Dr. Anna Meseguer, head of the Renal Pathophysiology group at Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), participated last November 15 in the inauguration of the new Hub for the clinical development of treatments against rare diseases in Barcelona. This project of Alexion, part of the Astrazeneca group, will promote the development of innovative drugs to improve the lives of patients with rare diseases and their families.

At the panel discussion "How can research and development address the needs of patients with rare diseases?", the speakers, including Dr. Meseguer, addressed the importance of collaboration between all experts in this type of disease. This is key to obtaining more data and knowledge, as these are very rare pathologies, with a low number of patients. The session, moderated by Maciej Gajewski, Head International Government Affairs & Policy at Alexion, also featured Dr. Miguel Pons, Sub-Manager – Medical Director Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, Ignasi Carrasco, CatSalut Área Asistencial Director, and Antoni Cabrera, president of the Hipofam association.

"In the last 20 years, platforms have been developed that help to improve the diagnosis of rare diseases and better understand their natural history, but there continues to be a lack of treatments", explained Dr. Meseguer, who said that Alexion's new Hub could be key to testing new therapies. "Research collaboration with industry is needed from the beginning to find useful solutions for patients and society", she added.