Trends in individual reimbursement of orphan drugs in Latvia in 2008–2011

Orphan drugs (ODs) are medicinal products intended for diagnosis, prevention or treatment of life-threatening or very serious diseases affecting less than 5 in 10 000 people in the European Union (EU). These drugs are called “orphans” because the pharmaceutical industry has little interest, under normal market conditions, in developing and marketing products intended for only a small number of patients suffering from very rare conditions. Because of the small market, ODs are often very expensive. Whereas decisions surrounding orphan designation and marketing authorization of ODs are taken at the EU level, decisions governing pricing and reimbursement of ODs are a member state responsibility…