Subject: Senate Passes Bill Revising 1983 Orphan Drug Law
Date: Published: 10/15/90 (30 lines)
Source: Wall Street Journal. Copyright Dow Jones & Co. Inc.

    Technology:
    Senate Passes Bill Revising
    1983 Orphan Drug Law

    WASHINGTON -- The Senate approved a bill revising the 1983
 Orphan Drug Act, including a provision likely to end the
 government-granted exclusivity for Lyphomed Inc., the maker
 of pentamadine, an anti-pneumonia drug for AIDS patients.
    The House earlier passed a similar measure.  Because a
 technical amendment was attached to the Senate bill, the
 measure must be sent to the House for a final vote.  It will
 then be sent to President Bush for his signature.
    Under the Senate bill, passed by voice vote Friday night,
 makers of orphan drugs, such as Lyphomed, would retain
 exclusivity rights for seven years if the patient population
 for their drug remains below 200,000.  The number of
 HIV-positive patients who may require pentamadine is believed
 to be approaching 200,000.  AIDS is an acronym for acquired
 immune deficiency syndrome.
    Lyphomed is a unit of Japan-based Fujisawa Pharmaceutical
 Co., whose U. S. headquarters are in Deerfield, Ill.

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