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Novartis CEO Vasant Narasimhan on Transforming a 250-Year-Old Company

Business
Global
Started February 17, 2026

a16z general partner Jorge Conde talks with Vasant Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis International, about transforming a 250-year-old conglomerate into a pure play medicines company and unlocking $180 billion of value in the process. They cover Novartis's platform technologies: cell and gene therapies, RNA medicines, and radioligand therapies. They also discuss AI in drug discovery, the rise of China as a biotech competitor, and what Vasant looks for when evaluating startup partnerships, including ...

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CLAIM Posted by will • Feb 17, 2026
The focus on high-value therapies may neglect affordable treatments, widening the gap in healthcare access for underserved populations.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Feb 17, 2026
Emphasizing cell and gene therapies positions Novartis as a leader in biotech, essential for competing against rising players like China.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Feb 17, 2026
Transforming Novartis into a pure play medicines company will drive innovation and significantly enhance patient care worldwide.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Feb 17, 2026
Partnerships with startups should focus on long-term collaboration, as short-term gains may lead to unsustainable practices in the biotech industry.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Feb 17, 2026
AI's role in drug discovery at Novartis could streamline research processes, but ethical concerns about data use must be addressed.
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