Emory University School of Law and holds a BA in Biology and Political Science from Colgate University.
Focus on Azenosertib Development
"I am excited to join the Zentalis team at this pivotal time as we are progressing the clinical development of azenosertib into registration-intent studies," said Bucher. "I particularly look forward to working with Julie, and the rest of Zentalis' seasoned leadership team, to build the Company's infrastructure to support the late-stage development and potential product launch."
Zentalis is developing azenosertib (ZN-c3), a potentially first-in-class and best-in-class WEE1 inhibitor for patients with Cyclin E1-positive platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC). The drug candidate is being evaluated as a monotherapy and in combination across multiple tumor types in clinical trials and has broad franchise potential.
In clinical trials, azenosertib has been well tolerated and has demonstrated anti-tumor activity as a single agent across multiple tumor types. The company is also leveraging its extensive experience and capabilities to translate its science to advance research on additional areas of opportunity for azenosertib outside PROC.
