Gene therapy has yielded promising results for treating various life-threatening rare diseases like muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis. This is groundbreaking for individuals living with rare disease, whose limited treatment options often entail ongoing, high-cost medical visits. However, these new treatments are entering the market at considerably high prices and posing affordability challenges for patients. We’ve convened a group of rare disease experts to talk through the potential that gene therapy has to treat rare diseases, and how to navigate their financial barriers.

Date: Tuesday, Jan. 18th, 2022

Time: 1:00 – 2:00pm MST

Panelists:

• • Rafael Fonseca: Chief Innovation Officer, Mayo Clinic
  • Jennifer Hodge: US DMD Gene Therapy Lead,, Pfizer
  • Danny Seiden: President & Chief Executive Officer, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Sharon Hesterlee, MD: Chief Research Officer, Muscular Dystrophy Association

Rafael Fonseca is the Chief Innovation Officer at Mayo Clinic. He is also a practicing hematologist specializing in care and research of myeloma and related conditions. Within Mayo Clinic, he served as director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, associate director for the Center of Individualized Medicine in Arizona, and the chair of the Department of Internal Medicine in Arizona. He is also a Mayo Clinic Distinguished Investigator, the highest academic distinction of investigators.

Jennifer Hodge is the US DMD Gene Therapy Lead at Pfizer. Over the past 9 years, she has contributed in roles of increasing responsibility across Early Pipeline/Gene Therapy, Sickle Cell Disease, Hemophilia and I&I where she played an important role in the US & EU launches of XELJANZ for Rheumatoid arthritis. She received her PhD in Immunology and completed two Post-Doctoral Fellowships at Harvard Medical School & the Yale University School of Medicine.

Danny Seiden is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Danny brings over 16 years of experience in global public affairs and government relations. Prior to joining the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Danny was General Counsel to the Valor Global leadership team. He worked at Intel, was a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig where he chaired the Phoenix office government law and policy practice.

Sharon Hesterlee is the Chief Research Officer of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. She has over 20 years of experience in neuromuscular research in both the nonprofit and industry space. Dr. Hesterlee has also served as project lead for rare disease gene therapy programs at Pfizer, Inc; as Chief Executive Officer of Lion Therapeutics & Executive Vice President of the Neuromuscular Division of Askbio Inc.

This event is free to attend but registration is required. If you have trouble registering, please send us an email and we will get you taken care of!