Santa Ana Bio

Santa Ana Bio, Inc. is a precision immunology biotechnology company headquartered in Alameda, California, that develops targeted biologic therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Rather than targeting cytokines broadly, the company seeks to identify targets expressed specifically on disease-causing cell types, aiming to address patient heterogeneity, durability of response and safety limitations it associates with existing biologic treatments.

The pipeline consists of engineered antibodies at preclinical and IND-enabling stages. SAB01 is a first-in-class bispecific antibody targeting KIT and Siglec-6, receptors co-expressed on mast cells, designed to selectively deplete mast cells for indications including chronic urticaria, prurigo nodularis, atopic dermatitis and food allergy; the company has cited a mid-2026 IND submission and Phase 1 start. SAB05 is a CD40-targeted glucocorticoid antibody-drug conjugate intended to deliver a potent steroid payload to inflamed tissue while combining clinically validated CD40 blockade, with IND submission targeted for the first half of 2027. SAB06 is a portfolio of mono-, bi- and tri-specific antibodies against TL1A, IL-23p19, TNF-alpha and related pathways for inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease and scleroderma-associated interstitial lung disease, with IND submission targeted for the second half of 2027. SAB03, an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody intended to suppress and deplete autoreactive T cells across multiple autoimmune indications, was described in November 2025 as ready to enter IND-enabling studies.

Founding story

Versant Ventures was the founding investor, and its managing director Jerel Davis served as founding chairman. Peter Emtage, founder and CEO and a venture partner at Versant, previously served as global head of cell therapy research at Kite Pharma, chief scientific officer at Cell Design Labs and vice president of immune-mediated therapy at MedImmune.

Business model

Preclinical-stage therapeutics developer financed by venture capital, advancing proprietary antibody programs toward IND submission and clinical trials, with stated optionality to advance programs internally or pursue partnerships.

Traction

All disclosed programs remain preclinical, supported by preclinical efficacy and safety data; the earliest program, SAB01, is guided to IND submission and Phase 1 initiation in mid-2026, followed by SAB05 in the first half of 2027 and SAB06 in the second half of 2027.

Latest developments

In November 2025 the company announced the appointment of Mike Bonney, previously CEO of Cubist Pharmaceuticals, as Chair of the Board, and outlined near-term milestones including a mid-2026 Phase 1 start for SAB01, IND studies for SAB05, and development candidate progress for SAB03 and SAB06.