AstraZeneca has recently filed a legal challenge against certain aspects of the drug price negotiation provisions included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The renowned British drugmaker argues that these provisions could have unintended consequences, potentially discouraging research in the field of drugs for rare diseases.
The company emphasizes that some facets of the IRA might run counter to the goals set by the 1983 Orphan Drug Act. According to AstraZeneca, the Orphan Drug Act was specifically created to incentivize manufacturers to invest in the development of new therapies for rare diseases.
Dave Frederickson, the executive vice president of AstraZeneca’s oncology unit, highlights the importance of high-risk, low-probability drug development for rare disease and cancer patients. Such endeavors often span several years and aim to provide long-lasting cures. However, Frederickson expresses concern that if the current version of the law is upheld, patients in the United States with rare conditions, who have benefited from the Orphan Drug Act, may experience delays in accessing scientific breakthroughs compared to patients in other parts of the world.
