So far at the World Orphan Drug Congress Europe 2015, we have been treated to a whirlwind introduction to some of the successes and challenges in the field of rare and orphan diseases.
A recurring theme has been the need to move away from transactional relationships between pharma, patients, payers and others, and to move towards developing ongoing stakeholder relationships. Several presenters have spoken of how patient education and engagement improve trial participation and retention. Others have advocated improved transparency in orphan drug pipelines, which would allow payers to plan budgets appropriately and to shift payer focus from ‘treatment affordability’ to ‘willingness to pay’, enabling therapies to reach patients sooner.
To achieve these goals, clear, consistent and timely communication is required between all parties. As a HealthScience communications consultancy with a long heritage in the rare diseases arena, we are committed to helping our clients engage effectively with their collaborators to expedite the delivery of therapies to patients who need them.
