Michael Astrue And Rare Diseases

Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue is scheduled to speak this week at first U.S. Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products. Astrue became involved with this cause while working in  the biotechnology industry and has continued to be interested as Social Security Commisioner. Much of his "compassionate allowances" list is composed of rare diseases or conditions. "Orphan products" are those which may not vital to a small group of people suffering from a rare disease but which are not economically feasible to develop or manufacture without special incentives.