Last month, our Managing Director, Michael Braunagel, participated in the China-UK Rare Disease Symposium, held in Shanghai on International Rare Disease Day, February 29, 2024. Michael was invited to contribute his industry expertise to a panel discussion focused on fostering UK-China collaboration to address rare disease challenges on a global scale.
The symposium, jointly organised by the Chinese Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD) and the UK Department of Business and Trade (DBT), connected experts from across the globe to discuss recent policies, advancements and emerging trends in the treatment and management of rare diseases.
The event attracted over 12,000 virtual atendees from key stakeholders in the rare disease arena, including government bodies, hospitals, patient groups, rare disease organisations and medical companies, and garnered extensive media coverage.
During the discussion, Michael highlighted the urgent need to address unmet medical needs in rare diseases, emphasising the importance of making treatments more accessible and affordable, particularly in regions like China, where such medications may have been historically underrepresented.
“We believe that there is an issue in the treatment of rare diseases,” said Michael. “A lot of them are very expensive and only available in Western countries. One of the hopes we have is that we will be able to bring medication at a somewhat lower price to the markets”.
Michael also shared industry insights into the development of innovative treatments for rare diseases, and explored opportunities for partnership and cooperation with China in the field. Acknowledging the significance of Chinese partnerships in navigating regulatory challenges, Michael expressed his optimism about collaborating with organisations like CORD and Chinese pharmaceutical companies to accelerate the development and distribution of rare disease treatments.
”We’re here to establish contact with CORD because we believe that local knowledge is invaluable, when it comes to raising awareness and getting in contact with both patients and medical professionals. Patient organisations have also proven themselves to be a force when it comes to discussing reimbursement with responsible partners.
“We are looking to contact local companies in the rare disease field with knowledge around of the regulatory environment in China, which can help us plan and carry out clinical trials in China,” he said.
Michael went on to commend the professionalism and dedication demonstrated at the symposium, emphasising the importance of facilitating patient groups and providing education and resources for those advocating for rare disease awareness and support.
Media Interview Team and Vivi Ying-Li (3rd from right), Business Developer
Joining Michael on the panel was a host of industry experts in the field of rare diseases. Xiaoxia Hu, CEO of International Business at Keyuan Xinhai, Deborah McGregor of Scottish Development International, Shawn Xiang, CEO of Citrine and Jiahao Hu, Head of Drug Evaluation at Shanghai Health and Health Development Research Center each contributed their wealth of knowledge and experience from their respective backgrounds. Their diverse perspectives sparked lively discussions on various aspects of tackling rare diseases, including current research, treatment approaches, and the hurdles faces by patients and healthcare providers in the sphere of rare diseases. In addition, the panellists engaged in meaningful dialogue on how the industry can collaborate effectively to drive important changes in this crucial area of healthcare.
For more information about Actigen and our initiatives in rare diseases, please visit our About Us page.
At Actigen, we remain committed to advancing research and development in rare diseases and look forward to continued collaboration with global partners to improve outcomes for patients worldwide. Hear more from Michael below, as he tells us about how they day went at the Rare Disease Symposium.
