Precision AQ Expands Powerhouse Access Experience Team (AET) to Tackle Evolving Patient Access Challenges in Rare Disease

Julia Wermerskirchen, PharmD, former co-founder and Vice President of Payer and Provider Relations at Optum Frontier Therapies, Joins Precision AQ

NEW YORK, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Precision AQ, a leader in life sciences commercialization and a driving force in expanding patient access to life-changing therapies, announces the addition of Julia Wermerskirchen, PharmD, to its AET. Wermerskirchen is a recognized authority in rare disease access strategy, with specialized expertise in payer negotiations, specialty pharmacy strategy, and reimbursement policy. Her extensive experience in evaluating coverage and access for high-cost therapies will enable life sciences companies to effectively navigate payer scrutiny, evolving policy frameworks, and access challenges.

As the rare disease sector continues to expand at an unprecedented pace, the addition of Wermerskirchen further reinforces Precision AQ's capabilities in addressing the increasing complexities of rare and orphan disease market access. In 2024, more than half of all novel therapies approved by the FDA targeted rare diseases, extending a two-decade trend of increased orphan drug approvals. This rapid growth has intensified payer scrutiny, driving greater demand for comprehensive clinical and economic evidence and leading to stricter reimbursement policies. To navigate this evolving landscape, manufacturers must adopt proactive, data-driven strategies that ensure sustained access to innovative treatments while aligning with payer expectations.

Wermerskirchen's expertise directly addresses these challenges. With more than 15 years of leadership in specialty and managed care, she has a proven record of advancing access to complex therapies. Before joining Precision AQ, she co-founded Optum Frontier Therapies, where she led national managed care contracting efforts to facilitate access for rare and orphan drugs. Her deep experience in payer engagement, site-of-care optimization, reimbursement strategy, and patient support programs positions her as a critical partner for life sciences organizations striving to anticipate and respond to emerging market access barriers.

"Julia's appointment underscores Precision AQ's commitment to equipping life sciences companies with the expertise needed to drive sustainable access to rare disease therapies," said Chad Clark, President and Chief Operating Officer at Precision Medicine Group. "Her strategic acumen, deep industry relationships, and proven ability to navigate payer landscapes will be instrumental in ensuring that innovative treatments reach the patients who need them."

The expansion of Precision AQ's AET further enhances the organization's ability to provide strategic foresight into coverage and reimbursement trends, value-based agreements, and site-of-care dynamics for rare and orphan conditions. Wermerskirchen's expertise plays a critical role in helping clients navigate an increasingly complex rare disease access environment, ensuring they remain ahead of regulatory and payer-driven shifts.

To learn more information about Wermerskirchen's expertise, visit https://www.precisionaq.com/blog/meet-our-access-experience-team-julia-wermerskirchen-pharmd 

About Precision AQ's AET
Precision AQ's Access Experience Team (AET), originally launched in 2009, was created to bridge the gap between payers and life sciences companies, offering deep insight into access decision-making. Comprising more than 25 former access decision-makers from prominent managed care organizations, specialty pharmacies, and health plans, the AET brings firsthand experience to payer strategies, reimbursement barriers, and evolving policies. As an integrated part of Precision AQ, the AET helps clients translate payer practices and market access insights into actionable strategies to improve patient access.

About Precision AQ
Precision AQ, part of Precision Medicine Group, is a trusted partner for life sciences companies, guiding them through the complexities of commercialization across a product's life cycle. With a team of life science experts, advisors, and creative professionals, Precision AQ is dedicated to ensuring patient access to transformative therapies. The company provides a comprehensive range of services, including global pricing and market access strategy, healthcare advertising and marketing, health economics and outcomes research, medical communications and medical affairs, managed markets marketing, market access and data-driven technology solutions, investor relations and external communications, international brand strategy, medical education, learning and development, public relations, patient insights services, and omnichannel engagement strategy and product solutions. For more information, visit www.precisionaq.com.

Contact:
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References used

https://www.fda.gov/media/184967/download?attachment=

In 2024, the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) approved 50 novel drugs, with 26 (52%) designated for rare or "orphan" diseases—conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. 

https://ojrd.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13023-023-02790-7

The trend in orphan drug approvals has shown a significant increase over the past two decades. For instance, in 2022, drugs treating rare diseases represented nearly half (49%) of all novel drugs and biologics approved by the FDA.

SOURCE Precision AQ