Keep pulling the thread on Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
The genetic mutation responsible for sickle cell disease is believed to have been an evolutionary advantage that protected against malaria.
Sickle cell disease predominantly affects people of African descent because malaria is highly endemic in Africa.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals' corporate strategy is to focus on diseases with significant unmet need, clear human biology, and where the company believes it has the technology and insights to make a difference.
According to Dr. William Hobbs, the pharmaceutical industry has largely ignored sickle cell disease for a long time.
There has been a historical perception in the pharmaceutical industry that sickle cell disease is a difficult market to enter from a commercial and marketing standpoint.
Dr. William Hobbs believes the large unmet need among millions of sickle cell disease patients worldwide makes developing treatments a compelling business opportunity, provided the approach is based on solid biology.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals' R&D strategy for sickle cell disease involves investigating multiple different therapeutic approaches to treat the underlying causal biology of the disease.
According to Dr. William Hobbs, diseases with a significant unmet need like sickle cell disease require a strategy of serial innovation.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals' internal R&D process involves aggressively pursuing scientific goals and constantly striving to out-innovate its own existing programs.