Arnon Rosenthal

Arnon Rosenthal is the CEO of Alector. Prior to this, they were the co-founder, former CEO, and former Board Chair of Annexon Pharmaceuticals.

Annexon's focus is on the development of novel drugs that inhibit the classical complement cascade. This cascade is part of the innate immune system and is highly activated in many systemic and nervous system disorders. In particular, C1q, the first protein within the classical complement cascade, has been shown to target and coat synapses that have been weakened by pathological processes, including those within the brain associated with Alzheimer’s Disease, in the retina associated with glaucoma and in the spinal cord following acute injury. C1q even targets synapses weakened during normal aging, where levels of the protein increase as much as 300-fold in the CNS. When the complement cascade becomes activated it leads to elimination of these and neighboring synapse by microglial cells, which are a class of immune cells in the brain. Because of the extensive (and otherwise unexplained) loss of synapses in these disorders, the complement cascade has emerged as an exciting new therapeutic target. In addition, neurodegenerative disorders including Guillain-Barré Syndrome, neuromyelitis optica and myasthenia gravis are caused by complement-mediated destruction of nerve and glia cells through autoimmune antibodies. This class of diseases also constitutes ideal targets for complement therapy.

Arnon Rosenthal graduated from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree.

Stephanie Yonker - VP of Legal, Sabah Oney - Chief Business Officer, and Tina Schwabe - Director of Immuno-Neurology report to Arnon Rosenthal.