The National Institute of Health estimates rare diseases impact nearly 10 percent of all Americans, with orphan drugs often carrying a substantial list price, according to Kaiser Health News.
Here are four key statistics:
1. Through 2020, orphan drugs' annual sales are likely to increase 12 percent each year.
2. The average annual price tag for orphan drugs totaled $111,820 in 2014. Comparatively, mainstream drugs cost $23,331, on average, that year.
3. Excluding genetics, estimates expect global orphan drug sales to comprise slightly more than 20 percent of all drug sales.
4. The Department of Health sent a report to Congress in December 2016 which found orphan drugs cost $1 billion to develop, compared to $2.6 billion for mass market drugs.
