News

While there are few silver linings to the cloud created by COVID-19, the pandemic that has killed tens of thousands, hobbled economies worldwide and drove millions to quarantine in their homes, one may be a new appreciation of telemedicine. “If something good could come out of this crisis, it’s that…

FFF Enterprises and Bionews announced today that both rare and orphan disease advocates are joining forces to provide patients with resources to help them connect as a community and continue to manage their health during this time when many are finding themselves alone. Recognized as the nation’s leading supplier of…

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has opened a financial assistance program for people in rare disease community who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. Called the NORD COVID-19 Critical Relief Program, the effort will provide up to $1,000 annually to those eligible to…

The European Medicines Agency has validated BioCryst Pharmaceuticals‘ application requesting the approval of berotralstat as a once-daily oral treatment to prevent swelling attacks in people with hereditary angioedema (HAE). The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, an advisory committee for the European Union’s regulatory agency, will…

First, the bad news: If you’re one of the 30 million or so Americans with a rare disease, you probably have lower immunity to the novel coronavirus than most people. Now, the good news: You already know how to face loneliness and adversity — qualities that make you far stronger…

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), an arm of the European Medicines Agency, has recommended Ruconest (conestat alfa) for approval as treatment for acute swelling episodes in children with hereditary angioedema (HAE). In the European Union, Pharming‘s Ruconest is approved for adults…

The Living Rare, Living Stronger Patient and Family Forum, originally set for May 14–16 in Cleveland, Ohio, has been postponed until July 18–20 because of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 pandemic. The event’s sponsor, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), said it will still take place at the…

Preventive treatment with berotralstat (BCX7353) significantly lowered the number of swelling attacks — including those needing treatment — and the rates of standard on-demand therapy use in people with hereditary angioedema (HAE), data from a Phase 3 clinical trial show. Notably, use of on-demand therapy fell to a greater extent…

Even with the coronavirus pandemic ravaging Europe and much of the world, patient advocate Lucia Monaco, PhD, of Italy remains confident that the Paris-based nonprofit she chairs will see the approval of 1,000 new rare disease therapies by 2027. That group, the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) — launched…

People with hereditary angioedema (HAE) caused by a specific mutation in the plasminogen gene have several on-demand and preventive treatment options that reduce the severity and frequency of their acute swelling attacks, a study has found. The study, “Treatment of Hereditary Angioedema with the Mutation…