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Annexon
Annexon was founded in 2011 in Brisbane, California, by CEO Douglas Love and the late Stanford neurobiologist Ben Barres.
Annexon
Annexon was founded in 2011 in Brisbane, California, by CEO Douglas Love and the late Stanford neurobiologist Ben Barres. The company emerged from Barres's foundational discovery that C1q, the initiating protein of the classical complement cascade, drives synaptic pruning in the central nervous system. Love operationalized that insight into a drug-development platform, raising venture capital from NEA, Bain Capital Life Sciences, and Blackstone Life Sciences to build a pipeline targeting neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. The company went public on Nasdaq in July 2020. The firm's strategy centers on targeting C1q to halt complement-mediated tissue damage across three franchises: ophthalmology, neurology, and immunology. In ophthalmology, lead candidate ANX007 showed statistically significant protection against photoreceptor loss in a Phase 2 geographic atrophy trial, an outcome that distinguished it from approved competitors. The neurology portfolio includes ANX005 for Guillain-Barré syndrome, which hit its primary endpoint in a pivotal Phase 3 trial. Immunology programs address autoimmune hemolytic anemia and other complement-driven conditions. The company runs its own clinical operations and manufacturing relationships. Annexon had approximately $386 million in cash and investments as of late 2025 (per the firm's public filings, 2025). The company does not disclose total professionals, but operates from its headquarters in Brisbane, California. In June 2024, Annexon reported positive topline Phase 3 data for ANX005 in Guillain-Barré syndrome, demonstrating statistically significant improvement on the GBS-disability scale. The firm has no disclosed wealth-origin anchor, family-office structure, or adjacent investment vehicles — it operates as a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company. The structural differentiator is Annexon's exclusive focus on the C1q-initiated segment of the classical complement pathway, while competitors broadly target C5 or C3. This upstream blockade leaves adaptive immunity and the alternative complement pathway intact, a design intended to reduce infection risk. The company's late-stage pipeline is built on a single molecular mechanism, creating a binary outcome profile that amplifies both scientific risk and potential reward relative to diversified biopharma platforms.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2011
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Brisbane
Corporate office
Brisbane, CA, United States
Principals
Douglas Love
President and CEO
Ted Yednock
Executive Vice President, Chief Science Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is Annexon's core therapeutic mechanism?
Annexon targets C1q, the initiating protein of the classical complement cascade. The mechanism came from co-founder Ben Barres's discovery that C1q tags synapses for elimination during development and in disease. By blocking C1q, Annexon aims to prevent complement-driven tissue damage while leaving other immune functions intact.
Who runs Annexon's scientific and strategic direction?
Douglas Love, the co-founder, serves as President and CEO. Ted Yednock, the Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer, leads the scientific organization. The foundational biology came from co-founder Ben Barres, a Stanford neurobiologist whose work on glial cells and synaptic pruning underpinned the company's C1q platform.
What are Annexon's most advanced clinical programs?
ANX007 in geographic atrophy showed photoreceptor protection in Phase 2. ANX005 in Guillain-Barré syndrome met its primary endpoint in a pivotal Phase 3 trial reported in June 2024. ANX1502, an oral small-molecule inhibitor of the active form of C1s, is being evaluated in autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
How is Annexon's approach different from other complement-targeting drugs?
Most approved complement therapies block C5 or C3, proteins downstream in the cascade. Annexon targets C1q upstream, which initiates the pathway only at sites of tissue damage. This design is intended to prevent damage at its origin while preserving the broader immune system's ability to fight infection, a known liability of C5 inhibitors.
Who are Annexon's major financial backers?
Annexon's major institutional shareholders have included NEA, Bain Capital Life Sciences, and Blackstone Life Sciences. The company raised venture funding from these firms before its 2020 Nasdaq IPO. As a public company, its shares are widely held, and it reports cash reserves of approximately $386 million as of its most recent filings.
Is Annexon structured as a family office or a traditional biotech company?
Annexon is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company, listed on Nasdaq under the ticker ANNX. It is not a family office, venture capital firm, or investment vehicle. All its capital is deployed toward internal drug development and clinical trial operations.
What is Annexon's geographic and regulatory footprint?
Annexon is headquartered in Brisbane, California. Its clinical trials, including the Phase 3 program for ANX005, have included sites in the United States and internationally, particularly in regions where Guillain-Barré syndrome prevalence supports recruitment. The company's regulatory strategy is focused on FDA approval for its lead programs.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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