BOSTON, Mass. — Seaport Therapeutics has appointed veteran biotech executive Sharon Mates, Ph.D., to its board of directors, adding decades of neuropsychiatry and drug development experience as the company advances its pipeline of treatments for mental health disorders.
The clinical-stage company, founded by PureTech Health plc, said Mates brings a track record of building and scaling a biotechnology company from early research through commercialization and acquisition.
Mates co-founded Intra-Cellular Therapies in 2002 and served as chairman and chief executive officer until its acquisition by Johnson & Johnson in 2025 for approximately $14.6 billion. Under her leadership, the company developed treatments for bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia, including the antipsychotic CAPLYTA®, which generated more than $1.5 billion in sales prior to the acquisition.
“Sharon is an exceptional biotech entrepreneur and leader whom I have admired for years. We are delighted to welcome her to our Board,” said Daphne Zohar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Seaport Therapeutics. “Her significant experience, intellectual curiosity, deep industry relationships, and genuine appreciation for our patient-centered approach will meaningfully support Seaport’s mission to develop life-changing treatments for patients with depression, anxiety, and other neuropsychiatric disorders.”
Mates said she has closely followed Seaport’s work and sees strong potential in its approach to neuropsychiatric drug development.
“I have followed Seaport’s programs with great interest and believe Seaport is positioned to have a significant impact in neuropsychiatry,” she said. “I look forward to working closely with Daphne as I have long respected the vision and leadership she brings as a fellow founder and CEO whose work has impacted patients. I’m also excited about collaborating with long-time colleagues from the neuropsychiatry field including Steve Paul, Tony Loebel, and other members of the team and Board to help guide Seaport’s continued growth and advance its mission to develop life-changing treatments for patients.”
Steven Paul, M.D., co-founder and board chair of Seaport Therapeutics, said Mates’ experience in bringing complex neuroscience therapies to market will be valuable as the company develops new treatments.
“Sharon brings scientific and strategic depth in neuropsychiatry, including completing the journey from complex neuroscience drug discovery to real-world medicines,” Paul said. “Having witnessed Sharon’s impact on CNS drug development over many decades, it is a privilege to serve alongside her on the Board as we extend that impact through our work at Seaport developing important new medicines for patients with debilitating neuropsychiatric disorders.”
In addition to her executive career, Mates has served on multiple biotechnology and nonprofit boards. She currently sits on the boards of Medincell and Benitec and is working on launching a new company focused on inflammation, metabolism, and related diseases.
Earlier in her career, Mates worked as a research analyst, investment banker, and advisor to the life sciences industry. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Washington, and completed postdoctoral fellowships at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
