Health UnaBASHEd: Craig Martin, Founder & CEO, Orphan Therapeutics Accelerator

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On this episode Gil Bashe welcomes Craig Martin—former acting CEO of Global Genes and founder/CEO of the Orphan Therapeutics Accelerator—about the urgent need to rescue clinically promising drugs for rare and ultra-rare diseases. Craig shares how his nonprofit model uses AI, CDMOs, CROs, and alternative funding to de-risk shelved therapies and transform them into treatments for patients with unmet needs. including context on systemic inequities and the human cost of stalled innovation. He describes a startling trend: when capital dries up or regulations shift, life-saving drug programs get shelved—not because of safety or efficacy issues, but due to dilution in business incentives. Among those left behind are rare disease candidates that patients and families know work, but simply become financially unviable. Martin joins us to unpack a pressing challenge in rare disease therapeutics: promising clinical‑stage drug programs that have been shelved—not for lack of science, but due to shifting capital and incentives. Through his nonprofit model at OTXL, he’s pioneering an entirely new approach to rescue these assets and deliver real impact. To stream our Station live 24/7 visit www.HealthcareNOWRadio.com or ask your Smart Device to “….Play Healthcare NOW Radio”. Find all of our network podcasts on your favorite podcast platforms and be sure to subscribe and like us. Learn more at www.healthcarenowradio.com/listen