WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Incyte Corporation (Nasdaq:INCY) joins the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), the European Organization for Rare Diseases (EURODIS) and other rare disease health organizations and advocates in recognizing Rare Disease Day 2017.
“Raising awareness and educating the global community about rare diseases is critical to helping improve the lives of patients and families affected by these conditions,” said Hervé Hoppenot, CEO of Incyte. “Rare Disease Day provides an opportunity to honor and give a voice to those impacted by rare diseases, including the estimated 200,000 individuals in the U.S. living with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), a closely related group of rare blood cancers.”
MPNs are chronic, progressive blood cancers that can strike anyone at any age. MPNs occur when the bone marrow cells that produce the body's blood cells develop and function abnormally. The three main MPNs are myelofibrosis (MF), polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET).
This year, as part of its ongoing MPN educational efforts, Incyte teamed up with ABC’s General Hospital to raise awareness about PV. The storyline and partnership with actress Finola Hughes, whose character on General Hospital was diagnosed with PV, aim to raise awareness and inspire patients and caregivers impacted by these under-recognized blood cancers. To learn more, visit www.VoicesofMPN.com.
Finola Hughes commented, “I am honored to lend my voice on and off the set of General Hospital to help more people understand the impact MPNs, including PV, can have on patients and their families.”
Rare Disease Day is an important time to recognize and honor the patients, doctors, caregivers, advocates and organizations that contribute to bringing understanding, compassion and strength to those living with rare disease like MPNs. The MPN Heroes Recognition Program, now in its fifth year, is sponsored by Incyte in collaboration with CURE Media Group, publishers of CURE® magazine. The MPN Heroes® program recognizes individuals and organizations who have contributed to the MPN community by going above and beyond to make a real difference. Nominations for the 2017 MPN Heroes program will be accepted online, by mail or by phone beginning on Rare Disease Day through September, 14, 2017. To learn more about the program or to submit a nomination, visit http://www.mpnheroes.com for more details.
On Rare Disease Day, MPN patients, physicians and caregivers are also encouraged to share their stories, show their support and help raise awareness of these rare disorders via the Voices of MPN website and Facebook page. Those impacted by MPNs are invited to join in a ‘Voices of MPN Ask an MPN Expert’ Facebook Live Chat tonight, February 28, 2017 at 8:30 PM Eastern Time, where a medical expert in the field will answer questions about MPNs. Visit the Voices of MPN Facebook page to join in.
About Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a closely related group of blood cancers in which the bone marrow cells that produce the body’s blood cells develop and function abnormally.1 The three main myeloproliferative neoplasms are myelofibrosis (MF), polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET).1 MPNs are progressive blood cancers that can strike anyone at any age, but they are more common in older adults. Estimates of the prevalence of MPNs vary, but analysis of claims data suggests there may be as many as 200,000 people in the U.S. living with MF, PV or ET.2
About Incyte
Incyte Corporation is a Wilmington, Delaware-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics. For additional information on Incyte, please visit the Company’s website at www.incyte.com.
Follow @Incyte on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Incyte.
MPN Heroes and Voices of MPN are registered trademarks of Incyte Corporation.
1 MPN Research Foundation. “Understanding MPNs.”
Available at: http://www.mpnresearchfoundation.org/overview-page
2
Data on file.
