Guidant BioTherapeutics
Guidant BioTherapeutics
Our leadership brings together seasoned scientists, clinicians, and business leaders, united by a shared commitment to advancing the next generation of targeted cancer therapeutics.
Our leadership brings together seasoned scientists, clinicians, and business leaders, united by a shared commitment to advancing the next generation of targeted cancer therapeutics.
Management Team
Management Team
Advancing the Future of Cancer Therapy
Advancing the Future of Cancer Therapy
ABOUT US
ABOUT US
Board Chair & President
Board Chair & President
Raghu Rao
Raghu Rao
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).
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).
Chief Technical Officer
Chief Technical Officer
Susan Dexter
Susan Dexter
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 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.
CEO
CEO
Shreefal Mehta
Shreefal Mehta
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.
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.
Sr. VP, Corporate Affairs
Sr. VP, Corporate Affairs
Stephen McAndrew, Ph.D
Stephen McAndrew, Ph.D
Previously the Chief Business Officer at Sonnet BioTherapeutics from February 2020.-April 2026, Dr McAndrew manages operations and contracts 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, Taconic Biosciences and Caliper Life Sciences. He earned a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Ohio University.
Previously the Chief Business Officer at Sonnet BioTherapeutics from February 2020.-April 2026, Dr McAndrew manages operations and contracts 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, Taconic Biosciences and Caliper Life Sciences. He earned a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Ohio University.
Chief Scientific Officer
Chief Scientific Officer
John K. Cini, Ph.D
John K. Cini, Ph.D
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.
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.
M.D. Chief Medical Officer
M.D. Chief Medical Officer
Vijay Peddareddigari
Vijay Peddareddigari
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.
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.
In Memorium
In Memorium
We would like to acknowledge the late Dr Pankaj Mohan, co-founder and CEO of Sonnet Biotherapeutics for his efforts to bring the navigated delivery(™) mechanism and the dual cytokine assets from concept to fruition until his untimely passing in 2025. His spirit still lives in the work we do at Guidant BIo to improve the lives of patients by creating better therapies.
We would like to acknowledge the late Dr Pankaj Mohan, co-founder and CEO of Sonnet Biotherapeutics for his efforts to bring the navigated delivery(™) mechanism and the dual cytokine assets from concept to fruition until his untimely passing in 2025. His spirit still lives in the work we do at Guidant BIo to improve the lives of patients by creating better therapies.
Ready to Explore What's Possible?
Ready to Explore What's Possible?
Partnerships Inquiry
Partnerships Inquiry
Whether you're a potential partner, investor, or collaborator, Please connect and explore how Guidant Bio's platform can work for you.
Whether you're a potential partner, investor, or collaborator, Please connect and explore how Guidant Bio's platform can work for you.
Partner With Us
Partner With Us
Guidant BioTherapeutics
Guidant BioTherapeutics
© 2026 Sonnet BioTherapeutics, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
© 2026 Sonnet BioTherapeutics, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
CONTACT
CONTACT
newsletter
newsletter
Guidant Biotherapeutics is an oncology-focused biotech company developing biologic drugs using its proprietary FHAB (Fully Human Albumin-Binding) platform. This platform enables targeted delivery by binding to human serum albumin without disrupting its natural transport, resulting in up to 10x longer half-life and improved safety and efficacy.
Guidant Biotherapeutics is an oncology-focused biotech company developing biologic drugs using its proprietary FHAB (Fully Human Albumin-Binding) platform. This platform enables targeted delivery by binding to human serum albumin without disrupting its natural transport, resulting in up to 10x longer half-life and improved safety and efficacy.
To develop navigated deliveries that reach tumors precisely, giving patients safer and more effective treatments.
To develop navigated deliveries that reach tumors precisely, giving patients safer and more effective treatments.
MISSION
MISSION
A new paradigm of treatments where therapies are safely guided to their target giving patients more effective options to fight cancer, and ensuring each treatment does more good than harm.
A new paradigm of treatments where therapies are safely guided to their target giving patients more effective options to fight cancer, and ensuring each treatment does more good than harm.
Vision
Vision
We use the body's natural ‘guided-missile’ mechanism to deliver navigated therapies: albumin, a protein abundantly present in the bloodstream, is accumulated naturally in tumors and inflamed tissues. Our FHAB delivery platform attaches selected therapeutic molecules to albumin, 'hitch-hiking' on patients' own circulating albumin for actively transport directly to the target tissue.
The result is a modular, plug-and-play drug delivery mechanism that navigates any selected therapy actively to the tumor microenvironment, to achieve improved half-life, reduced systemic toxicity, and greater clinical potential.
We use the body's natural ‘guided-missile’ mechanism to deliver navigated therapies: albumin, a protein abundantly present in the bloodstream, is accumulated naturally in tumors and inflamed tissues. Our FHAB delivery platform attaches selected therapeutic molecules to albumin, 'hitch-hiking' on patients' own circulating albumin for actively transport directly to the target tissue.
The result is a modular, plug-and-play drug delivery mechanism that navigates any selected therapy actively to the tumor microenvironment, to achieve improved half-life, reduced systemic toxicity, and greater clinical potential.
Approach
Approach
Guidant Biotherapeutics
Advancing the Future of Cancer Therapy
ABOUT US
Guidant Biotherapeutics is an oncology-focused biotech company developing biologic drugs using its proprietary FHAB (Fully Human Albumin-Binding) platform. This platform enables targeted delivery by binding to human serum albumin without disrupting its natural transport, resulting in up to 10x longer half-life and improved safety and efficacy.
To develop navigated deliveries that reach tumors precisely, giving patients safer and more effective treatments.
MISSION
A new paradigm of treatments where therapies are safely guided to their target giving patients more effective options to fight cancer, and ensuring each treatment does more good than harm.
Vision
We use the body's natural ‘guided-missile’ mechanism to deliver navigated therapies: albumin, a protein abundantly present in the bloodstream, is accumulated naturally in tumors and inflamed tissues. Our FHAB delivery platform attaches selected therapeutic molecules to albumin, 'hitch-hiking' on patients' own circulating albumin for actively transport directly to the target tissue.
The result is a modular, plug-and-play drug delivery mechanism that navigates any selected therapy actively to the tumor microenvironment, to achieve improved half-life, reduced systemic toxicity, and greater clinical potential.
Approach
Our leadership brings together seasoned scientists, clinicians, and business leaders, united by a shared commitment to advancing the next generation of targeted cancer therapeutics.
Management Team
Board Chair & President
Raghu Rao
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).
Chief Scientific Officer
John K. Cini, Ph.D
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.
CEO
Shreefal Mehta
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.
M.D. Chief Medical Officer
Vijay Peddareddigari
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.
Sr. VP, Corporate Affairs
Stephen McAndrew, Ph.D
Previously the Chief Business Officer at Sonnet BioTherapeutics from February 2020.-April 2026, Dr McAndrew manages operations and contracts 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, Taconic Biosciences and Caliper Life Sciences. He earned a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Ohio University.
In Memorium
We would like to acknowledge the late Dr Pankaj Mohan, co-founder and CEO of Sonnet Biotherapeutics for his efforts to bring the navigated delivery(™) mechanism and the dual cytokine assets from concept to fruition until his untimely passing in 2025. His spirit still lives in the work we do at Guidant BIo to improve the lives of patients by creating better therapies.
Interested in GDT-001?
Guidant BioTherapeutics is actively engaging with potential partners and licensees interested in leveraging the strength of our proprietary FHAB technology platform.
Partner With Us
Partnerships Inquiry