A rare disease is a term used for any disease that affects less than 5 in 10,000 people.

To date, between 6000 and 8000 rare diseases have been discovered and new diseases are regularly described in medical literature¹.  Approximately 80% of rare diseases are of genetic origin.

Despite being described as ‘rare’, collectively rare diseases affect the lives of around 2 million people (8% of Australians) in Australia^2,3.

Only 5% of rare diseases have a an approved treatment⁴. 

Chiesi are committed to finding breakthrough solutions to meet the unmet needs and improve the lives of patients with Rare Diseases.

References

1. Five essential facts about rare diseases https://www.abpi.org.uk/publications/rare-diseases/; access date 14 July 2021.
2. Australian Department of Health https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/chronic-conditions/what-were-doing-about-chronic-conditions/what-were-doing-about-rare-diseases; accessed 14 July 2021.
3. Zurynski Y, Frith K, Leonard H, Elliott E. Rare childhood diseases. How should we respond? Arch Dis Child 2008;93:1071–74
4. Kaufmann, P., Pariser, A.R. & Austin, C. From scientific discovery to treatments for rare diseases – the view from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences – Office of Rare Diseases Research. Orphanet J Rare Dis 13, 196 (2018).