Valion Bio names Dean Zikria interim CEO, shifts board leadership

Valion Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: VBIO) announced on September 23, 2026 that Dean Zikria, a current member of the Board, has been appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer.¹ The appointment took effect immediately, and the company said Zikria will oversee Valion's strategic priorities, including accelerating the clinical advancement of Entolimod and pursuing commercial and government partnerships.¹

Lisa Wolf keeps her existing executive posts. She will continue to serve as Valion's President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, leading the company's financial and operational functions, and will now report to Zikria.¹

The board also underwent changes. Thomas Jensen was appointed Chair of the Board and Chair of its Compensation Committee, succeeding Sheryle Bolton, who stepped down from the Board and its committees.¹ Separately, Jared Malbin was appointed Chair of the Board's Audit Committee.¹ Per the underlying 8-K, Bolton notified the company of her resignation from the board on September 17, 2026, effective immediately, and the filing states the resignation was not due to any disagreement with the company over its operations, policies or practices.¹

Under a consulting agreement dated September 22, 2026, Zikria is entitled to a monthly fee of $23,333, an initial grant of 50,000 restricted stock units, a second tranche of 50,000 RSUs contingent on stockholder approval of an increase to the company's equity incentive plan, and a possible cash bonus tied to a future strategic transaction such as a merger or acquisition.¹ The agreement is set to terminate on January 22, 2027, unless the parties mutually extend it for up to twelve months from its effective date.¹

While serving as interim CEO, Zikria was removed as an independent member from the Board's Audit and Risk Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee.¹