Wednesday, October 21, 2026

3:05 PM - 3:50 PM

Plenary / Clinical Innovation & Patient Impact Breakout Room

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Overview

Sponsored by: NOVARTIS

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Details

This session will be focused on the innovation of gene therapies, with a case study on spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), an otherwise devastating disease without treatment. The session will trace the lineage of gene therapy, from early drug development, to translation of clinical research and commercialisation of a product, and finally to the application of a gene therapy to a patient diagnosed with SMA. Gene therapies can transform care for patients and society, with a one-time treatment changing a patient’s trajectory in life. Complex therapies require comprehensive coordination across the healthcare system, with SMA an example of how collaboration across academia, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, patient organisations, and policy-makers enabled real change. The session will celebrate Australia’s commitment to embracing innovation in the biotechnology community, and demonstrate how this country is leading the charge when it comes to ensuring Australian patients can access these innovative treatments. Sponsored by:

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Speaker