Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. announced the appointment of David (Zhongwei) Zhang, Ph.D., MBA, as a Class II director to its board of directors, effective October 7, 2026. Dr. Zhang will serve as an independent director.

Dr. Zhang brings over 25 years of experience in clinical strategy, biostatistics, and regulatory submissions. He currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer of Abivax S.A., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on chronic inflammatory diseases, where he is a member of the Executive Committee and oversees biometrics, regulatory affairs, and quality assurance. At Abivax, he led the biometrics team through positive topline readouts of two pivotal Phase 3 trials of obefazimod in ulcerative colitis.

Previously, Dr. Zhang was Senior Vice President, Head of Biometrics and Data Management at Alumis Inc., where he built the company's biometrics functions and helped progress its initial public offering. Earlier in his career, he was Vice President, Head of Biometrics, Data Science and Digital Health at MyoKardia, Inc., overseeing the pivotal trial design, readout, and New Drug Application submission for CAMZYOS (mavacamten) prior to its acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb in 2020. He also held leadership roles at Roche Sequencing Solutions and Genentech/Roche, and held statistician roles at Eli Lilly and Company and Abbott Laboratories.

In accordance with the Company’s Non-Employee Director Compensation Program, Dr. Zhang is entitled to receive cash compensation of $40,000 per year for his service on the Board, prorated for the portion of the year during which he serves. Additionally, on October 7, 2026, he was granted an option with respect to shares of the Company’s common stock with a grant date fair value of $500,000. This option vests with respect to 1/36th of the shares on each monthly anniversary of the date of grant, subject to his continued service.

The Company also entered into an indemnification and advancement agreement with Dr. Zhang in the same form as its standard agreement with other directors. There are no family relationships between Dr. Zhang and any director or executive officer of the Company.