News

US Patient Groups Give Thumbs-Up to Rule Against Surprise Billing

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is applauding the Biden administration for announcing a rule to protect consumers from surprise medical billing, in a joint statement with 26 other U.S. patient organizations. The interim final rule will implement patient protections required by the No Surprises Act. Surprise…

Partnership Aims to Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs for Rare Disease Meds

AllianceRx Walgreens Prime, a specialty and home delivery pharmacy, is partnering with TailorMed, a healthcare technology company, to help lower out-of-pocket prescription costs for specialty pharmacy patients. Medications attained through specialty pharmacies are those used to treat rare and chronic conditions in the U.S., and are often extremely costly. For…

Nominations Open for 2022 Eurordis Black Pearl Awards

Nominations are now open for the worldwide 2022 Black Pearl Awards from Eurordis-Rare Diseases Europe. The 12 award categories recognize individual advocates, policy makers, researchers, organizations, and companies who work to make a difference for the global rare disease community. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 10…

Enspryng Approved for NMOSD in European Union

The European Commission has approved Enspryng (satralizumab) for the treatment of people, 12 and older, with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who are positive for antibodies against the aquaporin-4 protein (AQP4-IgG). The approval covers Enspryng for use as a monotherapy (on its own) or in combination with other…

EveryLife Introduces First of Kind ‘Roadmap’ to ICD Codes

To help patient advocacy leaders and their partners better understand how global health statistics codes — known as ICD codes — are assigned, updated, and revised in the U.S. health information system, the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases is presenting a first-of-its-kind resource guide. The foundation created the…

Electrical Stimulation Device Assessed in Phase 2 Trial

A wearable neurostimulation device developed by NeuroMetrix is being investigated in a Phase 2 clinical trial as a potential pain-relieving treatment for people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The trial (NCT04614454) is expected to recruit 46 adult NMOSD participants who test positive for aquaporin-4 antibodies and…