NORD, GlaxoSmithKline, and a Host of Global Pharmaceutical Companies Join Mediaplanet to Launch Largest Print Advocacy Campaign for Education and Treatment of Rare Diseases

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Jul 27, 2011, 03:50 ET

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --As of Monday, July 25, 2011 Mediaplanet Publishing has released a special Rare Diseases awareness campaign distributed within the Washington Post to millions of readers with the help of NORD, The Global Genes Project, GlaxoSmithKline, patient advocates, and other leading pharmaceutical companies and research organizations committed to progressing the research and treatment of rare disorders.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100820/CG52983LOGO)

Not As Rare As You Might Think

The publication sheds light on innovations and initiatives in the rare disease space from patients and caregivers, healthcare professionals, government organizations, manufacturers, and researchers. Leaders from the health community came together to create a unified voice to educate readers on 7,000 rare disorders affecting 30 million patients in the U.S. The report discusses various diagnosis and treatment angles including whole genome sequencing, and innovative research from various non-profit organizations that may actually have an impact on the treatment of more common diseases.

The report will reach over 1.5 million readers with contributions from organizations such as NORD, Illumina, Genzyme, and the National Institutes of Health, as well as key opinion leaders such as Peter Saltonstall, Marc Dunoyer of GlaxoSmithKline, Chris Hempel, and Cure Duchenne.

"Cholesterol is one of the biggest killers on the planet, and by understanding this gene that everyone is born with, we can gain key insights into why people get heart disease and even dementia. Ultra rare diseases will help solve more common diseases that affect millions of people" says Chris Hempel, Founder and President of The Addi & Cassi Fund, a non-profit dedicated to research of Niemann-Pick Type C Disease.

Mediaplanet's report

In partnership with Amicus Therapeutics, The Center for Business Intelligence, The Children's Rare Disease Network, CryerHealth, CSL Behring, Cure Duchenne, Existence Genetics, Genzyme, GlaxoSmithKline, The Global Genes Project, Illumina, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, The Kakkis Everylife Foundation, Keck Graduate Institute, NORD, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, R.A.R.E. Project, Siren Interactive, Smithsolve, the Rare Diseases publication is a platform which motivates readers to engage in the rare diseases movement.