Why little interest in Essential Thrombocythemia?

• Essential Thrombocythemia usually affects older people and is considered rare
• It is almost unheard of in children 
• The annual incidence for each MPD syndrome is only .5 to 2.0 per 100,000 of the general population (or approximately 250,000 people in the U.S.)
• Essential Thrombocythemia, like all Myeloproliferative Disorders, is an "orphan disease," generating little interest in the scientific/medical/pharmaceutical communities, although we are beginning to see new interest following recent discoveries (JAK2).