When orphan drugs are blockbusters: Researchers call on Congress to make companies pay back tax credits
A new research letter published today in JAMA questions whether there needs to be continued orphan drug incentives considering the spike in the number of approvals in rare disease areas, and as many later become blockbusters.
Among 315 drugs reviewed from 2008 to 2016, 83 (26%) were initially indicated for orphan-designated conditions. Median, five-year net sales were $719 million for orphan-designated drugs and $812 million for non-orphan drugs. The West Virginia and Harvard researchers said their data showed how “drugs initially approved for an orphan designated condition were just as lucrative for their manufacturers as drugs developed for more common conditions.”
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