Orphan drug

An orphan drug is a medication developed specifically to treat rare medical conditions, known as orphan or rare diseases. Because these illnesses affect a small number of people, pharmaceutical companies may have little financial incentive to develop such drugs due to high research costs and limited market potential. To encourage their development, governments often offer special incentives like grants, tax credits, and exclusive marketing rights. Orphan drugs aim to address unmet medical needs for these rare conditions, providing patients with treatment options that might not otherwise be available.