Dr. Emil Kakkis, a geneticist and the president and founder of the Kakis EveryLife Foundation, recently partnered with patient advocate Steve Smith and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to bring attention to the need for action on biomarkers.
The group ran a full-page advertisement in the Oct. 16 edition of The New York Times under the heading "Everyone Will Be a Patient Someday."
"Advancing new drug development tools, like biomarkers, cannot be the sole responsibility of FDA, NIH or industry alone," the ad said.
The ad bore the name of 29 thought leaders urging Congress to back the advancement of biomarker qualification.
Kakis, who is also the chief executive officer and president of California-based Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc., is known for his work on treatments for very rare disorders.
