QA Manager, Orchard Therapeutics

In 2018, Orchard acquired GSK’s rare disease gene therapy portfolio, endowing the firm with one of the deepest and most advanced gene therapy product candidate pipelines in the industry. Today, the portfolio spans multiple therapeutic areas where the disease burden on children, families and caregivers is immense and current treatment options are limited or do not exist.

In light of COVID-19, the company had to lay off 25% of its workforce and change tack, instead focusing on more common conditions, including Crohn’s disease, some types of dementia and some neurometabolic disorders. Longer term, there are many challenges for Orchard ahead, the main being to make gene therapy for rare diseases profitable.