Over 7000 rare diseases (i.e., those affecting < 200 000 patients each) collectively affect the lives of more than 30 million people in the USA alone and most still lack specific treatments. Numerous limitations to rare diseases research have been identified. However, the main issue remains the low level of commercial investment in favor of more common conditions.

Although reasons to finance rare disease research have been already discussed elsewhere (https://pharmaboardroom.com/articles/investments-and-deal-activity-in-orphan-drug-products/), a fast and cheap estimate of drug discovery project feasibility and transferability to other unmet disorders could act as a further driving force.