Shire plc and other pharmaceutical companies are calling attention to Rare Disease Day and actively showing their support.
"For many patients and their families, the journey to a diagnosis and subsequent treatment can be a long, complicated process," said Sylvie Gregoire, President of Shire Human Genetic Therapies (HGT). "Shire is committed to enabling people with life-altering conditions to lead better lives - and for us, this includes improving access to information as well as providing much-needed treatment for rare diseases."
Rare Disease Day was established to highlight rare diseases as a public health issue, and to emphasise the growing need for access to information, research and treatment. It is coordinated at the international level by European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) and by the National Organisation for Rare Disorders (NORD) in the US.
Around the world 250 million people are affected by between 5,000 and 8,000 known rare diseases. Shire has commercially approved and available treatments for Fabry disease, Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) and Hunter syndrome. The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved VPRIVTM (velaglucerase alfa for injection), Shire's investigational enzyme replacement treatment for Type 1 Gaucher disease, on February 28.
"For many patients and their families, the journey to a diagnosis and subsequent treatment can be a long, complicated process," said Sylvie Gregoire, President of Shire Human Genetic Therapies (HGT). "Shire is committed to enabling people with life-altering conditions to lead better lives - and for us, this includes improving access to information as well as providing much-needed treatment for rare diseases."
Rare Disease Day was established to highlight rare diseases as a public health issue, and to emphasise the growing need for access to information, research and treatment. It is coordinated at the international level by European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) and by the National Organisation for Rare Disorders (NORD) in the US.
Around the world 250 million people are affected by between 5,000 and 8,000 known rare diseases. Shire has commercially approved and available treatments for Fabry disease, Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) and Hunter syndrome. The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved VPRIVTM (velaglucerase alfa for injection), Shire's investigational enzyme replacement treatment for Type 1 Gaucher disease, on February 28.
