29-February-2016

The orphan drug market has grown at a “feverish pace” since 2013, according to Medical Marketing & Media, prompting disputes about the incentives pharma companies receive for developing rare-disease drugs. In the article, Nick Manetto, principal for FaegreBD Consulting, touted incentives such as those provided by the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) for encouraging more companies to develop rare-disease drugs.

“At ODA’s 2013 [30-year] anniversary, everyone trumpeted its incentives as critical to establishing a larger rare-disease market,” Manetto said.

The article also addressed the pediatric priority review voucher program, which was supposed to sunset in March but has been extended through September, despite a growing trend of companies selling vouchers to competitors for “eye-popping profits.”

“Parties shouldn’t be too critical of how companies are using the vouchers,” Manetto said.

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