DANA POINT, Calif., Jan. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Monday,
February 28, 2011, is the 4th annual Rare Disease Day — a day
when people worldwide will show their support for the millions of
people suffering from rare diseases and disorders. According
to statistics from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there
are approximately 7000 different rare diseases that together affect
over 25 million Americans and about 250 million people globally.
It is estimated that 80% of rare diseases are caused by gene
defects, and according to the Kakkis EveryLife Foundation, 95% of
rare diseases do not have any FDA approved drug treatments.
Since the Orphan Drug Act was enacted 28 years ago in January
1983, only 352 new drugs have been approved by the FDA for all rare
diseases combined despite incentives by the federal government.
The Global Genes Project (www.globalgenesproject.org),
a leading nonprofit rare disease advocacy organization, today
announced the “Wear That You Care™” Denim Campaign in support
of Rare Disease Day 2011 and to call attention to the global drug
development crisis facing millions of people afflicted with rare
diseases. The “Wear That You Care™” Denim campaign is
simple — all across the world people can participate in
supporting the rare disease movement on Rare Disease Day 2011 by
wearing a Denim Jeans Ribbon™ and their favorite pair of
jeans — also known as vaqueros,
cowboybuksers, niuzaiku, farmernadrag and dungarees in other
countries.
“Spurring development of new treatments for thousands of rare
diseases is one of the most pressing health care challenges we face
in the world today,” said Nicole Boice, Founder, Global Genes
Project. “The goal of our effort is to create synergy among
all constituents committed to finding treatments for the millions
of people living wi
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