In 2024, FAST again demonstrated why an independent party like FAST is essential within the ecosystem of innovative therapy development. Developments over the past year underline the urgent need for acceleration, efficiency and affordability in the pathway from lab to patient.

An important milestone was the establishment of two strategic collaboration hubs: RARE-NL, focusing on rare diseases and drug repurposing, and InFECT-NL, focusing on drug development for infectious diseases. These hubs are the result of intensive cooperation with the field and show the power of collective action: combining knowledge, acting as a unit towards financiers and enabling new forms of development and cooperation based on research case histories.

Structural collaboration
The need for structural collaboration does not stop there. FAST, together with partners, explored opportunities for new hubs in radiopharmaceuticals and advanced therapies (ATMPs) in 2024. This is the prelude to a national network of independent collaboration hubs, coordinated and facilitated by FAST. This network provides a unique infrastructure to sustainably strengthen public-private partnerships and bring innovations to patients faster, smarter and more affordably.

In the annual report, we look back on these breakthroughs and the further expansion of our role as facilitator and bridge-builder. FAST continues to grow, with enhanced international cooperation, a wider hub network and an increasingly powerful position in the field.

Thanks to all staff, partners and stakeholders involved for their indispensable commitment. FAST looks ahead confidently to a future in which we will build the next generation of therapies together: accessible, affordable and impactful.

Kamerbrief
The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZ) recently informed the Lower House of Parliament about FAST’s progress through a joint Kamerbrief. This progress report shows how FAST is developing and which steps have been taken to strengthen the therapy development ecosystem.