Orphan Drugs in Asia 2012

Following the example of the US FDA's Orphan Drug Act established in 1983, some Asian countries have developed orphan drug legislations, such as Singapore's Orphan Drug Exemption to the Medicines Act and Japan's Orphan Drug Amendment to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law.

While orphan drug laws in Asia may provide benefits for companies registering new drugs, such as marketing exclusivity, an expedited registration process, and a reduction in the number of clinical trials required, each registration process is unique and can pose a variety of challenges.

This report reviews the orphan drug regulations in 10 Asian countries and discusses various business issues related to orphan drugs in the region. Lists of approved orphan drugs in Japan and Korea as well as a list of orphan drug associations are also included.