Intra-Cellular Therapies is led by experienced industry professionals and expert scientific and medical advisors. Together, we’re working to improve the lives of those living with some of the most serious diseases.
Sharon Mates, Ph.D.
Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
As Founder, Chairman and CEO of Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. (ITCI), Dr. Mates leads Intra-Cellular Therapies, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, clinical development and commercialization of innovative drugs that address underserved medical needs in complex psychiatric and neurologic diseases.
Dr. Mates has more than 25 years of experience leading public and private companies with a steadfast commitment to cutting-edge science and research to discover innovative approaches to treating disease. Prior to co-founding ITCI in 2002, she was President and board member of North American Vaccine Inc. and its predecessor companies for almost a decade, during which time she oversaw the development and approval of pediatric vaccines. Throughout her career, she has held numerous advisory and board positions including a current board appointment to Biotechnology Innovation Organization Emerging Company Section (BIO ECS). Previous appointments include chairman of the New York Biotechnology Association, Board of Visitors of the Biotechnology Institute of the University of Maryland, and member of the Harvard School of Public Health Advisory Council of the Center for Society and Health.
Dr. Mates received her B.S. from The Ohio State University and her Ph.D. from the University of Washington. She completed her postdoctoral fellowships at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Suresh Durgam, M.D.
Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Durgam has served as Chief Medical Officer of ITCI since October 2020. He joined the Company in 2018 as Senior Vice President, Late Stage Clinical Development and Medical Affairs. Dr. Durgam, has over 23 years of experience in clinical research including the development of antipsychotics and antidepressants.
Dr. Durgam served in clinical development leadership roles at Forest Laboratories, Solvay and Allergan plc. He led programs across various indications including major depressive disorder, bipolar mania, bipolar depression, schizophrenia, cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia, negative symptoms in schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and pain. He has experience in the U.S. and globally in all phases of drug development from Phase I through Phase 4 studies. In addition to his role in the development of cariprazine and its approval in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, Dr. Durgam oversaw studies with vilazodone, levomilancipran, and asenapine that led to sNDA fillings and supplemental approvals. He also led the major depressive disorder program with rapastinel and onabotulinumtoxinA for depression.
Dr. Durgam graduated with his medical degree from the Siddhartha Medical College in India and received his residency training in psychiatry at Scott & White Clinic and Hospital – Texas A&M University System College of Medicine.
Mark Neumann
Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer
Mark Neumann has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer of the Company since October 2018. Mr. Neumann has over 30 years of biopharmaceutical experience with a strong track record of building high-performing commercial teams and successfully executing numerous product launches. Prior to ITCI, he served in leadership positions at Amgen, most recently serving as Vice President, Global Marketing. Prior to Amgen, he spent 25 years at Bristol Myers Squibb and held senior U.S. and global commercial roles in neuroscience, cardiovascular and diabetes. During his tenure, he led sales and marketing for the U.S. neuroscience business unit and delivered strong growth of the antipsychotic aripiprazole.
Mr. Neumann received his bachelor’s degree from Lafayette College.
Michael I. Halstead, J.D.
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Michael I. Halstead has been the General Counsel of ITCI since July 2014. From July 2005 until December 2013, Mr. Halstead served in a number of leadership positions at Warner Chilcott plc, a leading specialty pharmaceutical company that was acquired by Actavis plc in October 2013. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at Warner Chilcott, where he directed the company’s corporate development, legal, and human resources functions. Prior to that, Mr. Halstead was an attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell, where he focused his practice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and securities law compliance.
Mr. Halstead received his bachelor’s degree from Boston University and his Juris Doctor degree from Villanova University School of Law.
Lawrence J. Hineline, CPA
Senior Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer
Lawrence J. Hineline has served as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of ITCI since June 2002. From December 2000 to November 2003, Mr. Hineline was the Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Functional Genetics, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Hineline served as the Vice President of Finance of North American Vaccine Inc. and its predecessor companies from 1993 to 2000, and as Corporate Controller from 1989 to 1993. During this time, Mr. Hineline oversaw the growth of the accounting function and its systems for the company that emerged as a start-up and was later acquired by Baxter Health Care.
Mr. Hineline is a licensed CPA in the State of Maryland and received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
John A. Bardi
Senior Vice President, Market Access, Policy and Government Affairs
John A. Bardi joined the Company as Senior Vice President for Market Access, Policy and Government Affairs in March 2019. He has over 30 years of biopharmaceutical and health system industry experience with a strong track record of innovation and building high-performing Market Access and Government Affairs capabilities.
Prior to joining Intra-Cellular Therapies, he held positions at Otsuka America Pharmaceuticals, Inc including Vice President, Market Access, Policy Advocacy, and Government Affairs. Prior to Otsuka, Mr. Bardi spent 7 years at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) where he served as one of the original members of the aripiprazole marketing team leading the Payer, Pricing and Advocacy function. In his final years at BMS, Mr. Bardi was Vice President for Market Access leading the function and field-based teams in support of BMS’ full portfolio of products including neuroscience, cardiology, and oncology.
Mr. Bardi received his Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and his Masters in Health Services Administration from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Robert E. Davis, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Davis has served as Senior Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer since November 2015. Previously, Dr. Davis served as President and CEO of 3-D Pharmaceutical Consultants, providing consulting services to the Company from December 2005 to November 2015. From December 2000 until November 2005, Dr. Davis served as the Executive Vice President, Research and Development at ACADIA Pharmaceuticals. From January 1994 until October 2000, Dr. Davis held various positions at MitoKor, a development stage biotechnology company focused on the design and development of drug therapies for mitochondrial diseases, serving at various times as its President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Scientific Officer. Earlier, Dr. Davis held various positions at Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research, Warner-Lambert.
Earlier in his career, he participated in the discovery and development of tacrine hydrochloride, the first drug approved for treating Alzheimer’s disease; gabapentin, the first drug approved for treating neuropathic pain; and pimavanserin, the first drug approved for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis.
Dr. Davis received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Psychobiology from the University of Illinois.
Karen Sheehy, Esq.
Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer
Karen Patruno Sheehy, Esq. joined the Company as Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer in July 2019. She has over 25 years of experience concentrated in pharmaceutical compliance and legal matters.
In prior roles, Ms. Sheehy led compliance functions at Mallincrodt, as Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, and at Sanofi as Vice President, Head, North America Compliance. Prior to those roles, she held various roles in the legal function with increasing responsibility.
Ms. Sheehy was also in private practice at Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti LLP and was an adjunct Professor of Law at the Seton Hall Law School.
Ms. Sheehy received her bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University and her Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall Law School.
Michael Olchaskey, Pharm.D.
Senior Vice President, Head of Regulatory Affairs
Dr. Olchaskey joined the Company as Senior Vice President, Head of Regulatory Affairs in September 2018. Dr. Olchaskey has over 20 years of global regulatory affairs experience with investigational and commercialized products across a range of CNS disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Michael has held positions of increasing responsibility and scope in Regulatory Affairs at Allergan plc over the last 16 years. He has overseen a wide array of submissions and approvals for products, including cariprazine, asenapine, escitalopram, levomilnacipran, milnacipran, and vilazodone.
Dr. Olchaskey received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Rutgers University. He also did a Post-Doctoral Fellowship jointly sponsored by Hoffmann La Roche and Rutgers University.
Juan Sanchez, M.D.
Vice President of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
Dr. Sanchez has been the Vice President of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations since March 2014. He has over ten years of experience as a Wall Street research analyst with a deep focus on companies specializing in CNS diseases. From 2008 to 2014, he served in the roles of Managing Director and Vice President of Healthcare Equity Research at Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Prior to joining Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Dr. Sanchez was a Vice President of Equity Research at Punk Ziegel. Before joining Wall Street, Dr. Sanchez received a Master of International Affairs degree from Columbia University in New York and an MBA from University of Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia.
Dr. Sanchez practiced medicine for five years in his native country, Colombia, having received a medical degree from Pontifical Xavierian University.
Willie R. Earley, M.D.
Senior Vice President, Head of Clinical Development
Dr. Earley joined the Company as Senior Vice President, Head of Clinical Development in April 2022. He has over 20 years of pharmaceutical drug development experience.
Prior to joining ITCI, Dr. Earley has served in clinical development roles with increasing responsibilities at Abbvie, Allergan, Actavis, Forest, AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly and has overseen studies and supported regulatory submissions with cariprazine, asenapine, quetiapine, and olanzapine.
Prior to joining the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Earley practiced clinical psychiatry in Chicago, and served as Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois and later at the University of Chicago. Dr. Earley is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine where he also completed his residency in psychiatry.
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