AUSTIN, Texas — May 6, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Cristcot, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on targeted therapies for gastrointestinal diseases, has appointed Rayna Sethi Herman as President of its hydrocortisone acetate (HCA) commercial division.
Herman will oversee launch execution and strategy for the company’s patented next-generation hydrocortisone acetate (ngHCA) 90-milligram suppository, which is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The suppository is administered using Cristcot’s patented, FDA-cleared Sephure® suppository applicator.
Cristcot Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jennifer J. Davagian stated that Herman is an effective cross-functional leader with experience in building and scaling commercial operations. Davagian added that Herman’s ability to deliver revenue and market share results will be valuable as the company prepares for the launch of ngHCA, pending approval.
Herman said she is honored to join Cristcot’s leadership team and is excited about the opportunity to ensure readiness for the launch of ngHCA, as well as Cristcot’s future pipeline of investigational programs.
Before joining Cristcot, Herman served as Chief Commercial Officer at Shorla Oncology, where she built the company’s U.S. commercial infrastructure. Her responsibilities included determining which capabilities to build internally versus leveraging outsourced solutions, leading vendor selection/RFP processes, and securing all specialty distribution agreements. During her time at Shorla Oncology, she developed commercialization strategies and launched three branded products and one generic product delivering revenue growth in 2025.
Earlier in her career, Herman was Chief Commercial Officer, Complete Commercialization, at EVERSANA, where she developed strategy, led commercial teams, and launched pharmaceutical products through EVERSANA’s Complete Commercialization Program. She began her career in sales and marketing at Merck. Herman holds a Master of Business Administration from the John M. Olin School of Business at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Cristcot’s ngHCA is an investigational hydrocortisone acetate (HCA) 90 mg suppository formulation and a novel corticosteroid therapy administered using the Sephure® suppository applicator. The company says that rectally administered topical treatments, including topical corticosteroids, are important treatment options for directing delivery to inflammation sites and limiting systemic drug exposure. Cristcot says its advanced HCA formulation allows for rapid, sustained release with optimal bioavailability, and very limited systemic exposure. If approved by FDA, ngHCA would be the first and only FDA-approved HCA suppository.
Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic gastrointestinal autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine. Symptoms include rectal bleeding, profuse diarrhea, bowel urgency, tenesmus, and abdominal pain. UC flares originate in the rectum, and if left untreated, inflammation can progress, leading to hospitalization or surgery. Over 80% of UC patients experience two flares annually, with effects on daily activities, work, and mental health. Despite existing treatments, patients experience intermittent flares and often change therapies.
Cristcot is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to advancing targeted therapies for gastrointestinal diseases. The company’s lead asset, ngHCA, is positioned to become a therapeutic option for ulcerative colitis patients. Cristcot’s pipeline includes investigational development programs for ulcerative colitis, acute pancreatitis, hemorrhoid disease and other inflammatory gastrointestinal indications. The company is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
Source: Cristcot
