Shire Leads New Initiative to Reveal Challenges Facing Rare Disease Community PR Newswire LEXINGTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 19, 2012 - Impact Report to assess holistic needs of rare disease patient and medical communities LEXINGTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY) today announced a new initiative – the Shire Rare Disease Impact Report – to research the health, psycho-social, societal and economic impact of rare diseases in patient and medical communities. Comprehensive surveys of patients, caregivers, physicians, payors and thought leaders in the United States and the United Kingdom are underway. Survey results will be published and available in the first half of 2013. Rare diseases are conditions that affect a small portion of the population and are often chronic, progressive, degenerative, Iife-threatening and disabling.(1) While individual rare diseases are uncommon and disparate, collectively there are approximately 7,000 different types of rare diseases and disorders affecting an estimated 350 million people worldwide.(2) The Shire Rare Disease Impact Report aims to uncover the unique challenges facing the rare disease community in areas such as diagnosis, scientific understanding, treatment options, and social services. The Impact Report will contribute to the continued effort to better understand these complex diseases and how best to optimally manage them for the greatest patient benefit.
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