47 leaders from across the biotechnology industry tell their stories of battling the global scourge of COVID-19.
Pandemics have killed at least a half billion people over the past two millennia. But in the age of biotechnology, humanity is no longer defenseless. The biotechnology industry is a diverse community of scientists, doctors, patients, entrepreneurs, investors, bankers, analysts and reporters, all committed to treating and curing disease. Over the past forty years, it has produced medical advances at an electrifying rate. As the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, hundreds of companies quickly pivoted to combating the virus.
The contributors to this book offer inside views of this seminal industry, with historical and personal perspectives, lessons learned, and looks into the future. Diverse as these leaders are, they are united by their conviction that science and medicine will light humanity’s way to greater health and longevity.
Dr. Jeremy M. Levin is Chairman and CEO of Ovid Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:OVID), a company whose mission is to bring treatment to patients with rare neurological conditions. Dr. Levin is concurrently the chairman of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). Prior to founding Ovid, Dr. Levin was president and CEO of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., (TLV: TEVA) Before Teva, Dr. Levin was member of the executive committee Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY). In that capacity he was the architect of and implemented the String of Pearls Strategy, which transformed Bristol. Dr. Levin joined BMY from Novartis (SWX: NOVN) where he was global head of strategic alliances. He has served on the board of directors of various public and private biopharmaceutical companies and is currently on the board of directors of Lundbeck (OMX: LUN). Dr. Levin was voted as one of the twenty-five most influential biotechnology leaders by Fierce Biotech and one of the top three biotechnology CEOs in 2020 by The Healthcare Technology Report. He is the recipient of the Albert Einstein Award for Leadership in Life Sciences and the B’nai B’rith Award for Distinguished Achievement. He has practiced medicine at university hospitals in England, South Africa, and Switzerland. Dr. Levin earned his bachelor’s degree in zoology and a master’s degree and doctorate in chromatin structure, at the University of Oxford, and thereafter his medical and surgical degrees from the University of Cambridge where he won the Kermode Prize for his work on Captopril.
