FDA Grants 'Orphan Drug' Status to Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Drug

Boston Globe -- Aegerion Pharmaceuticals has received federal orphan drug status for its lead candidate, a treatment for people with severe lipid disorders. Orphan drug status is given to drugs that could treat rare diseases or conditions that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. The approval, announced today, comes with incentives like seven years of marketing exclusivity following approval and tax credits, among other benefits.