Who We Are

Ansun is leading the development of novel therapeutics to address unmet needs in viral disease by using its industry-leading expertise in sialic acid biology.

We are industry veterans with significant drug discovery, development and commercialization expertise. We share a vision of developing innovative products to save lives, especially for vulnerable and underserved patients.

Our Approach

We focus our drug development programs to directly target unmet medical needs.

We focus our drug development programs to directly target the drivers of disease progression.  Our lead product candidate was conceived and designed by the foremost experts in the biology of sialic acids and their role in viral infection. The result is DAS181, a fusion protein with an active sialidase domain that enzymatically inactivates sialic acid receptors used by all influenza A and B viruses, parainfluenza viruses, and additional viruses which cause respiratory infection. DAS181 is now undergoing Phase 3 clinical trial for treatment of PIV in immunocompromised patients.

Board of Directors

Nancy Chang

Nancy Chang, Ph.D.

Nancy Chang, Ph.D., is the Chairperson of the Board and has served as Director of Ansun since 2011.  She is a pioneer of the biopharmaceutical industry.  She was the Chairperson and Senior Managing Director of Caduceus Asia Partners at OrbiMed Advisors from 2007 to 2012. From 1987 to 2007, Dr. Chang served as Co-Founder, President and Chairman of Tanox, Inc., which was sold to Genentech in 2007. Prior to founding Tanox, Dr. Chang held several leadership positions at Centocor, now a division of Johnson & Johnson. She was also an Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine. She has served on the board of several companies, including SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., Inspirna . Nancy received her Doctorate in Biological Chemistry from Harvard University.

Allen Chao, Ph.D.

Allen Chao, Ph.D. has served as a Director at Ansun since 2010.  Dr. Chao is a pioneer in the life sciences industry.  Since January 2008, Dr. Chao has been Chairman of Newport Healthcare Advisors, LLC, a healthcare investment management and consulting company.  Dr. Chao was a co-founder of Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (now Actavis plc), a specialty pharmaceutical company, serving as a director from 1985 to May 2008, Chairman of the board of directors from May 1996 to May 2008, and Chief Executive Officer from 1985 to September 2007. While at Watson, Dr. Chao oversaw the company’s growth, through internal R&D, licensing and acquisitions of pharmaceutical products and technologies, as well as mergers and acquisition activities. Dr. Chao received a Ph.D. in industrial and physical pharmacy from Purdue University in 1973. In May of 2000, he received the degree of Doctor of Science from Purdue.

Tamon Tseng

Mr. Tseng joined Ruentex Group in 1992, and is currently serving as Special Assistant to the CEO of Ruentex Industries, Ltd.

Mr. Tseng was called to the English Bar in 1985. He received a B.A. from the University of Cambridge, an LL.M. from University College London, and an LL.B. from National Chengchi University.

Michael Chao, M.D.

Michael Chao, M.D., is the Senior Managing Director of Relativity Healthcare Partners, LLC, a family office investment group dedicated to providing capital to companies developing promising technologies and/or offering novel services to address unmet needs. As a financier, Dr. Chao concentrates on investments that build preeminent healthcare companies. He has been involved with investments in various companies, including LensGen, Tanvex BioPharma, TenNor Therapeutics, EarLens, and Orphomed. He has served on the Board of Directors for MidLabs, BioAnalytix, and Owl Biomedical through successful exits.   Furthermore, Dr. Chao maintains a direct link to the healthcare community as a staff physician at the US Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system, providing medical and surgical care for veterans and combat veterans from current and prior military conflicts.  Dr. Chao has served on Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Foundation Board, where he chaired the Transformational Philanthropic Venture Funding Committee, which supports innovative ideas in pediatric health. Dr. Chao received his MD from University of California, Irvine and his BA in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Donald Payne, MBA, CPA

Donald Payne, MBA, CPA has served as a Director at Ansun since April 2018. For the past 27 years Mr. Payne has held senior operating and financial positions in early-stage biopharmaceutical and medical device companies.  His operations experience includes authoring IND and IDE filings with the FDA, managing US and non-US clinical trials in oncology, establishing cGMP manufacturing operations, and managing preclinical efficacy and toxicology programs.  Mr. Payne has co-authored 9 scientific publications and is a co-inventor of two issued and one pending patent applications.  He has served as a director of public and private early-stage companies, including as the Chairman of the Audit Committee of a Nasdaq-listed company. As the chief financial officer of early-stage companies, he has participated in various public and private financings and listings on NYSE and Nasdaq.  He currently consults with biopharmaceutical and medical device companies focused in oncology.  Mr. Payne is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Rice University with an MBA degree  in 1992 ( and a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Texas A&M University (1976) with a Bachelor in Business Administration.  Mr. Payne is a licensed CPA in Texas.