Sen. Metzenbaum's orphan drug survey

Executive Summary

Ohio Democrat sends second round of letters July 16 to firms that developed non-"blockbuster" drugs. He asked Immunex to estimate Leukine's U.S. patient population and total annual sales in 1991 or 1992. He asked Somerset about the patient population, price and sales of Eldepryl, Syntex about Cytovene, Enzon about Adagen and Genzyme about Ceredase. He sent similar letters July 10 to eight firms that market or hope to market human growth hormone, aerosolized pentamidine and erythropoietin ("The Pink Sheet" July 15, p. 6). Metzenbaum's interest in sales information in both questionnaires suggests he is considering legislation to place a sales cap on drugs granted orphan market exclusivity.