EvaluatePharma® published its 2014 Orphan Drug Analysis. The agency is forecasting orphan drug sales to grow from 90.16 bn USD in 2013 to 173.257 bn in 2020 (CAGR 2014 to 2020:+10%)/ The share of orphan drugs in sales of original drugs is predicted to reach 19.1% by 2020.
Bristol-Myers Squibb will rise from the13th position in orphan drug manufacturers rating in 2013 to the first place in 2020. Pharmacyclics, Vertex and Alexion will demonstrate the highest dynamics in moving up in the same rating. Celgene’s Revlimid (lenalidomide) will be No.1 orphan drug in 2020.
Overall, orphan drugs appear very attractive to both manufacturers and developers. Phase III orphan drug development costs half as much as that of non-orphan (possibly, as much as a quarter considering tax breaks in the US). Orphan drugs receive FDA approval in 10 months on average, while it takes 13 months for non-orphan. Expected return on investment into orphan drugs starting at Phase III is 1.89 times greater than non-orphan drugs.

Source: EvaluatePharma®