ADVERTISEMENTs
Indian-origin biotech pioneer Pankaj Mohan passes away
Mohan, who earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee in 1987, founded Sonnet in 2015.
-
Pranavi Sharma - Mon, 14, Apr 2025
- 23:07 EDT
- 409
Dr. Pankaj Mohan / Sonnet
Dr. Pankaj Mohan, an Indian-origin scientist and entrepreneur who founded and led Sonnet BioTherapeutics, a clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on cancer treatments, has passed away. Sonnet announced his passing on Apr.14, calling it a “deep and profound” loss for the company and the broader scientific community.
Mohan, who earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee in 1987, became a respected voice in biotech innovation. He founded Sonnet in 2015 with the vision of developing immunotherapeutic drugs designed to target the tumor microenvironment, a complex and often elusive landscape in cancer biology.
“We are heartbroken by this unexpected, tragic loss,” said Raghu Rao, a board member named interim chief executive officer after Mohan’s passing. “Pankaj was a respected leader and visionary throughout his ten years at Sonnet. His unwavering belief in Sonnet’s technology and dedication to providing much-needed treatment options to patients have continued to propel Sonnet to where it is today. Our support and deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones during this extraordinarily sad time.”
The statement read that Mohan’s career was defined not only by his scientific curiosity but also by a deep commitment to improving lives through advanced therapies. Since its founding, Sonnet has been dedicated to engineering fully human therapeutic proteins that aim to unlock the potential of targeted immune modulation, a mission Mohan championed with passion and precision.
Nailesh Bhatt, a member of Sonnet’s board of directors, echoed the sense of shock and loss across the company. “We were stunned and devastated to learn about Pankaj’s passing,” Bhatt said. “Since founding Sonnet in 2015, his leadership and dedication have been integral in Sonnet’s evolution. We are sharing our thoughts with his family on behalf of the entire company. In Pankaj’s honor, we are committed to fulfilling his vision and will continue to build on his and the Company’s accomplishments.”
In the wake of this transition, the company also announced the promotion of Dr. Stephen McAndrew, Sonnet’s chief business officer, to president and chief business officer. “We believe that Mr. Rao’s strong financial, capital markets, and business acumen will be valuable during this important transition and round out the necessary expertise to drive Sonnet forward and continue momentum,” Bhatt added. “Dr. McAndrew has been intimately involved in Sonnet’s scientific and business operations, and he, along with the team, will continue executing on our corporate and clinical initiatives.”
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
.jpg)
Video
.jpeg)
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login