Vas Narasimhan

Leaders of tomorrow have a lot to teach all of us today.
 
Last week, I spent time with young people from around the world who visited our Novartis campus in Basel. They are deeply engaged in the critical questions of our time, and I left energized by their passion and ingenuity. Working together across borders, sectors, generations—that is how we’ll continue bringing humanity toward a healthier, more sustainable future together.
 
A big thank you to the St. Gallen Symposium for spending the day with us at Novartis, and for the ways you continue inspiring and bringing together diverse young leaders from around the globe.

This year, AI dominated the conversation at the World Economic Forum. Satya Nadella and I weighed in.  
 
During our panel moderated by Peter Lee, Satya and I discussed what AI has already unlocked for the biopharmaceutical industry—and the emerging opportunities on the horizon.  
 
We’re already seeing the promising results of large language models when it comes to operational areas of our industry. Microsoft has partnered with Novartis to develop proprietary applications that will help us do better, faster. And because many of the core processes within our R&D will be massively accelerated by these targeted applications of GenAI, we will hopefully be able to bring medicines to patients at a quicker pace than ever before. That all said, it’s important to note: we think about AI as a copilot – not something functioning totally on its own, or replacing our people. 
 
In the years to come, there’s potential for AI to help us design better drugs. With generative chemistry, something we’ve been working on closely with Microsoft over the past few years, we’re already identifying ways to build target molecules for new medicines faster. And with every additional discovery, we’re closer to unlocking the wonders of the human body—sifting through the 40 trillion cells that have evolved over the past 2 million years (but, even with all the hype, this is still a ways out).  
 
If you’re looking for something to read on the subject – check out Peter’s book: The AI Revolution in Medicine: GPT-4 and Beyond by Peter Lee, Carey Goldberg, and Issac Kohane. As an exploration of the impact of AI on medicine and the avenues and limitations of the technology, it’s a good choice for those in our industry who are eager to learn more about where this moment in health and tech could take us—and where we need to remain humble on the journey.  #wef24

Today we announced positive Phase III trial data that could enable Novartis to bring forward a new treatment option to help prevent breast cancer recurrence in a broad population of patients diagnosed with a certain type of early breast cancer.
 
The heart of our company is our science. Today’s news builds on our longstanding commitment to improving and extending the lives of breast cancer patients. I couldn’t be prouder of our teams working on this medicine.

http://bit.ly/42KDYpG

Leaders never go it alone. And for the past 25 years of my own journey, I’ve been privileged to learn from and grow with Srishti Gupta Narasimhan, my wife and best friend.  
 
Though we could’ve never planned the paths we’ve charted or known where life would take us, our shared values and passion for health helped us build careers and a family. On the latest episode of South Asian Trailblazers, I had a special opportunity to sit down with Srishti to reflect on our journey and share our perspectives on leadership, health, and more.  
 
I hope you’ll take a listen. 
https://lnkd.in/eNpAkBTG

I was at the New York Stock Exchange today to mark a strong second quarter for Novartis. Our teams have delivered strong financial and operating performance, and I continue to be proud of their hard work and dedication to reimagining medicine for and with patients around the world.
 
We’ve had an impactful first half of the year—presenting strong data for our trial in early breast cancer, announcing deals that could strengthen our position in core technology platforms like RNA and radioligand therapies and in therapeutic areas like neuroscience, and more.
 
Thank you again to our teams, whose efforts to reimagine medicine are making a meaningful difference for our company and in the effort to improve human health.

NYSE

With science advancing rapidly and technologies like generative AI capturing the imagination of the world, making progress in medicine will require all of us to continue learning and considering new perspectives. Ahead of the summer, I want to share two books that have piqued my curiosity and that offer insights for the path forward.  
 
First up is a book by Siddhartha Mukherjee, called The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human. It’s a fascinating look at the history of the biology and evolution of cells, and how cells affect human health.  
 
Another book is The AI Revolution in Medicine: GPT-4 and Beyond by Peter Lee, Carey Goldberg, and Isaac Kohane. As an exploration of the impact of AI on medicine and the avenues and limitations of the technology, it’s a good choice for those in our industry who are eager to learn more about where this moment in health and tech could take us—and where we need to remain humble on the journey.  
 
I’ll be looking for more books to dive into this summer, let me know what you’re reading in the comments.

Today we’re announcing a new partnership that could deliver both prophylactic and treatment options at-scale for COVID-19 patients across the globe.

As the pandemic has progressed, it has become increasingly clear that this ongoing challenge calls for not just scientific solutions, but also for collaboration between companies to provide treatments in an area of high unmet need—and Novartis remains unwavering in our support for tackling COVID-19.

You can learn more about today’s announcement over on our website:

The pandemic has challenged all of us in new ways, and on my end, it’s prompted some reflections on leadership—on not just the broader theories, but also on how they show up in our everyday lives. In my latest article in my #Unbossed series on leadership, I’ve shared some habits and strategies that I work to practice as CEO of Novartis and that could help bring bigger #leadership ideas to life day to day.

Check it out below, and I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, including any habits or strategies you practice in your own leadership. #motivation #inspiration

Recovery is an essential aspect of leadership, and as I come back from my time away from the office, I wanted to share another book recommendation with that in mind. Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, explores the origins and the vast health benefits of sleep and even makes connections to the importance of sleep when it comes to #learning, decision-making, and more. For me, making sure I get enough #sleep has been a consistent and important part of my own energy management routine—especially as we continue navigating the COVID-19 pandemic at Novartis and beyond.

I share more in the video below and would be interested to hear your reflections on the #book, if you get a chance to check it out, or on your own recovery habits!

For over a decade, my family and I have called Switzerland home.  
 
As the birthplace and headquarters of Novartis, I've experienced firsthand what is remarkable about the character of this country. 
 
Humility is at the heart of how the Swiss lead. 
 
This month, I shared an evening with the American Swiss Foundation to celebrate the spirit of collaboration that the US and Switzerland have fostered over many years. I couldn't be prouder that Novartis continues to carry out work in this incredible partnership.

The future of health is being reshaped by the democratization of AI, by advanced technology platforms like xRNA, and by challenges posed by climate change. But what does a changing world mean for the way we work in the healthcare industry?

To lead and make a meaningful difference for humanity, we have to embrace and respond to the trends we see today and ensure we’re prepared to partner and engage in new ways across sectors and communities in the years to come.

In my latest video, I share my perspective on some of the most dominant emerging topics of 2024 thus far—and I invite you to share your perspectives in the comments below.

What trends do you see that will change the ways we work?

#COVID19 has brought some of the health challenges of our time to the fore. I recently spoke with WIRED´s Steven Levy and shared my perspective on some of the ways forward for the industry and the world.
#coronavirus

Young people make me so hopeful about our shared future. I meet them all around the world, at Novartis and elsewhere, and one thing always remains the same—they are fired up to drive change and unafraid to tackle the biggest problems humanity faces.

Last week I met with a self-organized group of young talent at Novartis. You can't tell from the pictures, but it was about 30 degrees Celsius (~86 Fahrenheit) at 10:00 in the morning here. But we endured the heatwave, and it's safe to say we all had an inspiring start to the day.

#unboss #novartis #novartislife

Along with delivering solid performance this quarter, Novartis unveiled our refreshed strategy—to deliver high-value medicines that alleviate society’s greatest disease burdens, like cancer and cardiovascular disease, through technology leadership in R&D and novel access approaches.
 
Given the explosion of scientific progress and emergence of new technology platforms, like radioligand therapy and siRNA therapy, we’re confident we’re setting our company up to Reimagine Medicine to improve and extend patients’ lives for the long term.
 
Learn more about the evolution of medicine and our industry in the video below.

Reimagining medicine includes pursuing breakthrough approaches to innovation, and Novartis announced at #JPM2020 #JPM20 that we’ll be collaborating with NHS England regarding our potentially transformative therapy for cardiovascular disease. Working together, we’re aiming to accelerate access timelines, generate leading scientific evidence, and increase manufacturing efficiency, and I’m optimistic about what approaches like this could mean for patients as we continue the collective work of improving human health. https://bit.ly/2NrIPqC

#reimaginingmedicine #cardiovasculardisease, Martin Landray, Samantha Roberts

Reflection is an important part of leadership—stepping back to recharge and gain clarity often sparks new ideas and perspectives.

For almost twenty years, I’ve come to work at the Novartis campus in Basel, and I’ve found that taking just a few moments away from my desk helps me find the quiet I need to reflect. These small moments allow me to reconnect with the bigger purpose of our work—and it’s something I encourage my leaders to do often, especially during long days or hard stretches.

Today, at the opening of the new Novartis Deutschland office building in Nuernberg, we spoke about how we shape our spaces, and in turn, our spaces shape us. It’s a reminder that the environments we create for ourselves play a key role in how we think, recharge, and stay focused.

What about you? Where do you go to reflect or find inspiration in your work? I’d love to hear how your surroundings help you stay energized and focused.

With the emergence of ChatGPT and an increasing need to adopt new climate solutions, we have the chance to find opportunity through disruption. With the right kind of leadership and concerted focus on important issues of our time, we can make meaningful progress on the economic, environmental, and geopolitical challenges ahead. 
 
After a week in Davos for the World Economic Forum, I have a renewed and grounded sense of optimism for what we can collectively achieve.  
 
In my latest article, I share my top reflections from #WEF23 and what it might take for us to make good on our promises to rising generations. Read it here:

One of the reasons I’m passionate about conservation work is the fact that planetary health cannot be untangled from human health. It is our responsibility to protect nature to promote the health of future generations. 

As the Chairperson of African Parks Network, a nonprofit conservation organization, I’m incredibly proud of the ambitious work the organization has taken on to rewild 2,000 Southern white rhino into protected areas across Africa, the largest restoration of a single species to occur in Africa. Rhinos play a crucial role in the health of their ecosystem—and without active conservation measures and intervention, their future is bleak.

Promising work like this is inherent to the well-being of our planet. Learn more about the project here:

I want to wish colleagues in the US a very happy Thanksgiving today and encourage everyone, wherever you are, to take a moment to reflect on something you’re thankful for. I find #gratitude to be a powerful source of energy and motivation, and I try to take time to reflect on three things I’m grateful for every morning. Today, like many days, it’s my supportive and inspiring family, my Novartis colleagues who challenge me to be a better leader, and the opportunity to serve a wonderful purpose – to reimagine medicine and help patients in need.
#thanksgiving #reimaginemedicine #thankyou