Annexon adds retinal surgeon Mark Blumenkranz to board as Muneer Satter departs

Annexon, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANNX) announced on August 10, 2026 that it appointed Mark S. Blumenkranz, M.D., M.M.S. to its board of directors, according to a company press release and an accompanying Form 8-K. The company describes itself as a biopharmaceutical firm developing targeted immunotherapies aimed at neuroinflammatory conditions that affect close to 10 million people globally.¹

On the same date, Muneer Satter told the company he was stepping down from the board along with his roles on the audit committee and as chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee, with the resignation taking effect just before Blumenkranz's appointment.¹ The company said Satter's departure did not stem from any disagreement over company operations, policies, practices, strategy, management or the board.¹

Blumenkranz holds an academic post described as the H.J. Smead Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine, and he co-directs Stanford's Ophthalmic Innovation Program.¹ His background includes co-founding and chairing Adverum Biotechnologies, and leading Optimedica Corporation (later acquired by Abbott Medical Optics), Oculeve (acquired by Allergan), and Kedalion Therapeutics, which Novartis acquired.¹

Under the filing's terms, Blumenkranz will serve as a Class II director with a term running until the 2028 annual stockholder meeting.¹ He was also named to the Audit Committee and the Science and Technology Committee.¹ Compensation terms specify a $40,000 annual retainer plus an automatic annual option grant for 65,000 shares, and a one-time initial grant of an option for 175,000 shares in place of the standard initial award, all under the company's 2020 Incentive Award Plan.¹

The filing states there is no arrangement between Blumenkranz and any other person tied to his selection, and no family relationship with other directors or executives.¹