Benitec Biopharma Appoints Dr. Sharon Mates To Board of Directors; Strengthening Leadership In The Biotech Sector

Benitec Biopharma Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering genetic medicines through its proprietary “Silence and Replace” DNA-directed RNA interference (ddRNAi) platform, has announced the appointment of Dr. Sharon Mates to its Board of Directors, effective November 2, 2025. Dr. Mates brings decades of strategic and operational leadership experience in biotechnology, particularly in guiding innovative therapies from research through commercialization. Her appointment marks an important milestone for Benitec as the company advances its lead program, BB-301, for Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy (OPMD), and explores broader applications of its ddRNAi platform to address other therapeutic areas.

Welcoming Dr. Mates to the board, Jerel Banks, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Benitec Biopharma, said, “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Sharon Mates to Benitec’s Board of Directors. Dr. Mates brings exceptional leadership experience in building successful biotechnology companies and advancing innovative therapies from discovery through commercialization. Her extensive track record of building value in the biotechnology sector will be invaluable as we continue progressing our BB-301 program towards regulatory approval and expanding the potential of our ddRNAi therapy platform into other therapeutic indications.”

Dr. Mates expressed her enthusiasm about joining Benitec during this pivotal time in its growth. “Benitec’s innovative Silence and Replace platform holds tremendous potential, and BB-301 represents what could be the first-of-its-kind gene therapy for addressing a serious unmet medical need,” she said. “I look forward to collaborating with the Board and management team to support Benitec’s mission of delivering transformative treatments to patients while creating long-term value for shareholders.”

Prior to joining Benitec, Dr. Mates served as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-founder of Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc. (ITI) from 2002 until its acquisition by Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) in 2025 for approximately $14.6 billion. Under her leadership, ITI developed groundbreaking therapies for mental health disorders, including the FDA-approved antipsychotic CAPLYTA®, launched in 2019 for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

In addition to her experience at ITI, Dr. Mates has contributed to the broader scientific and business community through service on several non-profit boards. She also serves as a director at Medincell (Euronext: MEDCL), a France-based biopharmaceutical company. Dr. Mates holds a B.S. from Ohio State University, a Ph.D. from the University of Washington, and completed her postdoctoral fellowships at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Her appointment strengthens Benitec’s leadership team as the company continues to position itself at the forefront of gene therapy innovation, aiming to bring first-in-class treatments to patients with rare and serious diseases.