Nancy Thornberry

Member, Board of Directors and Chair, R&D, Kallyope
New York City Metropolitan Area,United States
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Who Is Nancy Thornberry?

Total Experience55 years
CompanyKallyope
CountryUnited States

Nancy Thornberry is a world-renowned biochemist and an accomplished leader in the pharmaceutical industry, celebrated for her pivotal role in the discovery of transformative medicines. With over four decades of experience, she spent 30 years at Merck, where she led the research that resulted in the discovery of Januvia® (sitagliptin), a groundbreaking, first-in-class DPP-4 inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. This drug became a multi-billion dollar blockbuster and significantly improved patient care worldwide. In 2015, she co-founded Kallyope, a biotechnology company focused on the gut-brain axis. As the founding CEO and Head of R&D, she was instrumental in building the company, pioneering its novel discovery platform, and advancing multiple therapeutic programs into clinical development. Her career is distinguished by a deep expertise in enzymology, drug discovery, and translating complex biological insights into life-changing therapies.

How Did Nancy Thornberry's Career Path Shape Their Journey?

Nancy Thornberry's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

Kallyope - Member, Board of Directors and Chair, R&D(2021 to Present)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals - Member, Board of Directors(2023 to Present)
Adimab - Member, Board of Directors(2023 to Present)
New York Genome Center - Member, Board of Directors(2022 to Present)
GV - Advisor(2022 to Present)
Schrödinger - Member, Board of Directors(2019 to Present)
Denali Therapeutics - Member of the Board of Directors(2021 to Present)
Merck Research Labs - Senior Vice President and Franchise Head, Diabetes and Endocrinology(2011 to 2013)
Merck & Co., Inc. - Senior Vice President and Franchise Head, Diabetes and Obesity(2009 to 2011)

What Are Nancy Thornberry's Key Achievements?

Co-discovery of Januvia® (sitagliptin)

Led the research team at Merck that discovered Januvia®, a first-in-class DPP-4 inhibitor for treating type 2 diabetes. This blockbuster drug generated billions in revenue and established a new standard of care for millions of patients globally.

Founding CEO and R&D Head of Kallyope

Co-founded and successfully led Kallyope, a pioneering biotechnology company focused on the gut-brain axis. She was instrumental in building the company, securing over $400 million in funding, and advancing multiple programs from discovery into clinical development.

Election to the National Academy of Sciences

In recognition of her distinguished and continuing achievements in original scientific research, she was elected as a member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences in 2017, one of the highest honors for a scientist in the United States.

Recipient of the PhRMA Discoverers Award

Honored with the Discoverers Award from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America in 2007 for her pioneering work in discovering Januvia®, recognizing the significant advancement it represented for patient care.

FiercePharma's Fiercest Women in Life Sciences

Named one of the "Fiercest Women in Life Sciences" by FiercePharma in 2018, acknowledging her influential leadership and groundbreaking contributions to the biopharmaceutical industry.

What's Nancy Thornberry's Educational Background?

Bachelor of Science (BS), Chemistry and Biology

Muhlenberg College - Year 1975

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Notable news
Hiring actively
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Company Overview

Kallyope
Total employees98
HeadquartersNew York
Founded2015

Kallyope is a New York-based biotechnology company that focuses on understanding and harnessing the gut-brain axis, the complex communication network between the gut and the brain. By leveraging its advanced technology platform, the company identifies novel targets and develops gut-restricted therapeutics to address a wide range of diseases, including metabolic disorders, central nervous system conditions, and inflammatory diseases, with the goal of creating safer and more effective treatments.

Kallyope Funding Information
Unknown - Total Funding Raised
$236M - Most recent funding amount
4 - Number of funding rounds
1 Mar, 2022 - Latest funding round
Lead Investors:
The Column Group
Lux Capital
Polaris Partners
Euclidean Capital
Two Sigma Ventures
Bill Gates
Illumina Ventures

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