While studying an entrepreneurship module as part of the MBA programme at UL, Tom Brennan and Patsy Carney completed a business plan as an academic exercise. They soon realised the business proposition was a real opportunity and decided to go for it. EirGen Pharma was established in March 2005 to specialise in the development and manufacture of highly potent pharmaceutical products, typically used to treat cancer. They started out in an incubation space similar to Questum, an LIT Enterprise Acceleration Centre in Clonmel developed in partnership with Tipperary County Council where Tom is based as the centres Entrepreneur in Residence. EirGen was eventually acquired by Miami based NASDAQ listed OPKO Inc in 2015 for a consideration of $135 million.

Tom is also a founder shareholder of specialist healthcare Stability Storage company Q1 Scientific which is growing rapidly. He is also a board member of machine vision and automation specialists Crest Solutions and a board member of The National Maternity Hospital (Holles St.) Foundation. He recently co-founded TriviumVet with Louise Grubb whose mission is to bring together “our knowledge of cutting edge healthcare, pharmaceuticals and technologies, apply our depth of understanding of the veterinary applications and use that wisdom to create clever, highly effective and functional products for the veterinary market.”

Tom holds a BSc from Cork Institute of Technology, an MSc from University of Manchester and an MBA from University of Limerick. Tom is also a “Qualified Person” as per European Directive 2001/82/EC. He and his business partner Patsy Carney were finalists in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards 2008, Business & Finance Company of the Year awards 2013 and received a University of Limerick Alumni award in 2016.