Libra Therapeutics, Inc., a private biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapies to restore cellular balance and reduce neurodegeneration, has announced the appointment of Shawn A. Scranton, PharmD, as President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Scranton brings 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical sector, marked by significant drug development achievements, including multiple drug approvals and executive leadership across various company transactions.
“I’m thrilled to join Libra Therapeutics and contribute to advancing the company’s unique therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring cellular homeostasis by enhancing autophagy and lysosomal function, potentially slowing the progression of neurodegenerative diseases,” said Dr. Scranton. He praised the Libra team for their impressive progress in advancing science and developing distinct drug candidates, and he expressed eagerness to lead the clinical development of their lead candidate, LBR-2950, targeting diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
Gene Kinney, Ph.D., Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Libra Therapeutics, remarked, “Shawn’s appointment represents a significant milestone for the company. His extensive experience in drug development and executive leadership will greatly enhance our capabilities as we advance our first drug candidate into clinical trials. We are excited to have him on board, sharing our commitment to accelerating the development of new therapies that could improve patient outcomes in neurodegenerative diseases.”
Dr. Kinney also acknowledged Isaac for his valuable contributions, noting that he will continue to play a key role as Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer.
Most recently, Dr. Scranton was the President and Chief Scientific Officer of Amber Ophthalmics, Inc., where he guided the company from its inception in 2020 to its acquisition in 2024. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President of Late-Stage Development and Chief Operating Officer at Pfenex, Inc., overseeing several late-stage development programs, including the approval of teriparatide parathyroid hormone (PTH) (1-34) (Bonsity®) in 2019. Dr. Scranton was also a founding executive team member and Chief Scientific Officer at Sentynl Therapeutics, Inc.
Before entering the industry, Dr. Scranton held a joint academic position at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Houston School of Pharmacy, where he was a Principal Investigator for numerous industry- and government-funded clinical trials. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of the Pacific and a Bachelor’s degree in animal physiology from UC San Diego.
