Former chief scientific officer for Shire Pharmaceuticals and Relmada Therapeutics also headed R&D for Adolor and Stem Cells, Inc.; a trained psychiatrist and CNS specialist, Dr. Salinas arrives as Turing readies clinical trial programs
NEW YORK (June 1, 2015) – Turing Pharmaceuticals AG announced that life sciences executive and medical researcher Eliseo Oreste Salinas, MD, MSc, has joined the company as president of research and development.
Dr. Salinas, who holds a medical degree as well as a masters in pharmacology, brings a record of significant accomplishments in the pharmaceutical industry, and extensive clinical experience in psychiatry.
Dr. Salinas has played a leadership role in numerous programs for a range of diseases and disorders, with a concentration on central nervous system conditions including depression and anxiety, schizophrenia, epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson’s, attention deficit disorder and Alzheimer’s disease. Fifteen separate drug programs under his direction led to approvals by the Food and Drug Administration and international regulatory bodies.
He arrives as Turing prepares to begin clinical trials for several of its drugs, including an innovative intranasal formulation for ketamine to treat severe depression and suicidality.
“We are pleased to welcome Eliseo Salinas to our leadership team,” said Turing Founder and Chairman Martin Shkreli. “Eliseo combines proven capabilities to bring important new treatments to patients and their physicians, with a deep understanding of the patient and physician communities. His appointment is another major step as we build Turing’s capabilities for the long-term, advance our existing pipeline and work to create and acquire new assets.”
Dr. Salinas joins Turing from Relmada Therapeutics (OTCQB: RLMD) a New York-based clinical stage drug company focused primarily on pain management; he served as Relmada’s president and chief scientific officer as well as head of R&D. Previously he was executive vice president and director of R&D for Newark, CA-based Stem Cells, Inc.
Dr. Salinas has also held senior medical and science positions at other biopharmaceutical companies, including Elan Pharmaceuticals, Adolor Corp. and Shire Pharmaceuticals, where he served as chief scientific officer. Earlier in his career, Dr. Salinas served as head of Wyeth’s worldwide research for central nervous system treatments.
“I am excited to be joining Turing” Dr. Salinas said. “It is a special opportunity to be part of a dynamic young company with an important portfolio of assets in development, a strong management team and a great vision. I look forward to helping to accelerate Turing’s success and contribution to healthcare.”
A native of Argentina, Dr. Salinas received his medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires in 1980, then went on to complete his residency in psychiatry in Paris as well as a master’s degree in pharmacology from the Pierre and Marie Curie University, also in Paris.
About Turing
Turing Pharmaceuticals AG is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company with offices in New York City. Turing focuses on developing and commercializing innovative treatments for serious diseases and conditions across a broad range of therapeutic areas, for which there are currently limited or no treatment options. Turing is developing ketamine for a variety of CNS indications; other current assets include Syntocinon® (oxytocin nasal solution) and Vecamyl® (mecamylamine HCl tablets). For more, visit www.turingpharma.com.
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