Industry Experts

Mario Saltarelli, M.D., Ph.D., is a biopharmaceutical leader with over 30 years of experience specializing in novel CNS therapeutics and advanced translational medicine. He currently serves as CEO, CMO, and Director of GABA Therapeutics, directing the development of GRX-917 for anxiety, pain, and neuroinflammatory diseases.

During 16 years in big pharma leadership (Pfizer, Abbott, Shire), his teams advanced over 70 clinical programs, contributing to major approvals like Chantix, Depakote, and Vyvanse. In biotech, he held executive roles at companies including Vertex and Annexon, targeting rare diseases, neurodegeneration, and pain.
Mario completed his MD, PhD, and neurology residency at Johns Hopkins and formerly served as an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Emory University.