Nathan’s Story: VCP Disease and the need for a Rare Disease Advisory Council in Georgia

Since I was a freshman at Georgia Tech, I have had a clock ticking in my head.  Since my mother presented symptoms of the VCP gene mutation, I had grown up knowing that a rare disease existed in my family and that there was a 50% chance that I might get it as an adult in my 30’s to 40’s. My mother and aunt are both deceased from the disease, and I have two uncles (four out of six siblings) that possess the VCP gene mutation that was passed down from their mother.  Symptoms include muscle wasting, Paget’s disease of bone, frontotemporal dementia, ALS and Parkinson’s.  A patient can get any combination of symptoms and the disease is fatal.  For ten years, my mother could not walk, feed herself, bathe herself or go to the bathroom by herself and my dad was her primary care partner.  I know what my future holds, and my advocacy work is for my three boys.

I jumped at every career opportunity to advance as quickly as possible.  Some might even say I was reckless.  I quit a six-figure job and moved my wife and two sons at the time to Boston to attend grad school at MIT as I knew I might not get another shot.  My oldest son lived in six states by the time he was nine and I did everything I could do to advance professionally in the event that I was “lucky” enough to have the gene mutation.

In my late 30’s, after feeling weakness in my muscles and receiving my positive gene mutation diagnosis from a researcher in California, I visited the Emory neuromuscular center to request a nuclear bone scan.  There are no treatments for my disease except for Paget’s disease of bone, if detected early enough.  During that first appointment, the doctor looked at me and said that he had never heard of my disease and that it might all be in my head.  My wife and I spent the next 45 minutes educating him about what to expect with a VCP gene mutation to not much success.  It wasn’t until I visited the Emory ALS Clinic that I found a doctor familiar with my genetic mutation.  I am his only patient with my genetic mutation. In rare diseases, access to specialty and timely medical care is crucial and can save lives and the unnecessary costs. Because there may be only a few experts in the world, many patients do not receive the care that they need.

After leading multiple businesses, I am now on full disability as we were “blessed” that I made some wise financial decisions to protect my family. I am still somewhat independent now, but my disease is progressive so I will continue to lose strength, energy, and the ability to walk. My wife and children are having to take a larger share of things l feel I should do, like mow the lawn, clean the gutters, and get things from the attic. I wish I could still do dad things like teach my boys to play basketball or take them camping. I am blessed with a wonderful family, but my rare disease is a burden to them. Rare disease affects everyone in the family. One in 10 people have a rare disease, 50% are pediatric diseases and only 5% of rare diseases have a cure. Rare disease affects many families in Georgia.

Others are not so “blessed” as I have been, and it is vital that we protect and advocate for those affected by rare disease.  My wife and I started a rare disease non-profit, Cure VCP Disease, in 2018, headquartered in Americus, Georgia, in order to help make life better for other rare disease families. We have funded research, facilitated scientific collaborations, and established a supportive patient community.

There are over 7,000 rare diseases and rare disease is complex.  I’ve learned how complex it is only because I am an affected patient.  HB 918, which advocates for the creation of a Rare Disease Advisory Council in Georgia will be one voice that can aid legislators, policy makers and the general Georgia population, in making prudent decisions to support and help rare disease patients and care partners in Georgia.  Finding a cure and treatment for rare disease is only half the battle. How will it be administered and most importantly, how will it be paid for?  Those are only a few of the important issues that the Rare Disease Advisory Council can help advise the people and representatives of Georgia.

Georgia Life Sciences Weighs In on PBM and 340B Policy

October 5, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences has submitted written comments to the Georgia House Study Committee on Pharmacy Benefits Managers and Consumers’ Access to Prescription Medications, encouraging greater transparency, accountability, and a focus on measurable patient benefit across the prescription drug system. The comments address both pharmacy benefit manager practices and the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, emphasizing the importance of understanding where prescription drug savings accrue and whether those savings ultimately benefit patients. The Study Committee continues its work this fall as it develops recommendations for the Georgia General Assembly. Read Georgia Life Sciences’ full comments →

Georgia Life Sciences Joins National Coalition Calling for PAHPA Reauthorization

September 22, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences (GLS) has joined more than 80 organizations from across industry, academia, public health and the biosecurity community in calling on congressional leaders to fully reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) before the end of 2026. Led by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, the coalition urged congressional leaders to advance a comprehensive reauthorization of PAHPA, the federal framework that supports the nation’s ability to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies and other health security threats. First enacted in 2006, PAHPA established and strengthened critical components of the nation’s health security infrastructure, including the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). The law also supports public-private partnerships involved in the research, development, manufacturing and procurement of medical countermeasures, including vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. PAHPA’s authorization expired in 2023 and key provisions have since continued through short-term extensions. The coalition is calling for a comprehensive reauthorization that provides greater stability and ensures the nation’s preparedness infrastructure can continue adapting to emerging biological, infectious disease and other health security threats. For the life sciences industry, these programs are particularly important. Partnerships between government and industry can help move promising technologies from research through development and manufacturing while maintaining capabilities needed to respond quickly during an emergency. The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), also a signatory to the letter, has identified several priorities for reauthorization, including continued authorization of BARDA, the Strategic National Stockpile, Project BioShield and the Pandemic Influenza Program, as well as incentives supporting the development of medical countermeasures. Georgia Life Sciences is proud to join organizations across the country in supporting a strong and sustainable national framework for health security, preparedness and biomedical innovation. Read the coalition letter and view the full list of signatories.

Georgia Life Sciences Urges Protection of Patient Access as Georgia Implements Medicaid Changes

September 14, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences has submitted comments to the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) regarding the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program and implementation of new federal Medicaid requirements. As Georgia prepares for these changes, Georgia Life Sciences is urging state leaders to prioritize continuity of care and minimize unnecessary administrative barriers that could delay or disrupt access to medically necessary treatment . This is particularly important for Georgians living with serious, chronic, rare, and medically complex conditions who may rely on ongoing medications, diagnostics, therapies, medical technologies, specialty care, and coordinated treatment plans. Even temporary disruptions in coverage can interrupt care and create additional challenges for patients and families. In its comments, Georgia Life Sciences encouraged DCH to protect continuity of coverage during eligibility and redetermination processes, provide patients and caregivers with clear and timely information, minimize unnecessary administrative burdens, and establish appropriate safeguards when a coverage disruption could interrupt an established course of treatment. “As Georgia implements these new federal requirements, we want to ensure that patients remain at the center of the process,” said Maria Thacker Goethe, MPH, President & CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. “Administrative changes should not become barriers between patients and the care they need. Protecting continuity of care is particularly important for Georgians managing serious and complex health conditions.” Read Georgia Life Sciences’ full comments to DCH here.
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