Galera was founded in 2012 with the mission to develop and commercialize novel therapeutics that have the potential to transform radiotherapy in cancer. With patients as the driving force, we are pioneering a novel scientific approach to improve quality of life and outcomes for individuals with cancer receiving standard of care radiation treatment.
We have a pipeline of proprietary small molecules, which mimic the body’s natural dismutase enzymes, with the goal of protecting healthy cells from radiation and increasing the anti-cancer efficacy of treatment.
Our radioprotective dismutase mimetic, avasopasem manganese (avasopasem), is in late-stage development to reduce severe oral mucositis (SOM), a radiotherapy-induced toxicity, in patients receiving radiation treatment for head and neck cancer. Our anti-cancer dismutase mimetic, rucosopasem manganese (rucosopasem), is in clinical-stage development to augment the anti-cancer efficacy of radiation treatment for lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.
"As a medical oncologist, one of the greatest satisfactions in life is to contribute to a therapy that reduces patient suffering and improves their quality of life. For over a decade, we at Galera have dedicated ourselves to developing a novel approach to transforming radiotherapy for patients with cancer. Our team is unwavering in our commitment to one critical goal: to improve patient care."
Mel Sorensen, MD
President and CEO of Galera
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Sorensen has served as Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of Galera since November 2012.
Dr. Sorensen serves on the board of directors of several private companies, including Esanik Therapeutics, Medsyn Biopharma and PlanetVerify Ltd. He is an advisor to the Biomarkers Consortium of the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Sorensen holds an M.B., B.Ch. and B.A.O. from University College, Dublin. Dr. Sorensen’s postgraduate education and work has been in the United States, including an internal medicine residency in St. Louis and medical oncology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, seven years at the National Cancer Institute as Senior Investigator in the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program and four years each with Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline. Dr. Sorensen served as Director, Chief Executive Officer and President of Ascenta Therapeutics from 2004 until he joined Galera.
Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Beardsley, a co-founder of the Company, has served as our Chief Operating Officer since 2015, and previously served as our Executive Chair from 2012 to 2017.
Prior to this, Dr. Beardsley was the Chief Executive Officer at Galera Therapeutics, LLC from 2010 to 2012, at Metabolic Solutions Development Corporation from 2009 until 2010, and at Kereos from 2003 until 2009, and the acting Chief Executive Officer at Metaphore Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 2002. He has also served in various management roles at Confluence Life Sciences, bioStrategies Group, Vector Securities International, Enzyme Organics and Mobil Oil. Dr. Beardsley serves on the board of Euclises, a private company, and has served on a number of boards of directors of public and private companies including Epigenetx, KemPharm, Kereos, CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Bioseek, and Metaphore Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Beardsley received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, a Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from the University of Iowa and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Chicago.
Chief Regulatory and Quality Affairs Officer
Ms. Collier has served as our Chief Regulatory and Quality Affairs Officer since March 2023. She joined Galera as Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs in August 2021.
Ms. Collier has over twenty-five years of regulatory affairs and quality experience with drugs, biologics, medical devices, and drug/device combination, encompassing a broad understanding of phase I-IV clinical trials development and management ranging from feasibility to commercial marketing. She has worked on over 80 successful INDs and 60 NDAs with the FDA, in oncology, dermatology and cardiology divisions. She has also shepherded several regulatory approvals in Europe, Australia, Latin America, Japan, and other Asian regulatory agencies. Ms. Collier was most recently the Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, US, Europe and Global New Molecular Entities at Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and held positions of increasing executive experience in several biopharma companies, including Gilead, BTG, Johnson & Johnson and Merck.
Ms. Collier is a pharmacist with a post-graduate specialization in Industrial and Hospital Pharmacy and holds a MSc in Regulatory Affairs from the University of Southern California.
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Degnan has served as our Chief Financial Officer since October 2019.
Prior to Galera, Mr. Degnan served as Chief Financial Officer of Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. In his role at Verrica, Mr. Degnan successfully completed an initial public offering raising gross proceeds of $86 million, and has extensive experience in financial strategy, investor relations, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting, accounting and compliance. Previously, Mr. Degnan held senior positions at Endo International plc, a generics and specialty branded pharmaceutical company, most recently as Vice President of Finance, Corporate FP&A and International Pharmaceuticals Segment Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Endo, Mr. Degnan spent more than 10 years at AstraZeneca plc, a global biopharmaceutical company, in roles of increasing responsibility which culminated in the position of Senior Finance Director, U.S. Commercial Finance.
Mr. Degnan is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Pennsylvania (voluntary inactive status) and holds a B.B.A. degree in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame.
Senior Vice President, Clinical Operations and Data Management
Ms. Schnyder has served as our Sr. Vice President, Clinical Operations and Data Management since January 2022. She joined Galera as Vice President, Clinical Operations in October 2020.
Ms. Schnyder has over 20 years of Clinical Operations experience in oncology, dermatology, and immunology. Prior to joining Galera, Ms. Schnyder served as Executive Director of Clinical Operations at Aclaris Therapeutics where she built out a Clinical Operations and Data Management team responsible for the development of novel dermatology and immune-inflammatory assets. Ms. Schnyder has held Clinical Operations and Development positions at Lycera, Tetralogic, Gemin X Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Cephalon), GSK, PharmaNet, and Cephalon. She began her career in Clinical Operations at U.S. Bioscience (MedImmune).
Ms. Schnyder holds a Bachelors degree in Biology from Lafayette College and a Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Health Care Administration from Widener University.
Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
Ms. Stacey has served as our Chief Legal and Compliance Officer since October 2021.
Prior to Galera, Ms. Stacey served as Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Government Relations at The Wistar Institute, an international biomedical research institute focused on cancer, vaccines and infectious disease. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Human Resources and Secretary at Antares Pharma, Inc. Prior to that, Ms. Stacey served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Human Resources, and Secretary at Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and as Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, General Counsel and Secretary at Aventis Behring, LLC (now CSL Behring). She began her career in life sciences at Rhône-Poulenc Rorer (now Sanofi) including two years in their Paris office. Ms. Stacey currently serves on the board of directors of Context Therapeutics.
Ms. Stacey graduated with an A.B. from Princeton University and earned her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Sorensen has served as Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of Galera since November 2012.
Dr. Sorensen serves on the board of directors of several private companies, including Esanik Therapeutics, Medsyn Biopharma and PlanetVerify Ltd. He is an advisor to the Biomarkers Consortium of the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Sorensen holds an M.B., B.Ch. and B.A.O. from University College, Dublin. Dr. Sorensen’s postgraduate education and work has been in the United States, including an internal medicine residency in St. Louis and medical oncology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, seven years at the National Cancer Institute as Senior Investigator in the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program and four years each with Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline. Dr. Sorensen served as Director, Chief Executive Officer and President of Ascenta Therapeutics from 2004 until he joined Galera.