Magenta’s Bastiano Sanna Appointed Semma Therapeutics CEO

Bastiano Sanna has been named CEO and president of Semma Therapeutics. Elizabeth Stoner, who has been serving as interim CEO, will remain as an advisor to the company. Sanna comes to Cambridge, MA-based Senna from Magenta Therapeutics, where he was chief operating officer. His experience also includes positions at Novartis (NYSE: [[ticker:NVS]]). Semma is developing a diabetes treatment that uses embryonic stem cells to make insulin-producing cells. Last fall, Semma raised $114 million in a Series B round of funding to advance into clinical testing.

Author: Frank Vinluan

Xconomy Editor Frank Vinluan is a business journalist with experience covering technology and life sciences. Based in Raleigh, he was a staff writer at the Triangle Business Journal covering technology, biotechnology and energy before joining MedCityNews.com as North Carolina bureau chief. Prior to moving to North Carolina’s Research Triangle in 2007 he held business reporting positions at The Des Moines Register and The Seattle Times.