Incyte Joins Patient Organizations Worldwide in Recognition of Rare Disease Day 2016 to Make Patient Voices Heard

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Incyte Corporation INCY joins the European Organization for Rare Diseases (EURODIS), the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and other rare disease health organizations and advocates in recognizing the ninth annual Rare Disease Day 2016.

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"Rare Disease Day offers a time for patients, physicians, caregivers and advocates to join together to honor those with rare diseases across the globe, among them an estimated 200,000 individuals in the U.S. living with a group of rare blood cancers known as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs)," said Steven Stein, Chief Medical Officer, Incyte Corporation.

MPNs are a closely related group of progressive blood cancers that can strike anyone at any age. MPNs occur when the bone marrow cells that produce the body's blood cells develop and function abnormally. The three main MPNs are myelofibrosis (MF), polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET).

This year's Rare Disease Day theme, Patient Voice, highlights the impact patient voices have on quality care and treatment and the importance of patient and caregiver voices in the broader community to raise awareness for rare diseases. In keeping with this theme, Incyte shares story highlights from three patients from our "Voices of MPN" program.

"One of the first things I would tell someone who is newly diagnosed with a rare disease, is to be your own advocate," shares Aimee Akins, a PV patient and advocate. "I was diagnosed in October 2013 with polycythemia vera (PV). It was a long journey as I had been going to doctors since 2008. It wasn't until I became my own advocate and looked into finding my own specialist that things really started to come together for me."

Rare Disease Day also provides an opportunity to honor patients, doctors, caregivers, advocates and organizations that contribute to bringing understanding, compassion and strength to those living with MPNs through the MPN Heroes Recognition Program 2016. Now in its fifth year, the MPN Heroes program, sponsored by Incyte in collaboration with CURE Media Group, publishers of CURE^® magazine, recognizes individuals and organizations who have contributed to the MPN community by going above and beyond to make a real difference. Our goal is to create as many opportunities as possible for people with MPNs to be heard and to be supported, so more solutions and treatment options will emerge. Nominations for the 2016 MPN Heroes program are now being accepted online and via email until September 8, 2016. Visit www.MPNHeroes.com for more details.

Share Your Voice and Find More Resources at Voices of MPN:

The Voices of MPN website features patients and caregivers sharing their stories; links to disease information, educational programs and patient support groups; and a "Raise Your Voice" Toolkit which provides tips on how to help spread awareness within the community.

Stay connected and informed with all of the MPN awareness activities happening throughout September by "Liking" the "Voices of MPN" Facebook page or following "Voices of MPN" on Pinterest.

About Incyte

Incyte Corporation is a Wilmington, Delaware-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics. For additional information on Incyte, please visit the Company's web site at www.incyte.com.

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