Cambridge BioMarketing, the world’s leading orphan and specialty communications agency, today announced five predictions for 2017 related to the pharmaceutical, life sciences and marketing industries.

#1 Gene editing kicks into high gear. CRISPR/Cas9 and related gene editing methodologies have launched a new wave of innovative biotech companies researching genome editing-based therapies. These organizations will seek to move this ground-breaking science into the clinic in 2017, which will provide the first information on how gene editing therapies may advance new treatment options for genetic diseases.

#2 Investment in microbiome-based research expands. Despite minor setbacks in 2016, we expect the field of microbiome-based therapies to advance dramatically in 2017. Venture capital funding for microbiome start-ups will increase and pharmaceutical companies will continue investing in research to explore the potential of influencing the bacterial flora in the gut to impact a range of human diseases. New clinical advances will also enhance our knowledge in diagnosing, preventing and treating infectious diseases and gastrointestinal disorders.

#3 Patient advocacy groups continue to drive momentum in the orphan drug market. The 21st Century Cures Act has been signed into law, resulting in changes in regulatory standards for FDA approval. Increased flexibility of the approval pathway, particularly for rare and ultra-rare diseases, will increase the likelihood of treatments being approved (and being approved faster), if fully enacted. Patient advocacy groups have played a large role in this section of the legislation as the small size and short longevity of these patient populations make it challenging to gather appropriate data on both natural history and treatment efficacy. While patients and families welcome this improved flexibility, it will also create new challenges in access and reimbursement for therapies approved without typical randomized controlled trials.

#4 Social media further humanizes life science companies. Social media channels can help build communities and nurture engagements among physicians, patients and caregivers. Insights from these conversations can arm companies with greater knowledge into their challenges. In turn, these insights will help inform and shorten time to diagnosis for patients and impact physicians’ approaches to management and treatment. By pioneering a truly community-centric approach to engagement, enterprises will be able to better support the fabric of conversations around diseases they are trying to treat.

#5 Doctors tap digital networks to expedite diagnosis. Crowdsourcing medical insights through apps such as Figure 1 and SERMO will continue to gain traction as more doctors and researchers connect with each other to improve clinical outcomes for patients. These platforms are especially helpful for doctors who rely on visual-centric information and for physicians treating a patient with a potential rare disease, where information is scarce and difficult to find. We will see more platforms emerge to help doctors share unique cases, improve diagnostic pathways and engage with peers to better understand clinical management of these patients.

“From Sarepta Therapeutics’ unexpected approval of Exondys 51 (eteplirsen) to the boom of genomic editing with CRISPR and other medical breakthroughs, 2016 was one for the books,” said Maureen Franco, CEO of Cambridge BioMarketing. “We expect this innovation to continue into 2017 with next-generation treatments and truly transformative medicine – it’s these types of solutions to which we are solely dedicated as they have a profound impact on humankind.”

About Cambridge BioMarketing
Cambridge BioMarketing is a rare disease and specialty communications agency, blending medical insights and award-winning creativity with deep experience to build some of the world’s most successful brands. With solutions for our clients that empower, educate, and activate, we bring healthcare provider and patient communities together to transform human health in the face of devastating, under-appreciated disease states. Founded in 2001, Cambridge BioMarketing has offices in Cambridge, MA and Oakland CA, and is a division of Everyday Health, Inc. For more information, visit: www.cambridgebmg.com.