About This Statistic
This statistic displays the average cost per patient using orphan drugs per year in the U.S. from 2012 to 2016. In 2014, patients using orphan drugs accumulated average yearly costs of 137,545 U.S. dollars. Orphan drugs are used to target rare diseases or disorders, which in the United States is defined as less than 200,000 patients. The development of orphan drugs are currently incentivized in the United States through the Orphan Drug Act of 1983.
