Posted by Michael Wonder on 20 Aug 2019
Ousted Novartis scientist ‘categorically denies’ wrongdoing in data manipulation scandal
20 August 2019 - The scientist, Brian Kaspar, “is a respected member of the scientific community with an impeccable record,” his attorney says.
One of two top scientists said to be ousted from Swiss drug giant Novartis in connection with a data manipulation scandal is denying any wrongdoing.
Brian Kaspar, previously chief scientific officer of AveXis, the biotech company that developed Novartis’s gene therapy, Zolgensma, “is a respected member of the scientific community with an impeccable record,” his attorney, John Hueston of Hueston Hennigan, said in an e-mailed statement.
Novartis said last week that Kaspar, along with his brother, Allan Kaspar, who led research and development at AveXis, hadn’t been involved with the company since May. Though the company didn’t say so explicitly, a person familiar with the matter said last week their departure was related to the issue of manipulated data that supported Zolgensma’s approval by the FDA.
