EC appoints rare disease expert committee

The European Commission (EC) has listed the members of the European Union Committee of Experts on Rare Diseases (EUCERD), following four calls for expressions of interest.

The Commission made the formal decision to establish EUCERD on November 30, 2009 (2009/872/EC), replacing the previous organisation, the Rare Diseases Task Force (RDTF).

The new body comprises 51 members drawn from patient organisations, the pharmaceutical industry and representatives of past and present EC projects in rare diseases. These members will work with one representative of each of the 27 EC Member States and a representative of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The new appointees come from the European rare disease portal Orphanet, European patient organisation EURORDIS, academic and research institutions throughout Europe, and pharmaceutical companies working to develop rare disease products, including Genzyme, Celgene, Orphan Europe and Baxter.

The remit of the EUCERD is to assist the EC with the preparation and implementation of Community activities in the field of rare diseases, in co-operation and consultation with specialist bodies in Member States, relevant European authorities and other relevant stakeholders, as well as fostering exchanges of relevant experience, policies and practices between the parties.