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RARE Drug Development Symposium Marks 10th Anniversary with Dedicated Pitch Sessions and The Theme and Call to Action to Align Advocates, Science and Industry
PR Newswire
Tue, July 28, 2026 at 7:30 PM GMT+5:30
4 min read
BOSTON, July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global Genes, in partnership with The Rosamund Stone Zander and Hansjoerg Wyss Translational Neuroscience Center (RSZ TNC) at Boston Children’s Hospital and the Termeer Institute, is proud to announce the 10th Annual RARE Drug Development Symposium (RDDS)taking place September 9 – 11, 2026 in Boston. This landmark decennial event brings together the <a href="https://healthylife7.com/national-organization-for-rare-disorders-expands-rare-disease-centers-of-excellence-network/" title="National Organization for Rare Disorders Expands Rare Disease Centers of Excellence Network”>rare disease ecosystem to foster hands-on, collaborative learning designed to translate patient-lived experiences into research readiness and strategic therapeutic development.
This year’s milestone symposium centers on the theme:
“Accelerating Rare Disease Progress: Aligning Advocates, Science & Industry”
To mark its decade of impact, the 2026 symposium is expanding its programming to include a dedicated day for Pitch Sessions. This new addition provides a critical platform for rare disease advocacy leaders to pitch their research portfolios, natural history data, and clinical trial readiness directly to biotech companies, clinical researchers, and venture philanthropists, de-risking pipelines and driving investment to underserved disease areas
A Decade of Impact and Collaboration
For ten years, RDDS has served as a vital catalyst for rare disease advocates who are ready to lead, build vibrant ecosystems, partner with industry, and advance drug development pipelines
“For a decade, the Rare Drug Development Symposia has brought together the patient community, academia and industry to advance advocate-partnered research, and this reflects the collaboration that underpins meaningful breakthroughs in rare disease,” said Christophe Hotermans, SVP, Medical Affairs, Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, the Visionary Sponsor for this year’s symposium. “We are committed to partnering with the rare disease community to advance research and enable innovation that reflects patient needs and real-world impact.”
“Ten years ago, RDDS started as an experiment in bringing advocates and industry into the same room. Today it’s a proven launchpad for patient-led and patient-partnered research,” said Charlene Son Rigby, CEO of Global Genes. “Rare disease progress depends on advocates who know how to navigate research, build the right partnerships, and drive development forward. Ten years in, that’s the commitment RDDS continues to deliver on.”
Symposium Highlights & Interactive Programming
Building on a legacy where over 90% of past attendees reported significant increases in research knowledge and organizational confidence, the 2026 agenda is structured to deliver immediate, actionable value. Attendees will participate in:
