David Epstein says that despite Novartis ($NVS) scaling back on its gene and cell therapy work, the industry should still be positive about the medical impact it can have, while he tells FierceBiotech that he is now “starting to consider biopharma options” for his next role.
Epstein and former head of Novartis Oncology Hervé Hoppenot were pivotal in championing and nurturing the gene and cell therapy unit for the Swiss major. But after both men left the company (Hoppenot became the CEO of Incyte in 2014 while Epstein unexpectedly left a few months back), Novartis announced that it was to make major cuts to its internal unit dedicated to cell and gene therapy.
