Walid Abi-saab

Biography

Walid Abi-Saab joined Galapagos as Chief Medical Officer in March 2017. Dr. Abi-Saab drives the overall medical strategy of the Company and is responsible for late stage clinical development and operations, medical and regulatory affairs, and safety. Previously, Dr. Abi-Saab worked at Shire Pharmaceuticals where he held various clinical development leadership roles, most recently as Group Vice President, Global Clinical Development - Therapeutic Area Head, Gastro-intestinal, Endocrinology and Metabolism. Prior to that, he led clinical development activities at Novartis, Abbott Laboratories and Pfizer, addressing a wide range of therapeutic areas and leading teams throughout the clinical development process. Under his leadership, more than 30 molecules have advanced through clinical development leading to several approvals in the US, EU and Canada. Prior to his pharma roles, Dr. Abi-Saab was Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosurgery at Yale University Medical School, where he headed their Schizophrenia Research at the Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit and the Neurosurgery Epilepsy Microdialysis Research Program. Dr. Abi-Saab holds an M.D. degree from Université Saint Joseph in Beirut, Lebanon. Walid Abi-Saab joined Galapagos as Chief Medical Officer in March 2017. Dr. Abi-Saab drives the overall medical strategy of the Company and is responsible for late stage clinical development and operations, medical and regulatory affairs, and safety. Previously, Dr. Abi-Saab worked at Shire Pharmaceuticals where he held various clinical development leadership roles, most recently as Group Vice President, Global Clinical Development - Therapeutic Area Head, Gastro-intestinal, Endocrinology and Metabolism. Prior to that, he led clinical development activities at Novartis, Abbott Laboratories and Pfizer, addressing a wide range of therapeutic areas and leading teams throughout the clinical development process. Under his leadership, more than 30 molecules have advanced through clinical development leading to several approvals in the US, EU and Canada. Prior to his pharma roles, Dr. Abi-Saab was Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosurgery at Yale University Medical School, where he headed their Schizophrenia Research at the Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit and the Neurosurgery Epilepsy Microdialysis Research Program. Dr. Abi-Saab holds an M.D. degree from Université Saint Joseph in Beirut, Lebanon.

Research Interest

pharma