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Dr. Sharon Mates
Benitec Biopharma Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering novel gene therapy solutions through its proprietary “Silence and Replace” DNA-directed RNA interference (ddRNAi) platform, has appointed Dr. Sharon Mates to its Board of Directors.
This strategic addition reinforces the Company’s commitment to advancing innovative genetic medicines and accelerating its clinical development goals.
Dr. Mates brings more than two decades of distinguished leadership and scientific expertise to Benitec. She is best known as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-founder of Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc. (ITI), where she led the company from its inception in 2002 through its significant growth and eventual acquisition by Johnson & Johnson (JNJ).
Under her leadership, ITI developed transformative therapies for mental health disorders, including bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. A major milestone in her tenure was securing FDA approval in 2019 for CAPLYTA®, a first-in-class antipsychotic that became a cornerstone asset leading up to ITI’s acquisition by JNJ in 2025 for approximately US$14.6 billion.
In addition to her achievements at ITI, Dr. Mates has contributed to several not-for-profit boards and currently serves as a director at Medincell, a France-based biopharmaceutical company. Her academic credentials include a B.S. from Ohio State University, a Ph.D. from the University of Washington, and prestigious postdoctoral fellowships at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
With her extensive experience in drug development, regulatory strategy, and corporate governance, Dr. Mates is expected to provide valuable insights as Benitec advances its gene therapy programs and strengthens its position in the genetic medicine landscape.
