The European Medicines Agency's Executive Director, Guido Rasi, together with Paola Testori Coggi from the European Commission and Luca Pani from AIFA, have received the 2014 European Rare Disease Leadership Award 2014.

The award has been given by EURORDIS, a non-governmental patient-driven alliance of patient organizations representing 614 rare disease patient groups in 58 countries.

Today, 28 February 2014, is Rare Disease Day, and EURORDIS is planning a series of activities and events, including a television interview in Kenya, a Fun Play Day in Lebanon, an informational awareness-raising campaign in Paraguay, a march in Austria, an auction in Canada, a photo exhibit in China, and a seminar in India. It says thousands of participants from over 80 countries will be involved in the event.