Advancing Therapies for Rare Liver Diseases and Alagille Syndrome with FDA Approved LIVMARLI with Chris Peetz – CEO of Mirum Pharmaceuticals
ONCE UPON A GENE – EPISODE 137
Advancing Therapies for Rare Liver Diseases and Alagille Syndrome with FDA Approved LIVMARLI with Chris Peetz – CEO of Mirum Pharmaceuticals
Chris Peetz is the CEO of Mirum Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company focused on rare liver diseases. They work closely with patients and advocacy groups and have genuine connections which reinforces their sense of urgency to create treatments for liver-related diseases and help to make lives better.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
How was Mirum founded?
Our current programs include two different medicines. LIVMARLI (maralixibat) is for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus in patients with Alagille syndrome (ALGS) and another is currently in development for other liver conditions. These programs were being developed by a larger company who decided not to work further on the program. Our co-founder had a relationship with families involved with the clinical studies of maralixibat and, upon seeing how good the patients were doing, decided to start the company and get the program back on course.
What does LIVMARLI do and what symptoms does it treat for Alagille patients?
LIVMARLI is an oral liquid medicine that blocks the absorption of bile acids in the GI tract. In clinical studies, we’ve seen the itch that patients experience improves.
How do you decide what rare diseases to focus on and what’s in the Mirum pipeline?
We’re currently focused on broadening access to LIVMARLI for ALGS patients and taking what we’ve learned and applying it to other liver diseases that have similar issues with bile acids.
How can rare disease advocacy groups help to push to get treatments approved?
The impact patient groups have in working through the regulatory process is massive. They play a big role in providing a voice and awareness to help educate regulators. Patient groups do a lot to educate regulators, but also researchers so they can better understand the complex aspects of a rare disease.
LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED
https://www.thedisordercollection.com/
ONCE UPON A GENE – EPISODE 036 – Anna Laurent on Alagille Syndrome and Her Road to Advocacy
https://effieparks.com/podcast/episode-36-anna-laurent-alagille-syndrome
The Alagille Syndrome Alliance
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