a16z Podcast On Pharma Trends and Big Company Innovation
Jan 11, 2020
Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis and leader at the world's largest medicine producer, shares insights on the pharmaceutical landscape. He discusses the balancing act of innovating while managing costs and the importance of early market signals for both big companies and startups. The conversation also explores advancements in gene therapies, the role of digital medicine in behavioral health, and the cultural shifts needed in pharma to embrace innovative therapies like RNA-based treatments. Narasimhan emphasizes collaboration between biotech startups and large firms for future success.
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R&D Expertise
- Building R&D expertise in the pharmaceutical industry requires decades of focused effort in specific therapeutic areas.
- Companies must strategically choose which areas to invest in and when to exit subscale areas.
Portfolio Management
- Evaluate your portfolio and make principled decisions about what to invest in and what to divest from.
- Focus capital and energy on areas where you can be a long-term leader.
Drug Development Success Rates
- Despite accelerating scientific advancements, drug development success rates remain low.
- Building scaled R&D capabilities for consistent drug discovery still takes considerable time.