Swiss Foundation for Research on Orphan Diseases

Fondation Suisse pour la Recherche sur les Maladies Orphelines

Fondazione Svizzera per la Ricerca sulle Malattie Orfane

Schweizerische Stiftung für die Forschung seltener Krankheiten

Blackswan foundation

Orphan drugs

The Orphan drugs

Orphan drugs are medications whose efficacy has been demonstrated but which are inaccessible owing to limited production. According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), orphan drugs are medications whose purpose is to treat, prevent or diagnose rare, life-threatening diseases. However, the pharmaceutical industry has little incentive outside of subsidies to develop such drugs, since the high costs of drug development cannot be offset by the market.