BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., named by Forbes magazine as one of the world ten most innovative companies, is a world leader in developing therapies to treat rare orphan genetic diseases. A Rare Breed recounts the first 20 years of its history, the struggles it faced in developing drugs for diseases that represented markets most pharmaceutical companies saw as too small to pursue, and how it grew into a global enterprise valued at more than $16 billion. It follows the researchers, patients, and executives who played a role in taking novel ideas forward and how they overcame scientific, regulatory, and financial challenges to bring breakthrough therapies to children who needed them. Today, the company continues to go where science leads it, working to treat debilitating and deadly diseases without treatments, or significantly improve on the treatments that do exist. BioMarin s culture revolves around the ethos that no disease should go untreated, and its people are driven to discover, develop, and commercialize medicines that give patients, their families, and their caregivers hope where there was little or none. "What they are doing at BioMarin is changing the lives of families around the world. They are not producing a product. They are truly finding tomorrows." Mark Dant, Executive Director of the National MPS Society Biotech life would be enriched by more efforts like this one. We all work hard and fast, and have our goals. But sometimes with the benefit of hindsight, we can gain wisdom. --Luke Timmerman, Founder and Editor of the Timmerman Report Amid the bustle of clinical, regulatory and other catalysts shaping company stories on Wall Street, the dynamic human stories behind those developments all too often fade to the background. The inside story of Biomarin s founding and first 20 years recounts both the struggles and triumphs of individuals who, despite long odds, made the company a success. With clear explanations of the biology and business behind the development of Biomarin's most important therapies, the book makes the story of developing, manufacturing and gaining approval for complex treatments for rare diseases broadly accessible and thoroughly interesting. --Michael Fitzhugh, BioWorld Staff Writer Daniel S. Levine is an award-winning business journalist who has reported on the life sciences, economic development, and business policy issues throughout his career. He is founder and principal of Levine Media Group and host of The Bio Report and RARECast podcasts. He is a senior fellow at the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, and a member of the advisory board of the California Biotechnology Council. From 2011 to 2014 he served as the lead editor and writer of Burrill & Company's annual book on the biotechnology industry. He also served as a managing director and head of the firm's media group. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Industry Standard, TheStreet.com. His coverage of the biotechnology industry began in 1990 at The Oakland Tribune. He is also author of Disgruntled: The Darker Side of the World of Work (Berkley/Boulevard). Before entering journalism, Levine spent five years in the investment banking industry. He earned a bachelor's degree in English from Vassar College and a master s in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley. Daniel P. Maher in 2016 retired from BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. as Senior Vice President, Product Development. He started there in August 2003 as Vice President, Program Management. Dan began his career in 1981 at Genentech, Inc. where he worked for 12 years in several capacities including manufacturing and product development. After Genentech, he served in multiple roles at multiple companies including Spectra Biomedical, Chiron, Aradigm, and Covance. Dan has had overall leadership responsibility for programs over the last 35 years resulting in fourteen approved products, starting with Genentech s human growth hormone, Protropin, in 1985. Dan and his wife Barbara have two grown sons, both Eagle Scouts, as is Dan. Dan serves on several non-profit boards, and enjoys fly fishing around the world. Dan earned a bachelor's degree in Biology from San Francisco State University and an MBA in Health Administration from Golden Gate University.