How Small Patient Advocacy Groups Can Help Advance Drug Development

By Sue Washer

Engagement with patient advocacy groups is now a common component of drug development and communications strategies. Many biopharmaceutical companies are actively engaged with large disease society organizations such as the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, and the American Cancer Society, funding workshops, training grants, and research. Large patient advocacy and disease organizations are attractive to biopharmaceutical companies because they have broad reach and well-developed infrastructures to support multiple educational and research opportunities. Working with these organizations can streamline industry efforts to engage with specific patient groups, which can be especially beneficial when developing therapies in larger indications.