Tingting Zhang-Kharas, PhD, has joined Pfizer as Vice President of Search & Evaluation, Oncology, marking a new chapter in her career across biotechnology, pharmaceutical business development, external innovation, and strategic partnerships.
In announcing the appointment, Dr. Zhang-Kharas expressed her enthusiasm for joining the company and highlighted her ambition to work with Pfizer’s oncology team to identify and advance innovative medicines for patients around the world.
“I’m excited to share that today I begin a new chapter as Vice President, Search & Evaluation, Oncology at Pfizer,” she wrote.
Dr. Zhang-Kharas also acknowledged the mentors, colleagues, and friends who have supported her professional journey, adding that she looks forward to collaborating with an exceptional team focused on bringing forward new oncology treatments.
Connecting Scientific Innovation With Strategic Opportunity
Dr. Zhang-Kharas brings more than 14 years of experience across the biotechnology and medical technology industries.
Her professional background spans search and evaluation, business development, startup incubation, technology transfer, consulting, and strategic partnerships. Throughout her career, she has developed experience in identifying promising companies, technologies, and therapeutic assets, facilitating transactions, and supporting growth across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.
Search and evaluation teams play an important role in identifying external scientific opportunities that may complement a company’s internal research and development pipeline. This work requires a combination of scientific understanding, industry knowledge, commercial assessment, and strategic decision-making.
In her new position, Dr. Zhang-Kharas will contribute to Pfizer’s efforts to evaluate emerging oncology science and identify opportunities with the potential to support the development of innovative cancer medicines.
A Career Across Research, Business Development, and Incubation
Dr. Zhang-Kharas holds a PhD in Immunology from Harvard University, providing her with a strong scientific foundation for assessing emerging technologies and therapeutic approaches.
Her career has included experience in consulting at Navigant and technology transfer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She has also held business development roles at Eli Lilly and Ipsen and worked in startup incubation through Johnson & Johnson and JLABS.
This combination of scientific, operational, and management experience has shaped her approach to external innovation. She has worked at the intersection of research, investment, partnership development, and organizational strategy, helping identify opportunities that may translate scientific advances into meaningful solutions.
Dr. Zhang-Kharas has described herself as passionate about fostering innovation and supporting the translation of scientific breakthroughs into impactful outcomes. Her work has focused on environments where strategic thinking, scientific evaluation, and industry insight can contribute to successful collaborations and investments.
Strengthening Pfizer’s Search for Oncology Innovation
Pfizer applies its scientific capabilities and global resources to discover, develop, and manufacture medicines and vaccines intended to extend and improve people’s lives.
The company’s mission is centered on delivering breakthroughs that change patients’ lives, with a focus on developing safe, effective, and accessible medicines across a broad range of therapeutic areas.
Oncology remains one of the most scientifically dynamic areas of medicine, with continued advances in targeted therapies, immunology, precision medicine, and new treatment platforms. Identifying the most promising external opportunities has therefore become an important part of pharmaceutical research and development strategies.
Pfizer collaborates with researchers, healthcare providers, biotechnology companies, governments, and local communities to advance prevention, treatment, and access to healthcare. The company’s portfolio and development pipeline include programs addressing major diseases, including cancer.
A New Chapter Focused on Patients Worldwide
Dr. Zhang-Kharas’ appointment brings together her experience in immunology, oncology, business development, technology evaluation, and strategic partnership building.
As Vice President of Search & Evaluation, Oncology, she will help identify and assess innovative opportunities that may contribute to Pfizer’s oncology portfolio and support the advancement of medicines for patients worldwide.
“Here’s to a fantastic new beginning,” she concluded.
Written by Nare Hovhannisyan, MD
Stay informed with more articles like this on OncoDaily.