This is a profile image of Adam Sabow

Adam Sabow

Senior Partner, Chicago

Co-leads McKinsey’s global Life Sciences Practice and works with pharmaceutical, medtech, and healthcare private equity companies on corporate strategy, commercial strategy, and operational improvements

About Adam

Adam co-leads McKinsey’s global Life Sciences Practice across pharmaceuticals, medtech, and healthcare private equity. He previously led McKinsey’s Social Sector Practice globally, as well as the firm’s  broader societal impact work spanning public health, education, economic mobility, and philanthropy. 

With his clients, he has worked extensively with pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, investors, and public health leaders across many parts of the world. His work spans corporate strategy for CXOs and boards, commercial strategy and launch, and operational improvement initiatives. He has worked  extensively across disease areas, including infectious diseases/vaccines, immunology, oncology, and rare disease.

Adam publishes and speaks frequently at industry events, including the keynote addresses at BIO and the World Vaccine Congress, and serving on World Health Organization expert consultations on a range of disease areas.

Expertise

Published work

A generational shift: The future of foreign aid,” McKinsey & Company, May 2025

Beyond the pandemic: The next chapter of innovation in vaccines,” McKinsey & Company, May 2024

When will the COVID-19 pandemic end?,” McKinsey & Company, July 2022

When will the COVID-19 pandemic end?,” McKinsey & Company, March 2022

When will the COVID-19 pandemic end?,” McKinsey & Company, December 2021

It’s time for philanthropy to step up the fight against climate change,” McKinsey & Company, October 2021

When will the COVID-19 pandemic end?,” McKinsey & Company, August 2021

Getting to work: Employers’ role in COVID-19 vaccination,” McKinsey & Company, April 2021

When will the COVID-19 pandemic end?,” McKinsey & Company, March 2021

The risks and challenges of the global COVID-19-vaccine rollout,” McKinsey & Company, January 2021

COVID-19 vaccines meet 100 million uncertain Americans,” McKinsey & Company, December 2020

When will the COVID-19 pandemic end?,” McKinsey & Company, September 2020

Not the last pandemic: Investing now to reimagine public-health systems,” McKinsey & Company, July 2020

Refueling the innovation engine in vaccines,” McKinsey & Company, May 2019

Should sub-Saharan Africa make its own drugs?,” McKinsey & Company, January 2019

From science to operations: Questions, choices and strategies for success in biopharma” (PDF–790 KB), McKinsey & Company, September 2014

Education

Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
MBA

Northwestern University
BA (with honors), economics and applied math