orphan drug

noun

: a drug that is not developed or marketed because its extremely limited use makes it unprofitable

Examples of orphan drug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2013 the agency issued a rule saying the exclusion should apply only when an orphan drug is actually used for the rare condition it was designated for. — John Mildenberger, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026

Also, generic medications, orphan drugs for rare diseases and certain specialty medicines are largely exempt. — Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026

However, the draft document does not call for the tariffs to be applied to generic and orphan drugs, in addition to carving out several other exemptions for drugmakers. — Sean Conlon,lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026

And there’s evidence that companies have been curtailing their research into orphan drugs, in particular. — Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for orphan drug

• antidrug
• mealybug
• multidrug
• chug
• doug
• dug
• hug
• jug
• lug
• mug
• plug
• pug

Medical Definition

orphan drug

noun

: a drug that is not developed or marketed because its extremely limited use (as in the treatment of a rare disease) makes it unprofitable