The prices for some of the drugs today exceed the price of few expensive cars and even houses. But we can as well do without cars or houses but not without these which are a blessing in disguise for the people suffering.

Pharmaceutical companies justify these exorbitant prices by the high cost of research required for development. The path to discovering these therapies can be lengthy, dangerous, and expensive, they explain. These overpriced drugs are the sole means of survival or in many cases a way of easing the pain caused by these rare diseases. This leaves no option to the public and many of them suffer in silence as affording them is not easy.

Here’s a list of the top 10 costliest drugs in the world.

10 Aldurazyme

Annual cost: $200,000 per year

Manufacturer: Genzyme, Biomarin Pharmaceuticlas

This treats Hurler syndrome (MPS I), which causes patients to stop developing mentally and physically by age 4. Aldurazyme (laronidase), an enzyme replacement therapy helps the body break down the glycosaminoglycans (GAG) that builds up in cells and tissues and thus reduces the size of the liver enlarged by the disease . Approximately Six hundred people in the world currently suffer from it.

 9 Cerezyme

Annual cost: $200,000 per year

Manufacturer: Genzyme, Biomarin Pharmaceuticals

It is used to treat Gaucher’s disease in which fatty clumps accumulate in spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow and sometimes in the brain, causing skeletal disorder, kidney and lung impairment. Cerezyme (Imiglucerase) is a recombinant DNA-produced analogue of human β-glucocerebrosidase, produced by Genzyme, which is used in the treatment for Type 1 Gaucher’s disease – a genetic disease, the most common lysosomal storage disease, in which lipids accumulating in organs such as the spleen, liver, kidneys, lungs, brain and bone marrow.The drug replaces the enzyme that Gaucher patients are missing. Worldwide, 5,200 patients suffer from it.

8 Fabrazyme

Annual cost: $200,000 per year

Manufacturer: Genzyme, Biomarin Pharmaceuticals

Fabry disease causes burning sensations, purple blemishes, enlarged hearts and kidney problems. Fabrazyme lowers the amount of a substance called globotriaosylceramide (GL-3), which builds up in cells lining the blood vessels of the kidney and certain other cells. The number of patients who have it is 2,200 worldwide.

 7 Arcalyst

Annual cost: $250,000 per year

Manufacturer: Regeneron

It is a treatment for the disease Muckle-Wells, whose  symptoms are recurring fevers, rashes, joint pain and kidney damage. Around 2000 people in the world are suffering due to this disease.

6 Myozyme

Annual cost: $300,000 per year

Manufacturers: Genzyme, Biomarin Pharmaceuticals

Myozymeis designed to treat Pompe disease, a disorder in which a mutation to the GAA enzyme subsequently allows glycogen to build up in the body, a potentially fatal disease that weakens the skeletal muscles and enlarges the heart. Without treatment, late-onset patients eventually need wheelchairs and ultimately ventilators. It is also notable that this was the first drug manufactured to treat this disease.Nine hundred people worldwide suffer from this.

5 Kalydeco (Ivacaftor)

Annual Cost: $307,000 per year

Manufacurer: Vertex Pharmaceuticals in conjunction with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Ivacaftor (trade name Kalydeco)is a drug used by patients with a certain mutation of cystic fibrosis, which accounts for 4–5% cases of cystic fibrosis. It treats a chronic genetic disease affecting the lungs and gastrointestinal system. It results due to a gene defect which is passed on to children having parents who carry a defective gene. People having this disorder suffer from respiratory and digestive disorders. It was the first drug developed to treat the underlying cause and not only the symptoms of it.

 4 Cinryze

Annual cost: $350,000 per year

Manufacturer: ViroPharma

Cinryze treats hereditary angiodema (HAE), a rare, life-threatening  disorder of the immune system thatis characterized by regular recurrent bouts of severe swelling that affects the face, limbs, abdomen and airways and which may last for days. The disease affects 6,000 people in the world.

3 Naglazyme

Annual cost: $365,000 per year

Manufacturer: BioMarin Pharmaceuticals

This treats a metabolic disorder called Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome (MPS VI), a connective tissue disorder which afflicts 1,100 people worldwide. Symptoms include enlargement of tissues and organs like an  enlarged head, thick lips that can result in inflammation and permanent scarring and also short stature.. Naglazyme has been shown to help offering improved walking and stair-climbing ability. Patients suffering from this become wheelchair-bound by the age of 15.Around 1100 people in the world suffer from it.

2 Elaprase

 Estimated annual cost: $375,000 per year

Manufacturer: Shire Human Genetic Therapies

This treats something called Hunter syndrome (Mucopolysaccharidosis II, MPS II), a rare genetic disorder that mostly affects males and causes mental impairment, flattened noses, enlarged tongues, breathing difficulty and problems with mobility. People suffering from this have a severely short lifespan. Elaprase drug replaces the enzyme missing in these patients and has been effective in decreasing the symptoms and improving their ability to walk. There are an estimated 2000 cases reported worldwide.

 1 Soliris

Annual cost: $409,500 per year

Manufacturer: Alexion Pharmaceuticals

This drug treats paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare blood disease in which immune system destroys red blood cells especially in the night. Untreated, it is usually lethal within 10 years .It also treats a kidney disorder called the atypical haemolytic-uremic syndrome a rare and life-threatening genetic disease that can adversely affect the kidneys, heart, and brain..