Meet the Team

Shorla Oncology was founded by two healthcare entrepreneurs, Sharon Cunningham and Orlaith Ryan who worked together previously in senior positions at EirGen Pharma and have a passion for building organizations and developing products to meet unmet needs.

Leadership Team

Sharon Cunningham

Co-Founder & CEO
US Based

  • Over 14 years in leadership roles in the pharmaceutical industry. Led EirGen Pharma’s finance function for seven years prior to founding Shorla Oncology
  • Compliance Officer & member of the SOX disclosure committee for OPKO Health Inc (NASDAQ & NYSE) post acquisition of EirGen Pharma
  • PwC Qualified Chartered Accountant with an MBA from University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and a BSc in Finance from University College Cork​, Ireland
  • Certificate in Healthcare Innovation from MIT & Harvard Medical School and a Certificate in Healthcare Leadership from Columbia University
  • Board member at MassBio, the world’s oldest and largest biotech trade association and Young President’s Organization (‘YPO’) Healthcare Business Network

Orlaith
Ryan

Co-Founder & CTO
Ireland Based

  • On EirGen Pharma’s Management team, & held senior positions in Analytical, QA & Regulatory Affairs during her eight-year tenure.​
  • Led numerous regulatory inspections including FDA, HPRA and Saudi FDA.​
  • Coordinated IND’s, INAD’s and pre-development meetings with FDA for OPKO Health Inc.
  • Primary interface with FDA & EMA on the development and registration of new human (including orphan) and veterinary drugs.​
  • Is a chartered scientist and holds an MSc in Regulatory Affairs from the University of Wales, BSc in Applied Biology with Quality Management from Waterford Institute of Technology & a Certificate in Corporate Governance from INSEAD business school.

Rayna Herman

Chief Commercial Officer

  • 30+ year career in life sciences. Served as Chief Commercial Officer with EVERSANA before joining Shorla Oncology. Began career at Merck & Co.
  • Specializes in developing and operationalizing commercial strategy for growth. Has launched more than 20 biopharmaceutical products.
  • Previously led commercial at Health Strategies Group and positioned the firm for sale to private equity (Water Street) as member of firm’s Board of Directors.
  • Advisory board member for Almaden Genomics and serves on local nonprofit boards.
  • Holds an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Indiana University.

 

Martin Bexon

Chief Medical Officer

  • Martin, a UK- and NZ-trained MD, has worked in pharma for 17 years and held positions in the UK, Switzerland and the US leading clinical development programs in oncology, immunology and internal medicine.

Jeremy Teasell

Vice President of Market Access

  • Jeremy has 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, specializing in Market Access for oncology/hematology.
  • Prior to joining Shorla held leadership positions in Market Access for Aadi Bioscience, Omeros Corporation and Seattle Genetics launching several new products and indications for both the US and Canada.
  • He Served as Vice President for AmerisourceBergen Specialty leading GPO and Trade services for over 20 product launches in oncology.
  • Jeremy Holds a bachelor’s degree in Physiology & Pharmacology from McGill University and certificate degrees in Health Economics from the University of Arizona and McMaster University

Maurice Clancy

Vice President of Research and Development

  • Maurice has over 15 years’ experience in both the pharmaceutical industry and a clinical setting.
  • He has successfully directed product development from concept through to commercialization
  • While leading the R&D, Maurice has built multiple commercial manufacturing teams and established the pharmaceutical development strategy for new product opportunities.
  • Maurice has a BSc (Pharmacy) from Trinity College, Dublin

Vincent McDermott

Vice President of Quality and Regulatory Affairs

  • Vincent McDermott is the Vice President of Quality and Regulatory at Shorla Pharma Ltd. Vincent holds a master’s degree in Business Pharmaceutical Technology from Griffith College Dublin and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from National University of Ireland, Galway.
  • With over 19 years’ Quality Assurance experience (EU and FDA markets), Vincent has provided quality support to both innovator and generic pharmaceutical companies and was involved in Regulatory inspections across his various roles in Pharma.
  • Vincent has been involved in work with specialised products such as Orphan Medicinal Products, Drug Eluting Stents, Pain Medication, various Generic Products and Biological Products.
  • Vincent is experienced in the field of drug development (e.g. ANDAs,), CMO management and Analytical Services.

Stephanie O Dwyer

Director of Finance

  • Stephanie leads the finance function at Shorla Oncology.
  • Having previously held leadership positions in accountancy practice and Alby Pharma, she has extensive accounting (UK & Irish GAAP and IFRS), cashflow management, budgetary forecasting and taxation experience.
  • She has also experience in ensuring that company financial systems are robust and compliant while monitoring and developing internal controls, processes and procedures.
  • Stephanie is a qualified Certified Public Accountant and holds a BA and MBS in Accounting from Waterford Institute of Technology.

Aimee O Sullivan

Director of Operations

  • Aimée leads the Operations team at Shorla Oncology
  • Aimée’s experience spans project management, clinical trial operations, product development, and operations
  • She has successfully managed products from development through to commercialization
  • Aimée has a BSc (Pharmacy) from University College Cork and a Master of Pharmacy from Royal College of Surgeons

Lisa Cleary

Director of Regulatory Affairs

  •  Lisa Cleary is the Director of Regulatory Affairs at Shorla Pharma Ltd and holds a Batchelor of Science degree in Microbiology from University College Cork.
  • Her experience spans 25 years in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry holding roles of increasing responsibility within the QC Microbiology and Regulatory functions throughout this time
  • Regulatory strategizing and CMC activities for development and lifecycle management of commercialised products in EU/US/China and other global markets are key aspects of Lisas experience.
  • This experience is across a wide range of product types e.g. oral dose, sterile parenteral and biological products submitted via various regulatory pathways across numerous markets.

Shane Cullen

Director of Quality

  • Shane Cullen is the Director of Quality at Shorla Pharma Ltd and holds a Master of Pharmacy from the Royal College of Surgeons and a MSc in Pharmaceutical Business and Technology from Griffith College Dublin.
  • Having previous experience in Quality Assurance and Qualified Person release across a number of roles and dosage forms, including sterile injectables, biologics and oral solid dose.
  • Experienced in specialised products including aseptically compounded product and orphan medications in the rare diseases and oncology areas.

Rob Rice

National Sales Director

  • Rob Rice leads the sales function at Shorla Oncology. Rob has 25 years of commercial leadership in sales, market access and marketing in the biopharmaceutical industry,
  • Rob has deep commercial launch experience in multiple specialty markets.
  • His broad track record includes leadership roles at Chemocentryx (acquired by Amgen), Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Genentech and Abbvie.
  • Rob has built and led numerous high growth sales teams throughout his career in the US market.
  • Rob holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Canisius University.