Citizen Health and UCB Launch Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Epilepsy and Rare Disease Drug Development Using AI
Key Insights
Citizen Health (search) and UCB (search) have formed a multi-year strategic partnership to expedite drug development across epilepsy and five rare disease indications using AI-driven patient insights and advocacy networks.
The collaboration will enable Citizen Health (search) members to participate in the complete drug discovery journey from pre-clinical research through post-marketing surveillance, creating new opportunities for real-world data sharing.
Epilepsy affects approximately 3 million adults and nearly half a million children in the US, with annual healthcare costs exceeding $5 billion according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Citizen Health (search) has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with UCB (search), a global biopharmaceutical leader in neurological and autoimmune research, to accelerate drug development across epilepsy and five rare disease indications. The collaboration combines Citizen Health's AI-driven patient insights and advocacy networks with UCB's drug development expertise to deliver faster, more patient-centered therapeutic solutions.
Partnership Framework and Patient Engagement
Under the agreement, Citizen Health (search) members who opt to share their health information will form patient cohorts participating in the complete drug discovery and development journey with UCB (search), from pre-clinical research through post-marketing surveillance. This innovative framework creates new opportunities for patients to contribute real-world data and engage with clinical trials earlier and more easily through proactive, accessible communications.
"UCB (search) is leading the next wave of innovation in epilepsy and rare conditions," said Farid Vij, CEO of Citizen Health (search). "We're proud to partner with a team that deeply understands the needs of rare disease patients and is committed to advancing more efficient, patient-driven research models. Together, we're focused on dramatically shortening the path to life-changing therapies."
The companies are prioritizing transparent and simplified patient consent processes to enhance trust and understanding in long-term health system efforts. Both organizations will explore additional possibilities for industry and patient engagement using the Citizen Health (search) platform.
Addressing Significant Disease Burden
Epilepsy represents a meaningful segment of Citizen Health (search)'s current user base and is experiencing explosive community growth on the platform as patients seek personalized health record navigation and community support. According to the Centers for Disease Control, epilepsy affects approximately 3 million adults and nearly half a million children in the US, with annual healthcare costs exceeding $5 billion.
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes recurring, unprovoked seizures or sudden surges of abnormal and excessive electrical activity in the brain. These seizures negatively impact patients' relationships, work, and their ability to perform everyday tasks like driving.
"The epilepsy community needs bold partnerships like this to fuel real innovation for future therapies and cures," noted Justin West, MD, Co-Founder and President of the KCNT1 Epilepsy Foundation. "I'm thrilled to see Citizen Health (search) and UCB (search) put patients at the center of their work and look forward to supporting their efforts to break new ground for families like mine."
Technology Integration and Innovation
Beyond clinical research, Citizen Health (search) and UCB (search) will collaborate on experimental business models and up to three novel AI use cases, exploring new ways to leverage technology for safe, secure, and consumer-focused healthcare. The partnership aims to fundamentally change the time and cost burdens of clinical research for the betterment of the industry and society at large.
"Citizen Health (search) is harnessing the power of AI and patient communities to help reshape the future of rare disease research in regard to clinical care," commented Kimberly Moran, PhD, MBA, Head of U.S. Rare Diseases at UCB (search). "This is an opportunity to fundamentally change the time and cost burdens of clinical research for the betterment of our industry and society at large."
Colin Lake, VP and head of digital care transformation, neurology and rare disease at UCB (search), emphasized the partnership's role in the company's digital strategy: "Partnerships like this are vital to our digital strategy as we continue to reimagine how we connect with patients. Citizen Health (search) stands out for its genuine dedication to putting patients first, improving every touchpoint with the health system, and its deep understanding of the patient journey."
Industry Presentation and Future Outlook
Citizen Health (search) and UCB (search) will promote their partnership at the 2025 American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting, held December 5-9 in Atlanta, Georgia. The collaboration represents a forward-looking approach that recognizes the power of technology and AI to improve patient experience and accelerate drug development across rare and ultra-rare programs.