Ellen Donnelly

Ellen K. Donnelly was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Neumirna Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing RNA-based therapies for complex neurological diseases based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Donnelly brings more than 20 years of leadership in neuroscience and rare diseases, spanning both global pharmaceutical companies and innovative biotech firms. Her scientific motivation is deeply personal: "Both of my grandmothers had Parkinson's disease, and their differing experiences sparked my interest in how the brain works," she noted in her appointment announcement.

Donnelly holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology & Neuroscience from Yale University. She was born in 1974 and has built extensive expertise in business and clinical development strategies across therapeutic areas including neurodegeneration, mitochondrial disease, and hematologic disorders.

Career History

• Chief Executive Officer, Neumirna Therapeutics (2025-present)
• Chief Executive Officer, Abliva AB (recently acquired by Pharming Group)
• Chief Executive Officer, Souvien Therapeutics
• Chief Executive Officer, Modus Therapeutics
• Multiple leadership roles at Pfizer Inc., spanning nearly a decade in neuroscience research, clinical operations, portfolio management, and strategy

What Ellen Donnelly could bring to Neumirna Therapeutics: Her demonstrated track record of advancing biotech companies through clinical development stages, combined with her deep expertise in neuroscience drug development at Pfizer and her success leading multiple biotech CEOs roles, positions her to effectively guide Neumirna's transition to clinical development for its lead RNA-based candidate (NMT-001) for drug-resistant epilepsy and its Parkinson's disease program—both areas aligned with her long-standing scientific passion.