Chief Medical Officer

Shinta Cheng, MD, PhD, brings more than two decades of experience in oncology and hematology drug development to his role as Chief Medical Officer at K36 Therapeutics. Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology, Dr. Cheng completed his residency and fellowship training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, following his MD and PhD in viral oncogenesis from the University of Rochester School of Medicine.

Before joining K36, Dr. Cheng served as Vice President of Clinical Development at SpringWorks Therapeutics, where he led clinical collaborations evaluating nirogacestat in combination with BCMA-targeting therapies in multiple myeloma. He also oversaw the nirogacestat and mirdametinib programs, guiding them to global regulatory filings in desmoid tumors and plexiform neurofibromas in NF1, respectively.  Earlier in his career, Dr. Cheng was the clinical leader and molecule responsible physician for apalutamide and niraparib in prostate cancer at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicines. He began his biopharmaceutical career at Bristol Myers Squibb, where he held multiple leadership roles including Asia-Pacific Immuno-Oncology development lead for nivolumab and ipilimumab in partnership with Ono Pharmaceuticals (Osaka, Japan). His work contributed to multiple global indications for tumors with high unmet need.  Dr. Cheng also played a key role in advancing dasatinib in accelerated and blast phase chronic myeloid leukemia, initiated a first-in-human study for an androgen receptor antagonist in prostate cancer, and led several proof-of-concept trials for TKIs and adnectins.