Corcept Therapeutics Names Justin Gunn President of Endocrinology Division as Sean Maduck Retires
Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (NASDAQ: CORT), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing medicines that modulate the effects of the hormone cortisol, has announced a leadership transition within its Endocrinology division. Sean Maduck, President of the Endocrinology division, is retiring from his executive position, with Justin Gunn appointed as his successor.
Gunn will assume his new responsibilities in full beginning October 1 and will join Corcept’s Executive Team. He will report directly to Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Corcept Therapeutics.
Although Maduck is retiring from his leadership role, he will remain with Corcept as a senior commercial advisor. His continued involvement is intended to support an orderly transition and provide continuity for the company’s Endocrinology business.
The leadership change comes as Corcept continues to focus on expanding the diagnosis and treatment of cortisol-related disorders, including Cushing’s syndrome, while also advancing its broader pipeline across endocrinology, oncology, metabolic and neurologic diseases.
Sean Maduck to Continue as Senior Commercial Advisor
Maduck has spent 14 years at Corcept and has played a central role in the company’s Endocrinology business. During his tenure, he helped lead commercial activities supporting patients with Cushing’s syndrome, a rare endocrine disorder associated with prolonged exposure to excessive cortisol.
Cortisol is an essential hormone involved in a range of physiological processes, including metabolism, immune function and the body’s response to stress. However, excessive cortisol exposure can contribute to significant health complications.
Cushing’s syndrome can develop when the body is exposed to excessive cortisol over an extended period. The condition may result from endogenous overproduction of cortisol or from prolonged exposure to glucocorticoid medications. Endogenous Cushing’s syndrome can be associated with tumors that cause excessive production of hormones involved in cortisol regulation.
The disorder can affect multiple systems in the body and may be associated with metabolic, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and psychological complications. Because its symptoms can overlap with those of more common conditions, diagnosis can sometimes be challenging.
Corcept has built its Endocrinology business around the development and commercialization of therapies that modulate the effects of cortisol. The company said Maduck’s work over the past 14 years has helped support thousands of patients living with Cushing’s syndrome.
Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D., Corcept’s Chief Executive Officer, recognized Maduck’s contribution to the company and said his continued role as a senior commercial advisor would help facilitate the transition.
“Few leaders have made the kind of impact Sean has made over his remarkable career,” Belanoff said. He added that Maduck’s work over the past 14 years has helped and will continue to help patients living with Cushing’s syndrome.
Belanoff also expressed appreciation for Maduck’s willingness to remain involved as an advisor as Corcept prepares for the next phase of its Endocrinology business.
Justin Gunn to Lead Endocrinology Commercial Operations
Gunn joined Corcept in July 2024 and has since held the position of Vice President of Sales and Commercial Learning within the company’s Oncology division.
During his time in that role, Gunn was responsible for developing a new field sales and training organization to support the launch of Lifyorli®, Corcept’s medicine for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer in combination with nab-paclitaxel.
The launch provided Gunn with experience in establishing commercial infrastructure for a newly approved oncology product. His responsibilities included building sales and training capabilities designed to support the medicine’s introduction to the market.
Before joining Corcept, Gunn spent nearly 18 years at Gilead Sciences. During his career at Gilead, he held commercial leadership roles across several therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, oncology and virology.
His experience across multiple disease areas gives him exposure to different commercial models and patient populations, as well as the requirements associated with supporting medicines across various stages of their lifecycle.
Earlier in his career, Gunn held marketing and sales positions of increasing responsibility at Merck and Sepracor.
Gunn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas.
Leadership Change Comes as Awareness of Cushing’s Syndrome Evolves
Corcept’s leadership transition takes place as the company seeks to expand awareness and recognition of Cushing’s syndrome.
The condition can be difficult to identify because its manifestations can resemble those of other metabolic or endocrine disorders. Patients may experience changes in weight, blood pressure, glucose metabolism, muscle strength and other aspects of health, depending on the severity and underlying cause of the condition.
Improving recognition and diagnosis is therefore an important component of expanding access to treatment.
Belanoff said the medical community is increasingly recognizing the prevalence and impact of Cushing’s syndrome. According to the CEO, this creates an opportunity for Corcept to reach additional patients who may have the disease.
“The medical community is beginning to understand the true prevalence and impact of Cushing’s syndrome, and that means Corcept has an opportunity to reach and help many more patients,” Belanoff said.
He added that Gunn’s commercial leadership experience positions him to lead the Endocrinology division during this next phase.
The transition therefore combines continuity with a new commercial leadership approach. Maduck will retain an advisory role, preserving access to his knowledge and experience, while Gunn takes responsibility for the division’s day-to-day leadership.
Corcept’s Broader Cortisol-Focused Strategy
Corcept’s business is built around the role of cortisol in human disease. The company describes itself as a commercial-stage organization engaged in the discovery and development of medicines for severe endocrinologic, oncologic, metabolic and neurologic disorders by modulating cortisol’s effects.
The company has developed its scientific and commercial capabilities around the glucocorticoid receptor and the effects of cortisol signaling.
Cortisol interacts with glucocorticoid receptors throughout the body and plays a role in numerous physiological processes. Abnormal cortisol activity can contribute to disease in circumstances where cortisol levels or receptor activity are excessive or otherwise dysregulated.
Corcept’s research strategy is focused on identifying opportunities where modulation of cortisol signaling could have therapeutic potential.
Its commercial operations span endocrinology and oncology, while its research activities extend into additional therapeutic areas. The company has been evaluating cortisol modulation as a potential treatment strategy for diseases in which glucocorticoid receptor activity may contribute to disease progression or symptoms.
The appointment of Gunn to lead the Endocrinology organization comes against this broader backdrop as Corcept continues to develop its commercial and research operations.
Experience Across Multiple Therapeutic Areas
Gunn’s career has included commercial responsibilities in several therapeutic categories, an experience that Corcept says will be relevant to his new role.
At Gilead Sciences, he worked across cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, oncology and virology. These areas encompass different treatment models, healthcare professionals, patient populations and commercial environments.
His experience in oncology at Corcept has also provided exposure to the company’s internal operations and commercial infrastructure.
At Corcept, Gunn joined the Oncology division at a time when the company was preparing to launch Lifyorli. He subsequently designed and built a new field sales and training organization to support the product’s launch.
Lifyorli is approved in combination with nab-paclitaxel for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The commercial launch required Corcept to establish field capabilities supporting physicians and healthcare professionals treating patients with the disease.
That experience is expected to provide Gunn with familiarity with Corcept’s organization, culture and commercial processes before he moves into leadership of the Endocrinology division.
Supporting a Smooth Leadership Transition
The decision to retain Maduck as a senior commercial advisor is intended to support continuity during the transition.
Leadership changes in commercial organizations can involve the transfer of institutional knowledge, relationships and understanding of market dynamics. Maintaining Maduck’s involvement allows Corcept to retain his experience while Gunn assumes responsibility for the Endocrinology division.
Maduck’s 14 years with the company also span a substantial period of Corcept’s commercial development. His experience includes work related to the company’s efforts in Cushing’s syndrome and its broader endocrinology activities.
Belanoff emphasized that Maduck’s continued participation as an advisor will be particularly valuable as the company considers the future direction of its Endocrinology business.
Gunn will formally assume his new responsibilities on October 1 and will become a member of Corcept’s Executive Team, reporting directly to Belanoff.
The leadership transition establishes a new phase for Corcept’s Endocrinology division while maintaining continuity through Maduck’s advisory role.
For Gunn, the appointment expands his responsibilities from oncology commercial operations to leadership of an entire business division. His previous experience at Corcept and his nearly two decades at Gilead provide a background spanning multiple therapeutic areas and commercial functions.
For Corcept, the change comes as the company continues to pursue opportunities related to cortisol modulation and Cushing’s syndrome.
The company is focused on improving recognition of cortisol-related disease and reaching patients who may remain undiagnosed or undertreated. At the same time, Corcept continues to operate its oncology business and advance its research programs in other disease areas.
Belanoff said Gunn has demonstrated strong commercial leadership during his two years at Corcept and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the Endocrinology organization.
“In the two years since he joined Corcept, Justin has proven himself to be an outstanding commercial leader,” Belanoff said.
As Gunn takes over on October 1, the company will continue its work in Cushing’s syndrome while seeking to expand the reach of its Endocrinology business. Maduck’s transition to senior commercial advisor will provide continuity, while Gunn’s appointment brings a new leader with experience in commercial strategy, sales organization development and multiple therapeutic markets.
The leadership change ultimately reflects Corcept’s ongoing evolution as a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on cortisol biology. With its Endocrinology division entering a new phase under Gunn’s leadership, the company will continue to focus on supporting patients with cortisol-related disorders while advancing its broader portfolio across endocrinology, oncology, metabolic and neurologic diseases.
About Corcept Therapeutics
For over 25 years, Corcept has focused on cortisol modulation and its potential to treat patients with a wide variety of serious disorders and has discovered more than 1,000 proprietary selective cortisol modulators and glucocorticoid receptor antagonists. Corcept is conducting advanced clinical trials in patients with hypercortisolism, solid tumors, ALS and liver disease.