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

February 17, 2026

Ever wonder how a 250-year-old company like Novartis is staying ahead? Well, Vasant Narasimhan, the CEO, shares how they’re transforming into a focused medicines powerhouse, unlocking a staggering $180 billion in value. According to Jorge Conde from a16z, they’re pioneering platform tech like cell and gene therapies, RNA medicines, and radioligand therapies — stuff that’s truly revolutionary. But here’s where it gets fascinating — AI is now a key player in drug discovery, speeding up breakthroughs. And get this — China’s rising as a biotech juggernaut, changing the global game. Narasimhan also talks about what he looks for in startup partnerships, emphasizing the importance of killer experiments and solid CMC work, as Jorge points out. ((conversational)) Honestly, this isn’t just about big pharma — it’s about how innovation is reshaping healthcare from the ground up. So, keep an eye on what’s next, because the future of medicine is being written right now, and leaders like Vasant are leading the charge.

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 his advice on the killer experiments and CMC work that can make or break a deal.

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Follow Vasant Narasimhan on X: https://twitter.com/VasNarasimhan

Follow Jorge Conde on X: https://x.com/JorgeCondeBio

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