When Phathom Pharmaceuticals was formed in May 2019, born out of a collaboration between Takeda and Frazier Healthcare, it had one clear goal: to develop and commercialize treatments for gastrointestinal diseases and disorders. Initially lacking a permanent leader, the company found its guiding force in September when it appointed Terrie Curran.
The same month, Curan, a seasoned executive at biopharma company Celgene, was named as Chief Executive Officer and joined Phathom’s Board of Directors. Under her guidance, Phathom has continued its groundbreaking scientific work. In 2023, the company introduced Voquezna, a novel drug for treating erosive esophagitis and heartburn, which offers a significant improvement over traditional proton pump inhibitors for gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Voquezna’s success marks the second time Curran has overseen the launch of a groundbreaking medication. At Celgene, she recruited the teams behind the successful launch of Otezla, a drug treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
Curran has come a long way. She started her career as a pharmaceutical representative in her native Australia, where she attended the University of Technology, Sydney, earning bachelor’s degree and graduate diploma in marketing. At age 30, she moved to New Zealand, starting a climb up the corporate ladder that has taken her from Switzerland–where she excelled in turning around a division at Schering-Plough despite language barriers– to eventually establishing herself in the United States.
She has made her mark in the United States not just with her work at Celgene and Phathom, but as a member of the Board of Directors of Myovant Sciences—acience-based, technology-driven biopharmaceutical company, on which she has served since 2016.
Amid the rising global incidence of GERD, Phathom remainsat the forefront of the medical frontier. In July 2024, the company secured an additional indication for Voquezna, expanding the itslabel to include relief from heartburn associated with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease. For Curran, whose career has been defined by giant leaps forward, thiswas a “significant milestone.” We eagerly anticipate her next breakthrough.
