Joseph Perekupka, an executive with Eversana Life Sciences in Milwaukee, has been named CEO of health technology company Freespira in Kirkland, Washington.
Freespira, which makes technology aimed at treating panic attacks and panic disorder, announced the appointment Tuesday. The move is something of a homecoming for Perekupka, who spent nearly two years at Freespira as the company's chief commercial officer from 2019 to 2021, according to his LinkedIn page. Prior to his return to Freespira, Perekupka was chief commercial officer at Eversana, a Milwaukee-based life sciences consulting company.
"Freespira's mission — to provide relief for people suffering from the life-impairing symptoms of panic disorder and PTSD — has never been more urgent," Perekupka said in a news release. "I'm thrilled to lead the team as we accelerate Freespira's growth."
Before his first stint with Freespira, Perekupka spent more than four years at BrainsWay, a Burlington, Massachusetts-based company that makes devices to treat mental health disorders. His most recent role at the company was senior vice president of North America.
Freespira offers a sensor, nasal cannula and tablet designed to help patients regulate respiration and exhaled carbon dioxide levels. According to Freespira, hypersensitivity to carbon dioxide is tied to both panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Its devices are cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, but they aren't meant for other anxiety disorders.
"Joe is an innovation-focused leader with a track record of success in behavioral health, medical device and digital therapeutics commercialization," Russell Siegelman, chairman of the board at Freespira, said in a news release. "His industry knowledge, combined with his passion for the work that we do, will help us reach our goal of making Freespira more broadly accessible to patients."
In 2020, Freespira raised $10 million led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, which has invested in big names like Snap and Affirm.
Perekupka is replacing Dean Sawyer, who left the company in December, a spokesperson said, adding that Freespira President Simon Thomas was the interim CEO in the meantime.
