Emer Leahy
About Emer Leahy
Dr. Emer Leahy, age 58, is an independent director of Intensity Therapeutics, Inc. (INTS) serving since June 2016; her current board term runs through the 2026 annual meeting . She holds a Ph.D. in Neuropharmacology from University College Dublin and an MBA from Columbia University, and is recognized by the board as an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC rules . Dr. Leahy is CEO of PsychoGenics Inc. (since 2020; with the company since 1999) and CEO of PGI Drug Discovery LLC (since 2011), bringing 30+ years of CNS drug discovery, clinical development, BD, licensing, and M&A experience to the board .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bright Minds Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: DRUG) | Director | Until Apr 2022 | Compensation and Audit Committee member |
| PsychoGenics Inc. | Vice President, Business Development (prior to CEO) | Pre‑2020 | Led BD; long-standing CNS preclinical services background |
| BIO (Biotechnology Innovation Organization) | Emerging Companies Section Governing Board | Served (dates not disclosed) | Industry policy and emerging company advocacy |
| Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation | Business Review Board | Served (dates not disclosed) | Scientific/portfolio review |
| International Rett Syndrome Foundation | Scientific Advisory Board | Served (dates not disclosed) | Scientific oversight |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| PsychoGenics Inc. | Chief Executive Officer and Director | CEO since 2020; with co. since 1999 | Preclinical CNS services leadership |
| PGI Drug Discovery LLC | Chief Executive Officer | Since 2011 | Psychiatric drug discovery; partnered clinical programs |
| Pasithea Therapeutics, Inc. | Director; Chair Compensation; Member Audit & Governance | Since 2021 | Compensation oversight; audit/governance participation |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | Adjunct Associate Professor of Neuroscience | Since 2017 | Academic engagement |
| BioNJ | Chair, Board of Trustees | On Board since 2020 | Regional industry leadership |
Board Governance
- Classification and independence: INTS board is classified; Dr. Leahy is a Class III director with term ending 2026 and is deemed “independent” under Nasdaq rules .
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee Chair; Compensation Committee member; Nominating Committee not listed as member .
- Attendance: In FY2023, the board met 4 times and committees met 4 times; no director attended fewer than 75% of meetings of the board and committees on which they served .
- Audit committee expertise: Board has determined Dr. Leahy qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” under Item 407 of Regulation S‑K .
- Leadership and executive sessions: CEO also serves as Chair; the company does not have a Lead Independent Director, but independent directors regularly have the opportunity to meet without the CEO present .
Fixed Compensation
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| 2023 Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (Leahy) | $31,750 |
Director cash compensation policy (annual retainer amounts):
| Role | Annual Cash Retainer |
|---|---|
| Board – Non‑employee Director | $40,000 |
| Audit Committee – Chair | $20,000 |
| Audit Committee – Member | $10,000 |
| Compensation Committee – Chair | $15,000 |
| Compensation Committee – Member | $7,000 |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance – Chair | $10,000 |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance – Member | $5,000 |
Notes:
- No meeting fees are paid; fees are paid quarterly in arrears; reasonable travel/out‑of‑pocket expenses reimbursed .
- In 2023, INTS did not grant equity awards or pay non‑cash compensation to non‑employee directors .
Performance Compensation
- No performance-based director compensation was disclosed for 2023; non‑employee directors did not receive equity awards in 2023 and no performance metrics linked to director pay were reported .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Public/Private | Role | Committee Roles | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasithea Therapeutics, Inc. | Public | Director | Chair Compensation; Member Audit & Governance | Since 2021 |
| Bright Minds Biosciences Inc. | Public | Former Director | Compensation and Audit | Until Apr 2022 |
- No related-party transactions were disclosed involving Dr. Leahy; the company did disclose a 2024 services agreement with rareLife Solutions (CEO is INTS director Daniel Donovan), reviewed under related‑party policies led by the Audit Committee .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Ph.D. Neuropharmacology (University College Dublin); MBA (Columbia University) .
- 30+ years in pharma/biotech, including drug discovery and clinical development; extensive licensing/M&A/strategic planning experience .
- Audit committee financial expert per SEC definition .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | As of May 31, 2024 | As of Aug 31, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Shares Beneficially Owned (incl. options exercisable within 60 days) (#) | 91,500 | 129,000 |
| Unexercisable Options (#) | 56,250 | 68,750 |
| Ownership % of Shares Outstanding | <1% (base: 13,711,877 shares) | <1% (base: 49,055,462 shares) |
| Shares Outstanding (reference for % calc) | 13,711,877 | 49,055,462 |
- Equity plans: Director options are issued under INTS equity plans (2013 and 2021 plans); 2021 plan includes standard post‑termination and change‑in‑control provisions applicable to participants .
Governance Assessment
-
Strengths:
- Audit Committee Chair with formal “financial expert” designation; enhances oversight of financial reporting and auditor independence .
- Independent status, strong attendance record, and multi‑company board experience contribute to board effectiveness .
- Holds vested and unvested options, providing some alignment, albeit a small stake (<1%) .
-
Watch items / potential red flags:
- Compensation Committee did not meet during FY2023 despite being constituted; as a member, this raises process/oversight questions around executive/director pay governance in that year .
- Discrepancy between policy retainer totals (e.g., Board $40k + Audit Chair $20k + Compensation Member $7k = $67k) and 2023 cash actually paid ($31,750); investors may seek clarity on timing, proration, or policy implementation post‑IPO .
- Company‑level risk environment: Nasdaq minimum bid price deficiency and reverse split authorization underscore the need for robust audit/risk oversight; not a Leahy‑specific conflict but heightens governance importance .
-
Conflicts/related parties:
- No disclosed related‑party transactions involving Dr. Leahy; the company’s policy requires Audit Committee review/approval for related‑party transactions above $100,000, which provides a governance safeguard .
- No disclosures of pledging/hedging by Dr. Leahy; no loans or perquisites to directors noted .
Overall, Dr. Leahy brings deep scientific and governance expertise as Audit Chair and is independent with consistent attendance; investors should monitor compensation committee activity cadence and ensure alignment of director compensation policy and actual payments in subsequent years .