Apexigen, Inc. announced that on February 13, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Francis Sarena, current Chief Operating Officer of the Company, to the role of President. Mr. Sarena will retain his role as Chief Operating Officer, in addition to his new position as President of the Company, becoming the Company's President and Chief Operating Officer. Xiaodong Yang, M.D., Ph.D., who formerly served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, will continue as the Company's Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Sarena, age 52, has served as the Company's Chief Operating Officer since July 2022. He has also served as Chief Operating Officer of Apexigen America, Inc., the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, since January 2022. From December 2010 to May 2021, Mr. Sarena was with Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc., where he served in various executive roles, most recently as Chief Strategy Officer and Secretary.

From December 2008 to July 2010, he served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at Facet Biotech Corporation. Mr. Sarena holds a B.S. in Finance from San Francisco State University and a J.D. from University of California, Berkeley.