Shire launches global scheme to aid children with rare diseases

Shire has announced the launch of a new scheme that aims to improve the lives of children born with rare diseases, while developing new approaches for treating such conditions.

Launched to mark the 30th anniversary of Shire's foundation, the Future Generation programme will see the company ally with the SeriousFun Children's Network and the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine.

These global three-year partnerships will be worth $5 million in total (3.45 million pounds) and will strengthen Shire's commitment to supporting the rare disease community in different ways.

The SeriousFun Children's Network operates a community of camps and programmes serving children with serious illnesses. Shire will provide $1 million annually to enable nearly 1,000 children to attend these camps, improving their social confidence and wellbeing.

Meanwhile, its work with the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine will provide funding for ten genetic fellowships to address the severe shortage of medical geneticists.

Shire chief executive officer Dr Flemming Ornskov said: "We are very proud to be teaming up with these two great organisations, which will help ensure a bright future for the patients and physicians we are privileged to serve."