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Scott Weintraub
Senior Vice President, United States Business of Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease
Scott Weintraub is a prominent figure in the pharmaceutical industry, currently serving as the Senior Vice President for the United States Business at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, a part of AstraZeneca Rare Disease. He is also a member of the Board of Directors at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. His professional background includes extensive experience in business management and leadership within the healthcare sector.
Weintraub's expertise lies in driving business strategies and operational excellence in the pharmaceutical industry. His role at Alexion involves overseeing various aspects of the company's U.S. operations, focusing on enhancing patient access to innovative therapies for rare diseases. His leadership is characterized by a commitment to improving healthcare outcomes and fostering collaboration across teams.
In addition to his current position, Weintraub has held various leadership roles that have contributed to his reputation as a knowledgeable and influential leader in the field. His educational background and career trajectory reflect a strong foundation in both business and healthcare management, making him a valuable asset to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and the broader healthcare community.1
Highlights
Since its inception, the Orphan Drug Act has accelerated scientific innovation for rare diseases, encouraging biopharma companies to invest in R&D projects focused on small patient populations in need. In a recent conversation with Nyah Phengsitthy of Bloomberg Law, I share my thoughts on how the Inflation Reduction Act puts innovation at risk and should be amended to protect US patients living with a rare disease.
This week I was thrilled to deliver welcoming remarks at the New England Council “Tackling Rare Diseases” event, sponsored by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in Boston. I had the pleasure of introducing Congressman Jake Auchincloss and calling attention to legislation that can make an important difference for the rare disease community. There are more than 10,000 known rare diseases, affecting an estimated 400 million patients worldwide. More than 90% of these do not have treatments, and 1 in every 2 patients diagnosed with a rare disease is a child. That’s why it’s vital to ensure we have a policy and regulatory environment that encourages R&D and investment in areas with huge unmet needs. Specifically, Congress should pass legislation like the ORPHAN Cures Act to ensure that medicines that treat one or more rare diseases will not automatically face federal drug price negotiation, which could deter investment. Congress also needs to pass legislation to renew the FDA’s priority review voucher program for companies that are developing treatments for rare pediatric diseases, which are very challenging to research, and make it easier for health care providers to participate in Medicaid programs outside of their home state. Many people living with a rare disease need to drive across state lines to access the care they need. In addition, Congress should work to modernize the Medicaid drug rebate program to allow for creative financing approaches, especially for “one-and-done” long-term or curative therapies. Together, these actions can help to make a difference in efforts to develop treatments for rare diseases and improve patient access to the care they need and deserve. Delman Lebel Lebel Christina Hochul Andrea Hofelich
