Cassava Sciences has strengthened its clinical leadership team with the appointment of Dr. Joseph Hulihan as Chief Medical Officer, positioning the company to advance its investigational treatment for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex-related epilepsy. The appointment comes as the Austin-based biotechnology company prepares to initiate clinical trials for simufilam in the first half of 2026.
Experienced Leadership in Neurological Therapeutics
Dr. Hulihan brings over 25 years of industry experience specializing in epilepsy and neurological disorder therapeutics development. He will devote approximately half of his professional time to Cassava, advising on the clinical development of simufilam for TSC-related epilepsy treatment.
"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Hulihan to Cassava. He brings a keen understanding of clinical drug development strategies for TSC-related epilepsy, with strong connections to the TSC community," said Rick Barry, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cassava Sciences.
The new CMO previously served as Chief Medical Officer at Marinus Pharmaceuticals, where he focused on developing ganaxolone for seizure disorders including TSC-related epilepsy. Marinus was acquired by Immedica Pharma in March 2025. Prior to that role, Hulihan held senior leadership positions in Medical Affairs at the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.
Novel Mechanism for TSC-Related Epilepsy
Simufilam represents a potentially first-in-class treatment approach for TSC-related epilepsy. The investigational oral small molecule is believed to modulate activity of the filamin A protein, which regulates diverse aspects of neuronal development.
"Advancing innovative neurotherapeutics has been the focus of my career, and I look forward to doing so again here at Cassava with simufilam as a potential first-in-class treatment for TSC-related epilepsy," commented Dr. Hulihan. "I am excited about simufilam's novel mechanism of action and about initiating a proof-of-concept study in the first half of 2026."
Promising Preclinical Results
Hulihan's appointment coincides with positive preclinical data for simufilam. A study conducted in collaboration with the TSC Alliance using a well-accepted Tsc1-knockout mouse model demonstrated simufilam's anti-seizure activity, supporting the compound's potential therapeutic benefit.
Clinical Credentials and Expertise
Dr. Hulihan is board certified in Neurology and Electroencephalography (EEG). He has served as principal investigator, clinical development team member, group supervisor, and study physician on more than 25 late-stage neurology-focused clinical trials and authored over 70 published papers.
His educational background includes a medical degree from Drexel University School of Medicine, with Honors in Neurology, and a Master of Science in Health Policy from the Jefferson School of Population Health.
Market Outlook
Despite the leadership strengthening, analysts maintain a cautious outlook on Cassava Sciences, setting a consistent one-year price target of $2.00, representing a 14.53% potential downside from current trading levels. Current recommendations suggest holding, reflecting cautious optimism about the company's prospects.
