Pennsylvania Bio issues patient impact report on orphan drugs

Pennsylvania Bio has issued a new report detailing research happening through US state of Pennsylvania companies to combat rare diseases. This  new Orphan Drug Report is the latest in the organization's MedTRACK  Patient Impact series.

The report features information on 37 drugs in development or awaiting  approval and 14 marketed products from 24 Pennsylvania companies. Rare  diseases such as acute myelogenous leukemia to cystic fibrosis and  diseases such as Gaucher's and stomach cancer are targets of companies  with operations in Pennsylvania. Because of the work being conducted by  these companies, the debilitating effects of 38 rare diseases are closer  to being treated or cured. A disease is considered to be rare if fewer  than 200,000 people in the USA have it. There are currently more than  7,000 rare diseases, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Other reports in the series focus on cancer, the central nervous system,  infections and the metabolic/endocrinology system. All reports in the  series can be downloaded at: www.pennsylvaniabio.org.