Dr. Robert Ryan is currently the CEO of Paradigm Therapeutics, which is a biotech based in South Carolina focused on the development of a whole skin surface topical therapy for the treatment of Epidermolysis Bullosa. In addition, Dr. Ryan is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Innova Therapeutics, also located in South Carolina, focused on the treatment of various cancers. Dr. Ryan was previously CEO and co-founder of Scioderm, which is a company that developed a topical therapy for a rare genetic disease, namely Epidermolysis Bullosa. Scioderm was the first Biotech to receive “Breakthrough Therapy” designation from the FDA and was also recognized by Fierce Biotech as one of the Fierce 15, considered as one of the most promising Biotechs in the world. Dr. Ryan was also selected as the CEO of the year in Biotech/Pharma in North Carolina. Last, Dr. Ryan led the successful sale of Scioderm to Amicus in September 2015 for approximately $957M, in a period of less than 2.5 years from initiation of the company and a total spend of less than $25M.
Dr. Ryan has more than 35 years of research/pharmaceutical/biotech experience, spanning the global development process from preclinical through Phase IV. Dr. Ryan previously held senior regulatory positions at three of the top five leading clinical development companies (CRO’s), PPD, INC Research, and Quintiles. Dr. Ryan’s diverse pharmaceutical career covered senior preclinical, regulatory and clinical activities with Roche, Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), UCB, Atherogenics, and Pfizer. Dr. Ryan has a Ph.D. in Toxicology/Pharmacology and advanced degrees in Genetics and Pharmacokinetics.