Top lawyer exits as Novartis seeks to quell Cohen backlash

The drug company seeks to rebuild trust with consumers and investors in light of its $1.2 million deal with the controversial fixer for Donald Trump.

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Novartis wants to put more distance between itself and Donald Trump’s beleaguered personal attorney, Michael Cohen.

To that end, it’s parting ways with one of its top lawyers, Felix R. Ehrat, a key player in the drug maker’s $1.2 million deal with Trump’s longtime fixer. That arrangement is being scrutinized by special counsel Robert Mueller.

As previously reported on PR Daily:

STAT reported:

“Yesterday was not a good day for Novartis,” wrote [CEO] Vasant Narasimhan, a physician and former McKinsey consultant, who joined the drug maker more than a decade ago and oversaw global drug development before being promoted to chief executive this past February.

“Many of you have seen media reports regarding the Novartis relationship with Essential Consultants in the U.S. and many of you will feel disappointed and frustrated,” according to the email, which was shared with STAT by a Novartis employee.

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