Nothing Is Undruggable: Novartis' Bradner On CAR-T, CRISPR & DNA Libraries

01 Feb 2017

• By Sten Stovall

The head of Novartis' early drug discovery engine NIBR has a zealous sense of mission and says he is being given the resources and talent to accomplish it. "Nothing is undruggable," is his premise.

James Bradner, President of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) — James Bradner, President, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) • Source: Novartis AG

Moderation isn't the first word that comes to mind when hearing James Bradner describe his ambitions for the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, which he has headed since March 2016. "I came to lead NIBR to make NIBR the most impactful and most productive biomedical research institute in the world. I’m very excited about having the opportunity to reshape NIBR for the future," he said, outlining his mission.

Bradner's remit, as underscored in an interview with Scrip and at an R&D update to investors by Novartis AG,...