Cambridge BioMarketing Advocates for Rare Disease Communities at Upcoming Local Boston Events

Company executives to lead discussions around championing rare patients during Disorder: The Rare Disease Film Festival and HUBWeek

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cambridge BioMarketing, an Ashfield company, part of UDG Healthcare plc and the world’s leading rare disease agency, today announced that company executives will be hosting panel discussions at Disorder: The Rare Disease Film Festival (Disorder: RDFF) and HUBWeek to advocate for rare disease patient communities.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies more than 7,000 diseases as rare. In the United States, there are 30 million people with a rare disease, which equates to about one in 10 Americans. Although these statistics illustrate that rare diseases are more likely than one would expect, these patients often feel isolated from society. To help combat this, patient advocacy groups, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, combined with support from agencies such as Cambridge BioMarketing, have been working together to create communities to unite these patients as they battle a common struggle.

Cambridge BioMarketing’s involvement in Disorder: RDFF and HUBWeek align with the businesses deep heritage in rare and devotion to the space. Disorder: RDFF is a first of its kind event showcasing a number of rare disease focused films from around the world to increase awareness of these patients to the general public. HUBWeek is a weeklong festival in Boston, that brings together industry experts across sectors, including art, science and technology to better understand how these themes intersect. Please see further details on both events below:

Disorder: RDFF Details:

• WHAT: Screening of Cambridge BioMarketing’s film Rare in Common followed by a session about varying perspectives of the rare community and how to ignite change within the industry
• WHERE: Sanofi Genzyme (500 Kendall Street First Floor, Cambridge, MA)
• WHEN: October 2^nd from 2:30 – 5:00 p.m. ET
• WHO:
  • Sam Falsetti, PhD., Head of Medical Strategy and Product Innovation, Cambridge BioMarketing
  • Alisa Shakarian, Creative Director, Art, Cambridge BioMarketing; Director of Rare in Common
  • Janis Creedon, Rare Disease Activist, Psychiatric Nurse; Featured in Rare in Common

HUBWeek Details:

• WHAT: Rare Rights. Common Cause. This panel will investigate how individuals can take the rare-disease-as-a-rights challenge into their own hands through increased recognition and care
• WHERE: Cambridge BioMarketing Lobby (245 First Street; Cambridge, MA)
• WHEN: October 11^th from 4:45-5:45 p.m. ET
• WHO:
  • Sam Falsetti, PhD., Head of Medical Strategy and Product Innovation, Cambridge BioMarketing
  • Paula Soteropoulos, CEO of Akcea Therapeutics
  • Dr. Jenifer Jaeger, Interim Medical Director of Boston Public Health Commission
  • Patricia Weltin, Founder of Rare Disease United Foundation

“We are so pleased to leverage these events as a channel to facilitate discussions around patient advocacy within the rare community,” said Maureen Franco, CEO of Cambridge BioMarketing. “Involvement and participation in events such as RDFF and the HUBWeek panel demonstrate the ongoing momentum of rare disease communities in generating awareness. While the specific cases of rare may be uncommon, these patients are unified in their journey and fight to survive. Hearing their stories and advocating for them is the fuel for our agency as we continually aim to highlight medicine and technology that radically transforms the potential of human life.”

About Cambridge BioMarketing

Founded in 2001, Cambridge BioMarketing is a U.S.-based communications agency specializing in rare orphan diseases with over 100 employees. Headquartered in Cambridge, MA with offices in Oakland, CA, Cambridge BioMarketing is an industry leader in orphan drug launches, advising pharmaceutical companies with an integrated focus on both traditional healthcare professional (HCP) programs and direct-to-patient work. In partnering with predominantly pharmaceutical and biotech customers, the agency’s goal is to bring physicians, specialists, and patient communities together on behalf of clients to transform human health in the face of devastating, under-appreciated disease states. Cambridge BioMarketing’s primary service offerings include: launch readiness support; digital strategy; market analytics; integrated marketing; patient identification and acquisition; medical affairs support; line extensions and patient retention and adherence programs.

For more information, please go to: http://cambridgebmg.com/

About Ashfield

Ashfield Commercial & Medical Services, part of UDG Healthcare plc, is a global leader in providing outsourced healthcare services to pharmaceutical, device and biotech companies. The company has 6,000 employees, operating in 23 countries and delivering services in over 50 countries across Europe, North America, South America and Asia and works with more than 250 companies, including all the world’s top 25 pharmaceutical companies. Its mission is to partner with its clients, improving lives by helping healthcare professionals and patients get the medicines, knowledge and support they need. Ashfield’s provides contract sales teams, customer service reps, medical science liaison officers, remote detailing, nurse educators, medical information, healthcare communications, market access, market research, training, event management, digital, creative and pharmacovigilance services. For more information, go to https://www.ashfieldhealthcare.com/en/