New Orleans was buzzing with excitement as the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy conference entered its final stretch. Everyone couldn’t stop talking about Baby KJ, but strangely, nobody seemed interested in discussing Vinay Prasad. It was like he was the elephant in the room that everyone was trying to avoid.
The previous year, the FDA’s head of biologics, Peter Marks, was the star of the show at ASGCT. He was seen as a crucial ally by many advocates, researchers, and executives in their quest to push rare disease treatments through, even when the evidence was lacking or conflicting. However, the tables turned when the Trump administration decided to let Marks go, leaving everyone wondering about the stance that Vinay Prasad, the outspoken hematologist and pharma critic who took over, would take on these treatments.
Prasad’s arrival has raised eyebrows and sparked curiosity among those in the gene therapy field. Will he continue Marks’ legacy, or will he blaze a new trail of his own? The future of rare disease treatments hangs in the balance, and everyone is on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting Prasad’s next move. It’s a waiting game filled with uncertainty and anticipation, keeping the entire community on their toes.
Not really sure why this matters, but the spotlight is now on Prasad, and all eyes are on him to see how he will navigate the complex world of rare disease treatments. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like the conference will be abuzz with discussions and debates over Prasad’s approach. One thing is for sure, the future of gene therapy is in for a wild ride with Prasad at the helm.
