Medical and Scientific Advisory Board

John Devane, Ph.D. currently serves as a scientific advisor to Avego Healthcare Capital. He is also a board member to Sebela Pharmaceuticals and Saol Therapeutics. Previously, Dr. Devane was Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) with Horizon Pharma Ireland Ltd. and from 2012-2014 served as CSO to Vidara Therapeutics Research Ltd. In the past, Dr. Devane led the founding team of AGI Therapeutics plc. and served as its CEO from 2004-2012 including its IPO in 2006. Additionally, Dr. Devane founded and led Athpharma Ltd. as CEO from 2002-2005. Dr. Devane worked for Elan Corporation from 1981 to 2001 and held various senior leadership positions, including Executive Vice President R&D and Senior Vice President Clinical & Regulatory, where he led key clinical trial programs in the USA and negotiated NDA approvals directly with FDA. During the period 1990 to 2001, Dr. Devane and his team were responsible for multiple FDA product approvals. Dr. Devane has had a long career designing and successfully delivering major product development programs spanning the full range of drug development. He has a deep knowledge in pharmacology, drug delivery, clinical development, regulatory affairs, and intellectual property. Dr. Devane received his B.Sc. Hons. and Ph.D scientific training at the University College in Dublin, Ireland. He holds a diploma in Accounting & Finance (ACCA) and is a certificate/diploma holder from the Institute of Directors (UK).

Stuart Madden, PhD, has over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, working on drug development programs from proof of concept through to commercialization for new chemical entity (NCE) and 505(b)(2) products that have encompassed small molecules, biologics and combination products. He is Chief Scientific Officer at Neurelis, Inc. Previously, Dr. Madden worked for Elan Corporation, a specialty drug delivery company specializing in the development and commercialization of controlled-release oral dosage forms. Earlier in his career, Dr. Madden worked in large pharma, including Mallinckrodt and Schering Plough.

He received his BS degree in chemistry and his PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Wales (Swansea, UK). Dr. Madden is a Chartered Chemist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a past special government employee for the US FDA’s Advisory Committee for Pharmaceutical Science and Clinical Pharmacology.

In his 25-year career in Biopharma, James E. Shipley MD has led the development of more than 40 compounds, including five that are FDA-approved and eight that were successfully out-licensed. Following a productive academic career, he held industry positions of increasing responsibility, culminating in the role of Chief Medical Officer at CoNCERT Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a company whose technology is based on the use of deuterium modifications to improve the pharmacokinetics and/or safety of FDA approved compounds or their metabolites. Dr. Shipley is well versed in biology, disease mechanisms, and regulatory strategy in multiple therapeutic areas, including those associated with inflammation and fibrosis. Dr. Shipley's career in biopharma was preceded by an accomplished academic career; he has authored over 40 peer-reviewed scientific publications. Dr. Shipley is board certified by both the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology and the American Board of Sleep Medicine. He is a member of the International Society of CNS Clinical Trials and Methodology and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Shipley obtained his MD from the University of Pittsburgh and an MA in Neuroscience/Psychology from the University of Western Ontario.