November 11, 2025 — Leads & Copy — Santa Ana Bio, Inc., a precision immunology company focused on developing targeted therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, has appointed Mike Bonney as Chair of its Board of Directors.
Bonney, an industry veteran with over 30 years of leadership experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors, will guide Santa Ana Bio as it advances its pipeline of novel therapies. Peter Emtage, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Santa Ana Bio, expressed his pleasure in welcoming Bonney to the board.
Jerel Davis, Ph.D., Managing Director at Versant Ventures and Santa Ana’s founding Chairman, will remain a director, ensuring continuity in the company’s strategic direction. Emtage also expressed his appreciation for Davis’s instrumental role in building Santa Ana over the past several years.
Bonney previously served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Cubist Pharmaceuticals from 2003 until its $9.5 billion acquisition by Merck in 2015. Before Cubist, he held the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Biogen and also spent over 10 years at Zeneca Pharmaceuticals in commercial, operating, and strategic roles. Bonney is currently the chair of Dunad Therapeutics and Autolus Therapeutics, and is on the board of Alnylam. He has also served as a director of Celgene, Kaleido Biosciences, Magenta Therapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Sarepta Therapeutics, and Syros Pharmaceuticals. He received his undergraduate degree in economics from Bates College.
Santa Ana Bio is poised to achieve significant milestones in its growing pipeline over the coming quarters. SAB01, a bispecific antibody for mast cell diseases, is slated to begin Phase 1 trials in mid-2026. SAB05, a glucocorticoid antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), is progressing through IND studies, while SAB03 and SAB06 have reached or are nearing the development candidate stage.
SAB01, a first-in-class bispecific antibody, targets KIT and Siglec-6 and aims to selectively target and deplete mast cells, potentially reducing adverse events associated with targeting other KIT-positive cell types. Preclinical studies suggest its potential for safer and more effective disease control in mast-cell-mediated diseases like urticarias and prurigo nodularis, as well as in broader populations with food allergies.
SAB05, another first-in-class candidate, is a CD40-targeted glucocorticoid antibody-drug conjugate, combining CD40 blockade with a potent glucocorticoid to achieve robust efficacy without the toxicities associated with chronic glucocorticoid use, according to preclinical studies.
SAB03, a potent anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody, is ready for IND-enabling studies and has demonstrated superior suppression and depletion of autoreactive T cells in preclinical models, potentially addressing multiple autoimmune indications.
SAB06, a multi-specific program targeting TL1A, IL-23, and other validated pathways, shows promise for improved disease control in irritable bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease, and other indications.
Dr. Peter Emtage, founder and CEO of Santa Ana Bio, can be contacted for further information.
For more information, visit www.santaanabio.com and follow Santa Ana Bio on LinkedIn.
Source: Santa Ana Bio
