Our Commitment: Empowering a Brighter Future in Rare Disease

Every year on Rare Disease Day, the rare disease community rallies around the zebra – whose distinctive stripes symbolize the uniqueness of each person living with a rare disease.¹

The zebra comes from a famous medical saying coined by the late University of Maryland School of Medicine Professor Dr. Theodore Woodward, who said, “When you hear hoofbeats behind you, don’t expect to see a zebra.”² In other words, look for the more common answer – a horse. Similarly, a rare disease is not often the first diagnosis considered when patients visit their doctor about symptoms they are experiencing. In fact, it takes an average of 5+ years from symptom onset to receive an accurate rare disease diagnosis, which can take a profound toll on patients, their families and caregivers.^3,4

• A disease is labeled “rare” if it affects fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S.⁵
• In total, there are more 7,000 rare diseases, with new conditions discovered every year.⁶
• 30 million – or 1 out of every 10 – people in the U.S. are living with a rare disease.¹
• Less than 10% of known rare diseases have an FDA-approved treatment available.⁷

For more than 240 years, we have been committed to putting patients first. We aim to deliver life-transforming medicines and support the needs of patients, including those impacted by rare diseases. Takeda is activating meaningful change for the rare disease communities we serve. We’re prioritizing, listening and understanding patients’ unmet needs to address health inequities and improve treatment outcomes.

Through impactful research, meaningful collaborations and scientific innovation, we’re helping to reduce time to diagnosis and advance health equity. We put patients at the center of everything we do and work tirelessly to support patients on their journey because rare disease patients, their families and caregivers deserve answers and a clear pathway to diagnosis.

A key part of our strategy is rooted in partnering with the rare disease community to help accelerate the time to diagnosis, improve the standard of care and break down barriers to increase equitable access for all. We are grateful to our partners and optimistic that together we can create a brighter future for the rare disease community.

Find out more about the how other rare community advocates are raising awareness for rare diseases: