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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> Good News?
        
(Message started by: writer on Apr 25^th, 2006, 6:43pm)

Title: Good News?
Post by writer on Apr 25^th, 2006, 6:43pm

According to today's WASHINGTON POST, drugmakers are increasingly targeting rare diseases. "A new report from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, in conjunction with two groups that represent people who suffer from these diseases, finds that 160 drugs were approved in the past decade for ailments that each affect 200,000 or fewer people. That compares with 108 in the previous decade and only 10 during the 1970s."

"The authors pointed to the 1983 Orphan Drug Act as an impetus for the speedup, because it provides tax relief and some additional marketing exclusivitiiy for companies that bring 'orphan' drugs to market."

"The report also said that the Food and Drug Administration received 160 applications for orphan drugs in 2004--a 30 percent increase over the average number of applications for the four previous years."

Title: Re: Good News?
Post by Linda_Howell on Apr 25^th, 2006, 6:50pm

Somebody explain "orphan drugs" to me.

I know of at least .01% of the population who might be interested.

Linda

Title: Re: Good News?
Post by floridian on Apr 25^th, 2006, 7:01pm

Orphan drugs are drugs for rare diseases. Because the market is so small, the big companies are not very interested in developing them - it is known that a drug might be a useful treatment, but it is 'orphaned' like those little girls in China. Why find a cure for a very rare and painful non-lethal neurological condition, when a new form of viagra will guarantee billions?

Sounds like good news - I wonder what is behind it?

Title: Re: Good News?
Post by Lizzie2 on Apr 25^th, 2006, 7:21pm

There's a whole list of orphan diseases out there...

Here's a link from about.com on the orphan drugs - the top link on the list is about the orhpan drug trend in 2006. http://rarediseases.about.com/od/orphandrugs/

Website for the National Organization for Rare Diseases: http://www.rarediseases.org/

Just a couple links - more where those came from if you want more info!

Carrie :)

Title: Re: Good News?
Post by Richr8 on Apr 25^th, 2006, 7:44pm

Too bad CH isn't on the list. What does that do for our odds?

http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html?query_start=201