What Is Your Opinion On Smaller Rare Disease Companies Being Acquired And Big Pharma's Ability To Be Patient-Centric With These Populations?

A | AS LARGER COMPANIES SEEK TO ADD NOVEL THERAPIES and access the most cutting-edge biotechnologies, there increasingly will be acquisitions of smaller biotechnology companies focused on rare diseases. New medicines to address rare diseases not only add to the revenue potential of larger companies, but they also bring an understanding of human genetic medicine that may translate into the potential to develop therapies for larger patient populations, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. In considering an acquisition, the criteria should always be: Can a larger biopharma advance a small rare-disease company’s medicines and technologies faster, better, and to more patients more quickly, with less execution risk than a smaller company can? If so, then an acquisition likely may be in the best interests of both patients and shareholders. I believe that select big biopharmas do have the ability to make these deals succeed.

JOHN CROWLEY is the chairman & CEO of Amicus Therapeutics, a global biotechnology company focused on developing and delivering medicines for people living with rare, devastating diseases.