Boston Globe -- After years of focusing on common diseases afflicting mostly middle-class and affluent patients, drug companies are devoting more resources to rare disorders, illnesses that are prevalent in the developing world, and medical conditions that affect minority populations in rich countries. The trend, which is slowly gaining momentum, is being driven by several factors, including the emergence of “personalized’’ medicines based on an individual’s genetic makeup, and the success of companies such as Genzyme Corp. that already specialize in making drugs to treat rare diseases.
