It is estimated that there are between 5000 to 8000 orphan and rare diseases, and one out of 15 persons worldwide is affected by it, according to the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA). Often, these diseases are chronic and prove to be life threatening. Since each rare condition is found only in a handful of people, developing orphan drugs remains a risky undertaking due to high costs and limited demand. As specialty pharmacy is gradually coming to the fore to address this challenge, pharmacy manufacturers, physicians, and payers are working to increase the accessibility to specialty drugs.
To read the full article, click here.