blockbuster orphan drug

blockbuster orphan drug

A drug that was originally developed to treat an orphan disease, which can also be used to treat a non-orphan (read, high-volumes) disease, allowing the pharmaceutical company to charge orphan drug prices.
Examples
Human growth hormone (Humatrope, Protropin), erythropoietin (Epogen), pentamidine aerosol (Nebupent), alglucerase (Ceredase), selegiline (Eldepryl).