Klein Hersh Recruits President and CEO for Shenandoah Therapeutics

November 2, 2026 – Klein Hersh, a search firm focused on the life sciences and healthcare industries, has placed Steve Worland as president, CEO and a member of the board of directors at Shenandoah Therapeutics. Co-founder and founding CEO Isabella Graef, has transitioned to chief scientific officer and will continue to lead Shenandoah’s scientific strategy.

“I’m delighted to welcome Steve to Shenandoah at this important stage in the company’s evolution,” said Dr. Graef. “We have made significant progress translating our science into molecules with compelling activity in cancer models, and our lead program is now approaching IND-enabling studies. Steve brings a rare combination of scientific depth, drug development experience and company-building expertise, and I look forward to working closely with him as we advance toward the clinic.”

“Shenandoah brings together compelling science, an experienced founding team and a platform with the potential to generate multiple new medicines,” said Srinivas Akkaraju, founder and managing general partner, Samsara BioCapital. “We are pleased to support the team as they advance the company’s lead oncology program and build a broader pipeline.”

Dr. Worland brings more than 30 years of biotechnology leadership, drug discovery and development experience to Shenandoah. Most recently, he served as CEO of Numerion Labs. He previously co-founded eFFECTOR Therapeutics and served as its president, CEO and board member, leading the oncology company from inception through its public listing in 2021 and advancing two product candidates from target concept into Phase 2 clinical development. During his tenure, eFFECTOR raised more than $250 million in private and public equity financing and established a major research collaboration with Pfizer.

Prior to eFFECTOR, Dr. Worland served as president and CEO of Anadys Pharmaceuticals, where he led the company through its $230 million acquisition by Roche. He has also held senior leadership roles spanning research, development and corporate strategy across the biotechnology industry.

“I’m excited to join Shenandoah at a point when the company is positioned to translate its scientific foundation into a clinical-stage pipeline,” said Dr. Worland. “The team has generated compelling preclinical results, and I look forward to working with Isabella and the broader team to advance promising new therapies to patients and position the company for its next stage of growth.”

“With his track record of successfully bridging science and business, Steve is ideally suited to lead Shenandoah through its next stage of growth,” said Gary Yeung, managing partner, YK Bioventures and a member of Shenandoah’s board of directors. “The company is entering an important phase as its lead program advances into IND-enabling studies and toward clinical development, while the platform expands into solid tumors and other therapeutic areas. Steve and Isabella bring highly complementary experience to advancing this next phase of the company’s development.”

Shenandoah Therapeutics is developing a new class of small-molecule cancer medicines designed to rewire cancer-driving proteins to activate programmed cell death. Founded in 2022 based on science originating at Stanford University, the company’s proprietary Transcriptional/Epigenetic Chemical Inducers of Proximity (TCIP) platform uses a gain-of-function approach to transform disease-driving proteins into therapeutic activities.

Established in 1998, Klein Hersh is an executive search firm that partners with clients to deliver executive leaders for global pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare companies as well as operating businesses of PE and VC-backed investments. Noteworthy clients include Akero, Aktis Oncology, Apogee Therapeutics, ArchWell Health, Atlas Venture, Bain Capital Life Sciences, Biogen, Capital Rx, ConcertAI, CytoReason, Dispatch, Fairmount, Forbion, Foresite Capital, Frazier Healthcare Partners, Iambic, ITM, Koa Health, LifeMine, LongueVue Capital, Lyric, MacroHealth, McKesson, Moderna, Morningside, Odyssey Therapeutics, Oruka Therapeutics, Pacira Biosciences, Inc., Paragon Therapeutics, Posterity Health, Revolution Medicines, TPG, Transformation Capital, Treeline Biosciences, and Unlearn.

Sparrow Pharmaceuticals Search

Klein Hersh also recently recruited George Eldridge as the new CFO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, a targeted cardiometabolic therapeutics company. “We are thrilled to welcome George to Sparrow at such an important time for our company,” said Robert Jacks, president and CEO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals. “George brings a rare combination of financial rigor and hands-on public company experience, having guided multiple biotechnology companies through IPOs and important, value-creating milestones. As we advance clofutriben for patients with difficult-to-control cardiometabolic disease, George’s leadership will be instrumental in positioning Sparrow for our next phase of growth.”

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Mr. Eldridge brings more than two decades of biotechnology financial leadership, including experience guiding multiple companies through successful initial public offerings. Most recently, he served as CFO of Abcuro, Inc., where he prepared the company for an initial public offering in anticipation of positive Phase 2/3 results in February 2026. Prior to Abcuro, Mr. Eldridge served for four years as CFO of Aerovate Therapeutics, Inc., which he took public in 2021.

Sparrow Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing targeted therapies for cardiometabolic diseases. The company’s lead drug candidate, clofutriben, is an oral HSD-1 inhibitor being evaluated for the treatment of difficult-to-control type 2 diabetes and related metabolic conditions associated with elevated cortisol.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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