Strategic Situation 01
Rare Disease Programme: EU Regulatory Pathway Strategy
Strategic Situation 01
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Strategic Advisory · Regulatory Pathway · Orphan Strategy · EU
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Situation
A clinical-stage biopharma entering Phase II for a rare disease indication required a strategic assessment of the EU regulatory pathway — including orphan designation potential, accelerated pathway eligibility, scientific advice strategy, and long-term positioning toward EU registration.
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Contribution
Provided an integrated EU regulatory pathway assessment, supported orphan designation strategy, advised on timing and content of EMA scientific advice, and established a regulatory framework to guide cross-functional development decisions through Phase II and into Phase III planning
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Business consequence
Supporting long-term asset value creation through regulatory optionality, future financing readiness and strategic EU development positioning
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How we supported the client
Strategic Regulatory Advice : We provided strategic guidance on the best timing and options for conducting scientific advice in Europe. We considered the advantages and disadvantages of both national and central advice and recommended the option that best suited the client's needs and planned development program.
Writing support: We assisted the client in writing the scientific advice package and Orphan Designation package, drawing on our expertise in rare disease products and regulatory requirements .
SME support: We assisted the client in submitting a request for SME status, which can provide additional support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the EU regulatory environment.
Health Authority Engagement: We provided guidance on how and when to engage with the health authorities in relation to scientific advice and Orphan Designation application, and assisted in any interactions during the review process .
Outcome: Our client was able to successfully submit their Orphan Designation application and scientific advice package, and was granted SME status.

Overall, our strategic advice and operational support helped the client navigate the EU regulatory environment with confidence and speed up the development of their product. Additionally, our support in health authority engagement helped to ensure the interactions and submissions were successful.

Strategic 
Regulatory
Advice
Interactions with Health Authorities
Submission
Management
Marketing
Authorisation
Application
Strategically laid out options when and where to go for scientific advice in Europe by weighting national versus central advice based on client`s needs and planned development program
Wrote the scientific advice package
/ orphan designation as well as reviewed
Advised on opportunities of acceleration options in Europe
Submitted a request for a SME
(micro, small and medium-sized enterprises)
Client quote
Stephanie and I have been working very closely over the last years establishing a collaborative network to support therainnova`s clients in a one-stop shop approach, such as by providing the SME status in Europe for therainnova`s clients.
Dunja Schumacher
Insight Drug Regulatory
Case Study 1
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