NORD Announces 2016 Rare Impact Award Recipients

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) will honor individuals and organizations for achievements to improve the lives of patients with rare diseases at its Rare Impact Awards celebration in Washington DC on Tuesday, May 17. Award recipients will be:

· Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

· Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA)

· Arthur Caplan, PhD

· Stephen Cederbaum, MD

· The Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA)

· Dawn Laney, MS, CGC, CCRC

· Desiree Lynn Howe

· Deborah Miller

· Noah Victoria

In addition, five companies will be honored for developing treatments for rare diseases that were approved by the FDA in 2015. Those companies are:

· Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

· Asklepion Pharmaceuticals, LLC

· Astellas Pharma

· United Therapeutics Corporation

· Wellstat Therapeutics Corporation

NORD hosts the awards celebration each year to highlight the achievements of legislators, rare disease clinicians and researchers, patient advocates, and others during the previous year. This year’s event will take place at the Warner Theatre in Washington DC and is open to all. Online registration, as well as information about sponsorship, is available on the NORD website.