Business Of Biotech Commercializing RNAi Therapies With Alnylam's Tolga Tanguler
May 5, 2025
Tolga Tanguler, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, shares his insights on commercializing RNAi therapies. He discusses how these treatments navigate health insurance reimbursement systems and the innovative use of value-based contracts. Tanguler explores the complexities of expanding from rare diseases to larger patient populations, the evolution of biopharmaceutical sales strategies, and the importance of strategic partnerships in the industry. With a focus on enhancing patient adherence and accessibility, he outlines future priorities for biotech innovations.
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Viagra Experience Shapes Perspective
- Tolga Tanguler chose to work on Viagra early in his career because it was iconic and allowed him to understand patient perspectives on a stigmatized condition.
- This experience shaped his approach to patient-centered marketing in biotech.
Son's Illness Motivated Career Shift
- Tolga's son was diagnosed with childhood leukemia, which profoundly changed his view on patient impact from medicines.
- This personal story motivated his shift toward rare diseases and transformative therapies at Alnylam.
RNAi Therapy Advantages
- RNAi therapies offer a dosing advantage with infrequent subcutaneous injections enhancing patient adherence.
- These therapies fit well into existing reimbursement models unlike one-and-done gene therapies, easing commercialization.