An inherited metabolic disease that is has its basis in the disruption of lipoate biosynthetic process. The disease is inherited lipoic acid biosynthesis defect (Monarch Disease Ontology identifier MONDO_0018424). Also known as: inborn error of lipoate biosynthetic process, inborn lipoate biosynthetic process disorder, lipoate biosynthesis defect, rare inborn error of lipoate biosynthetic process.