Orphan disease, by definition, is “any disease that affects a small percentage of the general population.” These diseases are often life-threatening, chronic, progressive, degenerative, and disabling, while most of them are linked to a genetic disorder and remain undiagnosed.

The U.S. weight loss market is estimated to be worth $68.2 billion in 2017—a 2.7% gain, and growth should continue into 2018, when the market is expected to post a better gain of 3.2% to $70 billion.

Continued high rates of obesity and overweight, coupled with low unemployment and higher disposable income, are boosting the market. However, performance will vary significantly by individual market segment.

The past few decades have witnessed several blockbuster drug performances in the pharma industry, changing the face of the industry as well as completely transforming the fate of many companies and stakeholders. The success of these drugs justifies the rigorous process of development, which is tough and economically draining.

The strong growth of the pharma market in China makes it attractive for international investors, according to the recent Pharmaceutical Drugs Market Global Report 2017 by The Business Research Company (TBRC).

In 2016, the pharmaceuticals market in China was valued at $155 billion, which was half the size of the market in the USA. TBRC projects the market to grow at the fast pace of 10% in the period from 2016 to 2020, which is the fastest among the countries presented in the report. Such strong growth can be explained by an aging population and busy lifestyles leading to increased numbers of cases of diabetes and cancer.

In a recent survey of nearly 100 pharmaceutical and life science market research executives conducted by my company InCrowd, 80% identified their respective brand as being in a volatile market, characterized by disruption and uncertainty.

Asia is one of the leading destinations for health tourism. Countries such as India, China, Malaysia, and Thailand are witnessing large numbers of medical tourists due to cheaper treatment costs and high-quality healthcare services. In 2016, Indians and Chinese spent around $68 and $431 per head respectively on medical treatment while Americans spent at least 19 times more. This is one of the key themes explored in The Business Research Company’s recent Healthcare Market Global Report 2017.

Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? You’re in good company, unfortunately.

According to consumer research firm Packaged Facts, 82% of American adults have difficulty sleeping at least once a week. This translates into 206 million American adults who are struggling to get a good night’s rest.

However, for many people, sleep issues aren't just an occasional problem. In fact, 39% of Americans have trouble sleeping five or more times a week, and a third of U.S. adults have a major sleep disorder.

President Donald Trump’s stated goal of lowering drug prices won’t be easy. The President told drugmakers at a White House meeting that prices were “astronomical” and hinted at negotiating with Medicare and reducing regulation on new drugs. Congress has also proposed more generic drugs as a way of saving on costs.

While lower drug prices is an admirable goal, an across-the-board reduction of pharmaceutical prices will face many obstacles and most likely would not happen, according to our research at Kalorama Information. If somehow, Congress and the administration were able to achieve a reduction, it might impair the creation of new drugs.

How will President Donald Trump affect the economy in the coming weeks and years? Which industries face the biggest shifts? How can you be prepared for what's next?

Several market research firms are weighing in as various issues jump to the forefront of the news cycle.

Here's a look at the latest #mrx tweets serving up data and analysis on the potential economic impact of Trump's presidency across different industries.

In a recent GMR Data report, figures indicate that revenues for the dermatology drug market will reach $83.2 billion in 2026 from a base of $31.6 billion in 2016.

The largest dermatology drug markets in 2016 include areas such as acne, worth $3.89 billion globally, skin infections ($6.59 billion), and skin cancer ($5.06 billion).

Robust sales in western markets, entrance of new drugs into emerging markets, and increasing prevalence of skin conditions are all driving the global forecast for the next decade.