title: Access to orphan drugs in the Middle East: Challenge and perspective.
abstract: An orphan drug is a drug developed specifically to treat a rare medical condition. With a combined population of less than 400 million, about 2.8 million patients are estimated to be suffering from a rare disease in the Middle East. Some disorders such as hemoglobinopathy, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, autosomal recessive syndromes, and several metabolic disorders have a presence throughout the Middle East. In order to promote the treatment of these diseases, Middle Eastern governments need to facilitate education and training of healthcare personnel; develop and execute a method for obtaining and paying for orphan drugs; and, finally, provide tax, marketing, and other incentives to domestic and international firms to develop drugs specifically for the diseases of most importance to Middle Eastern patients.
authors.affiliation: The James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA;
authors.forename: Ziyad S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Almalki
authors.affiliation: The James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA;
authors.forename: Abdullah K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Alahmari
authors.affiliation: The James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA;
authors.forename: Jeff J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: The Carl H. Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Christina M L
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kelton
keywords: Middle East; Orphan drug; genetic disorder; rare disease