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Ciara Kennedy, Ph.D.
CEO

Ciara Kennedy, Ph.D., serves as the founder, president and chief executive officer at Sorriso Pharmaceuticals. She has a proven track record of delivering significant results and advancing therapeutic and diagnostic programs across multiple therapeutic areas and stages of development in the biotech industry. Over her career, she has facilitated over $500M in financings and over $2B in M&A proceeds thus far. Ciara has played key roles in the development and approval of Savella® for fibromyalgia and Livmarli® rare pediatric liver diseases. Prior to Sorriso, Ciara was president and chief executive officer of Amplyx Pharmaceuticals until their acquisition by Pfizer in 2021. While at Amplyx, Ciara successfully developed novel treatments for a variety of life-threatening conditions impacting immunocompromised patients. Kennedy is also a founder of Reneo Pharmaceuticals (RPHM) and Mirum Pharmaceuticals (MIRM). 

Previously, Ciara served as chief operating officer at Lumena Pharmaceuticals, until the company’s acquisition by Shire Pharmaceuticals in 2014 and as vice president, head of cholestatic liver disease at Shire post acquisition. Prior to Lumena, Ciara held several positions at Cypress Bioscience Inc. where she played a key role in the company’s FDA approval and launch of Savella® for fibromyalgia, corporate acquisitions and the in-licensing of several clinical assets. Prior to joining Cypress Bioscience, Ciara held several positions in the program and alliance department of Biogen Idec.

Ciara holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry and M. Med Sci in biochemistry and immunology from the Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland. She also holds an MBA from the Rady School of Management at UCSD.