How to Use orphan drug in a Sentence

orphan drug

noun
Definition of orphan drugnext
  • Taking advantage of the orphan drug path could smooth some of the bumps on the road to FDA approval.
    — Kira Sampson, STAT, 28 July 2022
  • Horizon, which is based in Ireland, sells orphan drugs, which are medications for rare diseases, and drugs to treat rheumatic diseases.
    — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2023
  • As an orphan drug, a portion of Korlym’s research and development costs could be written off.
    — Sarah Jane Tribble, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2018
  • Another very exciting area would be orphan drugs, for those illnesses that only a few people have.
    — Nathan Hurst, Smithsonian, 16 Feb. 2017
  • This is because the Act grants seven-year exclusive marketing rights to companies who win an orphan drug designation.
    — Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2022
  • Drug makers are seeking a record amount of orphan drug designations from the Food and Drug Administration to help patients with diseases that affect a small percentage of the population.
    — Mary Jo Lamberti, STAT, 28 Mar. 2018
  • While that is a tremendous amount, orphan drugs for small patient populations typically carry very large price tags and physicians are optimistic that insurers will cover the drug.
    — The Washington Post, oregonlive, 31 Oct. 2019
  • Still, the multiyear saga highlights lingering questions about orphan drug exclusivity and how the FDA’s policies may influence drug prices.
    — Sarah Jane Tribble, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2023
  • Still, the Firdapse approval generated debate over the wisdom of conferring orphan drug status because Catalyst did not invent or develop the drug.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 15 Nov. 2019
  • Best-known in the U.S. for its attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug, Adderall, Shire has more recently transformed itself into one of the world’s biggest makers of orphan drugs, or treatments for rare diseases.
    — Noemie Bisserbe, WSJ, 24 Apr. 2018
  • In the first place, the negotiation program covers a few score drugs costing Medicare the most; almost by definition, orphan drugs probably will never fall into that category.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2023
  • Two years after this child got her diagnosis, the Food and Drug Administration approved an orphan drug designed specifically for this disorder, called burosumab.
    — New York Times, 2 Dec. 2021
  • The therapies have orphan drug status with European regulators.
    — Dallas News, 29 Aug. 2022
  • The lawsuit has been closely watched because Catalyst raised thorny questions about regulatory standards and the vagaries of orphan drug designations, while also playing into the heated national debate over the rising cost of prescription medicines.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 29 Sep. 2020
  • Today, orphan drugs often carry six-figure price tags and pharmaceutical companies readily develop them.
    — Sarah Jane Tribble, Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2017
  • Some drugmakers, such as Janssen Pharmaceuticals, have voluntarily offered discounts to rural hospitals on all of their orphan drugs including Remicade, whether they’re approved or designated.
    — Sarah Jane Tribble, Kaiser Health News, 18 Sep. 2017
  • After significant public backlash, Gilead retracted its orphan drug application.
    — Nicole Hassoun, Quartz, 14 Jan. 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'orphan drug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: