Walid Abi-Saab

Walid Abi-Saab has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, holding various leadership positions in multiple companies. Walid is currently the Chief Medical Officer at uniQure, a position they have held since June 2023. Prior to this, they served as the Chief Medical Officer at Galapagos from March 2017 to May 2023.

Before joining Galapagos, Abi-Saab worked at Shire from February 2015 to February 2017, where they held the role of Group Vice President, TA Head, GI, Endocrinology and Metabolism. In this position, they oversaw the development programs for more than 10 different marketed products and other programs in rare diseases and specialty pharma. Walid also served as the Global Development Team Lead for Gaucher and Fabry in the Rare Diseases Therapeutic Area.

Abi-Saab's previous experience includes roles at Novartis, where they were the Vice President, Global Franchise Development Head, Established Medicines from September 2010 to October 2011, and the Vice President, Global Program Head, Neuroscience and Ophthalmics from September 2008 to October 2011. At Novartis, they led the development of compounds across various therapeutic areas and was responsible for global franchise activities and the development of neuroscience and ophthalmics programs.

Before joining Novartis, Abi-Saab worked at Abbott from March 2005 to August 2008 as the Global Project Head, Neuroscience and Anesthesia. Walid led the drug development programs for CNS compounds, including Depakote, and managed multiple compounds in Phase 1 and 2 development across various indications.

Abi-Saab began their career as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University, where they established the Schizophrenia Research Clinic and conducted preclinical and clinical research studies on the biologic underpinnings of schizophrenia and psychosis.

Overall, Abi-Saab's work experience spans both clinical and leadership roles in the pharmaceutical industry, with a focus on rare diseases, neuroscience, and global franchise development.

Walid Abi-Saab obtained their M.D. degree in Medicine from Universite St. Joseph, where they attended from 1987 to 1990.