Adit is an Associate on NEA’s Healthcare Team focused on life sciences investing. He joined NEA in 2023 after spending two years as an investment banker at Lazard, advising on biopharmaceutical M&A transactions. Previously, he spent time conducting oncology research at Allogene Therapeutics, where he published his work in Cancer Research. Adit graduated summa cum laude from the Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned dual degrees in biology and economics from the Wharton School.
You’re focused on healthcare investing. What do you find compelling about this space?
In the past, healthcare innovation has been largely incremental. But today, I believe the healthcare industry is reaching an inflection point where the pace of innovation will begin to enable solutions that provide significant, immediate, and life-changing value for patients. I’m excited to be at the forefront of this revolution. Whether it be next-generation therapeutic modalities or cutting-edge technology-enabled digital health solutions, the possibilities to transform patient outcomes are endless.
What’s unique about investing in this area, and why does it resonate with you?
When it comes to the life sciences industry, you need to embrace a patient-focused and long-term perspective around ROI. In this sector, we invest in companies that may not deliver commercial products for many years, often incurring multimillion-dollar losses in the near term. However, such investments are well worth it because of their potential to change the lives of thousands of suffering patients over the long term. It’s a strategy that also applies to life: it’s easy to make decisions that provide short-term gratification; however, if we want to live a truly fulfilling and happy life, we need to invest in relationships that deliver exponential returns over our lifetimes.
What types of problems are you excited to see being addressed by innovators in this space?
I’m especially interested in opportunities that address areas of high unmet medical needs—specifically those lacking disease-modifying therapies. We’ve made tremendous progress in some therapeutic areas, but for others, such as some neurodegenerative diseases, rare metabolic diseases, and difficult solid tumor indications, only symptom-alleviating therapeutics are currently available. I’m excited to work with teams addressing the hardest-to-treat diseases with innovative approaches that overcome technical difficulties associated with these diseases’ complex pathophysiology.
How do NEA’s values align with your own?
When NEA invests in a company, we’re investing in its mission—oftentimes aspirational, but indisputably meaningful. Just as NEA partners closely with these companies, supporting them even in the toughest of times, I too maintain a steadfast determination when encountered with roadblocks, in order to serve a greater purpose. This shared commitment to resilience and dedication inspires me to contribute my best efforts toward lasting initiatives alongside NEA.
What’s a book that’s had a meaningful impact on you?
A book that’s influenced me in more ways than I can think of is Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah. There’s one quote in particular that resonates with me deeply: “We spend so much time being afraid of failure, afraid of rejection. But regret is the thing we should fear most. Failure is an answer. Rejection is an answer. Regret is an eternal question you will never have the answer to.” This idea gives me the courage to take risks worth taking.
“
“Today, I believe the healthcare industry is reaching an inflection point where the pace of innovation will start to enable solutions that provide significant, immediate, and life-changing value for patients. I’m excited to be at the forefront of this revolution.”
