RARECast is a Global Genes podcast hosted by award-winning journalist Daniel Levine. It focuses on the intersection of rare disease with business, science, and policy.
At the age of 8, Bill Elder, Jr. was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a rare, genetic disease expected to cut his life short. Now a third year medical student, Elder has been the beneficiary of Vertex Pharmaceutical’s Kalydeco, an example of the transformative effects personalized therapies can have on patients. As President Barack Obama announced plans for a precision medicine initiative during his State of the Union address, Elder sat alongside First Lady Michelle Obama as a living and breathing testament to the promise of precision medicine. We spoke to Elder about his recent visit to Washington, his experience with cystic fibrosis, and the difference Kalydeco has made in his life.
