The world is recognizing more every day just how important rare disease research is. Yes, rare diseases are rare but they affect millions of people worldwide. The more we can learn about rare disease, the better outcomes we can give patients all around. However, despite the fact that research is improving, the manufacturing side hasn’t kept up with the consistently increasing demand of rare disease products.
The good thing is, manufacturers know they have an issue and are working on innovative ways to improve their production.
Sometimes, all it takes is collaboration with a rare disease specialist.
RareChannels
RareChannels is a website which works to serve as a reference database for manufacturers of rare disease products. The goal is to help them find solutions for logistical issues, ultimately improving patient care. They also offer consultation on trial development, patient support programs, and supply chain logistics among other topics. It is a global site, meaning manufacturers from all over the world can use their services. Their solutions are customized to the unique problems held by the specific company and should help the issue of accessibility when it comes to rare disease.
Carol Dickerson, the founder of RareChannels, explains that rare disease manufacturing is a very nuanced process. Products are often complex, require careful handling, and need special methods of shipment (such as temperature controlled packaging). Manufacturers may not have all of the knowledge necessary to meet these needs on their own.
She says, the goal of RareChannels is ultimately,
“To bring cures to the globe faster, cheaper, better, by building a multilingual, web-based, category or term-searchable resource to directly find niche-experts in rare.”
Greater consultation, communication, and collaboration between experts and those who are newer to the field could significantly speed up the industry’s ability to help rare disease patients.
It all sounds great right? Well it is… if manufacturers choose to take advantage of the service.
A New Agreement
Marken, a pharmaceutical and life sciences patient supply chain has just announced their collaboration with RareChannels.
Marken is well suited to contribute to the field of rare disease. They have the specialized manufacturing and shipping capabilities for rare disease products. Often, one of the biggest issues is not the creation of the product, but physically getting the product to the patient. Since rare diseases affect people all over the world, it’s essential to ensure shipping methods are adequate for protecting products long distances. In addition to specialized shipping practices, Marken uses GPS tracking to ensure their product reaches the patient in good quality.
The collaboration between Marken and RareChannels is exciting because it has the potential to improve real patient lives. Hopefully, it will help more patients get the products they need at the time they need it without sacrificing the product’s quality.
You can read more about this new collaboration here.
