PSR Orphan Experts, a specialty orphan drug consulting and clinical research company, has announced the launch of a new Patient Organization Advisory Board to bolster its regulatory and clinical-stage drug development services in rare diseases. The advisory board comprises of up to seven experts from patient organizations, representing a wide range of therapeutic areas, and will play a key role in driving successful orphan drug programs for PSR’s clients.

PSR launched the Advisory Board in line with growing recognition, within both biopharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies, that patients need a greater share of voice in the development of new medicines. Rare disease patients are often experts on their own conditions, and patient groups can be a driving force in pharmaceutical R&D. Members of the advisory board will strengthen PSR’s patient-centric approach in clinical research. They give patients and their representatives greater opportunities to provide input directly into clinical-stage development planning.

The inaugural members of PSR’s Patient Organization Advisory Board are:

• Oliver Timmis, CEO AKU Society 
• Elin Haf Davies, child health advocate and Founder of aparito health 
• Robert Derham, co-founder CheckOrphan 
• Alasdair Robertson, scientific advisory board member, Duchenne U.K.
• Alan Thomas, founder of Ataxiaandme.org

“The PSR team is highly engaged with the rare disease cause, with a history of fundraising, providing education and participation in public-private partnerships,” said Chairman of the Patient Organization Advisory Board Dr. Oliver Timmis. “PSR also has a strong track record of successful partnerships with industry, key opinion leaders and patient organizations. Through this new advisory board, we look forward to having an even closer dialogue with the team, to the ultimate benefit of patients and families affected by rare diseases.”