Guidant Bio

Raghu Rao

Interim CEO

A serial entrepreneur, strategic business advisor and angel investor. Mr. Rao has founded, scaled and had successful exits with several high-technology companies across a 33-year career. Raghu Rao was on Sonnet’s board of directors from November 2019 - April 2026. Mr. Rao is a serial entrepreneur, strategic business advisor and angel investor. Mr. Rao has founded, scaled and had successful exits with several high-technology companies. In his 33-year career, Mr. Rao has advised clients on the strategy and roll-out of high-profile projects, such as USA.gov, TSA Screening Gateway, Cancer.gov and other eGovernment initiatives. As the Vistage Princeton Chair, from July 2012 to March 2017, Mr. Rao ran three high-performing peer advisory boards for middle-market CEOs and business leaders of companies with total revenues exceeding $2 Billion. As the Chairman & President of InfoZen from August 1995 to July 2008, Mr. Rao managed over $1 Billion in U.S. Federal Government contracts. Mr. Rao is a 20-year Charter Member of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE.org) and a 5-year patron of the Indiaspora. He has held board positions at several companies including Cellix BioSciences (Jan 2016 - Jan 2017), Paper Battery Company (Jan 2009 - Dec 2018), Kovid Group (Feb 2016 - Oct 2017) , WizNucleus (Jun 2010 - present) and InfoZen (Aug 1995 - Jul 2008). Mr. Rao has an MBA in Finance from George Washington University (Dec 1991), an M.S. in Computer Science from Virginia Tech (Dec 1986), and a B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (June 1984).

Raghu Rao

Interim CEO

A serial entrepreneur, strategic business advisor and angel investor. Mr. Rao has founded, scaled and had successful exits with several high-technology companies across a 33-year career. Raghu Rao was on Sonnet’s board of directors from November 2019 - April 2026. Mr. Rao is a serial entrepreneur, strategic business advisor and angel investor. Mr. Rao has founded, scaled and had successful exits with several high-technology companies. In his 33-year career, Mr. Rao has advised clients on the strategy and roll-out of high-profile projects, such as USA.gov, TSA Screening Gateway, Cancer.gov and other eGovernment initiatives. As the Vistage Princeton Chair, from July 2012 to March 2017, Mr. Rao ran three high-performing peer advisory boards for middle-market CEOs and business leaders of companies with total revenues exceeding $2 Billion. As the Chairman & President of InfoZen from August 1995 to July 2008, Mr. Rao managed over $1 Billion in U.S. Federal Government contracts. Mr. Rao is a 20-year Charter Member of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE.org) and a 5-year patron of the Indiaspora. He has held board positions at several companies including Cellix BioSciences (Jan 2016 - Jan 2017), Paper Battery Company (Jan 2009 - Dec 2018), Kovid Group (Feb 2016 - Oct 2017) , WizNucleus (Jun 2010 - present) and InfoZen (Aug 1995 - Jul 2008). Mr. Rao has an MBA in Finance from George Washington University (Dec 1991), an M.S. in Computer Science from Virginia Tech (Dec 1986), and a B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (June 1984).

Shreefal Mehta, PhD MBA

President

Dr. Mehta is a serial entrepreneur who has successfully brought new technologies from lab prototypes to market in biotechnology and energy storage. He has raised millions of dollars from venture capital for his previous ventures, forged strategic partnerships with Fortune 500 companies and achieved licensing and partnership transactions in several hundred million$. Dr. Mehta has experience in managing and growing successful ventures in life sciences including drug discovery and development, medical devices/diagnostics and in the field of advanced materials and energy storage. He was co-founder and executive chair at Pulmokine whose breakthrough new drug for pulmonary hypertension is in late stage development with licensee Gossamer Bio. Previously, he was VP, global business development for Cytopia Inc (AUSX: CYT). He is consultant or advisor to several public and private biotech companies and to the Dept of Biotech, Govt of India.

Shreefal Mehta, PhD MBA

President

Dr. Mehta is a serial entrepreneur who has successfully brought new technologies from lab prototypes to market in biotechnology and energy storage. He has raised millions of dollars from venture capital for his previous ventures, forged strategic partnerships with Fortune 500 companies and achieved licensing and partnership transactions in several hundred million$. Dr. Mehta has experience in managing and growing successful ventures in life sciences including drug discovery and development, medical devices/diagnostics and in the field of advanced materials and energy storage. He was co-founder and executive chair at Pulmokine whose breakthrough new drug for pulmonary hypertension is in late stage development with licensee Gossamer Bio. Previously, he was VP, global business development for Cytopia Inc (AUSX: CYT). He is consultant or advisor to several public and private biotech companies and to the Dept of Biotech, Govt of India.

Vijay Peddareddigari, MD

Chief Medical Advisor , Founding Team

Dr. Vijay Reddy Peddareddigari, M.D., is a prominent physician-scientist and biotech leader specializing in cancer therapeutics, gene therapy, and immuno-oncology. He is highly experienced in navigating the development of complex, next-generation cell therapies for cancer. Formerly with Janssen and GSK, he has held key leadership roles including SVP/Chief Medical Officer at Autolus Therapeutics and recently served as Head of R&D/Interim President at Tmunity Therapeutics (acquired by Kite/Gilead). In his role at GSK, he was the Lead Early Development Physician for Trametinib (MEK inhibitor). Dr Peddareddigari obtained an MBBS from Sri Venkateshwara Medical College, an MD from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), completed a residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center, and a fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Vijay Peddareddigari, MD

Chief Medical Advisor , Founding Team

Dr. Vijay Reddy Peddareddigari, M.D., is a prominent physician-scientist and biotech leader specializing in cancer therapeutics, gene therapy, and immuno-oncology. He is highly experienced in navigating the development of complex, next-generation cell therapies for cancer. Formerly with Janssen and GSK, he has held key leadership roles including SVP/Chief Medical Officer at Autolus Therapeutics and recently served as Head of R&D/Interim President at Tmunity Therapeutics (acquired by Kite/Gilead). In his role at GSK, he was the Lead Early Development Physician for Trametinib (MEK inhibitor). Dr Peddareddigari obtained an MBBS from Sri Venkateshwara Medical College, an MD from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), completed a residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center, and a fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

John K. Cini, Ph.D

Chief Scientific Officer and Founder

Oversees and directs the company’s discovery and development programs. His role includes the oversight of the selection process of cancer and immune-oncology targets and proof-of-concept testing. Dr. John Cini was previously the Chief Scientific Officer and a Co-Founder of Sonnet BioTherapeutics, Prior to joining Sonnet, he was Vice President of Discovery and Development Sciences at Oncobiologics. He has successfully advanced more than 20 novel monoclonal antibody products from discovery to IND. He is the holder of several novel product and formulation patents and applications. He has been directly involved in several successful novel biologics through early discovery research into development and manufacturing through clinical trials and commercialization. Previous positions include Executive Director at Mederex (acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2010), lead discovery scientific roles at Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon, OrthoBioTech & Pharmaceutical Research), and Bayer. Dr. Cini’s therapeutic areas of expertise in system biology including -oncology, immune-oncology, inflammation, osteoporosis, wound healing, surgical adhesion, and cellular aging.

John K. Cini, Ph.D

Chief Scientific Officer and Founder

Oversees and directs the company’s discovery and development programs. His role includes the oversight of the selection process of cancer and immune-oncology targets and proof-of-concept testing. Dr. John Cini was previously the Chief Scientific Officer and a Co-Founder of Sonnet BioTherapeutics, Prior to joining Sonnet, he was Vice President of Discovery and Development Sciences at Oncobiologics. He has successfully advanced more than 20 novel monoclonal antibody products from discovery to IND. He is the holder of several novel product and formulation patents and applications. He has been directly involved in several successful novel biologics through early discovery research into development and manufacturing through clinical trials and commercialization. Previous positions include Executive Director at Mederex (acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2010), lead discovery scientific roles at Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon, OrthoBioTech & Pharmaceutical Research), and Bayer. Dr. Cini’s therapeutic areas of expertise in system biology including -oncology, immune-oncology, inflammation, osteoporosis, wound healing, surgical adhesion, and cellular aging.

Susan Dexter

Chief Technical Officer

Susan Dexter serves as Sonnet’s Chief Technical Officer. She comes to Sonnet with more than twenty-five years in biotechnology science, manufacturing and business development. Susan’s experience includes management of biotechnology contract manufacturing services ranging from process development through commercial manufacturing, and strategic consulting related services. Her prior roles include Managing Director, Latham Biopharm Group; Chief Business Officer at Xcellerex, Inc.; VP of Business Development at The Dow Chemical Company; Assoc. Director of Business Development, Celltech and Lonza. Ms. Dexter holds a double major with Honors in Immunology and Marketing from American University, Washington, D.C.

Susan Dexter

Chief Technical Officer

Susan Dexter serves as Sonnet’s Chief Technical Officer. She comes to Sonnet with more than twenty-five years in biotechnology science, manufacturing and business development. Susan’s experience includes management of biotechnology contract manufacturing services ranging from process development through commercial manufacturing, and strategic consulting related services. Her prior roles include Managing Director, Latham Biopharm Group; Chief Business Officer at Xcellerex, Inc.; VP of Business Development at The Dow Chemical Company; Assoc. Director of Business Development, Celltech and Lonza. Ms. Dexter holds a double major with Honors in Immunology and Marketing from American University, Washington, D.C.

Stephen McAndrew, PhD MBA

Sr. VP, Corporate Affairs

Previously the Chief Business Officer at Sonnet BioTherapeutics from February 2020 - April 2026, Dr. McAndrew manages operations, contracts and intellectual property at Guidant BioTherapeutics. Previously, he was Senior VP of Business Strategy & Development at Oncobiologics, and held senior business development and research roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hoffmann-LaRoche, Taconic Biosciences and Caliper Life Sciences. He earned a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Ohio University.

Stephen McAndrew, PhD MBA

Sr. VP, Corporate Affairs

Previously the Chief Business Officer at Sonnet BioTherapeutics from February 2020 - April 2026, Dr. McAndrew manages operations, contracts and intellectual property at Guidant BioTherapeutics. Previously, he was Senior VP of Business Strategy & Development at Oncobiologics, and held senior business development and research roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hoffmann-LaRoche, Taconic Biosciences and Caliper Life Sciences. He earned a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Ohio University.

Advancing the future
of cancer therapy

Advancing the future of cancer therapy

Mission

Vision

Our leadership brings together seasoned scientists, clinicians, and business leaders, united by a shared commitment to advancing the next generation of targeted cancer therapeutics.

In Memorium

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