Centessa Pharmaceuticals Appoints Mario Accardi, PhD, CEO, Highlighting Focus On Orexin-Based Treatments For Neurological And Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Mario Alberto Accardi, PhD, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a member of the Board, effective January 1, 2026. Dr. Accardi, who currently serves as President and founder of Centessa’s Orexin Program, will succeed Saurabh Saha, MD, PhD. On the same date, Dr. Saha will step down from his roles as CEO and Board member and transition into an advisory position to support leadership continuity.

Francesco De Rubertis, PhD, Chair of Centessa’s Board, explained that this leadership transition reflects the company’s strategic evolution. Centessa has shifted from an early-stage, R&D-driven organization to one focused entirely on advancing a pure-play orexin portfolio. This sharpened focus has led to the development of a strong pipeline of potential best-in-class OX2R agonists targeting a broad spectrum of neurological, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric disorders, along with earlier efforts exploring differentiated orexin pharmacology. 

As the company moves forward with multiple planned milestones in 2026, the Board believes specialized leadership is essential to fully realize the promise of its orexin programs. Dr. De Rubertis emphasized that Dr. Accardi’s deep expertise in orexin biology and his foundational role in shaping Centessa’s scientific strategy make him the ideal leader for the company’s next phase. He also expressed gratitude to Dr. Saha for guiding Centessa from its inception through major development achievements, refining its strategic priorities, and assembling a world-class neuroscience team.

Dr. Saha commented that leading Centessa through its transformation into an orexin-focused company has been an honor. He noted that the organization has built a strong scientific and operational foundation and now stands at an ideal point for a leadership transition. He expressed confidence that Dr. Accardi, as the principal architect of the company’s OX2R agonist program, is well-prepared to advance its pipeline and strategy. Dr. Saha also highlighted his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition as he steps into his advisory role.

Dr. Accardi shared his perspective on Centessa’s future, emphasizing the significant opportunities associated with OX2R agonists, which represent one of the most promising areas in neuroscience. He noted that ORX750, Centessa’s lead OX2R agonist, has shown a potential best-in-class profile for the treatment of narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia, with a registrational program expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026. 

The company is also progressing additional OX2R agonists—ORX142 and ORX489—for neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, with important milestones anticipated in 2026. Dr. Accardi expressed enthusiasm for stepping into the CEO role at such a pivotal time and affirmed his commitment to advancing Centessa’s multi-asset orexin strategy, expanding its impact beyond rare hypersomnias into broader high-value neuroscience areas.

Before joining Centessa, Dr. Accardi served as founder and CEO of Orexia Therapeutics, a neuroscience company focused on discovering and developing orexin agonists using advanced structural biology technologies. Under his leadership, Orexia raised a €40 million Series A funding round, established key strategic partnerships, and was ultimately acquired by Centessa in 2021. Dr. Accardi holds a Postgraduate qualification in Genomic Medicine, a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, and a First-Class Honours MEng in Mechanical Engineering, all from Imperial College London.