For decades, families affected by rare diseases have heard the same heartbreaking message: ‘There is no approved treatment yet.’ In 2026, that story is finally changing. From the first-ever approval for Menkes disease to a landmark FDA policy shift for gene therapies, the rare disease landscape is transforming at a pace never seen before. Here’s what you need to know.

Ask any Specialty Pharma leader what they want in their next executive hire and you’ll hear familiar themes: “fresh thinking,” “diverse perspectives,” “ability to challenge the status quo.” Then the search progresses, and a strong candidate gets rejected with a vague line: “They’re great, but I’m not sure they’re a culture fit.” In many organizations, that is where diverse, high‑potential leaders—especially those who don’t look, talk, or network like the current C‑suite—qui

A Practical lens for Board Members - Will this PI Founder still be CEO by Series B? Most European life sciences funds back companies where the founding CEO is a first‑time scientific leader: a PI out of a top lab, an ex‑pharma director, sometimes a computational founder with limited management experience. Very few investment memos say, “And we expect to replace them before Series B.” Yet that’s exactly what happens in a lot of cases—not always for the wrong reasons, but often

Executive search firms live with constant peaks and troughs in demand, creating pressure on research teams, margins, and delivery quality. This article explores how flexible research capability—blending strong in‑house teams with trusted external support—can help firms manage volatile workloads, protect consultant time, and maintain consistent standards without over‑hiring or risking burnout.