First Dedicated Virtual Community for Immune
Thrombocytopenia (ITP) Patients Launched Today
ZUG, Switzerland/PRNewswire/ --- ITPvillage.com is a Virtual and Interactive Community
Connecting
Healthcare Professionals, Patients and Carers Affected by ITP
Amgen (Europe) today launched ITPvillage.com, a dedicated website
bringing together patients, healthcare professionals and those who care
for
people affected by ITP, at the 15th Congress of European Hematology
Congress
in Barcelona, Spain. For many patients living with ITP, it can be an
extremely isolating and lonely experience, but ITPvillage.com will
provide an
online community for European healthcare professionals and patients
respectively, to share information and experiences about the condition.
To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:
http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/amgen/42441/
Affecting an estimated 50,000 adult patients in the European
Union
(EU)[1], ITP is a serious autoimmune disorder characterised by low
platelet
counts in the blood (thrombocytopenia), which can lead to serious
bleeding
events and has a devastating impact on patients' lives. The launch of
this
dedicated website provides a unique portal that is unlike anything else
currently available, in terms of its design, depth of information and
the
experience it offers users.
Crispin Black, a patient who has been diagnosed with ITP, said of
the
condition: "ITP is a condition that can be managed, but it makes you
very
anxious and the symptoms and side effects attack your quality of life.
There
are things that constantly worry me, like the risk of a potential brain
haemorrhage and what would happen to me in a car crash or any other type
of
accident. A forum to share these concerns or obtain information on ITP
will
definitely be welcome by patients."
ITPvillage.com will be continually updated to ensure the latest
news and
information about ITP is available to those who visit the site, and
select
content will be translated into several European languages in the
future.
Upon entering the website, users are greeted by a village 'concierge'
who
provides site navigational assistance. The website has many unique
features
including:
- The Village Library which provides comprehensive background
information, publications and support relevant to living with or
managing ITP.
- The Village Cinema which presents a choice of short films for
healthcare professionals and for the general public to expand their
understanding of ITP.
- The Community Post Office allows users to post any questions they may
have about ITP to be answered by authoritative sources, as well as
providing important information about the disease.
- The ITP Village Council consists of leading consultants from Europe,
who specialise in ITP and can help provide useful information and
advice.
"Amgen are committed to improving the lives of patients, not just
in
terms of the products that we develop, but also in the way we support
our
patients and those who care for them," said Georg Kreuzbauer, Medical
Director International Development at Amgen International. "With
ITPvillage.com, we have developed a centralised resource that provides
information to everyone impacted by ITP. The website content is
validated by
leading ITP experts from around the globe and will be updated regularly,
based on the requirements of its users."
These are just some of the features that can be found on
ITPvillage.com -
to begin your virtual journey, follow the link:
http://www.itpvillage.com
About Amgen
Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative
human
therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the
first
companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe and
effective
medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen
therapeutics
have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around
the
world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis
and
other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new
medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically
improve people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and
our
vital medicines, visit http://www.amgen.com.
---------------------------------
[1] Gernsheimer T. Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Immune
Thrombocytopenic Purpura. European Journal of Haematology. 2008; 80:3-8.
Video:
http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/amgen/42441/
Source: Amgen (Europe) GmbH
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