Flagship Pioneering, a Cambridge, MA-based life sciences venture capital firm, appointment industry veteran David Epstein to serve in the newly created role of Executive Partner.
Most recently, David R. Epstein served as Chief Executive Officer of Novartis Pharmaceuticals a Division of Novartis AG from 2010 to mid-2016. Previously, he started up and led Novartis’ Oncology and Molecular Diagnostic units.
Over the course of his career Epstein led the development and commercialization of over 30 new molecular entities, including Glivec, Tasigna, Gilenya, Cosentyx and Entresto.
Early in his career, Mr. Epstein was an Associate in the Strategy Practice of consulting firm Booz, Allen and Hamilton.
His first significant involvement within the Flagship portfolio will be as Chairman of the Board of Rubius Therapeutics, a venture founded and launched by the Flagship VentureLabs® innovation foundry to exploit the potential medical impact of endowing red blood cells with therapeutic properties.
Epstein’s appointment follows Flagship’s recent additions of Dr. Michael Rosenblatt (formerly of Merck) as Chief Medical Officer and Jim Gilbert (formerly of Boston Scientific and Bain) as Senior Partner, and supports the firm’s plans of driving accelerated value growth within its portfolio companies.
Led by Noubar Afeyan, Ph.D., founder and CEO, Flagship Pioneering conceives, creates, resources and develops life sciences companies. Since its launch in 2000, the firm has originated nearly 75 scientific ventures, resulting in $19 billion in aggregate value, 500+ issued patents and more than 50 clinical trials for novel therapeutic agents. Since inception, Flagship has capitalized its portfolio with nearly $1 billion coming from the $1.75 billion of aggregate investor capital committed across five funds.
The firm’s portfolio includes Agios Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AGIO), Seres Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MCRB), Editas Medicine (NASDAQ: EDIT) and Syros Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SYRS), as well as private companies including Moderna Therapeutics, Indigo Agriculture and Axcella Health.
Flagship has ongoing corporate innovation alliances with several market leaders, including: AstraZeneca, Bayer Crop Science and Nestlé Health Science.
FinSMEs
04/01/2017