Oxford PharmaGenesis™ was represented at the Congress by David Bennett (Business Development Manager). A summary of points based around several commonly asked questions is now available. (Click here for link)

Based on presentations and private discussion, David noted the following keenly debated questions and the points that were raised. This report does not pretend to be representative of the consensus of the delegates, but is an honest attempt to set out the issues that are being discussed by the various stakeholder organizations involved in rare and orphan disorders (ODs). You may identify many contradictions! Again, these reflect the discussions that took place.

There was a clear sense of common purpose arising from the meeting and the impetus was captured by the acknowledgement that this is a golden age of genetic discovery, with the majority of OD targets being genetic – often monogenic – diseases.

Eleven years after its inception, and in such a rapidly evolving environment, Oxford PharmaGenesis™ has never been more committed to behaving ethically and responsibly at the interface between the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare. As such, representatives from our UK and US offices were invited to provide regular input and support to the development process of the guidelines. In addition, as a precursor to publication of the new guidelines, these colleagues, together with a well-known publisher, were commissioned by Pharmaceutical Marketing Europe to develop a feature article on the imminent arrival of the second iteration of Good Publication Practice. A copy of this article, "New Clarity" can be found here.

A series of lectures, entitled 'Addicted to Big Pharma? Reconciling business, medical and ethical needs', was recently organized by Oxford's newest college, Green Templeton. Influential speakers from pharmaceutical R&D, NICE, Oxfam and the ABPI addressed topic such as the origins of the industry, its relationships with government and society and whether it has a healthy future. The college has brought together Green College's medical knowledge and Templeton College's commercial acumen
to forge a powerhouse of pharmaceutical expertise.
http://www.gtc.ox.ac.uk/academic/lectures-seminars/gtlectures/green-templeton-lectures-2009.html