
Luca Benatti, the Company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer since 1998, founded Newron in 1998 along with Dr. Ruggero Fariello and Dr. Patricia Salvati. He has more than 15 years of scientific experience in molecular biology and neurobiology. Dr. Benatti has a degree in molecular biology from Milan University. He started his career as a scientist for Farmitalia Carlo Erba, where he held several positions in its biotechnology department from 1986 to 1991. After the merger of Farmitalia Carlo Erba with Pharmacia & Upjohn Spa, Dr. Benatti became the project leader for the [combined company’s] endothelin program. From 1991 to 1998, Dr. Benatti was the head of the Molecular Neurobiology Department at Pharmacia & Upjohn Spa, holding that position until he resigned to found Newron in 1998.
He holds several patents and has authored publications in peer-reviewed journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of Clinical Investment, Journal of Biological Chemistry and Journal of Neuroscience. Dr. Benatti is a member of the Emerging Enterprise Board of the EU and of Assiobiotec, an Italian association of biotechnology companies.