Valion Bio CEO Zikria outlines 30-day plan for Entolimod and Velocity

Valion Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ: VBIO) has released the initial findings from Dean Zikria's first 30 days as Interim Chief Executive Officer, detailing a strategic agenda focused on advancing its lead drug candidate, Entolimod, and monetizing its contract development and manufacturing organization, Velocity Bioworks. The announcement, dated October 21, 2026, identifies three core priorities: pipeline development for Entolimod, the pursuit of customer revenue for Velocity, and the evaluation of strategic transactions to maximize the value of the company's integrated capabilities.

Zikria, who has served on the Valion Bio board of directors for more than seven years, stated that his review highlighted a persistent gap between the company's scientific assets and their market valuation. He emphasized the need to translate underlying strengths into measurable development progress and disciplined capital allocation. The company is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm developing biologics that activate innate immune pathways for cytoprotection and immune modulation.

Entolimod, Valion Bio's lead biologic candidate for Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS), has received approximately $35.6 million in non-dilutive funding from U.S. government agencies. The asset holds U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations for ARS and is supported by human safety data. Development is currently advancing on multiple fronts to address unmet needs in radiation injury treatment.

The Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) is evaluating Entolimod in a U.S. Department of War-funded program for radiation-induced gastrointestinal injury. While current FDA-approved medical countermeasures for ARS address the hematopoietic component, no treatment is currently approved for the gastrointestinal component. Additionally, Valion Bio is collaborating with Shear Kershman Laboratories (SKL) to develop an oral mucosal formulation using SKL's proprietary BioViscid drug-delivery platform. This formulation could offer a differentiated administration option for emergency preparedness. The company is also working with Sheba Medical Center towards a clinical trial evaluating Entolimod in cancer patients receiving high-dose irradiation.

In parallel, Valion Bio plans to advance Entolasta, a next-generation Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) agonist being developed for therapeutic applications including oncology supportive care. The company intends to evaluate the evidence, milestones, and resource requirements for both Entolimod and Entolasta to guide decisions on advancement and potential partnering opportunities.

Velocity Bioworks, the company's wholly owned CDMO, is part of Valion Bio's domestic biologics supply chain. The organization supports internal development while offering traditional CDMO services to biotechnology companies seeking U.S.-based manufacturing. Valion Bio is actively pursuing new customer relationships to improve facility utilization and generate service revenue. Under Zikria's leadership, the company has begun evaluating strategic opportunities for Velocity, which may include partnerships, joint ventures, co-investment arrangements, licensing deals, or a sale. The objective is to identify the structure that best positions Velocity for sustainable growth and greater strategic value.

Valion Bio has not committed to any specific transaction regarding Velocity Bioworks. The company noted that the outcome of this review is uncertain and that no deal is guaranteed. Valion Bio does not expect to disclose developments in this process unless and until the evaluation is completed or the board of directors concludes that disclosure is appropriate or legally required.