Courtney Zeni, PhD
SUMMARY
Medical Affairs (MA) leader with passion for therapeutic areas of high unmet, including CNS and psychiatry
Experienced driver of cross-functional alignment of diverse points of view with internal and external stakeholders
Strong knowledge of the psychiatry landscape, drug development, clinical practice, and pharmaceutical marketplace
Longstanding relationships with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) in psychiatry and drug development
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (abbreviated)
Axsome Therapeutics, New York, NY June 2024-Present
Executive Director, Medical Affairs, Psychiatry (October 2025- present)
Head of Medical Affairs Psychiatry, representing all psychiatry compounds, including Auvelity® (major depressive disorder [MDD]), AXS-05 (Alzheimer’s disease [AD] agitation; smoking cessation), and Solriamfetol® (MDD, ADHD, binge eating disorder)
Senior Director, Medical Affairs, Psychiatry (May 2024– September 2025)
Sumitomo Pharma America (formerly Sunovion Pharmaceuticals), Teaneck, NJ November 2019– April 2024
Senior Director, Medical Affairs, Psychiatry (May 2022- present)
Global and US Medical Strategy lead for pipeline drug ulotaront (SEP-363856), Phase 3 investigational compound with FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for the treatment of schizophrenia
Director, Medical Affairs, Psychiatry Fort Lee, NJ, (November 2019 – May 2022)
Noven Pharmaceuticals, Jersey City, NJ September 2013 – November 2019
Director, Medical Affairs (March 2019 - November 2019)
Head of Medical Affairs Department and sole strategist and contributor for all MA activities below
Medical lead for Commercial launch team for SECUADO® (asenapine) transdermal system
Associate Medical Director, New York, NY (February 2015 - March 2019)
Head of Medical Affairs Department and sole strategist and contributor for all MA activities across products and stages of development
Medical Science Liaison, New York, NY (September 2013 - February 2015)
Acquired Northeast territory as entry-level MSL
AlphaBioCom, King of Prussia, PA May 2012 – September 2013
Scientific Communications Manager
Empirical Ink, LLC, Philadelphia, PA January 2009 – September 2013
Freelance Scientific Writer and Technical Editor
Co-founder and scientific writer specializing in editing non-native English manuscripts for successful publication in top-ranked scientific journals
Temple University, Department of Biology, Philadelphia, PA November 2011 – April 2012
Post-doctoral Researcher
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), Piscataway, NJ May 2007 – November 2011
Graduate Researcher, Department of Biochemistry (May 2007 - November 2011)
Licensing Consultant, Office of Patents and Licensing (September 2007 - September 2008)
Reviewed and assessed patent applications from UMDNJ pertaining to scientific innovations
Rutgers University, Department of Neuroscience, Piscataway, NJ May 2005 – May 2006
Undergraduate Research
EDUCATION
miniMBA- BioPharma Innovation February 2019- May 2019
Rutgers University, Rutgers Business School Executive Education
PhD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology September 2006 – November 2011
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Joint Molecular Biosciences Program, UMDNJ and Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
Bachelor of Science, Biology
Minors in Psychology and Chemistry, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ September 2002 – May 2006
PATENTS
Methods of Switching Neuropsychiatric Medications (pending), International Application no. PCT/US2023/079576, filed November 14, 2023
HONORS
CEO Award, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, 2022
Rising Star Award, Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA), 2022
Spotlight on Excellence: Individual Award, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, 2020
Gold Award: For Leadership, Dedication & Commitment to the Timely Submission of HP-3070 NDA, Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2019
Spotlight: Standing Novation- Excellent Support in Launching Minivelle AGx, Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2018
On-the-Spot Award- Successful IND Reactivation, Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2018
Honorable Mention-Cover Image Submission, Society for Developmental Biology Conference, Chicago, IL, 2011
Invited Speaker, International Conference on Neural Tube Defects, Austin, TX, 2011
Best Poster Presentation, Biochemistry Department Annual Retreat, UMDNJ, 2007-2010
NIH Training Grant Recipient, Biochemistry Department, UMDNJ, 2007-2009
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Drug Development, University of California San Diego and Coursera Course Certificates; License: 3KJC4ZE8X2SD, 2019
Drug Discovery, University of California San Diego and Coursera Course Certificates; License: UGHSDHESD4L2, 2018
Creative Writing: Craft of Character, Plot, Setting, Style and Description, Wesleyan University and Coursera Course Certificates; Licenses: VYNTD5ENK836, NJNVQ9ULSYAY, H5AP2JCRK93E, 9E4CTVCKXKPT, 2018
Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Innovations, University of Minnesota and Coursera Course Certificates; License M2BV9NZ5WPFF, 2017
Understanding Clinical Research: Behind the Statistics, University of Cape Town and Coursera Course Certificates; License N66VW5SAUA32, 2016
Design and Interpretation of Clinical Trial- Passed with Distinction, Johns Hopkins University and Coursera Course Certificates; License VME7V5X7QF, 2015
CURRENT MEMBERSHIPS, AFFILIATIONS, and SERVICE
Mentorship Program, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals/SMPA, since 2023
The International Society for CNS Clinical Trials and Methodology (ISCTM), Member, since 2022
American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (ASCP), Member, since 2020
Neuroscience Education Institute (NEI), Member, since 2020
Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS), Member, since 2020
Association for Women in Science (AWIS), Member, since 2019
Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA), Member, since 2019
International Journal of Clinical Practice, Peer Reviewer, since 2019
SELECT PUBLICATIONS
For most up-to-date list, see PubMed