david epstein

David Epstein is CEO of Seagen. He is also a board member at Valo Health and Opy Acquisition Corp.  David is also a Director at the non-profit Three Opinions Foundation and South Florida’s Pelican Harbor Seabird Station (PHSS).  PHSS is Miami’s premier native wildlife hospital dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sick, injured or orphaned brown pelicans, seabirds, and other native wildlife thus enabling future generations.  

From early 2010 to mid 2016, David served as chief executive officer of Novartis Pharmaceuticals, a division of Novartis AG.  Previously, David started and led Novartis’ Oncology and Molecular Diagnostic units. Under his leadership the company’s oncology business grew to the second largest in the world.  

David has also served as a consultant to Flagship Pioneering a developer of bioplatform companies, Invus and several other firms.  He has served as Chairman at Rubius Therapeutics, Axcella Therapeutics, Evelo Bio and as a board member at Ring Therapeutics, Tarus Therapeutics until its successful sale in June 2022, Senti Bio, Woosley Pharma and Cellestia AG.  David moved from Chair to Board member at PHSS in December 2022.

David has more than 30 years of extensive drug development, deal making, commercialization and leadership experience on a global scale. Over the course of his career he led the development and commercialization of over 30 new molecular entities, including major breakthroughs such as Glivec, Tasigna, Gilenya, Afinitor, Cosentyx and Entresto.  His teams developed 3 Prix Galien award winning medicines and he has developed several CEOs. He was also recognized by FierceBiotech as one of the “25 most influential people in biopharma”. 

Early in his career, David was an associate in the strategy practice of consulting firm Booz, Allen and Hamilton.  David holds a B.S. in pharmacy from Rutgers University College of Pharmacy (1984) and an M.B.A. in finance and marketing from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business (1987).