Closing remarks

With the two days of the 2026 Global Angioedema Leadership Conference drawing to a close, Tony Castaldo, HAEi CEO and Chairman of the Board, and Henrik Balle Boysen, HAEi President, delivered the meeting’s final remarks. They were joined on stage by Professor Henrietta Farkas, from the ACARE and Conference Scientific Program Steering, and one of the most experienced and respected experts in HAE, who has been working to improve the lives of people with HAE for more than 25 years.

Prof Farkas spoke first, to tell the audience she was sorry that Professor Markus Magerl was unable to be on stage to deliver this address, but that she was honored to do so in his absence. Speaking in her native Hungarian, she thanked everyone present: patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and pharmaceutical industry representatives, and the HAEi for their hard work in bringing together such an impactful meeting. She suggested that no other patient organization has done as much for patients.

Prof Farkas told everyone that she believed that everyone with HAE can lead a full life. It is not a disease that gets worse over time, and if treated properly, people can live into old age.

On behalf of the Scientific Committee, she thanked all the scientists and experts who had taken part, sharing science and knowledge with their peers to advance the management of HAE.

Finally, she asked everyone in the audience to pause to remember the many HAE friends and colleagues who have passed away. She suggested that, while they can no longer be with us in person, their spirit will always remain part of the community.

Tony suggested that the progress achieved is because people decided that better is possible, as Prof Farkas suggested. He focused on determined advocacy as the crucial difference. It is this which wins access to and reimbursement for HAE therapies, he said.

‘There is still a great deal for everyone to do. There are still too many undiagnosed HAE patients, and even more who have a diagnosis but no treatment. HAEi and the whole community will not stop until every person living with HAE has access to the care they deserve.’

– Tony Castaldo, HAEi CEO and Chairman of the Board

Henrik reflected on the hard work of everyone in their respective countries and how Member Organizations are turning knowledge into action. He hoped that the 2026 Global Angioedema Leadership Conference would be the spur for more, showing what can be achieved and how HAEi tools and services, allied with the hard work and dedication of the community, are making the impossible possible.

‘The people in this room are the reason that this conference exists. The reason HAEi exists. And, the reason that people living with HAE look to a better tomorrow than today.’

– Henrik Balle Boysen, HAEi President

With thanks to the financial support of the pharmaceutical companies that made the 2026 Global Angioedema Leadership Conference possible, and the hard work of the HAEi team in managing the conference, Tony and Henrik closed the conference.