Scott Howell

Scott Howell brings nearly three decades of experience in pharmaceutical and biotech leadership, with deep expertise in drug pricing, contracting, reimbursement, market access, patient services, and early product planning.

Scott is a co-founder and current CEO of Synapse Sciences, a tech-enabled decentralized biotech research organization. Scott also co-hosts the Prescription for Better Access podcast on U.S. drug pricing, teaches life sciences industry strategy at UC Berkeley, serves on a National Academy of Medicine consensus panel on U.S. drug R&D, and volunteers with several healthcare non-profit initiatives.

Scott retired from Novartis in 2022 as Chief Strategy Officer for U.S. Pharmaceuticals, where he led a U.S. commercial model transformation encompassing product strategy, sales and marketing, drug development and portfolio management. Prior to Novartis, Scott was Vice President of Market Access and Patient Services at Jazz Pharmaceuticals, a rare disease and orphan drug company. Earlier in his career Scott held leadership roles at Genentech, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and GlaxoSmithKline, building expertise across market access, patient services, clinical development, manufacturer services, and managed care.

Scott earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and his medical degree from The Ohio State University. He completed his medical internship and residency and earned an MBA from Duke University.

Scott currently serves on the board of SCP portfolio company ADVI Health.