Ernest Mario

Dr. Ernest Mario served as a director for over 8 years (until 2020) and has been a company advisor since then. He is an industry veteran that brings a wealth of business experience in several areas including biotech and drug delivery. Dr. Mario has served as CEO, Chairman, and Director at a variety of large life sciences companies where he has created billions of dollars in shareholder value.

From 1989 to 1993, he served as Chief Executive of Glaxo, then the second-largest drug company in the world. After leaving Glaxo, he became Chairman and CEO of Alza Corporation, a major drug delivery company sold to Johnson & Johnson for $10.5 Billion in 2001. Dr. Mario subsequently served as Chairman and CEO of Reliant Pharmaceuticals, which was sold to GlaxoSmithKline in 2007 for $1.65 Billion. He currently is Chairman and CEO of Capnia, a private pharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutic products to treat migraine and allergic rhinitis using a proprietary gas delivery system. He is also a Venture Partner with Pappas Ventures and serves on a number of corporate boards.

Dr. Mario is also active in numerous educational and healthcare organizations. He is Chairman of the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education, a Director of the Gladstone Foundation, and past Chairman of the Duke University Health System. He holds honorary doctorates from the University of Rhode Island and Rutgers University, the latter of which in 2001 renamed its pharmacy school the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy.