[December 06, 2013]

CURE Magazine and Incyte Honor Inaugural MPN Heroes

CURE magazine, published by Dallas-based CURE Media Group, hosted the inaugural MPN Heroes recognition reception honoring seven individuals in the field of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) on December 6^th in New Orleans, La., prior to the American Society of Hematology's annual meeting. The celebratory event, made possible with financial support from Incyte, honored this unique group of individuals who have made a difference by going above and beyond the standard of care, demonstrating leadership within the MPN community, or advancing the science of MPNs. The celebration also featured advocacy support from community partners: CancerCare, Cancer Support Community, Leukemia Lymphoma Society and the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

"In a society where we have started to recognize a variety of cancers on national and international levels, diseases like MPNs and other rare diseases can still go overlooked. The goal behind this evening's dinner was simple - we wanted to change that, to shine a light on a remarkable group of people who are fighting hard to make a difference in the estimated 300,000 lives of people living with MPNs," says Kathy LaTour, two-time cancer survivor and editor-at-large of CURE. "MPNs are a group of progressive blood cancers that can strike anyone at any age, and the Heroes we recognize through this program have taken their level of commitment in supporting MPNs and the people living with MPNs to a whole new level."

The recipients, selected by a steering committee that included patients, advocates and healthcare professionals, were recognized in two categories, he first of which was commitment to the individual. The four recipients in this category included a patient, an advocate, a caregiver and a hematologist.

Elizabeth Browning, from Goltewah, Tenn., a caregiver for her husband following his diagnosis with an MPN, found the strength and determination to find the right doctor and care plan which gave the couple a new outlook on life. Ron Kruszewski, from Lake Orion, Mich., is both a patient and advocate who was recognized for using his personal experience to seek out and help newly diagnosed patients by offering them education and support.

CURE also recognized Sara Goldberger, LCSW-R, from Larchmont, N.Y., who was nominated for her outstanding capacity to increase an individual's ability to access better care and treatment. Goldberger, an advocate for patients with MPNs was recognized for her tireless efforts in providing compassionate support, direction to support services, and hope for people living with MPNs. Abdulraheem Yacoub, MD, from the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., was recognized for his passion in advancing the research of MPNs while going above and beyond to offer hope to patients by helping them find the right care plan as well as access to treatments.

The second category of recipients showcased individuals whose continuous efforts and commitment have had a resounding impact on the broader MPN Community. Ashley Gould, a San Francisco-based attorney and caregiver to her father who is living with an MPN, was recognized for her efforts to spearhead an initiative to create an MPN community through the DNA collection of MPN patients with the hopes to better understand their diseases. John Mascarenhas, MD, from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, N.Y., was recognized for his dedication to the many MPN patients he cares for as well as the tremendous work he does for the MPN community through his clinical research and involvement with patient support groups. Ruben Mesa, MD, from the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., was recognized for his outstanding patient care and commitment to ongoing research in MPNs by educating his peers at international conferences and even completing an Ironman Triathlon to raise money for MPN research.

"Anyone who has gone through cancer knows that there are those in the cancer community who go above and beyond. As a member of the steering committee, it wasn't difficult to see the difference each of these Heroes makes in the lives of patients with MPN," says Kathy LaTour. "Each of them has found a unique way to create an impact and leave their mark on this community while pushing advocacy and research efforts forward."

In an effort to further increase awareness in the MPN community, Incyte honored the three Heroes recognized for their impact on the broader MPN community by making a $25,000 charitable donation to an organization engaged in MPN activities on behalf of each Hero.

"Incyte is committed to making a difference in the lives of patients," stated Paul A. Friedman, MD, president and chief executive officer, Incyte. "By recognizing those who work tirelessly on behalf of patients and the broader MPN community, we can raise awareness of these rare blood cancers and hopefully inspire hope in those living with these conditions."

Supporting the recognition of MPN Heroes and the MPN community is an ongoing effort of Incyte's Voices of MPN™ awareness program. For every post made on The Wall of Voices, Incyte will donate five dollars to the MPN Research Foundation. For more information, visit www.voicesofmpn.com.

About CURE Magazine

CURE magazine is a free, award-winning publication from Dallas-based CURE Media Group. By combining science and humanity, CURE helps patients, survivors and caregivers navigate the cancer journey and understand their diagnosis and treatment, while providing tools to cope during and after cancer-ultimately helping them to live the life they aspire to live. Through the magazine and its associated website, an annual resource guide for the newly diagnosed, books, and a variety of resources aimed at enhancing communication between healthcare professionals and patients, CURE provides a wealth of resources for everyone on the cancer journey. For more information, visit www.curetoday.com. CURE Media Group is affiliated with McKesson Specialty Health, a division of McKesson Corporation.

About Incyte

Incyte Corporation is a Wilmington, Delaware-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of proprietary small molecule drugs for oncology and inflammation. For additional information on Incyte, please visit the Company's website at www.incyte.com.

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