Maky Zanganeh’s Astonishing Journey: From Revolution Survivor to America’s $1.5 Billion Biotech Powerhouse
Maky Zanganeh’s rise from war-torn Tehran to biotech billionaire is fueling groundbreaking cancer innovation in 2025. Get the inside story.
- $1.5 Billion: Zanganeh’s net worth, now Forbes’ #23 self-made woman in America
- 575%: Summit Therapeutics’ stock surge in 12 months
- 11.1 vs. 5.8 Months: Ivonescimab patients vs. Keytruda before cancer returns
- 125,000: Annual U.S. deaths from lung cancer
A childhood shadowed by revolution. A breast cancer survivor. And now, a self-made biotech billionaire revolutionizing how cancer is fought. Maky Zanganeh’s astonishing ascent in 2025 is inspiring investors, scientists, and patients alike—and turbocharging Miami-based Summit Therapeutics to the top of the US biotech world.
Born in Tehran in 1970, Zanganeh grew up in the aftermath of Iran’s 1979 revolution, marked by chaos and peril. Tear gas and gunfire were her childhood soundtrack, but she and her sisters met every day’s dangers with grit and resolve, still attending school as if nothing had happened.
When her architect parents fled Iran for Germany, Zanganeh made education her armor. After earning her dental degree in Strasbourg and an MBA, she launched into a whirlwind career that would see her in the vanguard of robotic surgery, groundbreaking cancer drugs, and high-stakes biotech investing.
By age 54, she speaks four languages, survived breast cancer, and—alongside husband and co-CEO Bob Duggan—transformed Summit Therapeutics from a struggling firm into a Nasdaq-listed, $21 billion market cap juggernaut. Her fortune earned her a coveted spot among just five American health-care billionaires, and Forbes placed her in the elite self-made club at #23.
Q&A: What Makes Maky Zanganeh a Trailblazer in Biotech?
Q: How did Zanganeh move from dentistry to biotech stardom?
A: Fascinated by innovation, she pivoted to U.S. medical robotics, quickly climbing to lead international operations. A chance collaboration with entrepreneur Bob Duggan led her into cancer drug development and major investments.
Q: What was Summit Therapeutics when Zanganeh took over?
A: In 2020, Summit was near rock bottom—less than $1 million revenue, a shelved antibiotic, and mounting losses. Fast-forward five years, and with an unconventional, relentless drive, Zanganeh and Duggan have shocked Wall Street and health-care insiders alike.
How Did Summit’s Cancer Drug Outperform the World’s Best-Seller?
Summit’s star is ivonescimab—a two-pronged cancer drug licensed from China. This innovative therapy rallies the immune system and chokes tumors’ blood supply, outshining Merck’s blockbuster Keytruda in clinical trials.
In head-to-head testing, patients on ivonescimab went nearly twice as long (11.1 months) before their lung cancer returned, compared to those on Keytruda (5.8 months). The news sent Summit’s shares rocketing and drew fierce attention across the industry.
What’s Next for Summit—and for Cancer Patients?
The stakes couldn’t be higher: Lung cancer remains America’s deadliest cancer, taking 125,000 lives annually, according to the National Cancer Institute. Summit will seek FDA approval for ivonescimab before the year’s end, a milestone that could forever change cancer care.
According to legal and biotech veteran Ken Clark, Zanganeh stands out for her unorthodox approach—questioning dogma, executing decisively, and delivering results on a transformative scale.
How Did Zanganeh’s Past Prepare Her for This Moment?
Growing up amid upheaval built Zanganeh’s legendary focus. Her studies in Germany, France, and hands-on learning in American medtech taught her resilience and adaptability.
Her partnership with Duggan—himself a maverick with a visionary streak—has proved unstoppable. They combine intuition with a razor-sharp memory and flawless execution, running Summit Therapeutics with discipline and daring.
How Can Other Entrepreneurs Learn from Zanganeh’s Rise?
Zanganeh’s story proves that diversity of experience—across cultures, disciplines, and adversity—fuels innovation. Her journey reminds aspiring founders:
- Embrace the unconventional.
- Trust your instincts but back them with data and diligence.
- Make bold bets—but move fast.
Looking for innovation stories? Visit Forbes and The Wall Street Journal for more.
Feeling inspired? The future of cancer care is being rewritten before our eyes—by an unstoppable billionaire who survived revolution and beat the odds. Don’t just follow the news—be part of the story.
Checklist to Watch in 2025:
- Track Summit Therapeutics’ FDA progress and clinical trial data
- Watch for next-generation drugs using ivonescimab’s double-action approach
- Look for more women breaking into the billionaire founder club in health care
- Follow new biotech disruptors transforming patient outcomes
