John Simpson: Reluctant Entrepreneur

John Simpson never set out to be a physician and still does not consider himself a businessman; yet he is a leading interventional cardiologist and has launched more than a half dozen successful device companies. Simpson takes pride in building successful teams, enabling him to delegate the engineering and business responsibilities to others, while focusing on what he does best: figuring out how to better treat the patient. He is perhaps best known for developing over-the-wire angioplasty through his first company, ACS, and has followed that with companies involved with ultrasound (CVIS), atherectomy (DVI and Fox Hollow), vascular closure (Perclose), and chronic total occlusions (LuMend). Simpson remains iconoclastic when it comes to patient care issues. So although angioplasty is where he made his name, he remains suspicious of stents and hopes through his current venture, Fox Hollow, to minimize their use.

By David Cassak

Ask John Simpson if he considers himself a businessman and he balks. An entrepreneur, perhaps, and definitely a physician, but...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on In Vivo for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Business Strategy

Mapping Biopharma’s AI Strategy: From Custom Datasets to Foundation Models

 
• By 

Biotech companies are pursuing diverse AI strategies beyond expensive custom data generation: foundation model fine-tuning, data-efficient computational methods and targeted proprietary datasets. In Vivo takes a look at some examples.

Late-Stage GLP-1 Drug Trials Outside The Cardiometabolic Space

 
• By 

A look at Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and other companies' late-stage clinical studies of GLP-1 drugs in indications ranging from neurodegeneration to oncology, and alcoholic liver disease to autoimmune conditions.

Rising Leaders 2025: Metsera’s Whit Bernard’s Musical Path To Biotech Leadership

 
• By 

Metsera CEO Whit Bernard applies an unconventional leadership philosophy to develop next-generation obesity therapeutics, including monthly GLP-1 injections and oral peptides.

AI In Drug Discovery: The Patent Implications

 
• By 

A Q&A with DeAnn Smith, partner and co-chair of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board Proceedings Practice Group at law firm Foley Hoag.

More from In Vivo

Wide Of The Mark: ‘The Worst EU Medtech Predictions Have Not Come True’

 
• By 

Jana Grieb, European regulatory and market access legal expert at McDermott Will & Emery, explains why the healthtech and pharma industries are warming to the new EU health commissioner as he faces calls to make the MDR more “user friendly.”

This Belgian Biotech’s Drug Cocktail Could Help Reverse Muscle Aging

 
• By 

While big pharma pours billions into creating new anti-aging molecules, a Belgian startup has taken a different path: combining existing safe drugs with AI precision. The early results suggest it might be onto something revolutionary.

Rising Leaders 2025: Doxie Jordan, From UNC Graduate To Global Market Strategist

 
• By 

Bristol Myers Squibb executive Doxie Jordan discusses his path to global commercial leadership and the principles guiding pharmaceutical market strategy