In this inspiring episode of SpreadLove in Organizations, Naji Gehchan sits down with serial biotech entrepreneur and investor Moise Khayrallah to explore a remarkable four-decade journey across pharmaceutical drug development, leadership, and purpose-driven innovation. From his roots in Lebanon and academic beginnings in psychology at the American University of Beirut and UNC Chapel Hill, Moise reflects on how research methodology, pattern recognition, and a deep sense of purpose unexpectedly led him into the world of biotech. He shares how the transferable skills of rigorous research and team building became the foundation for founding and scaling multiple successful biotech ventures, including companies behind transformative assets such as Sunosi.
The conversation dives into the realities of building companies in one of the world’s highest-risk industries. Moise offers powerful lessons on entrepreneurship in biotech: move fast, stay nimble, capitalize on existing scientific data, and know-how to take bold but calculated risks. He introduces a memorable leadership concepts – the “line of foolishness” – the delicate balance between courage and recklessness. Through stories from his own ventures, he explains how experience-driven pattern recognition, conviction, and the courage to act under uncertainty are essential to bringing medicines from concept to patients. The discussion also looks ahead to the future of medicine, where Moise sees AI playing a transformative role in breaking down complex umbrella diseases into more precise and treatable subgroups.
Beyond business and science, this episode is deeply human. Moise speaks passionately about leadership as courage, legacy as responsibility, and love as a force for healing organizations and societies. This conversation is a profound reflection on resilience, service, and what it truly means to lead with vision and heart in healthcare.
“Without courage, you can’t get anything done. If you wait until everything is perfect, you don’t get anywhere.”
MEET OUR GUEST Moise Khayrallah, CEO Emergo Therapeutics, Founder and Chairman, Lebanon & Beyond.
Dr. Moise Khayrallah is a serial entrepreneur and investor in pharmaceutical drug development and biotechnology. He acquired his experience over a 40-year period across diverse pharmaceutical environments, including large pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and biotechnology companies.
His latest startup venture is Emergo Therapeutics Inc., which develops drugs to modulate inflammatory cytokines and improve the functioning of the immune system in infectious disease indications. Emergo is his fifth startup biopharmaceutical company.
He is also Chairman of the Board and co-Founder of QuatroBio, LLC, a startup biopharmaceutical holding company focused on developing drugs for central nervous system disorders. In addition, he currently serves on the Board of Directors of several startup companies in the pharmaceutical and information technology industries.
Prior to these positions, Dr. Khayrallah co-founded and led Aerial BioPharma, LLC, which sold its major drug asset, Sunosi (solriamfetol), to Jazz Pharmaceuticals in early 2014.
In 2010, Dr. Khayrallah was co-founder, President, and CEO of Neuronex Inc., a company focused on developing treatments for patients with certain seizure disorders. Neuronex was acquired by Acorda Therapeutics in 2013.
In 2006, he co-founded and served as President and CEO of Addrenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company that developed and received FDA approvals for compounds targeting the adrenergic system. Addrenex was acquired in late 2009 by Shionogi & Co. of Japan.
In 2002, Dr. Khayrallah founded Alius Pharma, LLC, a consulting company partnering with small biotechnology companies in cancer drug development.
From 1999 to 2002, he served as VP of Clinical Affairs at Cytran, Inc., a Seattle-area biotechnology company, where he led the product development team for the company’s lead oncology compound and participated in financing and joint venture activities.
Prior to that, Dr. Khayrallah served as Director of Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs at Lineberry Research Associates (later Constella Group and SRI International) in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
From 1987 to 1996, he held various leadership roles at Burroughs Wellcome Co. and later Glaxo Wellcome (now GSK), where he led clinical trials and programs resulting in FDA approvals in CNS indications.
He holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from American University of Beirut.
Beyond biotechnology, Dr. Khayrallah is deeply involved in entrepreneurial and non-profit networks in the United States and internationally.
He currently serves as the Honorary Consul for Lebanon in North Carolina, supporting the Lebanese American community and representing its interests in Lebanon and the United States.
He is also the Founder and Board Chair of Lebanon & Beyond (L&B), a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing Lebanon and strengthening ties with its global diaspora through innovative educational programs.
Its flagship programs include:
- Jouzour: an immersive summer program reconnecting young members of the Lebanese diaspora with Lebanon through cultural education, service, and community-building
- Jana: a multi-year initiative focused on reimagining equitable education in Lebanon in the age of artificial intelligence and digital transformation
In 2014, he endowed the Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies at North Carolina State University, the first center of its kind outside Lebanon and the first privately endowed center in NC State’s history.
The Center is dedicated to preserving and documenting the history of the worldwide Lebanese diaspora through archives, documentaries, exhibitions, lectures, and the annual Khayrallah Prize.
Dr. Khayrallah has also served on numerous boards and advisory councils, including:
- Board of Trustees, Lebanese American University
- International Advisory Council, American University of Beirut
- Board of Directors, North Carolina Biotechnology Center
- Chair, Carolina Ballet
- Chair, Go Global NC
- Chancellor’s Philanthropic Council, UNC-Chapel Hill
- Board of Visitors, UNC School of Education
At UNC’s School of Education, he created the Moise A. Khayrallah Innovation Fund, supporting the Master of Arts in Educational Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship program.
Dr. Khayrallah remains committed to advancing education, entrepreneurship, culture, and philanthropy, while building bridges across communities and generations.
This episode is in partnership with BIOLOINK.ORG. More episodes with BIOLINKERS here.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Moise Khayrallah
Naji Gehchan: Welcome to SpreadLove in Organizations, the healthcare leadership podcast where we explore leadership with purpose. I’m Naji your host, joined today by Moise Khairallah a serial entrepreneur and investor in pharmaceutical drug development and biotech. Moise acquired his experience over a 40-year period in diverse pharmaceutical environments including large pharma, contract research, and biotech. His latest startup venture is Emergo Therapeutics that develops drugs to modulate inflammatory cytokines and improve the functioning of the immune system in infectious disease indications. Emergo is his fifth biotech startup. Moise is also Chairman of the Board and co-Founder of QuatroBio, a…
