“Dracaena is dedicated to facilitating the development of treatments for epilepsy and neurodevelopmental diseases. From identifying the best orphan indication for a drug, to determining the feasibility of a research and development program for a given rare disease or finding enough patients for clinical trials, we know there are many challenges along the way that make the orphan space particularly difficult to navigate. We can help you navigate this space supporting your strategy, implementation and partnerships with patient organizations.”

What we do

We provide orphan product strategy, development and operational services with a focus on epilepsy and neurodevelopmental diseases. Specific experience with clients:

  • Pipeline development / Disease strategy: support company strategy in rare epilepsies; identification of potential indications for programs; competitive intelligence

  • Pipeline development / Business development: identification and evaluation of assets to in license; evaluation of academic programs for NewCo creation

  • Preclinical programs: set up preclinical model and characterization; in vitro and in vivo model design and interpretation; internal communication about best disease fit and program value

  • Clinical programs: advice on trial design, clinical outcome measures, clinical operations; source KOL feedback, identify SoC limitations, source patient data

  • Regulatory strategy: support with EMA orphan drug development

  • Market Access: planning for commercialization program and positioning; competitor scenario analysis and strategy for competitor response

  • Commercial product support: support Medical Affairs and explore indication expansion

  • Communications: communication strategy and message around advanced/commercial product

  • Patient engagement: advice on industry-patient partnerships and patient communications

 

About Ana Mingorance

After working in drug discovery and development in the pharmaceutical industry, Ana Mingorance founded Dracaena in 2014 to help drug developers and rare disease foundations develop new orphan drugs for epilepsy and rare neurological diseases.

In addition to being a consultant through Dracaena, Ana is the Chief Development Officer of the Loulou Foundation, Chief of Translational Science of CureSHANK, former Scientific Director of the Dravet Syndrome Foundation Spain, and an advisor to other rare disease Foundation. Through these roles, Ana helps build under-developed rare disease fields to accelerate the development of new treatments. She started her industry career at UCB Pharma after completing her doctoral and postdoctoral training, and has supported numerous programs in epilepsy at different stages including all the way to market authorization.

For more information about Ana visit the website anamingorance.com or click on the image.