Pheon Therapeutics Appoints Google Ventures' Dr. Samuel Blackman to Board as ADC Programs Advance
Key Insights
Pheon Therapeutics (search) has appointed Dr. Samuel Blackman, an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Google Ventures (search) and former Day One Biopharmaceuticals founder, as an independent Non-Executive Director to strengthen its oncology expertise.
The appointment comes as Pheon advances its lead ADC candidate through Phase 1 clinical trials, targeting a novel, first-in-class target with high expression in solid tumors and low expression in healthy tissue.
Dr. Blackman brings extensive experience in oncology drug development across small molecules, ADCs, and immuno-oncology, having held senior roles at Merck (search), GlaxoSmithKline, and multiple biotech companies.
Pheon Therapeutics (search), a clinical-stage antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) specialist, has appointed Dr. Samuel Blackman as an independent Non-Executive Director to its Board of Directors. The appointment, announced on September 9, 2025, brings significant oncology expertise to the company as it advances its next-generation ADC programs for hard-to-treat cancers.
Strategic Leadership Addition
Dr. Blackman currently serves as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Google Ventures (search), a position he assumed on March 31, 2025. As a physician-scientist and entrepreneur, he brings extensive experience spanning both industry and clinical research. His career includes founding and leading R&D at Day One Biopharmaceuticals, which develops targeted treatments for serious diseases across all age groups.
"Sam brings deep expertise in oncology drug development to the Board as we head into our next exciting chapter as a clinical-stage company," said Dr. Cyrus Mozayeni, Chief Executive Officer at Pheon. "With a proven track record of innovation across industry and clinical research, Sam will be an invaluable addition to our team. His experience in driving targeted therapies, particularly in complex cancers, aligns perfectly with our mission to develop breakthrough ADCs for patients with unmet medical needs."
Extensive Industry Experience
Dr. Blackman's professional background spans major pharmaceutical companies and venture-backed startups. He has held senior roles at global pharmaceutical companies including Merck (search) and GlaxoSmithKline, as well as biotech companies such as Mavupharma (search), Silverback Therapeutics (search), and Seattle Genetics (search). His oncology expertise encompasses proof-of-biology studies, biomarker development, and clinical-stage decision-making from first-in-human studies through approval.
Clinically trained in pediatric hematology/oncology with a subspecialty in pediatric neuro-oncology, Dr. Blackman has focused his career on developing novel cancer therapeutics across pediatric and adult oncology. His expertise includes small-molecule targeted therapies, antibody-drug conjugates, CAR-T cells, and innovative immuno-oncology agents.
Clinical Pipeline Progress
The appointment comes at a critical time for Pheon as the company makes significant progress in advancing its clinical ADC programs. The company is targeting a novel, first-in-class target with optimal characteristics, including high expression in multiple solid tumors of high unmet need and low expression in normal healthy tissue, coupled with a clinically validated potent cytotoxic payload.
Pheon is currently progressing its lead ADC candidate through Phase 1 clinical trials and preparing to initiate additional programs targeting difficult-to-treat solid tumors. Dr. Blackman's extensive background in oncology drug development, spanning small molecules, ADCs, and immuno-oncology, will provide critical strategic guidance as Pheon scales its R&D and clinical operations.
Future Outlook
"Pheon is pushing the boundaries of what is possible in ADC science, and this deeply resonates with my approach to innovation," commented Dr. Blackman. "I am honored to join at this critical inflection point and look forward to supporting the team as it advances its programs through the clinic."
Beyond his scientific career, Dr. Blackman serves on the boards of Bonum Therapeutics (search), The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, and Presage Biosciences (search), Inc. His industry experience includes leading proof-of-biology studies, biomarker program development, and using human experimental models to inform early significant decisions in oncology drug development.