Deletion. (Science: genetics) a chromosome abnormality in which part of a single chromosome has been lost. Please contribute to this project, if you have more information about this term feel free to edit this page. This page was last modified on 3 October 2005, at 21:16.This page has been accessed 49,284 times. What links here | Related changes | Permanent link.
A decade earlier, only 13 therapies were recognized as orphan treatments. Worldwide sales of orphan drugs amounted to less than $20 billion in 2000, but by 2020 are forecast to cost $176 billion, according to EvaluatePharma, a market research firm. By that year, the money spent on orphan drugs will account for about 19 percent of the worldâs total drug expense. Orphan drugs treat diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the United States and cost an average of $137,000 a year. And treatments for so-called ultra-rare diseases, like the disorder that Synageva targets, generally cost much more.
Currently, there are 32 orphan drugs designated for treatment some aspect of sickle cell disease. Only hydroxyurea has orphan drug approval to reduce the frequency of painful crises and the need for blood transfusions in adult patients with sickle cell anemia with recurrent moderate to severe painful crises.That was approved in 1998.ickle cell disease is a rare genetic condition that affects 90,000 to 100,000 Americans, mostly African Americans.